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It made him beautiful, and I wasn’t ready to leave yet.
“How’s your food?” Emilia asked.
“Hmm?”
“Your food, Grace. How is it?”
“Oh, it’s good,” I said.
“Uh huh. You wanna tell me what sucked you into la-la-land over there?”
“Still mulling your proposition over. Weighing the pros and cons. That kind of thing.”
“Ever the planner,” she said with a smile. “Let’s change the subject then. I don’t want to waste our lunch together stuck on something that doesn’t have an answer yet.”
“Okay. You said you’re getting backed up with orders already?”
“Oh yes. It’s been a mess. Tristian’s circle is huge, so anyone he talks to, books. On the one hand, I’m glad people are getting their orders in early. It helps me to figure out how much I need and gives me more time to track everything down, but it’s a lot. I easily have half as many orders preseason as I do throughout the entire season and the season hasn’t even started yet!”
“I think I followed that.”
“And do you know what’s big this year apparently?”
“What?” I asked.
“Azaleas.”
“Oh no.”
“Oh yes. The bane of my existence. I’d rather grow and cultivate any other flower but those devilish things. And apparently, Pinterest has dictated that it’s all the rage for bouquets and boutonnieres this year.”
“Of course it did,” I said.
“So I’m already planting those suckers and having to cultivate them and find them in other areas. And let me tell you, I’m not the only florist who isn’t happy about that.”
“I don’t doubt it for a second.”
“Why can’t it be daisies? Or tulips? Those are easy to grow. Easy to cultivate. Hard to kill. But azaleas? They’re the perfect combination of ‘delicate as hell’ and ‘disgusting if you do it wrong’.”
I giggled as I took another bite of my sandwich.
“I really could use you,” Emilia said.
“I know. And if I can swing it, you know I will. But my primary concern is Hayden, and he has to be at the forefront of my mind until he can operate on his own with minimal risk. And we just aren’t there yet.”
“I know. I know. I get it. But part of me wishes I would’ve put up more of a fight to keep you.”
“I love you too, Emilia. But there is good news in all this.”
“What?” she asked.
“At least you aren’t having to hang those azaleas from wicker arches the bride walks under.”
“I’d willingly go under if that was the case,” she said flatly.
I threw my head back and laughed.
“How about this? If you need help making calls to other florists in the area, give me their numbers. I get a few minutes here and there when I’m with Hayden, so I can make those calls for you.”
