Wildflower (14 page)

“My books?” She seemed a bit puzzled then the
light of understanding reached her eyes. “Oh my god, the books,
Tommy, where are they?”

“On the coffee table; the rest are in your
room.”

Hazel was already tearing open the box as he
spoke. “Ohhhh, Tommy just look,” exclaimed Hazel as she held up a
glossy hard bound book with a bunch of yellow blossoms on the
cover. “Rare Blossoms of the Avalon. A Photographic Essay by Hazel
Fillmore.”

Tears flowed freely down her cheeks as she
caressed the book and hugged it to her. “Oh god, I never thought
this could ever be real. I never ever believed this could be
real.”

“It’s real honey,” he grinned as he took her
gently in his arms and kissed the top of her head. “You sit and
gloat while I make us some green tea, then we’ll have a look
through it together.”

A while later Tommy beamed with pride as he
tucked his own personally autographed copy into his bookshelf.
Hazel sat smiling sweetly as she gazed at the book in her lap. “I
figure we have to sell three hundred copies at thirty dollars to
get the money back and give you enough to pay off the last of your
student loans,” he mused.

“Oh lord Tommy, how are we ever going to sell
that many books?”

“Not to worry my little pumpkin,” he smiled
as he resumed his seat beside her, “that’s my job, remember? I said
I’d do it for you and I will. I’ve got one more exam to write in
two weeks, and then I have the Christmas break. I’ll do what I can
now then I’ll sell the rest during the break.”

“Oh Tommy, do you really think you can?”

“Hey, I worked in sales out west, remember?
Piece of cake, just watch me go.”

True to his word, Tommy hit every book seller
and gift shop in the city as well as dozens of the general stores
in the outlying areas on his next days off. He managed to sell over
two hundred copies wholesale. Once the break came along he arranged
to have a booth set up in a major grocery store where he sold them
personally at the full retail price.

It had been a long day and sales were slow.
Tommy had used up most of his charm a few hours ago and he was
nearly ready to give up and go home when he saw her. Tommy smiled
as he thought of the dazzling blonde Hazel had described to him.
Could this be the same woman he wondered?

“Now what have we here?” asked the smiling
young goddess. She was dressed like a wealthy woman from the middle
of the last century. Her looks would easily have drawn her enough
attention, but add in the costume and she was like a rock star.
Everyone in the store watched her every move. She was very much
aware of it all and was obviously enjoying the attention. Right
now, her own attention was focused on Hazel’s book. Tommy grinned
and launched into his sales pitch.

“These photos are exquisite,” she remarked
when Tommy finally stopped for breath. “I have seen so many of
these blossoms near my home. This is just like having spring again.
You are right my friend, these will make excellent Christmas gifts,
as they will let me show all my friends everywhere what it looks
like where I live. Is the photographer local?”

“Oh yes, she lives right here in St. John’s,”
replied Tommy.

“Do you know her personally?”

“She’s a dear friend.”

“And so you have been pressed into service
today. When next you see your friend, please tell her how much I
enjoy her work. I’ll take ten copies please.”

“Ten copies?” he gasped, not really believing
he’d heard her correctly.

“I have friends and family scattered
everywhere,” she laughed with a sweet rich laugh. “I’ll need at
least ten.”

“I can give you the wholesale price,” he
offered.

“Thank you, but I get the feeling this was
self published, is that correct?”

“Yes, she’s hoping to sell enough of them to
pay off her student loans.”

“Then I will pay full price today, it is
Christmas after all,” she replied as she opened her purse and took
out a wad of cash. Tommy carefully counted the money, then carried
the books out to her car and put them in the back for her. The big
dog gave a soft growl, but she silenced him with a quick hand
signal. She thanked Tommy who had also loaded the rest of her
groceries into the car for her. “Tell your friend I wish her all
the success she so obviously deserves, and I hope to meet her
someday so I can get my personal copy autographed.”

“And that’s the whole story Hazel,” sighed
Tommy as he finished relating the encounter to her. They were
ensconced on the couch and Hazel was leaning forward eagerly as
Tommy recounted his encounter with the dazzling blonde goddess.

“Describe her again for me Tommy,” urged
Hazel as she finally relaxed back into the sofa.

“Why, are you getting turned on?”

“Stop it you fool,” she admonished as she
slapped his arm. “Actually, you’re not so very far from wrong.
Tommy, I think you met my mystery woman.”

“Your mystery woman?”

“Yes, you know, the one who made me give
myself away at the hairdresser’s, and the one we saw the day I got
the money together to have the book printed? Green station wagon
car, dog in the back, she dresses retro but rich, hair like fine
spun gold, eyes so blue it almost hurts, and a thousand watt
smile?”

“That’s the woman; she’s really getting under
your skin isn’t she?”

“Somehow I just can’t seem to help myself,”
she smiled wistfully. “What is her voice like?”

“Oh no my girl, I will not abet your
fantasies any longer. Oh alright, her voice is sweet, not too high
or whiny, just rich and sweet. Ok? That’s all you get now.”

“Did she really like my book Tommy?”

“She bought ten copies,” he grinned, “and
when I told her you were local and trying to make enough to pay off
the old student loan, she insisted on paying full price. She said
she hopes to meet you one day and get her personal copy
autographed.”

“I’d truly love to meet her too,” sighed
Hazel. “Say, aren’t you supposed to be doing the dishes?”

“Can’t, I’m working,” he replied as he walked
to the desk and turned on the computer.

“Excuse me?”

“Look honey, I’ve gone as far as I dare in
that old car of mine. Now I have to get creative. I had the cover
and a few of the pictures scanned in for the computer; I have them
on this CD. I’m going on line to find every Newfoundlander I can
and sell them a book.”

“You’re joking.”

“God’s truth,” he replied as he sat in the
chair. “There are millions of them out in Alberta for instance.
I’ll bet they have clubs and specialty stores and everything. We’re
going into the mail order business my dear. I promised to sell all
those books, and I’m going to do just that.”

“Thank you Tommy,” whispered Hazel as she
kissed the top of his head on her way by to the kitchen. “You are
my best friend in the whole world.”

“Just you remember that at Christmas.”

“It’s already bought and wrapped,” she
laughed as she started the water running into the sink, “and don’t
waste your time looking for it. I’ve got it at Sharon’s to keep you
honest.”

“Brat,” he laughed as he set to work.

It was late when Tommy finally surfaced
again. Hazel made a pot of tea and brought it to the living room
for him. “So how’s it going?”

“Well, I found dozens of possible places,” he
said as he collapsed onto the sofa. “I’ve e-mailed all of them,
sending a couple of the pictures along with the sales pitch. Now
all we can do is wait and see if they respond.”

“Tommy, I can’t thank you enough for all
this. You are working yourself to the bone for me and I truly want
you to know how much I appreciate it.”

“Could I do less for the woman who rode to my
rescue when my world fell apart?” he asked softly as he patted her
hand. “We’re friends who go the extra mile for each other Hazel.
Right now we are all we have and we need to always be aware of
that.”

“I am always aware of that sweetie,” smiled
Hazel. “Whenever I have been up the creek, it has always been Tommy
to the rescue.”

“And it was Mamma Hazel to the rescue when I
needed a place to land. You know, since we have been sharing the
expenses, I have had more pocket money than ever before in my life.
I think the idea of working a bit more and studying a bit less has
made quite a difference to the quality of my life.”

“Really?”

“Yes really. I have more available money and
more leisure time. I can give each course I am taking my full
attention and my grades are reflecting that. You know, at this rate
I may not have to take out any loans next year.”

“Come on, you’re not getting that much
work.”

“I know, but if I take two more years to
graduate, I can work a bit more and pay cash as I go,” replied
Tommy as he twisted in his seat to face her. “Think about it Hazel,
no student loan, no pressure. Can that be so bad?”

“No dear,” she smiled as she patted his hand,
“I don’t think that is so bad at all. In fact I am proud of you. I
think you’re starting to get the hang of this life thing.”

“So does that mean you’re going to marry
me?”

“Dat, dat, dat, I said not until the summer
and then I will give you an answer,” she replied gently.

“The blonde really turns your crank doesn’t
she?”

“Tommy, I am so sorry, but yes she does,”
whispered Hazel softly, “and I can’t even tell you why.”

“It’s Ok honey,” he said warmly as he
gathered her into his arms. “We are who we are, and you are
attracted to women as I am to men. You have to keep your eyes open
for this one Hazel. Find out about her, is she single, is she
interested, you know the drill.”

“I know, but how do I find this mystery
woman?” sighed Hazel relaxing into his arms and laying her head on
his shoulder.

“Well, she has several copies of your book,”
mused Tommy thoughtfully, “maybe she’ll contact you. You know, a
fan letter or something.”

“Shit!” exploded Hazel as she leaped to her
feet and grabbed a copy of the book.

“What??”

“Now I know what has been nagging at me since
we got the books,” muttered Hazel as she carefully scrutinized the
cover.

“I repeat. What???”

“The contact information isn’t on here,”
sighed Hazel as she closed the book and let it fall back to the
coffee table. Shoulders slumped; she sank back in to the
overstuffed chair with a look of total despair. “I knew we’d
forgotten something but I just couldn’t see what it was.”

“Well, the wholesale buyers can find us
through the printer and so can Blondie if she wants to.”

“Yeah, I suppose so,”

“Of course she can and of course she will,”
he said brightly, trying to cheer her up. “Hazel my duck, there is
only one thing left to do.”

“What’s that?” she asked, smiling in spite of
herself.

“Next year you have to publish another and
this time we will make sure it is all there. Better yet, the next
time you won’t have to give the proceeds to the government because
your loan will be all paid off.”

“Thank you for that Mr. Cheerful,” she smiled
as she rose and kissed his cheek lightly. “I am feeling better, and
you are right, I will have to find even rarer specimens to shoot
and a new book will be the long range target.”

“That’s my girl. Now will you make me a
peanut butter sandwich while I change for work?”

“Late shift again?”

“Afraid so. They don’t call it the graveyard
shift for nothing.”

“All right honey, I’ll make your lunch,” she
smiled.

With Tommy off to work, Hazel took a long
bath then prepared for bed. Lying between the soft flannelette
sheets she let her fingers run lightly over her body as she called
up an image of the bluest eyes she had ever seen.

Getting Through

Abby paid for her groceries and headed toward
the parking lot. She had worn this old style outfit on a whim and
it had been a blast. Everyone looked at her the way they would at
movie star. The best part was how warm the woolen dress actually
was. Abby was truly having a wonderful time.

There was a young man sitting at a table
selling books, and he was on her way so she stopped to chat. The
flowers on the cover caught her attention as did the young man. She
noticed that he hadn’t glanced at her hardly at all. A short chat
and a mild attempt at a flirtation later Abby was convinced he was
gay, but now she was thoroughly intrigued by the book.

The photographs were spectacular and they all
were of familiar blossoms. She glanced through a few of the short
poetic descriptions the author had made of how she had found and
captured each shot. The woman was not a botanist; she was a lover
of the outdoors and a photographer. Abby was enchanted and she
bought several copies to give as gifts at Christmas.

The young man said that the artist was a
local and that she was trying to pay off her student loans. Abby
felt the woman was wasting her time in school, she had already
found her calling. Singing softly to Hubby as she drove, Abby
headed for home well pleased with her day.

She drove a little slower on the way home as
the storm was picking up a bit, but the new spiked tires sang a
welcome tune as they cut through the snow and gripped the road
firmly. It was well after dark when she finally arrived at the
door, and it took her several trips to carry everything into the
kitchen for sorting. First the groceries had to be put away then
the gifts separated from the decorations. Abby had packed the poor
car so full there had barely been enough room for her and the
dog.

Once the perishables had been stored away,
Abby changed into her sweats and engaged Hubby in a game of
tug-o-war and chase. Only after she collapsed from exhaustion into
a living room chair did the big dog relent and flop down to sleep.
Abby affectionately patted his side and smiled. “I’m really sorry
that today wasn’t much fun for you big man,” she whispered softly.
“Tomorrow will be better; we’ll pull on hiking boots and take a
long walk along the beach. I will pay better attention to my man’s
needs from now on, I promise.”