“I suppose he’s dying to exhibit that monkey-face orchid in Saturday’s big show,” said Drayton. He gazed at Angie and shrugged, almost apologetically. “It is a lovely plant.”
“It is,” agreed Angie. She lifted her head and focused her gaze intently on Drayton. “Which is why I want you to exhibit it.”
“What?” said a surprised Drayton, his voice suddenly rising a full octave. “Are you serious?”
“I couldn’t be more serious,” said Angie. “In fact, I want you to have the entire collection.”
“Oh, no,” stammered Drayton. “I’m truly touched, but I couldn’t accept such a magnanimous gift.”
“Of course, you could,” said Angie. “You were Mark’s friend and you have the skills necessary to keep the orchids going. If they stay here in our little greenhouse I’m sure I’ll either under water or overfeed them, causing them to just wither away.”
“It’s too much,” said Drayton, still protesting. He fingered his bow tie and gazed at Theodosia, hoping for moral support.
But she was firmly on Angie’s side.
“You can do this, Drayton,” urged Theodosia. “You’ve got the proverbial green thumb. Look how good your cultivation know-how is when it comes to Japanese bonsai.
You’re always winning awards at various exhibitions. Orchids might be a little trickier, I suppose, but I have complete faith that you can keep Mark’s collection going.
Besides, Drayton, your caring for Mark’s orchids would be a kind of . . . well . . . a living tribute to him.”
“A truly fitting memorial,” agreed Angie.
“Goodness,” said Drayton, still stunned. “I suppose when you put it that way . . .” He paused, wiped at the corner of one eye. “I’m just so very touched and honored. I mean, Mark’s got a Fen orchid and a Southern Twayblade. Either one would be spectacular to own. But both of them. All of them!”
“Then it’s settled,” said Angie, looking slightly hopeful for the first time in days. “Besides, passing the orchids on to you is the least I can do. You’ve given me so much help in planning Mark’s service at the cathedral.”
“Oh, I’m happy to,” said Drayton. “Well, not exactly happy, but . . .” Drayton stopped abruptly, looking supremely flustered.
Angie patted his hand gently. “That’s okay, Drayton, I know what you mean.”
Once Theodosia and Drayton had said their good-byes and were standing on the front sidewalk, Drayton decided he wanted to pop into Mark’s greenhouse. So they followed a stone footpath around the side of the large wooden inn to the secluded back garden.
Alternating squares of lush green lawn and redbrick patio were framed by well-tended flower beds. In the center a small pond teemed with goldfish. Wrought-iron tables and chairs and benches of woven river willow completed the relaxing scene.
The small greenhouse sat underneath the second-story walkway that connected the main house to the carriage house.
“This is amazing,” exclaimed Theodosia as they pushed open the creaking door and stepped inside. Brilliant green foliage highlighted by bright blooms stood out like neon against the whitewashed windows. Gravel crunched underfoot.
Drayton nodded. “Like we’ve been instantly transported to a magical, tropical garden.”
On either side of them large wooden tables were jam-packed with orchids, all in various stages of growth and bloom. Above their heads, flowering orchids were contained in wire baskets stuffed with sphagnum moss. Many of the longer roots dangled down, trailing in the air.
“Look at this white cattleya,” said Drayton. “So simple, yet so magnificent. And over here, a Jewel orchid.”
“What’s this one?” asked Theodosia, indicating a small orchid with brilliant magenta spots spattered against yellow-green petals.
“Don’t quote me,” said Drayton, “because I’m still an amateur when it comes to orchid culture. But it’s probably a Vandopsis.”
Theodosia’s eyes continued to take it all in hungrily.
“And are these bromeliads?” she asked. Reaching out, she touched the tip of her finger to a stiff, spiny plant that boasted a brilliant purple-pink flower in the center.
“They are,” said Drayton. “Sort of orchid second cousins.”
“Everything looks so healthy,” remarked Theodosia.
“Mark must have been an amazingly gifted horticulturist.”
“He was very particular about using only rainwater or distilled water,” said Drayton.
“And the aroma in here is simply heavenly,” sighed Theodosia. Inhaling the heady scents from the orchids reminded her of the poppy field scene in The Wizard of Oz.
Dorothy, the Scarecrow, and the Cowardly Lion are all seduced by the heady scents from the flowers and decide to curl up and take naps. Almost forgetting about their visit to Emerald City.
“Just think,” said Theodosia, gazing at the riot of blooming plants. “These all belong to you now.”
Drayton shook his head, a perplexed frown suddenly descending. “Too much,” he muttered. “It’s simply too much.”
When they finally got back to the tea shop, Theodosia coaxed Drayton into helping her unload the Jeep.
“Sure, sure,” agreed Drayton. “No problem.” He still seemed completely stunned by Angie’s generous gift to him.
She led him around to the back alley where her Jeep was parked outside the back door, then popped open the back hatch.
“Just these two boxes?” asked Drayton, grappling for the two cardboard boxes that had come from Loveday and Luxor.
“Right,” said Theodosia. “That smaller box is the one with the broken glass.”
“Good lord,” said Drayton as he struggled to pull out the boxes. “Just having those glass fragments around makes me nervous.”
“After tonight you won’t have to worry,” she promised.
“Hey,” said Haley as they tromped into Theodosia’s office. “Good thing you guys came back. We just got a mongo delivery from FedEx! Five big boxes!”
“My new teas are here,” exclaimed Drayton. “Outstanding!” He unceremoniously dumped Theodosia’s boxes on top of her desk and dashed toward the front of the shop.
Theodosia, who’d been following in Drayton’s footsteps, tried to stem the miniature landslide he’d set into motion on her desk. “I’ve just gotta clean this stuff up,” she vowed to herself.
“You want a strawberry muffin?” Haley asked Theodosia.
“There’s still a few left and I just latched the front door, so they’re yours if you want ’em.” Haley paused. “And there’s profiteroles, too. I could fill a couple with chocolate ice cream and top them with whipped cream.”
“Just a muffin is great,” said Theodosia as she slid her fingernails under the tape and pulled open the top of one of the cardboard boxes. “I’ll be right out.”
“Gotcha,” said Haley, disappearing into her kitchen.
Theodosia dug into the box, wondering if there was anything else of Mark’s that Angie might need right away. She sifted through a stack of business magazines and a week’s worth of the Financial Times. “This can all be tossed,” she muttered to herself, knowing it would be unproductive and wearing for Angie to sort through old publications.
Under a box of Cohiba cigars, Theodosia found an unused plane ticket, an invitation to an opening at the Cameo Gallery, and a brochure for the Plantation Ramble.
She glanced at these three items idly as she carried them out into the tea shop, ready to sit down and enjoy her muffin and probably sample one of the new teas that had just arrived.
True to his nature, Drayton already had a teapot steeping as he hurriedly ransacked through the rest of his boxes.