Book Nine by Diane Williams Doyle

Author:Diane Williams Doyle
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Berkinsville, Diane Williams Doyle, The Gossip, The BETS Project, Road to Fess Up
Publisher: Diane Williams Doyle
Published: 2023-04-06T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

November 12, 1966

Saturday morning Janet got up in time to have breakfast with her parents. She was alert for birthday surprises. So far no one had said a thing but she couldn't believe her parents hadn't noticed. At breakfast, they chit-chatted about nothing important. As they were finishing the doorbell rang.

George said, "It's kind of early for people at the door. I'll get it."

Molly walked over to the end of the table where she could look down the hallway. Janet joined her. There was a man at the door talking with her father. George called, "Janet, I think you better come deal with this." She and Molly went down the hallway to the front door.

Janet thought, it better not be a policeman with handcuffs! The man at the door was holding three beautiful red roses.

Delivery man, "Miss Janet Berkins?" She nodded yes. "I have a delivery for you from one John Richards." He handed her the roses with a card. "I'll get the other five dozen."

Molly, "Did he say FIVE DOZEN?!"

Janet opened the card. It said, 'Happy 22nd birthday. Please accept these 63 roses, one for each day I ignored you. John.' Molly read the card over her shoulder. Then they grinned at each other.

They watched the man walk back up the walk with two beautiful arrangements of a dozen roses each, "Where should I put these, Miss Berkins?"

Janet looked at Molly, "In the living room?" Molly nodded approval. The man took them inside and Molly helped him place them. Molly came back grinning at Janet.

George hugged Janet. "Happy birthday! Which do you like better, roses or handcuffs?" Janet gave him a hard look.

Janet said to Molly, "There's 3 more, how about 1 in the dining room, 1 on the kitchen table, and 1 in my room?"

Molly, "Works for me." She inhaled deeply. "Isn't the aroma of love wonderful?"

Janet, "It's the thought that counts."

George, "He must have done a lot of thinking."

Janet thought, he darned well better have. Then brightly she said, "I'm beginning to feel courted!"

The delivery man brought in the other 3 arrangements and placed them as directed. Janet thought, all right! This is the way to start a birthday. Her father tipped the delivery man as he left.

George, "Are you seeing him today?"

Janet, "After last year?! Not on your life! — But he said you invited him for dinner tomorrow." She thought, then we're going hiking.

Molly, "Aren't you going to call and thank him?"

Janet, "I'll thank him tomorrow." And she went off to her room.

Molly said to George, "Can you believe that! She isn't even going to call him."

George, "I have the feeling Mr. Richards is playing catch up and he has quite a ways to go."

Molly laughed, "You're probably right. I think he made good progress today though. — What is the most roses you ever bought me at one time?"

George, "Two, I think, in a corsage. But I was smart enough to stay ahead of the game. I never had to play catch up."

Janet did her chores, put one of the three roses in her hair, and visited with Diane.

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