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“They’re gorgeous. You didn’t have to do that, but wow, am I glad you did.” I offer her the bundle of flowers, and she sets them down on the table.
“What kind of florist would I be if I didn’t bring flowers to a gathering?” I chuckle anxiously.
“She said we could pick dem, Gwammy,” Lennie boasts. She still has her tiny hand squeezed around mine.
“Did she?” Nikki asks. “That’s so sweet.” Nikki offers me a side hug since my hand is still being held captive by Lennie. Not that I mind. I shake Richard’s hand as well.
Andrew shuffles into the kitchen, Grandpa, Marley, Beau, and Thomas close behind. “Lennie, you stole my girlfriend!” he teasingly accuses.
Lennie shrugs, briefly sticking her tongue out at him. Ah, so there’s that attitude Jason mentioned.
“Hey, none of that,” Jason calls, appearing behind us. “We don’t stick our tongues out at people. It’s not very nice.”
“Sowwy, Unca Andwoo,” she murmurs. She drops her chin to her chest bashfully.
I see the spark of mischief in Andrew, and as soon as Jason turns the other way, he whispers her name. Once her head is tilted up to look at him, Andrew crosses his eyes, and sticks his tongue out at her. Of course, Lennie laughs gleefully. Everyone in the room saw the quick exchange besides Jason, but no one tells him what ensued.
“I wike Yosie,” Lennie says. “Andwoo, do you wike Yosie?”
“I like Josie very much,” Andrew answers. He slips behind me, trailing his arm around my waist as he does. He steps to his mom, who is still standing next to me. “Mom,” he greets, kissing her on the cheek. “Sorry I missed the introduction. I was wiping dirt off myself, then Tommy tackled me into the grass.”
“You would think that I raised monkeys,” Nikki says with a sigh. “I’m so glad you were able to make it today, Josie. I heard you had a wedding yesterday?”
“Yeah,” I answer. Lennie tugs me over to the large dining room table, pulling me down onto the bench seat. Marley sits down next to us, greeting me with a smile. The rest of the boys, Richard included, follow Jason out onto the back deck. Looking at the table, I can tell that it was made by Andrew, or his grandpa. Very clearly handcrafted. Gorgeous wood stained a dark mahogany, sanded down to smooth perfection. “Andrew was a lot of help.”
Nikki waves her hand flippantly. “I don’t care about Andrew, I want you to tell me all about the flowers you picked. Did you do a flower arch? Oh, I just love those arches you see on Facebook. So beautiful.”
Her interest in me and my craft is unexpected, but also welcomed. “We didn’t do a flower arch for this one, but I’ve done one before. Tough to construct, but the end product makes it worth it.” I pull my phone out of my pocket, sliding the screen open.
As I do, the screen glitches as an incoming call rolls in.
Tessa.
Irritated, I decline it, then before I can think twice of it, I send her a message.
Me
I’m busy, I'll call you later.
Tessa
Please. I miss you, Josie.
I read the message, and turn on do not disturb and swipe to my photos app. I don’t need her bothering me today. Nikki comes over, sitting next to Lennie and me in one of the chairs.
I hold out my phone to show her some photos of my arrangements. She lifts a pair of reading glasses from her shirt, resting them on her nose. She holds the phone out, tilting her head back to get a better look. “My my my,” she murmurs. “You have talent my darling.”
Her words fill me with so much pride, I might burst. Sure, I’ve received plenty of compliments, but she’s so forward with her praise that it gives me a giddy sense of achievement.
“Thank you, that really means a lot,” I say. She passes my phone back, and I slide it into my back pocket. I hear the front door open, and footsteps heading in our direction.
“Nikki, did you need butter?” a feminine voice calls.
Nikki stands from the chair next to me, heading toward the entryway of the kitchen. Before she can reply, an older woman appears, her dark brown hair twisted into a chignon on the back of her head. She’s wearing clothes that could only be described as her “Sunday Best.” Navy slacks with a pastel pink shirt on top, and a white floral cardigan over that.
“No, I had enough, Jane,” Nikki says. She takes the platter in Jane’s hands, and Jane spots me sitting next to Marley. “You must be Josie.”
“That’s me,” I say, awkwardly raising my hand to wave.
