Bluebell is a beautiful place, and whoever says otherwise deserves a swift kick to the butt.
Like wrinkly old Rutger, sweet Rose, and Cam, Lillian prizes the village's flowers above all else. Their reds and blues splatter the lush orange canvas set by the sun. They even smell the way flowers are supposed to: fragrant, just as her childhood storybooks and adolescent fantasy novels described them.
She visits Jessica's first. The woman is about to close shop, but the girl asks for some chicken feed.
"Of course! How much would you like to buy?"
"The cart's pretty heavy today, so maybe…five pounds?"
"I'm sure Prince can handle at least seven."
"Make it seven, please!"
They exchange laughter. Business is business, and chickens need to eat. As Cheryl stacks the sacks in Lillian's arms, Jessica titters and calls, "Ash, get in here! Help a customer out, won't you?"
"Okay, Ma!"
Over bouncing pigtails and red ribbons, one abashed farmer looks at another farmer, also abashed. Ash grabs the sacks from his little sister's hands. "C'mon."
Leaving a pouting Cheryl behind, the two exit the store and stock the goods in Lillian's new caravan. Lots of shifting, lots of puzzling over whether it's safe to pile crabs on top of eels on top of smelt.
"I don't want to start any fights, you know?"
"You should really put the fish in the fridge, Lillian."
Yeah. She pushes a loose lock of hair behind her ear. "Good advice, Ash. Good advice."
"No problem. If you ever need other tips, especially on farming, feel free to ask. I'm here to help."
"That's sweet of you, Ash." She sticks her arm back into the cart and grabs a container sitting beneath a jar of walnuts. "Would you like some scones?"
"Wow, you baked them yourself?"
"Yep."
"Thank you!"
Lillian watches him accept them with a tip of his cap. It's plaid and reddish and matches his kerchief. Her gaze slips to his pant—aloons. He wears brown stockings, like a German aristocrat posing in an eighteenth century oil painting.
"Well, I've got to buy some flower seeds from your BFF," she says.
"BFF? Oh, you mean Cam." Ash's face brightens, blue eyes round. "Tell him I said hello."
"I will." She walks away with a wave. "See you tomorrow."
"Good bye."