Trouble In Bloom by Heather Webber

work to do."
    I walked over to the coffeepot, took a deep breath and poured a mug. "What?" I asked at Kit's and Brickhouse's stares.
    "Coffee?" Kit said. "Are we out of Dr Pepper?"
    "Ach. I just stocked some."
    "I just wanted to try coffee," I said. "No big deal."
    Brickhouse clucked. "She's gone and lost her mind. First the hair, now coffee. What's next? A new wardrobe?"
    "The hair rocks," Kit said, smiling.
    "Thanks." I was glad Perry wasn't there to gloat. And I didn't mention to Brickhouse the shopping trip he had talked me into. We were going to meet later that week.
    I leaned against the doorjamb to my office, holding the mug tight, letting its warmth sink into my hands. I could get used to that feeling, especially now that temperatures were dropping like the autumn leaves outside.
    "Kit, I hired you a helping hand. He'll be here later on to meet everyone and turn in his paperwork. Ana sent him over. Ursula, if you could run the usual checks, that'd be great. Roxie, Nels, we have a road trip today, so, Roxie, if you need to take some medicine, do it now."
    She dove for her purse as the phone rang. Brickhouse answered it. "Taken by Surprise, this is Ursula. Mmm-hmm. Hold on." She looked at me. "Sherry Cochran, line one."
    "I'll take it in my office." Since wherever I went now included Nels and Roxie, they were on my heels as I entered my office, set my mug on the desk—still not having taken a sip—and picked up the phone. "This is Nina Quinn," I said. In the reception area, I could hear Kit and Brickhouse gossiping about Deanna. I covered the phone with one hand. "Can you close that?" I asked Nels, motioning to the door with my elbow.
    With the door shut, I focused on the conversation.
    "I'm so sorry I missed our appointment, Ms. Quinn."
    "Nina, please."
    "I was . . . delayed, then I completely forgot. My memory isn't what it used to be."
    I tried in vain to erase the image of what had delayed her.
    No luck.
    Willie's "It will all be over by Friday" was suddenly stuck in my head. It sounded so ominous, so sinister, especially in light of the death threats.
    "It's all right," I assured her. "I didn't wait long."
    "I was hoping to reschedule our appointment. I'd really
    like to get the ball rolling on a spring makeover for my parents."
    "This is a good time to start planning. Would you like to make an appointment to come in, throw some ideas around?"
    "That would be wonderful."
    I clicked open the computerized schedule book. Winter was my main planning time for next season. Most makeovers for spring would be booked in the next few months. There were always exceptions, though, especially where my family was concerned.
    Roxie gestured frantically.
    "Could you hold on?" I asked Sherry.
    "Sure."
    I covered the phone with my hand.
    In a stage whisper, Roxie said, "Is it possible to set one up this week? So we can film it? It would be great for the show, and some free advertising for you."
    Most of my publicity lately had been negative, what with stumbling across dead bodies and such. It would be nice to have a positive spin for once.
    I nodded and squinted at the computer screen. "Mrs. Cochran?"
    "Sherry."
    "How about Friday, Sherry, around one?"
    "Actually, Friday's not good for me."
    I wondered why and if it had anything to do with Willie's prediction. "Thursday?" I asked. "Ten o'clock?"
    "That would be wonderful."
    We said our good-byes and hung up. I tapped her name into the computer, clicked Save, and picked up the phone to call home.
    Where my mother should have been. I hadn't seen or heard from her, which was odd. I suspected she'd watched the show last night . . . She'd have seen my makeover. What did it mean that she hadn't called?
    My home phone rang and rang and finally clicked over to voice mail.
    I dialed her cell.
    It went straight to voice mail. "I need to talk to you," I said. "Give me a call."
    The warm mug soothed me. I held it to my lips.
    "Are you ever going to drink that?" Roxie asked.
    "I'm thinking