The next day, Amelia paused on her way out the door of her home. Drat! The phone was ringing.
She should just let voicemail pick up, but what if it was one of the sisters asking her to pick up something else from the store? With a sigh, she hustled to grab the phone out of its cradle.
“Yes? Hello?”
“Aunt A?”
The deep voice brought a broad smile. “Mackenzie! How wonderful to hear from you. Oh, but I really haven’t much time to chat, dear. I’m on a mission.”
He chuckled. “Funny you should say that.”
“Oh? Why is that?”
“Auntie A, I have a proposition for you.”
Well, this sounded intriguing. If only she had the time for it. “Really, dear, that sounds lovely. But I have to meet the sisters.”
“Perfect. When and where?”
She hesitated. “Mackenzie, exactly what is going on?”
“Love, dear auntie. Love is going on.”
Well, she couldn’t argue with that!
Kylie looked up as the bell on the flower shop door jingled. Three attractive, elegant women came in.
The Three had arrived.
“Greetings, ladies.” Mac moved from Kylie’s side to greet the women, and they showered him with praise and kisses.
“Oh, you look so happy, dear!” Amelia crooned. She turned her direction Kylie’s way, and held out a hand. “And so do you, Kylie.”
Kylie took Amelia’s hand and hugged her. “I’m awfully glad you all agreed to meet.”
“Well, we were coming here anyway in preparation of our own plan.” Ophelia came to hug her. “So it only made sense.”
Cecelia joined the circle. “Now, you two, tell us what this is about.”
As Kylie explained, she watched the aunts for any sign of resistance. There was none. In fact, all three seemed delighted at her idea.
“It’s quite perfect. It dovetails beautifully with what we had in mind.” Amelia’s eyes shone.
“Well, then,” Ophelia glanced around them, “I think we should get started.”
Kylie loved these women. “OK, we order the flowers—”
“I think we should order them to arrive while the meal is going on.”
Ophelia pondered this, then tilted her head in a nod. “You’re right, Amelia.”
“And they should be from Brendan!”
“Cecelia, you’re a genius,” Amelia patted her sister on the arm.
Cecelia smiled. “Well, of course.”
Kylie restrained a grin and followed the aunts to the counter. Mac kept his distance. Clearly he was preparing a case for plausible deniability.
“That one.” Ophelia pointed to a large, beautiful arrangement. “That will do nicely.”
The woman at the counter wrote the information on the order form. “And how do you want the card to read?”
Cecelia leaned forward. “ ‘To Lindsay. With all my love, Brendan.’ ”
Within moments, the order was completed, and they filed out of the store. Kylie looked at the aunts. “Everyone know their assignments?”
“Absolutely.” Ophelia’s smile took in her sisters and Kylie. “We’ll see you in two nights. At my place. And everything will be ready.”