WISH AUTHOR GEORGINA SELLWOOD A
VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
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After spending years in foster care, Bonnie Blakley starts her bid for
independence only to find herself attracted to single dad Morgan
Masterson.
Morgan finds his attraction to Bonnie as a betrayal to his wife who passed away.
Can Bonnie get over her fear of family to forge a future with Morgan and his toddler Maddie?
Does family really matter?
Morgan finds his attraction to Bonnie as a betrayal to his wife who passed away.
Can Bonnie get over her fear of family to forge a future with Morgan and his toddler Maddie?
Does family really matter?
Excerpt
Her new heels clicked a happy beat on the sidewalk as Bonnie
Blakley hiked the block and a half to the florist shop from the
Elmvale Nursing Home. The schedule left by the previous Activity
Director called for Bonnie to teach a flower-arranging class
with the residents in the afternoon. David Barnes, her new boss,
said the partners at Petals and Posies expected her to pick up
older flowers at a discount.
After finishing her training and moving far away from her past,
Bonnie knew this job was her chance for happiness and a life of
independence.
She smiled at the young family coming toward her, holding hands.
Bonnie envied their contentment. An elderly woman beamed up into
the eyes of her husband as he helped her from their car. Bonnie
was not going to lie awake anymore, thinking about problems she
had no control over. Determined to leave dysfunction in the dust
behind her, she gave her foot an extra scrape on the sidewalk as
if that made her decision final.
Perspiration
from the summer heat gathered on her forehead and threatened to
run down her cheeks. Today, her first day as the new Activity
Director, she didn’t need her hair frizzing or her face all
flushed while she tried to make a good impression.
She
stopped on the curb opposite the flower shop on the corner of
Brock and Main.
A gust of wind picked up tendrils of her long hair and whipped
them across her face. She battled with the errant strands for a
moment then stepped off the sidewalk.
A shrill voice yelled, “Watch out!”
A large, box-style delivery truck sped past her. Startled, she
swayed, almost knocked off her feet. A gust of air flattened her
clothes to her body. The words Petals and Posies, spelled out in
colorful
flowers, were painted on the side of the truck.
It almost ran her over!
Coughing on exhaust fumes, on shaky legs she reached the safety
of the florist shop.
Cool air and heavenly fragrances greeted Bonnie as a bell
tinkled a welcome overhead. She stepped onto the clean wood
floor as the beveled-glass
door whispered shut.
A
woman approached with a perky smile, her dark ponytail swaying.
“Good morning.”
“Did you see that? Your delivery truck almost knocked me down.”
She took a breath to calm herself. “I’m Bonnie from the Elmvale
Nursing Home. I think you have some flowers ready for me.” She
mopped the perspiration from her forehead.
“Are you all right?”
“Yes, just a little shaken.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Dawn.” The woman wiped her hands on her
apron before they shook hands. “I’ll just get the order for
you.”
Bonnie crossed her arms and looked around, finding relief in the
cool environment. The pleasant room helped to compose her.
Flowers of every color and shade captured her gaze. Astonished,
she took in the variety of tulips, hibiscus, mums, and others
she didn’t recognize. Crossing to a wall of coolers, she admired
the arrangements behind the glass. Daisies tucked among baby’s
breath caught her attention, delicate and arrestingly pretty.
Someday she would make enough money to buy and enjoy a bouquet.
The door to the back room banged open, and an elegant woman
entered holding a long, white box—the kind long-stemmed roses
came in. “Hi, I’m Grace.”
“Good to meet you. I’m Bonnie,” she acknowledged, shaking the
stately woman’s offered hand.
“Ah, these are for you then.” She laid the box on the counter
and opened it. Roses mixed with other flowers lay on a bed of
ferns. Some were beginning to wilt, and others had lost their
leaves or petals. Bonnie closed her eyes as the aroma filled her
with memories. The sweet fragrances brought visions of her
childhood—picking flowers with her granddad in his garden. The
memory was so poignant she choked up.
She signed a receipt and turned to leave when the man who nearly
ran her down entered from the back room. Dressed in a blue
uniform with the Petals and Posies’ logo, he filled the doorway
with his broad shoulders. He swiped at a loose blond curl that
hung over his left eye.
“You were driving the truck!” Bonnie gasped.
“Miss, I’m sorry. I didn’t see you. I turned onto Brock and
there you were, tugging at your hair. I swerved to miss you.”
The expression in his big brown eyes begged forgiveness. His
open palms confirmed it.
“Do you know each other?” Grace stepped forward.
“No.” Bonnie kept her tone crisp. With the flowers signed for,
she swung toward the door to make her escape from the suddenly
charged atmosphere. “Thank you,” she called.
A buzzing sound erupted near her ear, then something tangled in
her hair. She screamed, dropping the box. Her precious cargo
spilled onto the polished floor.
“Help me. Get it out.” The urge to run was strong. A flashback
clenched her throat.
Mrs. Grimes dragging her by the hand and locking her in the shed
for punishment, where she couldn’t escape the bugs. Bees had
made a hive in the corner, and she was forced to sit still for
hours to avoid getting stung.
Bonnie slammed her heart shut on those bitter memories and
concentrated on the bee. She pulled at the strands to rid
herself of the insect. It thrashed and buzzed all the louder.
She danced and bent like a native person in a primitive dance,
trying to untangle the bug from her long curls. Strong male
hands grasped her and pressed her against the wall of coolers.
“Stand still.” The man’s voice held annoyance as he plucked at
her hair. Bonnie squirmed. She understood firsthand what bee
stings were all about—huge, painful welts that lasted for days.
“Oh, please, get it out.” Her cheeks heated as tears slipped
down her face while she shifted from foot to foot. Why was he
taking so long?
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Georgina. Wishing you a delightful day.
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