Read Carnations in January for Free Online

same sentence.” The ends of her mouth tilted upward as his eyes widened.
    “How can you not like football?” He gave a sad shake of his head and headed towards the door. “I’ll just bring them in.”
    Grace returned to the phone as she heard her sister answer. “Hey, Faith, it’s me.”
    “Hi, Grace. No, I still can’t work with flowers.”
    She laughed. “I wasn’t going to mention that, but I do have a favor to ask.”
    “Oh?”
    “I need a new name and logo for the shop. And you draw way better than I do.”
    “What’s wrong with the name?”
    “I don’t know. It’s just a little corny.”
    “Rubbish, the shop name is fine, called after the street it’s in. And it could be worse. I mean, the hairdresser that just opened here is called Curl Up and Dye. Then there’s the pawn shop called Rich Pickings. There’s a pie shop called Sweeney Todd, though why anyone wants to eat there is beyond me. The baker shop is called…”
    “OK, OK, I get it. But I do want a logo. The girls want uniforms, and Elliott suggested a new sign outside.”
    “Who’s Elliott?” Faith dropped the disinterested tone, and Grace could almost see her sister’s ears prick up.
    “He’s the bloke next door, and he’s a builder. He’s here putting up my new shelves.”
    “Uh huh.”
    Grace turned her back on her grinning employees. “Don’t you uh huh me,” she hissed. “Can you do me a logo or not?”
    “Sure. Hey, you could always rename the shop a Bunch of Fives instead of a bunch of flowers. Or sell coffee and pies on the side and call it Floral and Hearty.”
    “OK, stop now before your jokes get any worse. We’ll stick to Carnation Street. How soon can you have it to me?”
    “I’ll do it now and e-mail you something this afternoon. How’s that?”
    “Brilliant, thank you. And bill me for your time, as well.”
    “Oh, pssht. I’ll do no such thing. Home e-mail or work e-mail?”
    “Work…oh yeah, you’re right, better not change the name because that will be wrong then. As will the website.”
    “You have a website?”
    “Kind of. It’s just a page at the moment, but I’m going to work on it. Give me something to do tomorrow.”
    “You should go to church tomorrow, not be working,” Faith scolded her.
    She sighed, turning as the bell over the door chimed. “Not you, as well. Honestly, you and Elliott both sing the same tune. I have to go, there’s a customer just come in. Speak soon. Bye.” She hung up and smiled at the customer. “Hi, can I help you?”
    “I need to send some flowers to Scotland. Can you do that?”
    Grace nodded. “Sure we can.” She reached under the counter and pulled out the book. “Did you have something special in mind?”
    The girl shook her head. “It’s my mother’s birthday, and she loves flowers. But I’m a student, and I don’t have much money.”
    Grace slid the book away, an idea forming in her mind. “In that case, what’s her favorite flower?”
    “She loves carnations…”
    Grace caught Elliott’s grin. “She’s not the only one. What’s your limit?”
    “Fifteen pounds, but that has to include the postage as well.” The girl hopped from foot to foot looking convinced she was going to be sent away or laughed at.
    What was it with the carnations? Grace didn’t need to think twice. “I can do you twenty carnations, including delivery for twelve fifty.”
    Amazement covered the girl’s face. “Really?”
    Grace nodded. “Really. Where in Scotland do they need to go?”
    “Perth.”
    “No problem. All I need is the address and message and we’re set.”
    The girl gave the address. “Just put ‘Happy birthday Mum, from Ally’ on the card.” She handed over the money. “Thank you.”
    Grace smiled. “You’re welcome. They’ll be there by four this afternoon.” She watched the girl leave the shop and pulled over the phone book for the number for the Perth florist.
    Mandy looked at her. “You didn’t charge her delivery.”
    “I