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Feel Safer
Four days later, Heather was getting ready to leave the greenhouses for the day and call it a night.
Luke was on his last day of his shift too and then he’d be off until Tuesday. That meant they had the weekend together again before he went back on nights.
She was gathering her stuff when Lily walked in. “Hi,” she said. “You’re not normally here this early. Or I should say done working this early.”
“Ryder was fussy at Zara’s and she called. I think he has a bellyache.”
“He looks pretty happy to me,” she said, looking at Ryder in Lily’s arms.
“He’s happy, but his poor bum is sore. Lots of loaded diapers today.”
“Ahhh,” she said, reaching her hand for Ryder’s chubby fingers. “Did you get into something you shouldn’t have? Go on a milk bender and the hangover is catching up with you?”
Lily laughed. “I was wondering if you had any aloe here I could grab.”
“Of course,” she said. She put aloe in a lot of her lotions and always had it straight from a plant into a jar, ready to use.
“Thanks,” Lily said. “It’s just been one of those days that I’m kind of glad that Ryder had me leaving early. I’m going to have a glass of wine the minute this one is settled. Thankfully Willow is with Zane’s parents for the night so one less kid to worry about.”
“Everything okay?” she asked.
“Sidney is leaving. She put her notice in today. She gave me four weeks, but it’s going to kill me and then to find someone to replace her. She’s been with me since the minute I needed to hire an accountant.”
“Oh wow,” she said. “I know how hard it was for you to hand that over to someone. Or I heard how hard it was.”
Rose was always picking on Lily about having to do it all.
“It was. And I love Sidney. But her husband is being transferred out of state with his job. They said it was too good of an opportunity to not take it. Not with the kids being older and it would be closer to their youngest who is in college.”
“That’s sad,” she said. “But I’m sure you’ll find someone else.”
“I know it’s the time to expand the position I’ve got. Sidney did the day-to-day stuff and she was overwhelmed. I’m paying a firm to do a lot of my taxes and financial statements too.” Lily waved her hand. “Sorry to burden you with this. You were getting ready to leave. Rose and Poppy and I will figure it out.”
“You know,” she said, “I’m surprised Ivy wasn’t all over you saying how Dahlia is a CPA.”
“She is,” Lily said, grinning. “I hadn’t known she wanted to move.”
“That’s shocking,” she said. “Ivy is always saying she wants Dahlia here. But maybe that is Ivy talking. Jasmine could know more.”
“She would,” Lily said. “I might go make a call with my glass of wine and find out. And Ivy didn’t say anything because you’re actually the only person that knows other than Rose and Poppy. So if you could keep it quiet for a few days, I’ll let Sidney tell everyone.”
“I won’t say a word,” she said.
“You can tell Daisy. I know she’s like a sister to you and she will keep it quiet. Thanks for the aloe.”
“No worries,” she said. “You know where I keep everything. I’m not as possessive as Jasmine is with her flowers. Take what you need.”
“This should last a while,” Lily said.
“Enjoy your wine. That sounds good.”
Heather packed up her stuff and went to her SUV. She was getting used to driving the much bigger vehicle now. She did feel safer in it for sure.
By four she was home. She’d started her day much earlier than normal. Since it wasn’t a set nine-to-five job, she went in around seven most days and out by four which was more than she needed to work. She’d cut back once she got hurt but now felt like she had so much to make up for.
By five thirty, Daisy was opening the door. “It smells good in here. What are you cooking and why are you doing it?”
