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“Me too,” Dahlia said.
“I can’t be the only one that is broken,” she whined.
“You’re not broken,” Jasmine said softly. “That’s your crutch. Let it go. We all lived the same life and we are fine. You will be too if you could get out of your own head.”
“I’m trying,” she said. “I moved here. I’m on my own. I pay my bills on time and have good credit. You know, all the adult things.”
Jasmine moved over to hug her, Dahlia following. “And we are proud of you. You’re doing so well. Even today. We pick on you because it takes your mind off of things, right, Dahlia?” Jasmine asked.
“We do,” Dahlia said. “You’re a work in progress like we all are.”
“Thanks,” Ivy said, hugging her sisters back. She needed to hear they were proud of her. She was trying so hard to just live on her own and not need other people to help her, but it was hard.
4
Worked Hard At
“How are you doing, Ivy?”
She looked up from her computer Monday morning to see her boss, Lily Bloom-Wolfe, standing there. She knew everyone was aware of what happened on Saturday night. Many had called or texted to check in on them yesterday too. Including Lily asking if there was anything she could do to help.
“I’m fine. Thank you for asking,” she said.
Lily walked into the small office that Ivy had to herself. She knew it was closer to a broom closet, but it was all hers and she was thrilled. She’d been hired to be an assistant for Lily and manager of the retail store below them. Her sister Jasmine oversaw the flower shop and greenhouses.
But the more Ivy did for Lily, the more Poppy and then Rose needed when their children were born too and she soon found her job grew along with her salary.
Ivy enjoyed all the responsibility she’d been given at her job. She loved to feel needed and appreciated.
Did it help her grow up and be more mature? She wasn’t so sure about that.
One thing she always gave one hundred and ten percent to was her job.
Probably because she never did with anything else.
Not her homeschooling. Not college that she started and stopped so many times she had not much to show for it.
But her job—that was something she picked out and worked hard at. It was paying off and she had Lily to thank for giving her the chance when she moved here.
“I know it had to be so hard for you and Dahlia.”
“More me than Dahlia. I’m sure she told you that.”
Lily smiled softly at her. Dahlia was the Director of Finance for Blossoms. Her sister had only been employed since late August, but Dahlia was in her element and you could see the joy on her sister’s face when she was analyzing numbers.
Just like Jasmine had the same look when she was in the greenhouses.
She’d like to think she had it too daily with her hodgepodge job that was perfect for her.
“She did,” Lily said. “We all handle things differently. But you managed to get some sleep last night?”
“After a while,” she admitted. She’d been so tempted to go into Dahlia’s room and ask if she could sleep with her. She knew Dahlia would say yes, but she told herself she’d be fine.
She wasn’t alone. The landlords came over yesterday and put doorbell cameras on the front and back doors and everyone installed the apps on their phones. It might have been better to have that before Saturday night, but she couldn’t go back in time and had to tell herself to get over the fact she didn’t have that superpower.
“I’m sure each day will get a little better,” Lily said.
“It will,” she said. “I think it’s better having Dahlia there with me. Without her, I’m not sure I could have gone back.”
