After leaving Susan at the Adams Creek Farm, I got to Petal Pushers around lunchtime. When I walked in, I was surprised at how busy it was. There were several bridal appointments for brides with spring weddings who were picking out their flowers, and we had an unusual amount of people just in to buy flowers from our beautiful selection of marigolds, which we’d just got in. I couldn't blame anyone for that purchase. I couldn't wait until we moved into the farmhouse so I could have two lush purple marigolds on my own front porch. The day flew by, and it was a few minutes after five, as I was finishing up sweeping the floor before I locked the door, when a man rushed in, all frantic. I recognized Dale Meriwether. Susan's husband.
"Presley, is Susan here?" he said as he stood in front of me wringing his hands. His face was flushed and if I were to be honest, I thought he needed to calm down before he gave himself a stroke. His face was that red.
"No. I left her at the farm about noon to come to work. Why? Is something wrong?" I stood leaning against my broom.
"She texted me that she would be home about one thirty. But she never made it home and she hasn't answered any of my texts or calls."
"Maybe she just got distracted. She was quite intent on talking to Scott about the cooler situation. Maybe she just got talking about flowers and lost track of time."
"For four and a half hours? That's not like her. She never doesn't text or call to let me know what's going on."
While part of me thought she was a grown woman and maybe he was being a little over-the-top worried, he did have a point. She had great communication skills and even if she was going to be a couple minutes late to meet me, she would always call or text.
"Have you been out to the Adams Creek Farm yet? Maybe she’s still out there," I said.
"No, I haven't. You're right. I should go out there. Thanks, Presley," he said and started to head toward the door. He was so distraught I wasn't sure if he should be driving. I would feel guilty if I let him go and something happened to him.
"How about we go together?" I offered. "I was just getting ready to close up shop anyway."
"I don't want to inconvenience you."
"Oh, it's no problem. Even if she's not there, I can double-check with Scott about the cooler situation and make sure everything is how she wanted." I was sure Susan had taken care of it, but I didn't want Dale to feel bad about us going together because I really didn't think he should drive.
"Then as long as it's not an imposition, I will take you up your offer. I am a little frazzled."
It didn't take long for me to lock up and for us to get in my SUV and head back to the Apple Creek Farm. Luckily, I hadn't brought Bella or Topknot with me today, mainly because I didn't want them to distract me when I was meeting with Susan.
"Susan's really excited about this year's entry," I said to Dale, just trying to make conversation.
"This is her favorite time of the year. In fact, I think she likes the Fall Harvest Festival more than our anniversary and Christmas combined," he said, and I could tell by his voice it didn’t bother him.
"I admit it's fun, but I'm not sure I'd go that far."
"Well, you just recently got married. Wait forty years,” he said, and I could hear a hint of a smile in his voice. Hopefully, he was calming down a little.
I couldn't help but smile. It was clear that Dale loved his wife. I kept making small talk with him on the fifteen-minute drive back out to the farm. I wanted to keep his mind from thinking the worst. We pulled into the farm, and I veered off to the parking lot in front of the barn where the event was being held. The barn doors were still open, which was good. It had occurred to me when we came out here that since there wasn't an event going on in the barn this weekend, it could be closed and then we would have to track down Scott, which might be difficult after five.
Dale barely waited for me to park before he jumped out of the car and strode to the door. I got out and jogged to catch up to him. We walked through the barn doors, and I immediately saw Scott and one of his employees—I thought her name was Jenni—moving around some tables. I guess I was wrong about them being gone by five. Scott looked up and seemed a little confused to see us.
"Is there something I can help you with, Presley?" he asked as we approached.
"Have you seen Susan?" I asked.
"No. I was gone all day driving the tractor for hayrides because I had someone call in sick. I just came down here about thirty minutes ago to help Jenni with the tables for a Boy Scout event we have tomorrow."
"She was here looking for Scott, but when I told her he was gone, she said she would just come by tomorrow," Jenni said.
"Is there a problem?" Scott said.
"Dale hasn't heard from her for a few hours so we're just trying to find where she is," I spoke up, because I could see Dale was wringing his hands, getting upset again.
"Sorry, I haven't seen her," Scott said.
"Well, I'm here, so I might as well ask you what she wanted to talk to about," I said. Not that I really cared as much about the cooler situation as Susan did, but I thought it would at least put her mind at ease because I had a feeling once we found her, Dale was going to be none too happy at her lack of communication. "She wanted to see if we could make sure not to share cooler space with someone new to the event. She said they don't always use the cooler correctly and she didn't want to have a wilting problem."
"Trust me, I don't want to have a wilting problem like last year. She ripped me a new one over that and I still haven’t got over it," Scott said with a small smile. "I added a spring feature to the coolers’ door hinges after last year, to make sure that they will close automatically and stay that way. Come, let me show you, and then you can assure Susan there will not be a repeat of last year."
We headed to the back, Scott leading the way, followed by Jenni, then me and then Dale. We reached the coolers and Scott stopped and muttered something that sounded like an obscenity under his breath. When I glanced at him, his face was white as a sheet. I looked at the cooler he was staring through the glass door at, and I saw what had him rattled. Susan's limp form was slumped on the floor of the cooler. Dale let out a scream as he caught a glimpse. Scott and I opened the door to check on Susan. Scott bent down and checked for a pulse, and even before he shook his head that it wasn't good news, I was pretty sure by her grayish-blue pallor she was dead.