Also, Jeffers wasn’t a rare name, but Tess had spotted a picture of the woman’s husband when the wife opened her wallet, and it was the same guy we Googled when we got curious about all of those deliveries.
However, she gave us a completely new address that got us curious, and we’d huddled around as Tess accessed some website that gave us a bird’s-eye view of the address the husband had given us and then the apartment address the wife gave us.
So we were nosy. Sue us. We had to do something to keep things lively around the shop, and this one ended up being way more interesting than we could stand once we brought up the property records for the first house and linked it to a powerful mage with suspected ties to organized crime.
Ash guessed the home was a paranormal brothel and Mr. Jeffers was availing himself of the talents there, showing his appreciation through bi-weekly flower donations, in addition to the no doubt substantial amount of money he was dropping there.
Moira thought Mr. Jeffers had a single mistress who was either one of the workers or the Madame who ran the place.
Tess was more into the investigating part of it and didn’t care a whit what Mr. Jeffers was or wasn’t doing. She wasn’t great at board games, either, but that was Tess.
I, after thoroughly researching the house, thought he wasn’t cheating and maybe the woman we thought was his wife might be a familial relation. Everyone groaned at that because, and I quote, “Seriously, Evie, where is your sense of drama?!” So, we decided to make a bet.
If Mr. Jeffers was cheating, Moira had to wear the enchanted bee suit, and Ash had to turn into a Honeycrisp apple tree and grow enough apples for a week.
Ash grumbled about it because he hated when we used him for his fruit growing abilities. Moira balked at the thought of wearing that suit around, but was so convinced she was right, she finally agreed.
I kept the suit in a locked closet because it was a huge distraction. And a little terrifying. Originally designed by Marnieand Twila, the owners of the cafe I loved so much, as protective gear to wear while they maintained their poison garden, the enchantment had gone...wrong. They’d offered it to me, and I’d accepted because I had a soft spot for the weird and faulty.
The phone rang.
Moira hip checked me. I swore and stumbled over a potted plant, landing on my tailbone.
“Moira!”
She gave me a fanged grin and snatched up the phone. “Little Shop of Florals, this is Moira. How may I assist you with your floral needs today?”
Tess waved a hand, and the speakerphone turned on. Moira shot her a dark look. I stuck my tongue out at her and pulled myself up with the help of the edge of the counter.
“Hello, Moira. This is Wayne Jeffers. I’m calling to place my weekly order, but I wondered if there’s any way you could have it done and delivered today. For a generous rush fee, of course.”
Moira grimaced and looked my way.
I gave her a thumbs up and a wicked grin. After that dirty play by Moira, I’d do anything to see her miserable in that bee suit.
She paled at the look in my eyes. “Err. Of course we can. What would you like, sir?”
Mr. Jeffers rattled off an ambitious flower order. We charged him an arm and a leg to have it done and delivered today, and when he hung up, I clapped my hands together. “We’re all doing the delivery today, so no one can cheat.”
Moira gasped in mock offense. “I would never.”
Tess burbled a warbly laugh. “No one wins Park Place and Boardwalk every single game of Monopoly.”
Ash laughed. “True story.”
“I’m heading to the back to get this done. We’ll leave right when the shop closes. Tomorrow morning, first thing inthe a.m., Moira is in the bee suit, and Ash is apple central.” Tomorrow was going to be epic.
“Hardly,” Moira scoffed. “I can’t wait to see you trying to handle cash wearing that thing.”
But I knew in my bones I was going to win. “I guess we’ll see.” Flicking my hands, I waved them away. “Everyone back to work. We’ve got two hours before quitting time.”
The teamrarely did deliveries together. Tess and Ash were crammed in the backseat, each holding on to one side of the massive basket of flowers I’d made for Mr. Jeffers.
I was in the driver’s seat, and Moira quivered with anticipation in the passenger seat.
“You really outdid yourself with this one,” Ash commented. “It’s gorgeous.”
“Thanks!” I’d added a few extras in because I was feeling generous. The basket spilled over with roses, daisies, peonies, baby’s breath, and numerous other flowers. A heady fragrance rose in the air, calming my nerves as we exited the highway. Fredericksburg and the surrounding areas didn’t usually have a ton of traffic, but I’d always been a nervous driver. There was something about being responsible for a two-ton vehicle while also being responsible for everyone and everything else in the vehicle with you and ensuring you stayed alert for anyone outside of the vehicle making mistakes.
