“You’re going to take this shop to a level I could never achieve.” She embraced me. “Call me anytime for anything.”
“Same to you. Call me whenever you want to talk.” I squeezed her hand. “It doesn’t need to be about flowers.”
“Thank you.”
The daily operations continued as before. On my to-do list was to hire someone to update the website and manage social media. Social media presence was one thing Happy Flowers lacked, but we’d been short on staff. With Kain’s financial support, I could do more. I wasn’t limited financially.
I glanced at the boxes on the floor. We had a large delivery of flowers, plants, ribbons, and other supplies that needed to be unpacked, logged into the system, and displayed. Despite thework waiting for me, a sense of accomplishment blossomed. This was my dream, and I loved every minute of it.
Sarah was in the back finishing up flower arrangements. Erika had the day off, but her hours would increase next week.
After ringing up a customer, I looked at the box on the counter, calling to me. A year ago, I wouldn’t have dared to even think about this order, but I was a new person now.Fear only has a grip on you if you let it.Nerves stirred in my stomach as I got the box cutter and opened the box.
I reached in and took out vases in the shape of abstract organs. Yes, I bought vases and bowls that looked like hearts, livers, kidneys, and other organs. At a glance, the customer would assume these were asymmetrical designs, but I knew what they were. Love had transformed me, and I was forever grateful to Kain. Because of him, my fears were now displayed as beautiful art.
In my hunt for unique vases, I’d stumbled upon an amazing artist and reached out to her to produce a collection for me.
The mind was a fascinating thing. It exaggerated things, turning beauty into fear and vice versa. But I supposed the mind of a child differed from that of an adult. One terrifying moment became a monster that grew inside me. But not anymore. Now I turned that monster into something beautiful.
I thought about Tony and Hawthorne. Where were they hiding? What were they doing? Kain believed they were keeping a low profile for now.
A flood of people entered the shop, making time fly by. Sarah emerged from the back room to help me. Before I knew it, it was time for her to go home. I had only one hour left.
“Do you need me to stay?” asked Sarah, who looked exhausted.
“No.” I smiled. “Go home. I’m waiting for a delivery. Kain should be here soon.”
“Okay. See you tomorrow.”
When she left, I checked my email and replied to Avery and Hailey. I was happy to hear they were doing well. We planned to meet up for lunch in two weeks. There was an unshakable bond between us now. I now understood the friendship between Kain and his friends.
The door chimed, and I looked up to see a UPS delivery man rolling in a dolly with five big boxes.
“Please put them over there, Sam.” I pointed to a section near the Employees Only door.
Another customer strode in and walked over to the gift section.
The phone rang, and I picked it up. “Hello, Happy Flowers, how can I help you?”
“I’d like to order all your bleeding hearts,” said a man.
My stomach clenched, and I looked up to see Sam heading toward the front door without having me sign any documents. I was about to ask Sam about the signatures when he locked the door, flipped the Open sign to Closed, turned, and grinned at me.
It wasn’t Sam—it was Dennis, who immediately pulled a gun on me. Fear spiked in me, and I dropped the phone on the counter.
“Go to the back room, Eva.” Dennis gestured with the gun. “If you don’t, I’ll shoot you right now.”
Terror froze me to the spot, but I tried not to show it. Then I remembered there was another customer in the store and glanced around.
“Looking for me?” Tony appeared, wearing a curly-haired wig and waving his phone. “I’m going to need my bleeding hearts.”
He’d called just now to distract me. How was Dennis involved with Tony?
“Go!” Dennis barked, gesturing to the Employees Only door.
Slipping the box cutter into my apron, I walked through the door and entered the back room. Fear bubbled, but I shoved it down, trying my best to stay calm.
Dennis stepped close to me, and the powerful smell of alcohol overwhelmed me. He shoved me into a chair while Tony stood by watching.
