Send Me No Flowers Read Free

year.”
    Frank leaned back in his chair, folding his hairy arms across his chest. “For a holiday that celebrates love, it certainly seems to cause a lot of misery.”
    “That’s because we’re alone,” Lacie muttered. “Losers. If we were in love on Valentine’s Day, we’d probably enjoy it.”
    “Look,” Rachel interjected, hoping to lift their spirits. “I think we need to remember something here. A person doesn’t have to be in love to be happy. On Valentine’s Day or any other day.”
    “I know that’s what you keep telling us, Dr. Grant,” Lacie sighed. “But it’s hard to remember when everybody around you gets flowers or candy or sexy lingerie on the big day.”
    “Hey, not everybody,” Gina said. “The only thing my husband ever gave me was strep throat.” She looked up at Rachel. “Russell might be a worm, but at least you know he still cared about you. He sent you a beautiful bouquet of red roses last Valentine’s Day.”
    Seeing how everyone in the group had been so honest and open, Rachel knew she couldn’t lie anymore. “Russell didn’t send me flowers last Valentine’s Day.”
    Gina’s mouth dropped open as she stared at her friend. “But I saw the card. It read, Yours Always, and it was signed, Russell.”
    “It was a forgery,” Rachel admitted.
    “What kind of sick person would forge something like that?” Frank asked.
    Rachel’s cheeks grew warm. “Me.”
    Nobody said a word. Gina’s eyes grew wider. “You sent flowers to yourself?”
    “Pathetic, isn’t it.” Rachel’s fingers curled around her pencil, remembering how shocked she’d been by Russell’s sudden departure from her life. And still so emotional about it she’d pretended he’d gotten her flowers so she could delay all the awkward questions. “In a weak moment, I gave in to all the Valentine’s Day hype.”
    Irma smiled. “Well, dear, it’s understandable. We may pretend we don’t have to be in love to be happy, but Valentine’s Day seems to prove otherwise. And as my husband always says, if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.”
    As the rest of the group nodded in agreement, Rachel realized the awful truth. She’d let them down. But sending flowers to herself in that one weak, impulsive moment didn’t change her opinion. She truly believed each person was responsible for their own happiness. Falling in love might add to that happiness, but it wasn’t a necessary ingredient. Now she just needed to convince her group.
    Rachel smiled as an idea formed in her mind. “Why do we have to join them?”
    Lacie’s brow crinkled. “What do you mean, Dr. Grant?”
    “Well, we can’t be the only ones who feel this way,” Rachel said. “Especially when we live in Love, Michigan. The whole town is forced to celebrate what is potentially the most depressing day of the year. Now it’s up to us to set them free.”
    “Uh-oh.” Gina sat up straighter on the sofa. “I recognize that look in your eyes. It was the same one you had when you released all the frogs in our high school biology class.”
    Irma pushed up her bifocals. “What are you going to do, Dr. Grant?”
    She took a deep breath. “I’m going to boycott Valentine’s Day.”
    They all just looked at her. But the more Rachel thought about the idea, the more she liked it. No more sending flowers to herself. No more overpriced greeting cards. No more of those candy hearts with the cutesy messages.
    “I don’t think you can do that,” Irma said at last.
    “Why not?”
    “Well, it’s tradition,” Frank said.
    Gina nodded. “It’s an annual event.”
    “So is the flu,” Rachel countered, “but I still try to avoid it.”
    Lacie looked at her. “Are you really considering a boycott, Dr. Grant?”
    “I’m not considering it, I’m going to do it!” Why hadn’t she thought of it sooner? Action was always the best remedy for a case of the doldrums. She could already see the group’s despondency replaced by an air of expectation.