“Missus Flannigan, we’re out of Cleveland Sage,” Billy said. “And there’s a man here who wants a full pallet.”

I pulled off my reading glasses and set them aside. “How can we be out of Cleveland Sage? I just brought two-dozen pallets up on Wednesday.”

“You were gone yesterday, ma’am. Someone from El Cajon came in and bought all that was left. He bought all the Matilija Poppies as well. I put a note on your desk.”

My desk was a mess, but it was always a mess by the time Saturday arrived. I glanced around my desk only to find a dozen notes I hadn’t got to yet.

“No more notes, Billy. Send me a text message or an email. Or find Tisha, or Jennifer if you have to.”

He lowered his head. “Okay.”

“I’m not mad,” I said apologetically. “I just. I’m sorry. I’m frustrated. Not with you, though. Who bought the Cleveland Sage?”

He looked up. “He was a contractor for that new golf course. He said they’re the best he’s seen.”

My heart fluttered at the thought of such a compliment. But my operation was small. We didn’t buy flowers from wholesalers and resell them. We grew them from seeds. They were my babies.

“Oh, wow, tell him we appreciate his business,” I said. “And I’m sorry I wasn’t here yesterday. Cash and I were at the…we had a meeting.”

“Was it?” His face lit up. “Did you hear?”

“It was. And no, we haven’t. Not yet. We’re still waiting. Praying is more like it. Have you seen him? This morning?”

“He was in earlier, but just for a few minutes.”

Saturday was Cash’s only day to work at our nursery. He devoted about four hours to situating things, loading trucks, and doing heavy lifting.

Sometimes Reno would help him, and from time to time Tito or Ghost would show up. All in all, my dreams had come true. All but one, that is.

I set my glasses aside. “Thank you. I’ll see if I can find him.”

As Billy walked away, I glanced at my desk. Covered in notes, catalogs, and magazines, it was impossible for me to see all the notes Billy left on my desk. He was a great kid, but he wasn’t much of a techie.

The offspring of two SoCal hippies, he carried an old-school flip phone that he used for emergencies only.

I lifted one of the magazines, looked at the cover, and then tossed it aside out of frustration. As I dug through the piles of hand-written notes, my desk phone rang.

“Sherwood Florist,” I said. “This is Kimberly.”

“Kimberly, this is Janet, from placement. How are you?”

My heart stopped. “I’m uhhm. I’m.” I tried to swallow but couldn’t. I pressed my tongue to the roof of my mouth and swallowed hard. “I’m great.”

“I’m sorry to call on Saturday, but I felt it would be best if I did. I know how you and Brock have been disappointed with…well, there’s no sense in prolonging this. I’m sorry, I’m stammering, I think I’m as excited as you two are going to be.”

My heart pounded against my ribs. “Do I….do I have a reason to be excited? Do we have a reason to be excited?”

“You do. You’ve been selected,” she said. “Congratulations.”

I gasped, and almost dropped the phone. My eyes welled with tears. “Really?”

“It’s true. I have the paperwork drafted, and all we have to do is get everything signed. She’s scheduled to be born on the eighteenth of next month, so I hope everything’s in order.”

I reached for the Parenting magazine I’d cast aside and admired the cover. A precious photo of a baby girl holding a rattle brought tears down my cheeks.

“Kimberly? Are you there?”

I wiped my tears. “I’m sorry. yes,” I blubbered. “I am.”

“When can I expect you?” she asked. “To sign the paperwork?”

“Is this morning too soon?”

“It’s normally my day off, but I’ll be here until noon.”

“We’ll be there before noon,” I said excitedly. “Thank you, Janet.”

I drew a deep breath, regained my composure, and pressed the all page button on the phone.

“Cash Brockton Flannigan, to the office. Cash Brockton Flannigan to the office. This is a nine-one-one.”

I hung up the phone and smiled.

Before I could get the article on the joys of teething found, he rushed through the door. “What?”

With my mascara running down my face, I looked up.

His look changed from worry to disappointment.

“Time to saddle up,” I said. “We need to roll out in five.”

“What? What’s--”

“Janet called.” I stood and opened my arms. “We’re going to be parents. They accepted us.”

His eyes went wide. “For the girl?”

I nodded.

He rushed across the office and wrapped his arms around me, sweeping me off my feet in the process. After kissing me, he lowered me to my feet.

“We get to name her, and everything,” he said. “Right?”

“That’s right. She’ll have our last name.” I gestured toward the door. “Are you ready?”

“Should we call her now?” he asked.

“Oh shit,” I said with a laugh. “I almost forgot.”

He handed me his phone. “I’ll let you do it.”

She answered on the sixth ring.

“I was trying to draw a bath, and now I’m standing here with my arse to the window.”

I smiled. “Erin, this is Kimberly.”

She cleared her throat. “How in the name of Jaysus are you? I haven’t seen you in a month, Love.”

“I’m fantastic.” I looked at Cash and smiled. “You’re going to be a grandmother.”

The phone fell silent for some time.

“Erin,” I said. “Are you there?”

“Earth has no sorrows that heaven cannot heal,” she said. “This child is a gift.”

I looked at Cash and smiled.

Erin was right.

My life, in its entirety, simply couldn’t get any better.

It took a badass biker, a charitable thief, and a little Irish luck to make me realize it.