Ashling

First, it was a toothbrush, then a change of clothes, and then finally one day, a week or so after the funeral for Whitey, Jessie showed up to the flower shop with his truck at closing time.

He marched up to her room and started packing her stuff. Admittedly, there wasn’t much, but still.

“What are you doing?” She watched as he put things in a big box he’d carried up.

“I’m packing you. Maybe get your suitcase, and I’ll get your kitchen stuff?”

“I don’t really have kitchen stuff. But that’s beside the point. Why are you packing me?”

“I am making you live with me. I’m being brutish and caveman-like. Living up to the exterior.”

“Yes. Yes, you are.”

Jessie put down the box for a moment and grabbed her firmly by the shoulders.

“You being in this shop alone at night is not safe. You living in this damp, unheated, tiny, falling down, uh, apartment is not right.”

“I can handle it.”

“Ash, I know you can. But you don’t have to. I have plenty of room, and my place is nice.”

“Except that orange bath mat. Ick.”

“Mat aside, you know all that stuff I just said about this place?”

“Two seconds ago? Yes, I think I remember.”

“Well, that’s one of the reasons I’m packing your stuff. The other reason is I can’t live without you anymore. We’re both working twenty hours a day, and I need to at least know you’re at my place for the four hours we do get to sleep.”

“One condition.”

“Anything.”

“We toss the bath mat in the rubbish heap.”

“This is America. We call it the garbage.”

“Okay, the garbage or no deal.”

“You drive a hard bargain.” Jessie pulled her forward and kissed her, and she didn’t look back. The nights turned into days and before she knew it they were living together for a month. And instead of driving each other crazy they made each other better. The fact that they were both passionate about their careers meant they gave each other room to do what needed to be done.

Jessie spent his days in the gym and sometimes on the road doing promotions. Before one of his trips, he introduced Ash to Sam. The notorious brunette in the pictures. She was funny, smart, gorgeous, and all business.

“I heard about the dustup with the photos. They’ll try to do it again, the gossip media people, with any woman that even stands next to Jessie. That’s how it is with the MMA stars. The gossip gets clicks.”

“I feel ridiculous that he told you that.”

“Don’t. But you have zero to worry about. All he does is talk about you, and I’ve never seen a fighter less interested in the bombshells they have to pose with for publicity.”

“Thank you.”

“And between you and me? I just secured him a great body spray deal, so you might want to be sure the windows actually open in this place ‘cause it’s strong and smells like, well, a fifteen-year-old boy.”

“Ew.”

“Big money. You’ll get used to the smell.” Ash liked Sam and actually felt glad Jessie had her. It was good to finally meet the all the people in his life. It was also good to realize that Jessie Hoolihan surrounded himself with good people. He had a tight band of family, friends, and fighters and they accepted her as one of them. Different though she may be.

She respected how he trained, coached, traveled, and still insisted on cooking food for her when he was home. He was working like she was working, including stepping in to help train Whitey’s fighters.

“I’m not sure if I like fighting more or training. So many fighters could have left GWG with Whitey gone. But they’re hanging in at our gym. I’m just not sure how long I can be focused on them and me.”

“Focus on you. You have a fight.” She tried to think what Whitey would say to him.

She arranged flowers, secured vendors for her maker’s studio Saturdays, and even nailed down the Grand City Museum floral contract.

The weeks went by so fast, and they were fantastic. Aunt Theone criticized, berated, and was generally unpleasant, but she also saw Ash was making money. A lot of money. Having getaways at night gave her the energy she needed to fix Uncle Peter’s business, and even though Aunt Theone didn’t appreciate it she knew the staff at the flower shop did. Being able to keep Gus and Colleen working felt like an accomplishment.

The summer flew by. Ash ran from wedding to wedding with Gus, but the wedding season was good to them. She’d set a goal of fifty weddings this summer. That meant four on a single weekend a few times. But she made it. It ran her ragged but the tally was worth it.

When it finally slowed down in August Ash knew she had enough, and just in time to satisfy the city building codes. She brought in contractors and had all her paperwork in line. She had a timetable for repairs and knew that she’d done it. She’d turned O’Shea’s around. Telling Wade Kaczala was going to be so much fun.

“Well, Miss Byrne, I’m not going to lie. I’m surprised. I never thought you’d be able to pull it off.” She’d called Wade in to see that the repairs were underway.

“She didn’t. I did. I’m the boss around this place.” Aunt Theone wasn’t one to share credit or say thank you. But Ash hoped she was one who didn’t like running a flower shop. She had a deal in mind to eventually take over O’Shea’s completely. She’d made it viable, successful, and it was growing. All with zero input or interest from Aunt Theone.

“Well, Mrs. O’Shea, congratulations go to you then. You’ve done wonderfully. It appears the building permit approvals are all in order. You’ve avoided fines and fees, and the flower shop is well on its way to becoming a real gem in this Improvement District of Irish Town.” Wade stopped addressing her, and now Wade and Aunt Theone ignored her.

Fine, whatever, Ash knew this was her accomplishment, and she also saw a way to buy the business from Aunt Theone down the line. They could ignore her all they wanted.

“Aunt Theone, additional crews are coming Friday morning, so you better be sure to be here.”

“What? Excuse me? Where are you going to be?”

“I’m taking three days off. There’s only one wedding booked, and Gus and our intern have it covered. Colleen is minding the store. I’ll see you Tuesday after the fight.”

Aunt Theone yelled at her as she walked out,

“You’re supposed to approve everything with me, including days off! I’ve had it with your attitude.” But Ash ignored it. Aunt Theone could yell all she wanted, Ash knew she deserved a little time. She knew she’d achieved the near impossible by turning the store around and handling city inspectors, so O’Shea’s was in the clear.

She left Wade there with Aunt Theone and had a clear conscience. A sense of deep satisfaction brought her peace and calm no matter what Theone said to her or about her.

She’d covered all her bases with the flower shop, she’d worked like a maniac since the moment she set foot in America. Sometimes the three months seemed way longer, other times it was a blur.

But Jessie wasn’t a blur; every second with him was clear, vibrant, and produced a visceral reaction from a smile to a blush. She had cleared her life for the weekend so she could cheer on the man she loved in the Octagon.

It had been a very good day. And this weekend would be her reward. A chance to watch her love achieve his goal. She and Jessie were alike in that way. They’d both driven hard for this finish line.