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This was the answer. She handed the woman her change. She could satisfy her mother without getting fired.
* * *
CAROLINA RAN TO the main house and entered the sparkling green-and-gold-marble foyer. The flowers on the table were sunny and bright. Envy churned in her belly. Her half sisters had all this.
But they didn’t live in the mansion. It was where they worked.
A couple stood at the small front desk while a young woman helped them. Carolina spotted the gift shop and wandered in. Why hadn’t she’d noticed this the day of her interview? She could have bought something here.
She checked the time. She had ten minutes before she had to head to the hospital.
There were mugs and glasses with the Fitzgerald House logo. She checked the price on a wineglass and winced. She still had to worry about Mamá’s bills. On another shelf were teacups and saucers, hand painted with Savannah flowers and scenes. She flipped through cards made from pictures of the B and B and Savannah, but Mamá wouldn’t want those. And there were orchids. She read the tag. Bess, the sister she hadn’t met, propagated the gorgeous plants.
In a linen section were towels and robes. She brushed a hand against the soft fabric.
What would satisfy Mamá?
She gravitated back to the teacups. She could tell Mamá they were used for afternoon tea. If she bought a set, she could dole them out. Or she could give her a robe, but they were expensive.
“Can I help you?” the young woman from the front desk asked.
“I’m looking for something to…to cheer up my mother. She’s in the hospital.”
“I know you.” The woman smiled. “You’re the new bartender.”
Carolina blinked. “Yes.”
“You moved from Nashville for your mother?”
“Yes.” Carolina swallowed. How did she know so much about her?
“I’m Amy. Naomi’s my cousin.” She dug through a drawer. “Maybe she would like some sachets. Hospitals smell awful. Bess makes all the potpourri and sachets for the B and B.”
“That’s a great idea.” Carolina sorted through the fragrances. “Lavender, I think. And even though she might not be able to use them, two of the teacups and saucers.”
“I love those.” Amy walked over to the tea sets. “Which ones were you thinking?”
She picked out one with azaleas and one with blooming dogwoods. “These.”
“Good choices.” Amy wrapped the cups in layers of tissue paper and put them in a Fitzgerald House bag. Carolina handed over her credit card.
“I hear you’ll be singing at the restaurant.”
The grapevine was working overtime gossiping about her. “I’m not sure when I’ll start.”
“I can’t wait. It’s so great working at Fitzgerald House. One day I’m serving breakfast, the next, working a catering event.” Amy gushed. “I’ve even done some of the parties over in the restaurant. The sisters are wonderful and I can work around my school schedule.”
Of course they’re great. They had an easy life.
It was her mother’s voice in her head.
Abby worked hard, always rushing between the B and B and the restaurant.
“I hope your mother feels better.” Amy handed her the bag. “If you ever want to grab a drink, let me know. Naomi has my number. We can sit on the patio—I love looking at Bess’s gardens.”
“Thank you,” Carolina choked out through the lump in her throat. Had she ever been around so many people who wanted to help? Abby let her stay in the apartment. Sage planned to come to the hospital for her mother’s treatment. And Amy offered to have a drink with her. “I… I hope I see you again.”
“You will.” Amy grinned.
Carolina stopped at the apartment and dropped off one of the tea sets. Then she put the other set, along with the lavender sachet, into her tote. Hopefully the gifts would calm her mother.
When she entered the hospital, Sage was waiting in the lobby, smiling.
Tingles overloaded her body and stole her breath. She could barely walk with the way her body short-circuited.
“Good morning.” He cupped her face and kissed her.
“Morning,” she murmured.
He peeked into her bag. “You brought gifts for your mother? I should have brought her something.”
“That’s not necessary.” Her words strung together like saltwater taffy being stretched at the fair. “My mother’s…fascinated with Fitzgerald House. I bought her stuff from the gift shop.”
“I could pick up flowers in the hospital gift shop.”
“That would be sweet.” And she could give her mother the things she’d brought. Oh, Lord. What if her mother said something about stealing from Fitzgerald House? Maybe she should wait. “I’ll meet you in her room. You remember where it is?”
