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“So, there’s nothing here in this small town that could possibly convince you to stay?”
Parker had a feeling she knew what Bonnie meant. “I don’t think that’s an option.” Or maybe it was. Parker was confused.
“I thought…well, I need to keep my nose where it belongs.” Bonnie slipped off the stool. “I have a few more loaves to make so I better get to it.”
“I’m going to go down to the greenhouse and make sure everything’s in order for the arrangement pick up tomorrow.”
There was an unusual chill to the air and she pulled her sweater tighter around her waist. The view on the farm was amazing. The activity on the land made it feel even more homey.
She said hello to a few hands as she continued the path toward the greenhouse. As she got closer, she noticed that the door hadn’t been latched. Bonnie liked to keep the place tightly locked up when no one was inside.
Pushing the door open, Parker called inside, “Hello? Is anyone in here?”
Silence.
She started to back out when she noticed that one of the arrangements had fallen off the table. Shards of glass were everywhere and water was puddled on the floor. “Oh no.” They needed exactly the right number of arrangements for the delivery truck coming to get them.
As she stepped closer, she found that several of the flowers were smashed like someone had stepped on them.
The door made aclickingsound and she swiveled on her flip flops. She was not alone.
Ophelia’s brother, Jamie, stood near the door looking frazzled.
“Can I help you?” Parker felt her heart race.
He held one of the utility knives in his trembling hand.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
He didn’t answer. He took a step toward her. The glass was crushed under his shoes.
Then it all became clear. “You shouldn’t be here,” she said.
“Where are the donations?” he said in a menacing tone.
“Donations?” Parker took a small step back, the broken glass scraping under the thin soles of the flip flops.
“Don’t play stupid.” He had an oozing cut on the side of his hand that was wrapped in a dirty rag.
Seeing his distraught nature, Parker wanted to try and talk to him. He looked frantic. “Your sister, Ophelia, she’s been helping around here. She did the arrangements.”
His eyes widened but he was quick to hide his emotions. “Where are the donations that Bonnie got? I know people have been bringing her money.”
“Why do you want the money? Bonnie needs it.”
“Screw you! Where’s it at?” He stabbed the air with each word.
“It’s not here.”
“Bullshit.” He swiped his hand across his mouth leaving a smear of fresh blood.
“Your hand. It’s bleeding and looks bad.” She examined him closer, gauging how dangerous he was or could potentially become. He lowered his injured hand slightly and blood dripped from his fingers. “Did you do that by breaking in here?”
He sniffed loudly. “Why do you care?” He shifted restlessly from one dirty shoe to the other. The white shoes were marked and stained with grass, mud, and spatters of blood.
“I do care, Jamie. I know we don’t know each other but I do know your sister. She cares for you and I’m sure she’s sick with worry over you.”
His mouth twisted. “I didn’t mean for things to get this bad. I only meant to get those ladies’ attention…and then the bomb.” He looked down at the floor, his shoulders shaking. “They were going to arrest me. I couldn’t let that happen.”
