Roses Have Thorns, page 14
I shook my head and wiped my cheeks with my hands. “He wouldn’t have had time to confess if you had.”
“You’re right.” He reached over to stroke Dundee’s head. “I’d say this guy has earned himself a steak.”
“Yes, he certainly has. He’s a good boy.” I turned to the dog, throwing my arms around his massive shoulders again and hugging him tightly. “The best boy.” I planted a kiss against his cheek and was rewarded with a doggie kiss on the tip of my nose. A fresh flood of tears swept down my cheeks as I realized I’d almost lost both my dogs. I vowed to never allow an opportunity to spend time with them pass by. They would be the most spoiled and well-loved dogs in the entire state of Maine.
After Sawyer was finished with his report and everyone was gone, we managed to salvage the brownies I’d dropped, turning them into cake pops and decorating them to look like turkeys. Then we retreated to the living room, where we sat on the couch, dogs at our feet and a fire in the hearth, and sipped whisky and water. I was still shaking a bit and Sawyer held me close. I slowly unwound and laid my head on his shoulder.
“Did you hear everything Doug said?” I asked.
“Every word. If he’s smart, he’ll plead guilty and take the prison sentence.”
“Maybe, but he doesn’t strike me as particularly smart. Arrogant, yes. Intelligent? Not so much.”
“You’re not wrong.” He chuckled. “You know, we’re going to have one heck of a story to tell people at dinner tomorrow.”
I laughed and pulled him closer still. His hand ran through my hair in a gentle motion, like he was soothing a spooked animal. Which I guess I was. I closed my eyes and heaved a huge sigh, letting go of the last of the tension and tears and nausea in my body. I was finally safe and so was my family and my dogs. Teresa would see her husband’s killer go to prison for the rest of his life, and Dawn Cove would be freed of a bully who had harassed it for years. Not too bad for a night’s work.
FLORIOGRAPHY
Below you will find a listing of the flowers mentioned in Roses Have Thorns, and the meanings ascribed to them by the Victorians. I’ve also included their scientific names as well as their common names. For further reading, I’d recommend checking out Floriography: The Myths, Magic & Language of Flowers by Sally Coulthard, or Floriography: An Illustrated Guide to the Victorian Language of Flowers by Jessica Roux.
Adiantum—maiden hair fern
bonds connecting people
Anemone—pasqueflower, windflower
White: sincerity
Aquilegia—columbine, granny’s bonnet
Purple: ingratitude; faithlessness; deceit
Asclepias tuberosa—butterfly weed
you’ve been warned
Asphodelus albus—white asphodel
regrets following one to the grave
Camellia japonica—common camellia, Japanese camellia
White: you're adorable; waiting
Dianthus caryophyllus—carnation
Pink: I’ll never forget you
Yellow: you have disappointed me; rejection
Forsythia suspensa—weeping forsythia
Yellow: anticipation
Lilium—lily
Orange: hatred; revenge
White: peace; purity; sympathy
Tagetes erecta—Aztec marigold
All colors: pain; grief
Tulipa—tulip
Red: anger; danger; wrath
Viola labradorica—alpine violet, dog violet
Blue: I’ll always be true; honesty
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I want to thank the following people for their guidance, support, and suggestions. Any mistakes in the book are there because of me. Any missing mistakes are because of them:
Be Bergquist, Tim Callahan, Steven Hildreth Jr, Angela Markham, and Marialena McManamey.
And always and forever to Michael, my rock, my best friend, my own personal comedian. Thanks for sticking around for the endless pop quizzes. Betcha never thought you’d be choreographing sea battles with light-up bouncy balls and Weeble Wobbles or coming up with alternative words for “pancakes” at two in the morning when we met, huh?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Before publishing her first novel, The Jezebel’s Daughter, Juliet MacLeod worked as a web designer, a 411 operator, and an on-air radio DJ. When not slaving away over a hot keyboard, Juliet enjoys reading, watching films (her favorites are The Princess Bride and PS—I Love You), going on walks with her dog, and listening to music. She has an unhealthy obsession with Benedict Cumberbatch's cheekbones and Jason Statham's smile.
Juliet MacLeod, Roses Have Thorns
