Wedding Flowers

Ben, Joimus, and Ahnna

By Jo and Layne

Ben Wade was actually a little hesitant as he pulled his SUV up to the greenhouse on the Meridius property. He needed to talk with Joimus about flowers for the surprise wedding he was arranging for Liana, but at the same time, he remembered the looks on the faces of Joimus and Ahnna shortly after the picnic.

When he'd almost killed Luke. When he would have killed Luke if not for Liana's stepping in to stop him. If the two women didn't think much of him right now then, hopefully, they'd at least think enough of Liana to want to do this for her. Getting out, he approached the door of the greenhouse, stepping inside out of the sun.

Joimus was off to one side, rearranging some pots of New Guinea impatiens when she saw Ben enter. He wasn't one you'd generally associate with being in a greenhouse, so she was curious as to why he'd come, and come alone at that. "Good day, Ben," she said, wiping her hands on a rag as she walked toward him. "Where's Liana?"

Ben gave Joimus his most charming smile. "Good day, ma'am. Oh, she's home, prob'ly plantin' some more of those flowers she got from you or, at least, tryin' to figure out where she's gonna put 'em. She's turned into more of a homebody than I ever thought she'd be."

Joimus cocked an eyebrow. "And is that fine with you, Ben?"

Ben looked at her curiously.He wondered just what she was getting at, asking him that question. 'Course, most people these days acted like it was a crime, wanting to have your woman at home cookin' and cleanin' for you these days. Ben liked it, though. And it didn't mean he didn't enjoy her other qualities too. Liana's intelligence and her strength. He just liked havin' 'em put to use for him, rather than someone else.

"Oh, it suits me to a tee, Miz Meridius. I like havin' her close to me all the time."

"She's a lovely woman," Joimus nodded. "I can understand that."

Just then Ahnna came out of the office. "Joimus," she said, "do you know where...? Oh, hello, Mr. Wade. I didn't know you were here."

"Miss." Ben nodded at Ahnna, trying to maintain a quiet, calm look. Ahnna had been the one who seemed most nervous of him after the picnic.

"Yes, ma'am. She is lovely. And a good woman, too." Ben turned his attention back to Joimus. "Which is why-" He hesitated for a moment, not being used to talking about such things with women. "Which is why I'm plannin' a new weddin' for us. An' I was hopin' I could get you and this young lady-" He gestured toward Ahnna. "-to help me out with it."

"A wedding?" Joimus repeated, her curiosity now really roused. "Flowers? I presume that's why you've come? But wouldn't Liana want to pick them out?"

Again, Ben put on one of his winning grins. It wasn't the first time he'd heard a question like this, and it wouldn't be the last either. "Well, she prob'ly would--if she knew about the weddin'. Thing is, it's a surprise for her. She's not to know a thing until we actually get there." How would they take that? He wondered.

"Not...a thing?" This was a first for Joimus. "Well," she looked at Ahnna, "what, then, do you think she'd like? Are we speaking of her bouquet or the complete flowers for the church? Oh, where will the wedding be? I guess I need to ask that first."

"Well, Preacher Harris is doin' the weddin' down at the church. As for flowers for there, well- I'm guessin' you'd know more about that than I would!" Ben grinned again. That's one reason why I'm comin' to you. As for her bouquet, and any others you might need to make... I can tell you which flowers she likes the best. And which colors."

"That would certainly be a big help," she agreed, casting another look at Ahnna, who was standing quite quietly, not looking particularly happy to be there but too polite to leave. "You'll need to give me a price range, too, for what you'd like done in the church."

Ben gave a wide smile at that. Money, he understood. "Price range? You don' need to worry none about that. I just want it beautiful for her. You see that it is and whatever it costs, I'll pay."

"All right, Ben. I'll see that it's lovely. Now what kinds and colors of flowers does Liana prefer?" Would he actually know, she wondered.

Ben was ready for the question. He'd listened to Liana talking over the last months and especially while she planted flowers and wondered over what plants to try in the yard.

"She likes yellow roses, especially the little ones--miniature, I think they call 'em. And iris, like the preacher has some of over at the church. Loves the blue ones. The bluer, the better, for her. And there's a certain kinda lily..." He trailed off for a second, waiting for the name to come to him.

"Calla. That's it. Calla lilies. White ones." He grinned at Joimus. Could tell she hadn't thought he would know.

He smiled over at Ahnna, hoping to relieve a little of her anxiety about him. "How does all that sound to you, Miss?"

"It sounds quite lovely," she said, rather impressed that he knew which flowers Liana liked. "I'm looking forward to helping decorate the church." It would also be another chance to see Alistair in action. She liked weddings at the Glen for that more than anything and her lips curved in a little smile as she thought about it.

"A date, Ben," Joimus spoke up. "I'll need a date so the callas will be fresh."

"March 20th," he told Joimus, noticing Ahnna's smile. "And you're all invited to attend as well. There'll be some formal invitations sent out shortly. Oh, and- I'm about to go an' see the potential maid of honor now. I'm guessin' she'll need flowers too?"

"Yes, she will," Joimus nodded, getting rather intrigued by the whole concept of a surprise wedding. "And you, will you be wanting one for your lapel?"

"Absolutely, ma'am." Ben's smile was getting broader, as this was proving to be easier than he'd thought. "And one for my best man, too. I'll leave it to you what they should look like."

Ben could tell they were warming up to the idea. Hopefully, to him as well. Women always thought weddin's were romantic. Wondered what they'd think if they knew that part of the reason for this weddin' was to make up for an earlier one that hadn't been quite legal.