THOUGH NOT FROM ASSISI

"I wish they had more than one night," Joimus sighed as Maximus drove them home from Alistair and Ahnna's wedding in Coffs Harbor that afternoon.

"I cannot be helped," Maximus replied, his lips a bit tight. "Marce's funeral is tomorrow."

"I know...still I wish." She looked out the window at the passing trees for a while. "In the morning I want to make up an arrangement for the top of Marce's coffin. I want there to be a...a...padding of flowers
on it before Ahnna has to see it."

Maximus smiled to himself. Sometimes his wife used flowers very much as he had used his sword, as a weapon against the vagaries that life brought one's way. "What about the Greenery?" he asked. "Now that Ahnna does not wish to work there so soon after the attack. You cannot run it all alone, not even you."

"Ahnna mentioned a young woman who has the flat across the hall from her, well, from where she used to live. She thinks she might be interested. I suppose I'll give her a call this afternoon. If that doesn't work out, I'll try an ad in the paper."

"What do you know about this person?"

"Not all that much. Ahnna likes her, which is a recommendation in itself."

"And her name...?"

"Claire. Claire Francis." Joimus grinned broadly. "Though not from Assisi."