“Maybe part of the evening, but I think it would be best if I let them catch up. Would you like to join us?”

“I don’t think so. But I hope I’ll meet him before he leaves. Why don’t you let me keep the shop open till five or so. I can sell what you have on hand, then I’m due to help Cooper for the next couple of nights.”

“Troy, did you plan to go somewhere? Is my sudden crisis keeping you from doing something fun with your spring break?”

“You think I’d run out on you now? Gracie, I think the way you handle this is one of the most important things you’ll ever do.”

“Because?” she asked, but she knew. She just wanted him to put it into words for her.

“Because you have this one chance to get things right between the two of you. And you should take it.”

“Right,” she agreed. “I hope I don’t really screw it up. And I hope I don’t mess things up with you, because you’re pretty important to me.”

“I’m a big boy, Gracie. Don’t worry about me. I’ll stick with you while you go through this.”

“And after I’m through it?” she asked.

“After? You might be living an entirely different life. Let’s see what all this means. I gather there’s a fortune involved. And not a small one.”

“Troy, that doesn’t matter. You can’t imagine that it would matter.”

“You can’t say that yet. That’s one of those questions that will have to be answered when it’s not just talk, when it’s real. But for now, while you try to sort all this out, you can count on me.”

* * *

That had such an ominous sound, Grace was a little nervous. Concerned enough that she didn’t sleep all that well.

When he took her in his arms, everything felt the same—easy and delicious and perfect. But she suspected that Troy, like just about anyone would be, was a bit intimidated by Winnie and her money. Money that she wished to confer on Grace but only after Grace jumped through all the right hoops. What Troy didn’t understand and couldn’t until it was, as he said, real was that Grace had been happier since she’d been on her own than ever before. And she’d been happier with Troy than she thought possible.

Once she was alone in her shop, when Troy was off doing his own thing, she placed a call to Ray Anne Dysart. Everyone knew Ray Anne was the person to contact for real estate needs. She wasn’t sure how to phrase her request exactly. She asked Ray Anne if she had time to stop by Pretty Petals this morning. She wanted to talk about property for rent or sale.

Ray Anne walked in not too long after, and with her was a pretty blonde woman. “Hi,” Grace said with a smile.

“Grace, meet my niece, Ginger. Not really my niece, but almost. My cousin Dickie is like a brother to me and this is his daughter. Ginger is staying with me for a while.” After the brief introductions, Ray Anne was all business. “How can I help you? Ready for a little more space than your darling loft?”

“Not exactly. I love my little loft. My mother lives in San Francisco and she’s up here for a visit. She’s staying at the Dunes in one of their beautiful little cottages. And she’s handicapped. She’s not getting around well and the San Francisco house isn’t the best for her disability. She can barely manage the stairs and it’s only going to get worse, and soon. Of course I’d like her to be closer. I’m afraid she has a progressive degenerative disease, and we don’t know how much time there is.”

“Oh, Grace,” Ray Anne said, hand to her heart.

“We’re doing as well as we can with the diagnosis,” she said, making it sound almost as if she’d known as long as her mother had. “Now, when I’d like her nearby, when she’s getting worse, I want a house for her. A one-level house. A beautiful flat house. She’s certainly not up to looking at houses, but everyone knows you’re the best there is. Fortunately, my father took care of my mother—he passed a long time ago. That San Francisco house will bring a nice price and she has a healthy pension. She can afford to spend her last months in comfort.”

“Almost anything in San Francisco can fetch a good price. Do you know what kind of house you’re looking for besides one level?”

She shook her head. “I don’t. It has to be ready. We don’t have weeks or months to decorate. Even though my mother isn’t getting around much, it should be spacious.”

“And will you be staying with her?”

“I’m sure I’ll be spending my share of nights there, but let’s think of her. I want her to have something to look at—”

“Oceanfront?”

“That would be wonderful, but anything that doesn’t feel like a hospital room. She has ALS. The symptoms are coming faster now. I think she’ll be bedridden in a few months.”

“And your price range?”

“I don’t have one. I don’t know how much my mother has socked away, but there’s plenty. She has old family money and, Ray Anne, I don’t want any of it. I want her nearby or else I’ll have to close the shop and go to San Francisco until...” She cleared her throat. “If you find something wonderful, I’ll look at it and if it’s perfect, I’ll find a way. My mother has always lived well.”

“I assume you want to rent?”

“I’m flexible,” Grace said. “If there’s nothing stunning for rent but there’s a listing that’s perfect, I can always sell it...” She looked down. “Later,” she finally said.

Ray Anne reached out and touched her arm. “There are some nice properties around. Have you looked online?”

“I haven’t. But I could—”

“Don’t worry about it. Write your email address on the back of this card,” she said, helping herself to one of Grace’s flower shop business cards and flipping it over. “I’ll get right to work on this. I can see why you’re in a hurry. I’ll send you some links.”

“Is this possible, Ray Anne?” Grace asked. “Because I have to convince my mother that this is a better idea than me moving to San Francisco for a year.”

“If it’s possible, darling, I can do it. It’ll give me a chance to show Ginger a few things about real estate and hunting property in case... Well, my darling girl is with me for at least a few weeks, maybe longer, and we’re visiting local businesses to see if anyone needs help. Ginger wants to work while she’s here.”