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Previous chapters of the River Road story:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
How should the story continue? Voting is open on the current chapter!
Last time, Mia Duomo called Trellis’ Flowers and Gifts to try to find out who had sent the red roses to the DeLorca’s gallery. Bette Trellis, the owner of the shop, said that though the flowers may have been purchased at her shop, neither she nor her brother, Trippy, had delivered the flowers. While the others were baffled by the mysterious flowers, Mia was happy enough to think that she had been remembered by a fan. Mrs. DeLorca went to call the museum to tell them that she would accept the job as curator while Mia went up to her office to prepare for her first client, Edie Merrill. Eben, along with his dog, Sheridan, took Nancy to his shop next door to pick up the necklace that Nancy’s mother had purchased for the wedding the following day. Nancy and Eben were surprised to find another bouquet of roses outside of Eben’s shop. What did they do? Here’s what they decided.
Chapter 4: Platitudes and Attitudes
by Joseph Crisalli
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?” Nancy asked.
“I don’t know.” Eben sighed again.
“This is all very weird.” Nancy raised her eyebrows.
“It is.” Eben nodded. “Now, I know these weren’t sent to me by a fan. I definitely don’t have any fans.”
“And it’s clear they’re sent by the same person that sent the flowers to Mia.” Nancy added.
“Actually, we don’t know that they were sent to Mia.” Eben wondered aloud. “The card on the flowers at my parents’ building said, ‘For Beauty.’ While Mia is definitely beautiful, so are the paintings, statues and antiques that my mother and father sell at the gallery. So, the words ‘For Beauty’ could be symbolic of what they sell at the gallery.”
“And the card on the flowers we found by your shop said ‘For Wealth.’ You sell jewelry which is something that people associate with the very rich. When you think about wealthy people, you think they have a lot of jewelry. So, that card could be symbolic, too.” Nancy continued.
“Yes,” Eben nodded.
“So who would take the time to do something like that?” Nancy asked. “And, what does it mean?”
“I’m not sure.” Eben shrugged. “I wish my mother wasn’t on that call with the museum people. She’s so good at figuring out these sorts of things.” He looked at Nancy and smiled. “Of course, I do happen to be in the company of the ‘Number One Junior Mystery Solver’ in Vista Falls. So, what do you suggest?”
“I think we should go to Miss Trellis’ flower shop.” Nancy said.
“But, Bette Trellis already told Mia over the phone that she didn’t know anything about the roses.” Eben shook his head.
“Maybe she doesn’t.” Nancy smiled. “But, that doesn’t mean that we won’t find any clues at the shop.”
“Good thinking.” Eben nodded. He glanced down at his dog. “Sheridan, want to go for a walk?”
Sheridan wagged his tail.
“I’ll bring the flowers along, too. Maybe Bette Trellis will recognize them.” Eben said. “But, what about your mother’s necklace?”
“I’ll pick it up when we walk back. Do you mind leaving your shop closed for a little while longer?” Nancy asked.
“No. It’s near the end of the day anyway.” Eben said. Besides, Father’s next door if anyone wants anything. I’ll just tell him where we’re going.”
Eben, Nancy and Sheridan popped back into the DeLorca’s Gallery and Eben showed his father the flowers that they had found outside the jewelry store.
“I say, I knew we had a bit of a mystery on our hands when Mia claimed those flowers as a gift from a fan.” Mr. DeLorca sighed. “What a pickle. Mmmm…pickles. I say, did I ever tell you about the time that we had the Pickle Parade back home in Londonderry?”
“I remember it,” Eben nodded. “If you’ll recall, I built one of the floats.”
“Oh, yes, yes of course.” Mr. DeLorca said. “I had never seen a station wagon coated entirely with pickled cucumbers before. I was sick for weeks, but it was quite delicious. To this day, every time I see a vehicle with a hatchback, I get a little flutter in my heart. Or is that heartburn? Oh well, it’s too late to decide now and such, and so on…”
Mr. DeLorca began to get that dreamy look in his eyes that he would get when he thought about food.
“Father,” Eben said quickly, “We’ll be right back. You’ll be okay here alone?”
“I’m not alone, dear boy,” Mr. DeLorca said brightly. “Your mother’s in the back, Mia Duomo’s upstairs, and I do have my favorite feathered helper here to assist me in my various duties whatever those might be.” He waved happily at Shakuntala. “Now, you go on to the florist and see what you can find out. We’ll expect a full report forthwith and all that.”
“We’ll be right back.” Eben nodded. “See you soon…”
Eben, Nancy and Sheridan hurried toward the gallery’s doors when suddenly a woman stormed into the shop. She almost tripped on Sheridan’s leash!
“Ugh!” The woman shouted. “What IS that?”
“I’m terribly sorry. We didn’t see you coming. If we had, I’d have made sure my dog’s leash wasn’t in your path.” Eben apologized.
“IS that what that is?” The woman groaned. “A DOG?”
Sheridan whimpered.
Eben looked at his four-legged friend. He couldn’t quite understand how anyone would think Sheridan was anything other than a dog.
“Well, yes,” Eben answered, puzzled.
“I don’t care for dogs.” The woman sniffed angrily. “I don’t care for any animals. I don’t even care for people—much.”
“I see.” Eben nodded slowly. “Well, then, again, I’m sorry we got in your way.”
Mr. DeLorca stood up. “May I help you?”
“Maybe.” The woman rolled her eyes.
From the corner of the gallery, Shakuntala flapped her wings and squawked loudly.
The woman screamed loudly. “My stars! What IS THAT?” The woman shouted.
“That is a she. Her name is Shakuntala and she is a pelican. She, I think, would best be described as one of those animals that you’ve mentioned you don’t care for.” Mr. DeLorca answered.
“Is this a zoo? Dogs and penguins…”
“Pelicans. She’s only one pelican, though, undeniably, a large one. She is not a penguin.” Mr. DeLorca explained.
“Same thing.” The woman grunted.
“Not at all, really. I say, but they are quite different.” Mr. DeLorca answered plainly.
“Who cares?” The woman moaned.
“I say, really.” Mr. DeLorca began to look agitated. “Again, I repeat, is there anything I can do to help you?”
“I’m supposed to meet someone named Mia Romo or something…” The woman squinted.
“Duomo. Mia Duomo.” Mr. DeLorca nodded. “Her office is upstairs.” He pointed to the wide staircase to the right of the front door.
“You mean I have to climb stairs?” The woman complained loudly.
“No.” Eben said. “There’s an elevator in the back.”
“You mean I have to walk all the way back there?” The woman whined.
“Those would be the only two ways upstairs, yes.” Mr. DeLorca said patiently. “Unless of course you’d like Shakuntala to carry you in her beak. She’s been known to fly with a woman hanging from her beak. Just ask Mia Duomo.”
“My stars! No! I don’t want that THING touching me.” The woman scowled.
“Well, then, I say.” Mr. DeLorca stammered.
“Can’t you tell Mia Cuomo to come downstairs to see me?” The woman asked rudely.
“Duomo.” Mr. DeLorca corrected her politely.
“Tell her my name is Edie. Edie Merrill.” The woman said. “I’m going to open a restaurant. This Droano woman is supposed to help me with my attitude or something. Who knows?”
“Duomo.” Eben said this time. “Her name is Duomo. Mia Duomo.”
“Same thing.” The woman sighed loudly. “Listen will you get her down here or not?”
“I’ll run up there.” Nancy volunteered—eager to get away from Edie Merrill. “I’ll get Miss Duomo. Then, Eben, maybe we can go to the florist?”
“As quickly as we can.” Eben smiled.
“So,” Mr. DeLorca said uncomfortably. “You’re going to open a restaurant? You must be a lover of food, then? We have much in common. I adore food.”
“I hate food.” The woman sneered.
“Oh!” Mr. DeLorca’s eyes widened. “I say, why, then, are you opening a restaurant?”
“Hey, I gotta do something. Right?” The woman shrugged.
Nancy raced back down the stairs. “Mia’s on her way. I warned her…I mean, I told her that you were here, Miss Merrill.”
“Good enough.” Edie Merrill slouched down into a chair by the door. She put her feet up on a little table.
“Ummm,” Eben began, “That table is over two hundred years old.”
“Then, my feet won’t hurt it any.” Edie snorted, using her fingernail to pick at her teeth.
“Father,” Eben said quickly, “Nancy and I are going to the florist. Good luck with…all of this.”
With that, Nancy, Eben and Sheridan raced out of the gallery on their way to Trellis’ Flowers and Gifts.
At that very moment, Mia Duomo was making her way down the staircase in typical Mia Duomo style—making a grand entrance. She was excited to be meeting her first client. Though Nancy had hurriedly told Mia that Edie Merrill was more than a bit unpleasant, Mia was still eager to begin her consulting business.
When Mia arrived downstairs she smiled and waited to be noticed.
Edie Merrill turned quickly and saw Mia Duomo at the foot of the stairs looking happy and beautiful.
“My stars!” Edie snapped. “What are you supposed to be? You look like a department store mannequin from forty years ago that suddenly came to life!” The woman laughed rudely. “You’re this Mia Gromo who’s supposed to help me? You don’t look like you could open the twist-tie on a bag of bread let alone help someone open a business.”
Never in her life had anyone ever spoken so rudely to Mia Duomo (and that’s saying quite a lot considering some of the mean things people have said to Mia over the years). Mia’s hands began to shake and she looked as though she might cry.
“I say!” Mr. DeLorca said quickly, leaping to his feet, insulted for his friend.
“Come on!” Edie continued to laugh. “Let the living doll talk!”
What should Mia say?
Go to next chapter!
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