Save the Date by Mary Kay Andrews

flowers for Torie, eight bridesmaids, and all the flowers for the church and the reception. And it’s too late to get more flowers shipped from California in time for tomorrow.”

Bert looked around the room, as though a new shipment of flowers might magically appear from thin air.

“What about the wholesale house? Can’t you call them? Or we could run over there and see what they’ve got.”

“Breitmueller’s? On a Friday morning in May? With all the weddings and proms going on around town? They’ll be picked clean by now. Anyway, they don’t carry the kinds of flowers we promised Torie. Lilies of the valley? Ranunculus? Casablanca lilies? Peonies? ” “What about Lamar?” Bert asked. “I know we usually see him on Thursdays, but maybe, if you called and told him what happened …”

Cara blinked back tears. “Lamar’s clear up in Atlanta, Bert. He’s not gonna come all the way down here just to save my bacon… ” Bert pointed at the phone. “C’mon, Cara. That old man loves you.

He might make a special trip, if you explained what was at stake.”

Cara shrugged and reached for her Rolodex. But before she could flip to Lamar’s card, the shop phone rang.

She picked up the phone, looked at the caller ID and her hand froze. The area code was one she knew by heart, 614 for Columbus, Ohio. And of course, the caller was one she knew all too well too.

She should let the call roll over to voice-mail. Ignore it. He’d only call back, and keep calling until she picked up. Her day couldn’t