| Home | |
Previous chapters of the River Road story:
1
2
3
4
How should the story continue? Voting is open on the current chapter!
Last time, Mrs. DeLorca, after discussing the matter with her friends and family, decided to accept the job of Museum Curator. Eben, Mr. DeLorca and Mia Duomo all volunteered to do extra work at the gallery in order to help Mrs. DeLorca find time to manage the museum. Just as everyone was celebrating with pie, Nancy Wu arrived carrying a large bouquet of red roses. Nancy had come to pick up a necklace that her mother had purchased from Eben’s jewelry shop. Nancy explained that she had found the roses on the stoop outside the gallery. Mia assumed that the flowers were for her even though the card had no name on it. Mia told everyone that when she was a model she received flowers from secret admirers all the time. Mia read the card aloud. All it said was “For Beauty.” Since the card wasn’t signed, everyone was puzzled as to the sender of the flowers. What did they do next? Here’s what you decided.
Chapter 3: A Rose Without a Name
by Joseph Crisalli
“Maybe they’re for Shakuntala.” Mr. DeLorca suggested.
“No.” Mia pursed her lips. “They’re for me.”
“Who are they from?” Nancy asked.
“I don’t know. The card isn’t signed. It’s just those two words typed out. But, still, I used to get flowers from secret admirers all the time. So, it’s not too unusual.” Mia shook her head.
“Isn’t it just a little strange?” Eben raised one eyebrow.
“Not really.” Mia sighed. “Still, I wish I knew who sent them.”
“I say, how could we find out? Let’s forget the whole thing and finish that pie.” Mr. DeLorca stood up.
“I have an idea.” Nancy smiled.
“What’s that Nancy?” Mrs. DeLorca asked.
“Maybe we could call the florist and ask who ordered the flowers.” Nancy suggested.
“Oh, good thinking,” Mia smiled. “You’re always so smart, Nancy.”
“Thank you, Miss Duomo.” Nancy blushed.
“The florist’s phone number is on the back of the card.” Mrs. DeLorca pointed to the card Mia held in her hand.
Mia walked over to the phone on Mrs. DeLorca’s desk and dialed the number.
After a couple of rings, someone answered. “It’s a great day at Trellis Flowers and Gifts. This is Bette Trellis, how may I help you?”
“Hello Bette, this is Mia Duomo. Listen, we just received a lovely arrangement of red roses that had been sent from your shop, but the card isn’t signed. I’m sure it was a mistake. Could you tell us who sent them?”
“I’m sure we could Miss Duomo. Can you give me the address to which the flowers were delivered?” Bette Trellis asked.
“Yes, it’s 818 River Road.” Mia answered.
“818 River Road?” Bette asked.
“Yes. The DeLorca Gallery and the offices of ‘A Model New You’ on the corner of River Road and Pine Street on the old town square.” Mia explained.
“Let me check the computer.” Bette said.
After a long pause, Bette Trellis came back to the phone. “I’m sorry Miss Duomo, but, we don’t have any record of making a delivery anywhere on the town square today.”
“But, the card is from your shop.” Mia explained.
“Someone could have come in and bought the flowers here.” Bette said. “We have a rack of cards from which a person may select a note for the flowers. They usually just write the message on the card at the counter when they’re paying.”
“But, this message is typed out. It doesn’t even look like a computer printer, but as if it was typed on an old-fashioned typewriter.” Mia responded.
“I’m sorry, Miss Duomo. We didn’t deliver the flowers.” Bette Trellis answered.
“Well, did someone come in this morning and purchase a large bouquet of red roses?” Mia asked.
“I don’t know, Miss Duomo. I haven’t been here most of the morning. My brother, Trippy, was watching the store while I was helping Mrs. Conn set up the flowers for the Colbert-Littlepoole wedding reception.” Bette explained.
“May I please speak to Trippy?” Mia asked.
“I’m sorry, he’s gone out. However, I must say that we don’t give out the names of our customers. Some people wish to remain anonymous.” Bette said.
“And, some people wish to be left alone.” Mia sighed. “Oh well, thank you. Have a beautiful day.”
“Wait! Wait!” Mr. DeLorca shouted as Mia was hanging up the phone. “Ask her if she has any of those cookie bouquets. I say, they’re much tastier than eating flowers and such. Not that I mind either way. Hmmm…I wonder if I could make a bouquet of miniature pies. I say, I could use wee dowels. We could call them ‘Pie-onies.’ Yes, Yes.”
“Maybe someday,” Mrs. DeLorca cautioned.
“Oh yes, of course, no new projects presently.” Mr. DeLorca smiled.
“So, Mia, the florist wasn’t able to tell you who sent the flowers?” Mrs. DeLorca asked, changing the subject away from pie or pie-related inventions for the moment.
“No.” Mia shook her head. “She said they hadn’t made any deliveries to this part of town.” Mia smiled brightly. “Still it’s nice to know that the fans are still sending me flowers. And, really, there could be a no more fitting tribute than ‘For Beauty’!”
Mr. DeLorca and Mrs. DeLorca glanced at each other as did Nancy and Eben.
“What?” Mia raised her eyebrows. “I’m still beautiful! It’s not so unusual to think that someone would send me flowers.”
“It’s not that, Mia.” Eben nodded. “It’s just…”
“Now, wait a minute.” Mia laughed. “I know you all are mystery-solvers, but let’s not go looking for mysteries.”
“We don’t have to look for them, Miss Duomo.” Nancy sighed. “They tend to find us.”
“Well, this is no mystery.” Mia said firmly. “It’s just a sweet gesture.”
“Of course,” Mrs. DeLorca said. “And, speaking of gestures, I’d better go call the museum to tell them I’ve accepted the job!”
“Yes, and I’d better get upstairs.” Mia fluffed up her hair. “My first client is coming in a few minutes,” she added excitedly. “Her name is Edie Merrill. She’s going to open up a restaurant next to the convention center and she wants my advice on how to present herself and her business in the best possible way! I hope I can truly help her.”
“You’re going to shine, Mia.” Eben nodded.
“You think so?” Mia smiled. “Oh, who am I fooling? Of course, I’m going to shine!” With that, Mia hurried up the staircase to her offices above the gallery—clutching the roses in her well-manicured hands.
“Looks as if we all have something to do,” Eben said cheerfully. He smiled at his father, “Father, if you need any help with the gallery just shout for me. I’ll unlock the connecting door between our shops when I go next door.”
“Oh don’t worry about me.” Mr. DeLorca nodded. “Shakuntala’s going to help me wind the clocks. It’s amazing what she can do with her bird feet and such. Otherwise, there’s a statue in the back that needs an arm reattached. But, most of all, I need to keep an eye on what’s left of that pie.”
“Is it your eyes you’re going to keep on the pie or your mouth?” Eben teased.
“Let’s just say my whole face will be involved…and so on.” Mr. DeLorca’s eyes brightened.
Eben laughed, putting the leash on his dog, Sheridan, who wagged his tail happily.
“Come on, Nancy.” Eben said. “Sheridan and I will take you next door to my shop and get your mother’s necklace for you. I’m sure she’ll be happy with it.”
“I am, too.” Nancy nodded eagerly. “She can’t wait to wear it to the wedding tomorrow.”
“I’ve sold a lot of antique pieces to people that wanted to wear them to the wedding. It should be a very sparkly event.” Eben chuckled.
“I like sparkly.” Nancy said as she and Eben walked next door to “Eben’s Antique Jewelry Shop.” “That’s why I like coming here. Everything’s so shiny.” She paused and added, “Oh, and, I like to visit with you, too.”
“Thanks, Nancy,” Eben laughed.
When they reached the door to Eben’s shop, he paused just as he was about to unlock the door. Nancy immediately saw why he stopped. Sheridan barked loudly.
There on the steps just outside of the shop door was another large bouquet of red roses.
“Yes, Nancy, mysteries do tend to find us, don’t they?” Eben sighed as he picked up the flowers.
Eben opened the card that was attached to the bouquet.
“What does it say?” Nancy asked in a frightened voice.
“It says, ‘For Wealth.’” Eben said softly.
“What does that mean?” Eben asked.
“I don’t know.” Eben sighed again.
What should they do?
Go to next chapter!
Voting results for how the story continues:
| Vote! | ||||||||||
|
38.5%
30.8%
30.8%
