"I'm looking for Rosalind Ashby. Rosalind Harper Ashby," she corrected. "Is she home?"
"Yes. She's upstairs. Come in."
"Thanks. I'm Hayley." She held out a hand. "Hayley Phillips. Mrs. Ashby and I are cousins, in a complicated southern sort of way."
"Stella Rothchild. Why don't you come in, sit down. I'll go find Roz."
"That'd be great." Swiveling her head back and forth, Hayley tried to see everything as Stella led her
into the parlor. "Wow. You've just got to say wow."
"I did the first time I saw it. Do you want anything? Something to drink?"
"I'm okay. I should probably wait until..." She stayed on her feet, wandered to the fireplace. It was like something on a television show, or the movies. "Do you work in the house? Are you, like, the housekeeper?"
"No. I work at Roz's nursery. I'm the manager. I'll just go get Roz. You should sit down."
"It's okay." Hayley rubbed her pregnant belly. "We've been sitting."
"Be right back." With Parker in tow, Stella dashed off.
She hurried up the stairs, turned into Roz's wing. She'd only been in there once, when David had taken her on the grand tour, but she followed the sounds of the television and found Roz in her sitting room.
There was an old black-and-white movie on TV. Not that Roz was watching. She sat at an antique secretary, wearing baggy jeans and a sweatshirt as she sketched on a pad. Her feet were bare, and to Stella's surprise, her toe-nails were painted a bright candy pink.
She knocked on the doorjamb.
"Hmm? Oh, Stella, good. I was just sketching out an idea I had for a cutting garden along the northwest side of the nursery. Thought it might inspire customers. Come take a look."
"I'd love to, but there's someone downstairs to see you. Hayley Phillips. She says she's your cousin."
"Hayley?" Roz frowned. "I don't have a cousin Hayley. Do I?"
"She's young. Looks like a teenager. Pretty. Brown hair, blue eyes, taller than me. She's pregnant."
"Well, for God's sake." Roz rubbed the back of her neck. "Phillips. Phillips. My first husband's grandmother's sister—or maybe it was cousin—married a Phillips. I think."
"Well, she did say you were cousins in a complicated southern sort of way."
"Phillips." She closed her eyes, tapped a finger in the center of her forehead as if to wake up memory. "She must be Wayne Phillips's girl. He died last year. Well, I'd better go see what this is about."
She got up. "Your boys settled down for the night?"
"Yes, just."
"Then come on with me."
"Don't you think you should—"
"You've got a good level head. So come on, bring it with you."
Stella scooped Parker up and, hoping his bladder would hold, went downstairs with Roz.
Hayley turned as they came in. "I think this is the most completely awesome room. It makes you feel cozy and special just to be in it. I'm Hayley. I'm Wayne Phillips's daughter. My daddy was a connection of your first husband's, on his mother's side. You sent me a very nice note of condolence when he
passed last year."
"I remember. I met him once. I liked him."
"So did I. I'm sorry to come this way, without calling or asking, and I didn't mean to get here so late.
I had some car trouble earlier."
"That's all right. Sit down, Hayley. How far along are you?"
"Heading toward six months. The baby's due end of May. I should apologize, too, because my car ran
out of gas right at the front of your driveway."
"We can take care of that. Are you hungry, Hayley? Would you like a little something to eat?"
"No, ma'am, I'm fine. I stopped to eat earlier. Forgot to feed the car. I have money. I don't want you to think I'm broke or here for a handout."
"Good to know. We should have tea, then. It's a cool night. Hot tea would be good."
"If it's not too much trouble. And if you've got decaffeinated." She stroked her belly. "Hardest thing
about being pregnant's been giving up caffeine."
"I'll take care of it. Won't be long."
"Thanks, Stella." Roz turned back to Hayley as Stella went out. "So, did you drive all the way from... Little Rock, isn't it?"
"I did. I like to drive. Like to better when the car's not acting up, but you have to do what you have to do." She cleared her throat. "I hope you've been well, Cousin Rosalind."
"I have been, very well. And you? Are you and the baby doing well?"
"We're doing great. Healthy as horses, so the doctor said. And I feel just fine. Feel like I'm getting big as
a house, but I don't mind that, or not so much. It's kind of interesting. Um, your children, your sons? They're doing fine?"
"Yes, they are. Grown now. Harper, that's my oldest, lives here in the guest house. He works with me
at the nursery."
"I saw it—the nursery—when I was driving in." Hayley caught herself rubbing her hands on the thighs