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“Fine.” I crouched in front of the white pail full of blooms. “They look amazing.”
“A few of them are Gina’s wedding flowers.” He touched the linen-colored cabbage roses. “Like these and the peach dahlias in that bucket over there. Otherwise, I used summer blooms.”
Roses in varying shades of pink and peach were paired with the sweeter daisies that would make all the mason jars so perfect.
“This bucket is full of some extra greenery if any of the ones we set up need refreshing.” He put his hands on his hips. So much Mason in that stance that it gave me a moment. “Are you sure you don’t want me to come out and put these together for you?”
“I’d be happy to have you, but I don’t think you need to stand out there and bake today.”
“Oh, and you should?”
“I live for the heat.” I bumped his hip. “And these will be beautiful no matter how I put them together.”
“Oh, speaking of that.” He hustled to the front desk and picked up some papers. “I made a few sample arrangements that you can copy. Or, you know, can make your own.”
“No, this is amazing. Saves me so much time.” I took the color printouts and paged through them. “I have a pretty good eye, but I’m better with color combinations than floral ones.”
“Good. I’m glad to help. Sundays are my busy day, or I’d shut down. With you taking Maddie, I just can’t.”
The idea of finishing today without Maddie made my stomach clench. “Oh, do you need her?”
“No, no. My idea of busy is quite different than a big party.” He sighed. “Sales have been a little sluggish with that new floral shop down the block. Infernal woman keeps having special sales. I don’t know how she’s turning a profit.”
My eyebrows went up. “A Flower A Day?”
“Yes. She thinks if she has a different flower special every day, it will make people come in.”
I pressed my lips together against a smile. “Sounds like it’s working. Maybe you need to do something a little different?”
“Why should I change how I run my business? It’s worked for thirty years.”
“Change isn’t a bad thing.”
“Bah.” He waved me off. “You sound like Mason and Jared.”
“Can’t have that.” I went on my toes and kissed his cheek. “I happen to like how you do things. But it can’t hurt to do something out of the box. Gets people paying more attention to see what you’ll do next. Maybe you could do a free arrangement class. Lots of people don’t know how to put flowers together from their garden.”
His bushy eyebrows knit together. “Maybe.”
I rubbed his arm, satisfied that I’d planted a seed. “Let’s get these loaded up, shall we?”
He nodded. “You take those light ones right there.”
“Okay, okay.”
A few minutes later, the back of my wagon was full of blooms and smelled like heaven. I passed the back door where Adriana’s empty carseat mocked me.
I reached into my pocket. Maybe I should just check on her.
“You’re all set.” Alan slammed the hatch down.
I shoved my phone back into the pocket of my summer dress. “Thanks so much for all of this. Gina will love it.”
“I hope so.” He wiped the pads of his fingers on his thigh, leaving a streak on his dirt brown pants. “Feels like I didn’t do enough.”
“You most certainly did. And Gina and Jared will just be happy to have all their friends and family there tonight.”
“Yes, you’re right. I want to get spiffed up for tonight. Show my boy I can go out without dirt under my nails.”
