‘We can’t all knock out 10k runs with no prior experience or set up a successful businessyaknow,’ Nat sighs.
‘I know, I know, I’m great at everything,’ Alice laughs.
‘Including cheating,’ I tease. She throws a cushion at me and it hits me square in the face. I readjust my glasses, wondering whether the thought that’s just crossed my mind would be overstepping the mark. My gut tells me to just say it. ‘Have you two ever considered working together? It sounds like you’d make a great team. Alice’s flowers and social media knowledge, Natalie’s event planning. You could make a killing.’
Alice sits up at that, cushions tumbling around her. ‘That’s actually quite a good idea.’
‘I’m going to think on this,’ Nat agrees. ‘And that can be my cue to leave you lovebirds to it.’
‘I’m pretty sure this is how you’re meant to refuel after a big run,’ Alice says confidently. ‘In fact, I think I read about it in one of those fitness magazines.’
‘Burger and chips?’
‘And beers. Something to do with replacing all the lost … calories?’
‘Definitely,’ I nod. ‘You should consider a job as a dietician.’
‘I intend to,’ Alice laughs, dipping a chip in mayo. We’re sat on brightly coloured outdoor cushions in her back yard and I’m learning that Alice has the ability to make anything look like it should be in a magazine shoot. She’s thrown an old tablecloth over an upturned palette which we’re using as a makeshift table. Jam jars filled with leftover flowers from her shop are dotted on top of it, just like she used to do with her mum and dad as a kid. I felt a pang of sorrow as I watched her place them on the “table”, knowing what memories such a simple act must bring back for her.
‘Do you ever wonder what you’d have done if the floristry hadn’t work out?’ I ask.
‘Like a back-up plan? When I was little I thought I might follow in Mum’s footsteps as an interior designer. I used to love arranging the furniture in my Sylvanian Families house.’ She smiles and I find myself smiling along with her. ‘But really, I think my dream alternative job would be something that meant I could travel loads. Maybe I’d be fluent in another language and work as a private tutor to some super rich family, living in their mansion in Monaco and teaching their kids an hour’s English a week.’
‘So basically, minimal output for maximum job satisfaction.’
‘Exactly!’ She laughs. ‘In reality, I’d probably go crazy with boredom, but it sounds good doesn’t it? How about you?’
‘It would have to be something arty, I think. I can’t see myself in an office environment at all.’
Alice chuckles. ‘Zach in a suit, working through spreadsheets? Or in a bank shouting about profit and loss and throwing back champagne at lunch?’
‘Not really an option, right?’
‘You would look good in a suit,’ Alice concedes. ‘Now, speaking as a future dietician, I wondered if it would be too much of an artery risk to have pancakes for breakfast tomorrow. That is, if you want to stay over?’
‘In a heartbeat,’ I say, feeling like I lucked out. Music floats out from the opened kitchen window. The bees are going nuts for some honeysuckle climbing up Alice’s garden wall. I could quite happily picture myself spending more weekends with Alice, just like this.
Karaoke
Alice
The past month has been a steady stream of two weddings a weekplusrunning the shop full time and I am ready to let off some serious steam. I’m fidgety for it. Tonight’s the night, baby! As the last customers leave the shop, arms stuffed with bouquets, I decide to delay tidying up for a while and turn up the volume on our Sonos, prancing around the floor instead.
‘I should probably film this,’ Eve laughs when she sees me. ‘We could call it “Dancing with Dahlias”.’
‘Or “Flexing with Fuschias”?’ I suggest.
‘“Tango with Tulips”.’
‘“Rumba with Ranunculas”! Sounds sexy.’
‘I can see it going viral now,’ Eve’s leaning against the counter. ‘Seriously, where do you get your energy from? We’ve been working like dogs all week and I am so ready for a bath tonight.’
‘What? You’re going home for a bath on a Friday night?! You Gen Z-ers are beyond me.’
‘Self-care is very important.’
‘I totally agree with you there,’ I nod, already hoping to get out to the allotment this weekend. ‘But also, it’s Friday night! You should know that Zach and I are going to karaoke later …’
