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Overview
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781522300052 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Pelican Book Group |
| Publication date: | 05/14/2017 |
| Series: | Flowers Can Be Fatal |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 96 |
| Sales rank: | 435,936 |
| File size: | 822 KB |
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
Dutch Crocus
a complimentary Flowers can be Fatal story
By Clare Revell
Pelican Ventures, LLC
Copyright © 2017 Clare RevellAll rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-5223-0005-2
CHAPTER 1
Flowers can be Fatal
Carnations in January shake the foundations
Violets in February are an aid to salvation
Daffodils in March bring betrayal and loss
Sweet peas in April consume all the dross
Lily of the Valley in May brings danger untold
Roses in June show hope in a heart filled with gold
Water lilies in July a town will submerge
Gladioli in August love from the ash will emerge
Forget-me-nots in September are on the front line of fear
Marigolds in October will test her career
Chrysanthemums in November show the burden of choice
Holly in December lets a broken family rejoice
Dutch crocuses bring the year to a close.
The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.
Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. ~ Isaiah 35:1-2
End of June
Sam West leaned against the back door for support and watched her husband, Adam, kneeling in the dirt. Shirt tossed to the path beside him, sweat sheened his back in the heat of the morning sun as he planted crocus and tulip bulbs in the borders along the side fence. It should provide a riot of color in the spring.
Dutch crocuses were a tiny multicolored flower that sometimes blossomed with twin blooms, and which budded in early spring, year on year. Sam loved their meaning — remembrance. She'd tried telling Adam that, ideally, they should be planted in autumn, but he wanted to do them now before he forgot.
They were for Immy. Something to remember their daughter by, as the crocuses should bloom each year around the anniversary of the day they lost her.
Sam gripped the cup in her outstretched hand, the sun reflecting off the wedding and engagement rings she wore. Even though the cup was at arm's length, her stomach still churned in the nauseating way it had seemed to do constantly for the past couple of weeks.
How swiftly life changed. At the start of April, she'd been alone, her marriage in ruins — ten years separated from the only man she'd ever loved, and now here they were, together, remarried and happy. He'd taken her on a surprise 'honeymoon' trip to Holland in the middle of May, arranging it all without her even guessing a thing. They'd ordered the bulbs whilst they were in Amsterdam.
Due to arrive in mid-September, for an autumn planting, the bulbs had instead arrived ten weeks early.
Adam glanced up at her and smiled. "Is that coffee?" he asked, a hopeful glint in his eye.
Sam nodded, moving over to him. She swallowed hard. "Yeah."
His earth-covered fingers grazed hers as he took the cup. "Thanks, love." He sat back on his heels. "I can't remember the last time I did this. This is what Saturday mornings are made for. Gardening, flowers, being with my wife."
"I guess so." She swallowed hard.
"You OK, honey? You don't look so good."
"Don't feel it, to be honest. I might go lie down again."
Adam caught hold of her hand. "Sweetheart, isn't it time you saw a doctor? You've been sick a good two weeks now."
"It's just the stress of finding a new job, that's all. You know, I've been out of work since the whole mess in April and ..." She swallowed hard and pulled free. "Sorry." She clamped a hand over her mouth and dashed inside.
* * *
Adam watched Sam go, concern gnawing at his insides. This had been going on way too long for his liking. It had to be more than the simple stress she was insisting it was. She was throwing up far too frequently. She no longer drank anything but water, and would eat only plain toast — if he forced the issue. He'd tried telling her she didn't need to work, they could manage just fine on his salary, but Sam was nothing if not fiery and independent. If he were honest, that was one of the things he loved about her.
He drained his cup and pulled on his shirt, before heading to the house. At the doorstep, he toed off his muddy shoes and then crossed the kitchen to wash his hands before he went up to the bedroom to check on Sam. She lay curled on her side. Her brow glistened.
"Adam?" Her hand reached out for him.
He sat on the edge of the bed and cradled her face, not liking how warm and clammy she was. "I'm calling the doctor," he said. "This is more than a simple stomach bug, and we both know it. And with me starting this big case next month, I'll be working nineteen hour days again. I need to know you're going to be OK."
She shook her head. "Leave it another week, and I'll be fine. Just allergic to mornings." Her eyes closed again.
Adam sighed. Why wouldn't she listen to him? Perhaps she'd listen to her aunt. And if not, perhaps her aunt would come and stay. He didn't want Sam to be alone when she was this sick.
He grabbed the phone from beside the bed and dialed. It rang twice. "Hi Aunt Lydia, its Adam."
"Hello. How are you, dear?"
"I'm fine. Sam, on the other hand, isn't too good. She's been sick for a good couple of weeks now. I have a huge case starting on the sixth and probably lasting about five months. There's no way I can be around to care for her like I want to be. Is there any chance you can come and stay for a week or so from the fifth onwards?"
"Of course. How sick is she?"
Adam sighed, ignoring the face Sam pulled at him. "Right now, she can't even keep water down."
"Has she seen a doctor?"
"This is Sam we're talking about, Aunt Lydia. She won't let me call."
"Don't give her a choice. I'll drive up tomorrow for a couple of days, but then I'll have to leave. I have something here I need to do next week. I can come back to you around the tenth if that's all right. Now, put her on the phone."
Adam gave Sam the phone and folded his arms. He watched his wife's face change before she finally acquiesced and gave him back the phone. "OK?"
Sam pulled a face at him.
"It's me again," he said into the receiver.
"She agreed. See you tomorrow."
"That's wonderful. Thank you. See you tomorrow." Adam hung up and looked at Sam. "She's coming tomorrow for a day or two and will come and stay for a while from July tenth."
Sam groaned. "She's worse than my mother was. She wants me to drink."
Adam handed her a glass of water. "Sip this."
"It won't stay down."
"Don't argue." He watched her take a few sips and stood. "I'm going to go make that call."
Sending up a prayer for the sickness to ease, Adam reached for the church members' directory. He hoped this wouldn't come under the heading 'breach of friendship', but he was desperate. "Hey, Jackson, it's Adam. I'm sorry to ring like this, mate. Especially on the weekend. I know how much you value your days off."
"Not a problem. What's up?" Dr. Jackson Parker's American accent rang in Adam's ear.
"It's Sam. She's been sick for a good two weeks now and can't even keep water down. Could you come check her out for me before I take her down to the ED and waste their time? Sam reckons she's just allergic to mornings and stressed."
"Give me five minutes."
Before Jackson even arrived, Adam's pager beeped, and he groaned.
Sam looked at him. "Go. It's fine."
"You need me more than work does."
She took his hand. "I'll be OK. I'll text you after Jackson's been and tell you what he says."
Adam reluctantly headed to work. Three hours later when he felt his phone vibrate, his heart sank as he read Sam's text.
Jackson admitted me. On Robin Ward to be rehydrated.
* * *
Sam lay curled up on the bed, the IV really not making any difference to how horrible she felt. The doctor had prescribed something for the nausea, but that was yet to kick in.
"Sam?"
She opened her eyes and reached for Adam's hand. His lips were just as cold as his fingers. "You're wet."
"It's chucking it down." He sat. "Why are you on maternity? I had to ask at main reception which part of the hospital —" He broke off as she held out the scan photo. "What's this?"
"Take a look," she whispered, watching his face. Would he be pleased? Shocked? Scared? Because right now she was all three.
Adam looked down at the black-and-white print out in his hand. "Honey?" From the blank look on his face, it was almost as if he'd never seen one of these before. Which she knew he had. Eleven years ago.
Sam reached out a finger. "That's a head," she whispered. "And that's another one." She took his free hand and placed it on her stomach. "You're going to be a daddy. Twice over."
Adam's eyes glistened and his bottom lip trembled for an instant before he broke into a smile. "Oh, Sam ..." He gently pulled her into a hug, and Sam gave in to the emotions which had filled her ever since Jackson told her what he suspected. Since then it had been a round of tests and scans and she hadn't had time to think, never mind process anything.
Her whole body shook. "I'm so scared," she whispered.
Adam's hand rubbed her back. "I'm scared, too, honey."
She looked up at him, the tears on his cheeks matching the ones on hers. "What if we lose them, like we did Immy?" "Whatever happens we're in God's hands," he whispered, kissing her. "So how about we take it to Him in prayer?"
CHAPTER 2Mid July
Sam looked at Aunt Lydia. "Honestly, I can't eat anything."
"Sam, you'll be back in hospital if you don't at least try." Aunt Lydia sighed. "And I don't think any of us wants that."
Sam shook her head. She'd been in hospital surrounded by pregnant women for three weeks, and that was enough.
"I'll make soup." Aunt Lydia moved to the TV and flicked it on. "While it's heating though we can watch the quiz program you like, or the news."
Sam picked up her phone and checked it. No message from Adam. She'd barely seen him the past few days. He was tied up with a criminal case in the crown court — his first. He was acting as junior one of the other partners while running his own cases as well. If he found he enjoyed the work, the possibility was there to do more of the criminal side of the practice rather than just family law. The downside being the fact he was putting in eighteen hour days five days a week in court while Saturday's were spent catching up with his other cases.
She picked up the TV remote and changed the channel. "No ..." Her breath caught in her throat and the remote fell from her hand. She shook her head. "Aunt Lydia!" she screamed.
Aunt Lydia ran into the room. "What is it? What's wrong? Is it the babies?"
Sam shook her head, pointing at the TV. The picture, taken from a helicopter, showed a wall of water bearing down on the town of Wolf Point — Aunt Lydia's home. The rest of the footage was images of the submerged town.
Aunt Lydia sank onto the sofa, tears running down her face. "It's ... gone ..." she whispered.
Sam reached blindly for her phone and hit speed dial praying Adam would pick up and wouldn't be in a meeting.
"What's up, honey?" Adam answered.
"I need you," she whispered. "Can you come home?"
"Not really, I'm in the middle of a case meeting. I only answered the phone because it was you and you're sick. What's up?"
"There's been a storm surge," she managed. The pictures on the TV showed complete devastation, the whole of the south west coast declared a disaster area and off limits until the water receded. "Wolf Point is gone."
There was a short deep hiss of breath before Adam replied. "I'm on my way home."
* * *
The speed camera flashed as Adam flew passed, but he didn't care. He also didn't care it would be his second fine in less than a month. He'd gotten the first the day Sam was admitted to hospital. The radio filled him in on the storm and destruction as he drove. He could only imagine how Aunt Lydia felt.
He arrived at the house to find Jackson's car outside. Fearing the worst, he ran down the path and let himself in. "Sam!"
"Here ..."
Adam ran into the lounge. Sam met him in the doorway and he threw his arms around her. "I saw Jackson's car and I thought ..."
She kissed him. "I'm fine. Aunt Lydia's just being over-protective, that's all."
"In my defense, Sam fell down the step into the kitchen," Aunt Lydia said.
"And I'm fine," Sam told him. "It's Aunt Lydia we need to worry about. She's lost everything."
Adam looked at Lydia. "Are you all right? The radio is full of the news of Wolf Point."
"At the end of the day it's just a house and stuff, and it hasn't really been a home since Gerry died fifteen years ago. I'm more worried about the lighthouse keepers. They haven't found any of them yet. The lighthouse was destroyed — there's nothing left apart from the base."
Jackson finished putting his things back into his bag. "I'll be off." He looked at Sam. "No more falling down stairs."
"It was one step." Sam shook her head at him. "But I'll be careful."
"Good. I'll see you in clinic on Monday, but if you're too sick, call, and I'll do a home visit instead."
Adam saw Jackson out and then went back into the lounge. The TV pictures were worse than what the radio said. Darkness wasn't helping the rescue efforts any.
"Glad you were here, Aunt Lydia," Sam whispered.
"Me too. Although they seem to have had enough warning to get people away from the coast."
Adam glanced at her. "Since when did you heed an evacuation warning?" He knew full well she'd ignored the one several years ago. "I know it's a little early to be thinking this, but I haven't sold my flat yet. If you want it, it's yours. I was going to mention it this weekend anyway, but now it just seems right."
Sam looked at him then at Aunt Lydia. "That's a brilliant idea. You'd be here in town then. Close enough to help out and see the twins grow. Not that we want you to leave ..."
"Thank you. I'll think about it." Aunt Lydia looked back at the TV. "Have to see what's left."
Adam met her gaze. "I'll drive you down as soon as they say it's safe."
"What about work?"
"Family is more important. I'll speak to work, sort it out."
CHAPTER 3August
Sam sat in the waiting room in the hospital clinic. "I thought he'd have been here," she said. "I did tell him."
Aunt Lydia patted her hand. "I know, but he was in court and these things can drag on and on."
"So much for this 'family is more important' thing he had going a couple of weeks ago." She sighed again, resting her hand on her stomach. "I want him here."
"I know. And perhaps he will be. There's time yet."
"Maybe. Sometimes I think work is more important than we are."
"That's not true." Her aunt's tone shocked her. Aunt Lydia frowned. "You know he's working this case to provide for you and the babies. He doesn't like the long hours any more than you do. And have you told your dad yet?"
"Not yet. Adam still needs to talk to his parents, too. Although I can't see that happening any time soon. You know they haven't spoken since he married me." Sam picked up her bag as the nurse called her name. "Let's go do this."
"Sam!"
She turned. "Adam, I didn't think you'd make it."
"I begged a recess from the judge. He gave me an hour." He hugged her. "I wasn't going to miss this one if I could help it." He slid a hand into hers and walked with her. Then, he turned. "Aunt Lydia, you come too."
The older lady's face creased into a smile. "Are you sure?"
He nodded. "Yes. Come on."
Sam lay on the bed and closed her eyes as the sonographer smeared the jelly over her belly.
"It'll be OK," Adam whispered from his seat beside her.
She held his hand tightly, not opening her eyes. Terror gripped her, knotting her stomach. She didn't want to look, couldn't let herself get attached to the children within her, because nothing would go the way she'd want it.
"Sam ..." Adam shook her hand. "Sam, look."
Slowly, she opened her eyes and looked at the screen. "Oh ..."
"They look perfect," he whispered. "And so tiny. Are they all right?"
The sonographer smiled. "They're good sizes for their dates. When are you due?"
"February eighteenth," Sam replied. She held Adam's hand tightly, her gaze riveted to the screen. "Is it safe to tell people now?"
"Of course."
Sam looked at Adam. "Should be interesting telling the parentals."
He rolled his eyes. "To put it mildly. I'll ask them all to dinner one evening next week. We'll tell everyone at once."
She caught her breath. "Are you mad? Your parents haven't spoken to you for the last ten years. And my dad hasn't got a nice thing to say about them because of the way they've treated us."
"And it could well be the last thing we ever do, so let's just go out with a bang."
"More like fireworks or handbags at dawn," Sam said wryly.
Adam chuckled. "Good thing we like fireworks then, isn't it?" He looked at the sonographer. "Could we have four photos, please? I'm happy to pay for the extra copies."
The sonographer smiled. "You don't need to pay."
"Thank you." Adam looked at Sam. "Perhaps the photos will work as bribery."
Sam snorted. "In your dreams."
* * *
Adam stood beside Sam as she opened the front door to her father and step-mother. She hugged them. "Hi."
Vincent looked at her. "You look sick, child."
"I have been, but I'm getting better slowly. Adam and Aunt Lydia are taking good care of me. Come on in." She peered down the road before she shut the door. She turned and shook her head at Adam.
He nodded and held out a hand. "Vincent, LaVera, it's good to see you. Married life seems to be agreeing with the both of you. Come on through. Lydia's just finishing up in the kitchen. She's made one of her famous dishes minus the spices, because spicy food upsets Sam's stomach right now." He caught Sam's arm as she followed her parents. "They'd better come after all this."
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Dutch Crocus by Clare Revell. Copyright © 2017 Clare Revell. Excerpted by permission of Pelican Ventures, LLC.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Table of Contents
Contents
Title Page,Copyright,
Editor's Note,
Books by Clare Revell,
Clare's Dedication,
End of June,
Mid July,
August,
September,
October,
November,
December,
December,
December 14th,
February 18th,
Carnations in January - 1,
Carnations in January - 2,
Flowers Can Be Fatal Series,
You Can Help!,
God Can Help!,
Free Book Offer,
