“That sounds like a great idea. I’ll talk to them about it. I’ve asked them to come back on Monday. And I want them to make another bouquet, if that’s all right with you.” She moved a little closer.

Dixie stuck her head out of the kitchen. “I thought I heard your voice, Daddy. How’d you get away from work so early?”

“Had a nice slow day, so I left before five. Thought maybe we’d have supper in the café downtown,” he said.

“Ta-da!” Tabby came out into the foyer with a huge red-rose bouquet in her hands. “We made it pretty big since the mannequin is a big girl like us. When we get married we don’t want to walk down the aisle with a little old single calla lily in our hands.”

Fate!

That’s exactly what it was. The bouquet was almost exactly what Ellie Mae had described, and Mitzi beamed with pride at the magnificent work they’d done. “I’d like to keep this one back for a week. Could you make another one for the mannequin on Monday, maybe in pink so it would be different than this one?”

“Why?” Dixie asked.

“Because one of my customers may want to buy this one, and if she does she may also want you girls to do the corsages and the rest of the flowers,” Mitzi answered.

“You’re serious? It’s that good? It looks a little oversized and gaudy to me,” Graham whispered.

“I’m dead serious. See you girls on Monday. We’ll get you measured then. Paula is looking for a pattern that we can adapt for your dresses,” Mitzi said.

“Can Daddy see the sketches you made?” Dixie asked.

“And are you tellin’ us that we might get a job doin’ this?” Tabby asked.

“I’d sure like it if you girls could work for me from three to five each day this summer. We can talk more about it when you get here Monday. Your dad is waiting to take you to supper right now.” She picked up a pad. “The sketches are right here.” She flipped it open so Graham could see.

His hand brushed hers as he took it from her, sending waves of tingles through her body. She had to get a firm grip on this silly schoolgirl crush. She’d be seeing him often if the twins were at the shop every day. Besides, if he was still attracted to the same kind of woman as Rita, he’d never see Mitzi as anything but an overweight woman who was good to his kids.

“Those are very nice, girls. I’m glad you didn’t get crazy,” he said.

“We wanted to,” Tabby said.