FLOWERS FOR THE WRONG WOMAN

Sometimes, the wrong message finds exactly the right heart.

A Beautiful Mistake

At forty-four, Emily Harper had spent nearly fifteen years arranging flowers for other people's romantic adventures.

Anniversaries, weddings, apologies, marriage proposals, and occasionally the rather suspicious order of two identical bouquets for two different women.

She had seen it all.

What she hadn't seen in quite some time was a woman who made her forget what she was doing.

Until that Thursday afternoon.

The little bell above the door of Harper's Flowers jingled, and a stunning blonde woman in a crimson wrap dress stepped inside.

"Good afternoon," the woman said warmly. "Please tell me you still have something beautiful left."

Emily looked up from the counter.

For one embarrassing moment, she forgot how to speak.

The stranger had gorgeous shoulder-length blonde hair, bright blue eyes, and the kind of smile that made a perfectly ordinary Thursday seem considerably more interesting.

"Flowers," Emily finally managed.

The woman blinked.

"I'm sorry?"

"We have flowers. Beautiful ones."

The blonde laughed.

"Well, that's reassuring. It would be rather disappointing to discover you'd switched to selling plumbing supplies."

Emily felt herself blushing.

"Sorry. Long day."

"Then perhaps I should make it easier. I'm looking for something cheerful. Something that says a woman deserves a little happiness."

Emily smiled.

"Buying flowers for someone special?"

"Actually, for myself."

"Oh!"

"Is that terribly sad?"

"Not at all," Emily replied. "I think it's wonderful."

The woman leaned against the counter.

"Good. Because I've just turned forty, and I've decided I'm finished waiting for someone else to bring me flowers."

Emily liked her immediately.

The Wrong Love Note

"My name is Laura," the blonde announced. "Laura Bennett."

"Emily Harper. Welcome to my little kingdom."

Laura glanced around at the colorful arrangements.

"It's beautiful. You must love working here."

"Most days."

"And the other days?"

"I threaten to run away and open a wine bar."

Laura grinned.

"Let me know if you do. I'll be your first customer."

Emily selected a gorgeous bouquet of red roses, pink lilies, and delicate white flowers, wrapped it in brown paper, and tied it with a crimson ribbon.

"How about this?"

Laura's eyes lit up.

"Oh, that's absolutely perfect!"

Unfortunately, Emily had been so distracted by Laura's smile that she picked up the wrong bouquet from the preparation counter.

The arrangement she handed over had been ordered earlier that morning by a gentleman named Richard, intended for his wife on their twentieth wedding anniversary.

It also contained a small envelope.

Laura noticed it immediately.

"Oh, there's a card."

Emily was busy ringing up the purchase.

"Yes, I sometimes include little messages."

"How sweet!"

Laura opened the envelope.

Then she stopped smiling.

She read the note twice before looking up.

"Emily?"

"Yes?"

Laura cleared her throat.

"This is very romantic."

Emily smiled.

"Thank you."

"Possibly a little too romantic."

Emily looked confused.

Laura held up the card.

"To the love of my life. Twenty wonderful years, and I'd marry you all over again. Forever yours, Richard."

There was a long silence.

Emily stared.

Then she closed her eyes.

"Oh, good heavens."

Laura burst out laughing.

"Well, darling, I must say you're moving rather quickly. We haven't even had our first date, and apparently we've been married for twenty years!"

Emily covered her face with both hands.

"I'm so embarrassed!"

"Don't be. It's the most entertaining bouquet I've ever received."

"Oh, poor Mrs. Richard! She's probably somewhere wondering why her husband sent her flowers without a note."

Laura laughed harder.

"At least she got the flowers!"

Would You Write One for Me?

Emily hurried to the preparation counter, found Laura's actual bouquet, and exchanged the two arrangements.

"I'm terribly sorry," she said again. "Let me make it up to you."

Laura shook her head.

"Honestly, it's fine."

"No, really. I'll refund your money."

"Emily."

"And perhaps add another dozen roses."

"Emily!"

The florist finally stopped talking.

Laura smiled.

"I don't want a refund."

"Then what can I do?"

The blonde considered her for a moment, her expression turning playfully thoughtful.

"Well, since you accidentally gave me someone else's love note..."

"Yes?"

"...perhaps you'd consider writing one of your own."

Emily blinked.

"My own?"

"For me."

For several seconds, the florist simply stared.

"Laura, are you flirting with me?"

"Very badly, apparently. I thought I was being quite obvious."

Emily laughed nervously.

"Oh, you're being obvious. I'm just not used to beautiful women flirting with me in my own shop."

"Then I suppose you should practice."

Laura leaned a little closer.

"Are you single, Emily Harper?"

Emily swallowed.

"Very."

"Interested in women?"

"Very."

"And interested in having dinner with one particular woman who has already caused you an unreasonable amount of embarrassment?"

Emily smiled.

"Extremely."

Laura's expression softened.

"Then I think we have something worth writing about."

A Note from the Heart

Emily found a small cream-colored card and picked up her favorite pen.

"All right," she said. "One personal love note. But no laughing."

"I promise absolutely nothing."

Emily thought for a moment, then began writing.

Laura watched her with obvious delight.

"You're taking this very seriously."

"I am a professional, you know."

"A professional romantic?"

"A professional florist."

"Close enough."

Emily finished writing, folded the card, and slipped it into a little envelope decorated with a red heart.

She handed it to Laura.

The blonde opened it carefully.

Inside, in Emily's elegant handwriting, were the words:

To the beautiful woman who walked into my flower shop and made me forget how to do my job.

Would you have dinner with me tonight?

Love—or at least considerable interest—Emily.

Laura read the note.

Then she looked up.

"Oh, Emily."

"Too much?"

Laura shook her head.

"Absolutely perfect."

"Is that a yes?"

Laura stepped closer to the counter.

"That's a very enthusiastic yes."

Emily laughed with relief.

"Thank goodness. I was beginning to think I'd have to offer you free flowers for the rest of your life."

Laura raised an eyebrow.

"Now, that's an interesting proposal."

The Right Woman After All

By six o'clock, Emily was turning the sign on the shop door from OPEN to CLOSED.

Laura had insisted on staying while she finished her work, claiming that she was far too fascinated by the beautiful florist to leave.

They'd spent the afternoon talking between customers.

Emily discovered that Laura was a travel photographer, had never been married, loved Italian food, and had recently moved into an apartment just a few blocks away.

Laura discovered that Emily loved old jazz records, terrible romantic comedies, and had been single for three years.

"Three years?" Laura asked.

Emily shrugged.

"I suppose I've been waiting for someone special."

"And have you found her?"

Emily looked at her.

"I might have."

Laura smiled.

"Good answer."

As Emily reached for her handbag, Laura gently touched her arm.

"Emily?"

"Yes?"

"There's one little problem."

Emily looked worried.

"What?"

Laura held up the envelope.

"You signed your note 'Love—or at least considerable interest.'"

Emily laughed.

"Oh, dear. Too cautious?"

"A little."

"Would you prefer something more romantic?"

Laura moved closer.

"Much more romantic."

Emily looked into her beautiful blue eyes.

"Such as?"

"Perhaps you could start by kissing me."

For a moment, Emily couldn't quite believe what she was hearing.

Then she smiled, slipped one arm around Laura's waist, and gently kissed her.

Laura's hands rested against Emily's shoulders, and what began as a tender, slightly shy kiss became something warm and wonderfully promising.

When they separated, Laura was grinning.

"Well," she whispered, "that's considerably better than Richard's anniversary message."

Emily burst out laughing.

"Poor Richard. He has no idea what he's started."

Laura picked up her bouquet and the little handwritten card.

"Come along, beautiful. You promised me dinner."

Emily took her hand.

"And tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow?"

"Would you like to come back?"

Laura glanced around the flower shop.

"Darling, I think you're going to see quite a lot of me."

Emily smiled.

"Good. Because I have a feeling I'll be wanting to give you flowers again."

Laura squeezed her hand.

"Just make sure you write the right name on the card."

They walked out together, laughing, leaving behind a shop filled with roses, lilies, and the faint perfume of unexpected romance.

The next morning, Emily found a little envelope pushed beneath the shop door.

Inside was a handwritten note.

To the beautiful florist who accidentally gave me another woman's flowers.

I had a wonderful time last night.

Dinner again tonight?

Love—without any hesitation—Laura.

Emily read it twice.

Then she smiled so broadly that the first customer of the morning asked whether she'd won the lottery.

"Something much better," Emily replied.

And for the first time in fifteen years, the woman who had spent her life arranging flowers for other people's love stories finally had one of her own.

Sometimes, the flowers go to the wrong woman.

And sometimes, she's exactly the right one.