KATY

Most of the old shops in Pelican Bay looked the same with small pieces of exposed brick on the sides and a large window at the street side. The Pelican Bay nursery followed the same design requirements, except someone covered most of the space in front of the window with plants so the interior of the building had a dark shade cast over it even with the lights on.

"Hey, girl," I called out as the door—lacking a bell—closed behind me.

The ...