Read Online His and Hers by Ashley Ludwig - Free Book Online Page B

well-manicured hedges, flowering bushes, and weeping willow trees. A spouting water feature burbled in the center courtyard.
    The van circled around and pulled to a stop. Diane’s cell phone sang a country riff from her pocket. She answered with the standard Flower Field greeting, and quickly put the caller on hold. “It’s Mr. Wiggersham from the college, about the banquet.” Diane grinned. “Want to make this delivery?”
    “But, I…”
    “No buts. You inspired this. Now, go reap the rewards.”
    Misty glanced to the basket, and up to the huge front door. “What if they don’t like it?”
    “Honey, they’ll love it. And you’ve earned the right to see this all play out in your favor.” Like a mother bird from the nest, Diane pushed Misty out the door. “Go get ‘em, Tiger.”
    Clearing her throat, Misty mounted the steps one careful step at a time, the weight of the basket in her arms acted as a shield.
    At the press of her thumb, the bell chimed a hollow, mournful song at odds with the bright and sunny afternoon. While she waited, she took in the palatial view. The marine layer dramatically pushed up from behind the far-off mountains in a surreal display. Stark white clouds clashed into an invisible barrier where cool, ocean air met the inland heat. The fog bank shot up to the heavens in a wall—a fairytale castle reaching into an azure sky.
    At her back, the opaque glass front door opened. A forlorn looking young man, maybe in his mid thirties, answered. His brows knit together at the arrangement, then to the truck, and looked back to her. “She’s in there.” He gestured for Misty to come in, and be quick about it. “In the sitting room.” He pointed the way.
    Misty glanced over her shoulder to see Diane, shooing her on with rapid hands. With a deep breath, she wiped her feet and entered the marble foyer, turning right, as directed, and gulped.
    An elegant, yet casually dressed young woman had plunked herself on the couch to read the newspaper, feet drawn up underneath her, lotus style.
    Misty noticed she hid a tear-stained face behind the Currents section.
    At her husband’s appearance, the woman’s gaze flashed, cold and hard, much like the large diamond on her left hand. “Flowers? That’s not gonna cut it, Matt. Not this time.”
    “Baby.” His forehead wash-boarded with worry as he stepped to her side. “Please. Hear me out.”
    Misty could almost see the wall Emily had erected around her heart. Strong as the wall of wind that held up the marine layer outside, and about as ephemeral. She cleared her throat and stepped forward. “Mr. Raineer. The tickets to the event are inside. Just like you asked.”
    His brows lifted in obvious confusion, but he played along anyway. “Uh, thanks.”
    “I’ll set your peace offering down here.” Misty grandly set the basket on the marble coffee table, aiming it so Emily Raineer could see all its splendor. “That is, if it’s all right with you, ma’am.”
    Emily dropped a corner of the paper to view the contents. Mouth half-open, she scooted closer to give a quick inventory of the contents. Her paper forgotten, laughter replaced her scowl. Her twinkling eyes filled with tears of a different sort. She reached for him. “I thought you’d forgotten….”
    Mathew blinked through his confusion, and then, something registered behind his gaze. “Of course, my pet. I could never forget.” He knelt before his wife, taking her hands in his own.
    Misty backed the three steps to the arched doorway.
    Emily already had torn the plastic wrappings off the willow basket, and cooed over the two heart-shaped seedlings. She glanced up at Misty, and shrugged. “Matt proposed to me in an olive grove in Tuscany two years ago today. I thought he forgot.”
    “Well, that’s exactly why he suggested this unusual arrangement. It’s one of a kind. Plus, there’s a concert at the Long Valley Olive Grove Friday night. Classical guitar. The information and tickets