Boswell, LaVenia by THE DAWNING (The Dawning Trilogy) Page B

you, Jas?”
                “Don’t thank me yet,” he warned with a smile, all the same.  His face glowing with happiness over her excited response.  Looking around he spotted Barbara.  Dragging Jenny along he headed toward her.
                “Missus Bastar, may I introduce you to Jennifer, my friend I told you about.  She’s a writer too, just not novel published – yet, but it won’t be long.  She’s a very gifted person and I certainly think a talented writer.” 
                Jason smiled proudly at Jenny and with slight pressure of his hand on her back pushed her forward to meet Mrs. Barbara Bastar.
                “Jason Zonelli, if you call me missus again, I’ll simply have to kiss you to remind you I’m still a younger-type woman.  You can leave my husband out of it too while you’re at it, it makes him feel old as well.  Plus, it makes it difficult for me to act frisky what with you calling me missus and all.  If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you ten times, I’m just plain ole Barbara to you and to your friends,” Barbara stated with an exaggerated batting of her eye lashes.
                “Hello, sweetheart,” Barbara exclaimed excitedly, turning to Jennifer.  Then in a stage whisper, “I don’t know if you are privy or not but our Jason here is a closet romance reader.”  Putting her finger to her lips she added, “Shush, though, we certainly don’t want any of his cronies to discover his delicious secret.  My books sales would plummet then, for I do believe the dear boy buys them by the cartons to keep my name on the lists.”
                Jennifer laughed and glanced at Jason to see if it had embarrassed him.  No.  He was at ease and smiling happily at her joke too.  Who knows, maybe he did do that?
                “I’m deeply honored to meet you, missu-, huh, Barbara,” Jenny stated while trying to get her jitters to subside.  This was such a complete thrill to meet, face to face, one of the best selling female authors on today’s market right here at Jason’s friend’s party.  She almost had to pinch herself to make sure she wasn’t actually dreaming.
                “That’s better my dear.  And I must say it is my honor to meet such a lovely young woman who befriends our precious Jason.”
                Barbara began looking all around with a puzzled look on her face. 
                “Barbara,” Jason asked with concern, “may I get you anything?”
                Finally spying what she was looking for she looked back at Jason.  “Yes, dear boy, those patio chairs would be nice, set up three over by that garden wall so we can relax and talk proper.  That is, if you don’t mind?”
                While Jason was getting the chairs, Barbara took Jenny’s hand and began walking to the wall she had mentioned.  “I absolutely adore the fragrant flowers Lillian has managed to grow here.  Salty air and soil isn’t conducive to great flower growing you know.”  Looking at Jenny she smiled and asked, “Do you like flowers much dear?”
                “Yes, ma’m.  I’m certainly not a good horticulturist though.  I’m afraid I even tend to kill cacti.  Actually even had a few silk flowers go south on me a time or too,” she laughed with the memory.
                “We must be birds of a feather, my dear.  I only grow succulents, which are supposed to be rather hearty.”  Winking she admitted, “I’ve somehow managed to kill almost every pot I’ve ever had.  That’s why I admire precious Lillian so much.  The dear girl could probably root a can of vegetables.”  They both laughed.
                “I leave all the gardening to my wonderful husband Howard.  He buys me fresh cut flowers to keep in the foyer to fool our guests into thinking I can actually garden.  He says it’s a