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But as of recent, Mom has been a bit overbearing. Intrusive and suffocating. The incessant probing started before Micah and Peyton became official. Questions about relationships and love. And babies. God, has it been agonizing. No one would ever accuse me of being anti-baby, but the pressure Mom puts on us for grandchildren has me double-locking the chastity belt.
Which is why it is a blessing to have two mother figures in my life. Elizabeth balances out the crazy Mom puts on my shoulders. Gives me another person to express what has me bogged down when I feel Mom may go off the rails.
“Great!” I survey the full vases in the cooler behind her. All orders waiting to be delivered or picked up today and tomorrow. “Business has been picking up steam. Not sure if it’s the ads or word of mouth. Whatever it is, I’m here for it.” Majority of our orders are online, but we have regular foot traffic as well.
I get back to work on the current arrangement and Elizabeth starts the online order. Setting it in the cooler when I finish, I stare at the abundance of lavender, yellow, and white rose bouquets, boutonnieres, table arrangements, and more. All for one momentous occasion.
Tomorrow, my brother is getting married. Never thought I would see the day. With his track record, I sure as hell thought I’d marry before him. But life had other plans and I am so happy for him. Thrilled he found love.
Micah and Peyton have come a long way since high school. A year and a half ago, when I’d learned Micah had started hanging out with Peyton, Cora and I jogged his memory of who she was and what he’d done to her. I had never seen my brother so petrified in his life. Horrified by the ghosts of his past. Ghosts he created. He did anything and everything to right his wrongs, stepped up and became a better man, and Peyton forgave all his past transgressions.
Every time I see the two of them together, their dopey, lovesick eyes, I know love can overcome every obstacle. And iftheycan defeat history with love, all things are possible.
Which means I, too, will find love one day. I only hope it happens before a full head of gray hair and a dozen cats.
“Is everything set for the wedding tomorrow?” I ask, although I know the answer. We finished the last of the arrangements before close yesterday. But the stress of my brother’s impending nuptials makes me ask anyway. Last thing I want is to forget an arrangement and throw the whole day off.
Elizabeth steps up to my side, places a hand on my shoulder, and strokes her thumb back and forth. “Yes. Never thought I’d see this day.”
I turn to face her. “What do you mean?”
She shakes her head and laughs. “I remember all the stories Cora shared.Shelly’s brother is gross. He’s always staring at girls and licking his lips,” she says in a mocking tone.
I tip my head back and laugh.
Cora and I have been friends since elementary school. It wasn’t odd for our families to hang out together on weekends to appease us. Which also meant my annoying brother was around. Two years wasn’t a major age difference, but it was enough to steer me away from him before entering middle school. Rumors of my brother kissing most of the girls in middle school before my first year there spread faster than STDs. It was nothing compared to the year before he and Peyton became an item. I have no intention of walking down that dirty alley again.
“He was gross.” I laugh harder and Elizabeth joins in. “But I’m glad he and Peyton found each other. It was questionable for a bit, but they came out stronger on the other side. She makes him a better man.”
Elizabeth pats my shoulder. “Agreed.” She goes back to the table and continues the online order.
Rounding the table, I clean up my mess and put the pruning tools back in place. I start for the small office in the back corner of the store when Elizabeth speaks up.
“Oh, I almost forgot.” I turn around and give her my full attention. “Patty from my book club asked about floral arrangement classes. What do you think?”
Petal and Vine has had more business in the last two years than the previous five years combined. We aren’t hurting for business or income. But as a small business owner, it is always wise to have other sources of revenue. Anything could happen to taper off orders. Supply shortages, economic changes, clients unhappy with the ownership transition. The last one seems less than likely considering we hide nothing from our clients, especially those that have been loyal from the beginning.
“Classes are a wonderful idea. Floral arrangement, buying for the seasons, how to maintain planted and trimmed flowers. The possibilities are endless.”
“Excellent. The ladies will be thrilled.” A smile brightens Elizabeth’s face.
“I’ll do some research, come up with a list of classes to offer and when, price them reasonably yet still be competitive with the market.”
A list forms in my mind of all the options we could offer. Different skill levels. Showing attendees how to artfully decorate their space with one bundle of flowers. Ways to use flowers for special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and gatherings.
I smile and spin to face the office. I don’t make it three steps before Elizabeth stops me again.
“Also…” I pivot on my back foot and meet her gaze. “Remember when we had the mural done last year?”
What an odd question, but I roll with it. “Yes, of course.” I don’t add anything else, unsure what to say.
“I spoke with the artist last week. He’ll be by in a couple weeks to do some touch-ups on the mural and add a thicker layer of sealant. To help prevent fading from the elements.”
Oh. My. God. Ohmygod.
A thin layer of perspiration blankets my skin. At the rate it seeps from my pores, I will undoubtedly look like I walked in the rain without an umbrella in no time. My heart does this bizarre somersault in my rib cage before bounding into fifth gear. Then my stomach flip-flops beneath my diaphragm.
Is it hot in here?
