She clenched her fists and dug her nails into her palms. “Actually, Celia, I’m not asking. I’m telling you. As a courtesy.” Panic engulfed her. Her legs weakened as she imagined Celia showing her the door.

Celia was obviously imagining that too because she straightened her shoulders in an aggressive stance. “And what if I tell you your job won’t be here when you come back?”

Flora felt a wave of dizziness. What if Celia was serious? What if she lost her job? “I hope that won’t be the case because I enjoy working here—” that wasn’t exactly true, but there was a limit to how assertive Flora was prepared to be in one session “—and I think there are many of your regular clients who would miss me if I wasn’t here.”

Celia’s eyes narrowed and her mouth tightened. “Fine,” she said finally. “But not a day longer than three weeks.”

Flora almost died of shock. Part of her wanted to check that she’d understood correctly. Are you sure? Do you mean it? Fortunately her instinct told her to quit while she was ahead. And she smothered the impulse to hug Celia, because her boss was about as huggable as a cactus.

“Thank you.” Flora turned and guided her shaking legs across the store to where Julia was wrestling with a huge hand-tied bouquet.

“What are you looking so pleased about?” Julia cursed as she trapped her finger under the knot she was tying. “And how do you make this look so easy? I’m the only person who can lose a finger making a bouquet.”

“I stood up to Celia.”

“Well good for you. And not before time.” Julia finally managed to tie the bouquet. “Does this look okay?”

Flora tweaked it a little. “It’s great.”

“So what did you say no to? Another weekend? Another early morning? That woman really pushes her luck.”

“I’m taking three weeks off in the summer.” She gave Julia a summary of her encounter with Celia but instead of punching the air and congratulating her, her friend looked appalled.

“You’re going on a three-week vacation? I can’t believe you asked Celia for that.”

“You’re the one who told me to stand up to her.”

“I know, but I was talking about not letting her force you to work every weekend. Not this. Three weeks with the dead wife’s best friend? Doing all the things the wife used to do? Are you sure about this?”

Flora’s stomach lurched. She was sure. She was. “Yes. I’m excited. I want to be with Jack. Being with Jack means being with his girls and fitting into his life. Fitting in with whatever they usually do as a family.”