Chapter Eleven
Emilia
Every morning was different since that night at the ball. I found myself checking my phone every morning for more than my email. I kept hoping he had somehow found me and had sent me a message saying he wanted to see me. But I was stuck in some impossible fairy tale.
I would get up and sulk over my coffee, wishing something remotely exciting would happen to me, but of course it never did. Then I would eat a sad bowl of oatmeal, go for a walk or run and then pull myself out of it. Because good things had come of that night as well.
My business.
I laced up my new shoes to go into work. Yeah, I had bought new shoes for the first time in months. It had been four weeks since that ball, one month and I had already done three other events. An anniversary, graduation ceremony, and a commencement address for the local college. Sasha was mostly to thank, she told me when anyone asked about the arrangement, she would direct them right to me.
“It was so beautiful, I knew you would do a good job. But that was amazing! I think it’s how I got so much money.” She laughed softly. Sasha had stopped by the next Monday, somehow looking at her made me think of that man and then I was blushing.
“Thank you. And thank you so much for the opportunity.” I smiled back at her.
She was walking through the new array of sunflowers; their bloom was pretty much perfect this time of year. She looked like she belonged in a garden with her fuchsia sundress on, and her long hair flowing on its own.
“Oh, please. You deserve it. Oh, I hope you don’t mind but a few of my friends asked about you and I gave them your number.”
My eyes widened in shock. That meant connections, people know about me. Of course, I didn’t mind!
“No, not at all. That is very kind of you.”
She grabbed two bundles of the flowers and came over to the check-out desk. I rang her up, but she always gives me the same amount; a crisp one-hundred-dollar bill. I learned a long time ago that protesting it wouldn’t do anything for me.
“It’s no problem. I loved that arrangement, I almost didn’t want to take it down.” She smiled, the corners of her mouth only slightly wrinkling.
“Was the event a good turnout though?” I asked her.
“Oh yeah, we surpassed our goal. Bryan and I were very pleased.” Bryan was her husband and partner in crime. When I saw them together, I envied her but in a good way. I wanted that; to one day be so happy next to the love of my life. It was obvious how much he loved her, the way he looked at her with such adoration.
“That’s amazing.” I wrapped up the flowers and tied them off with ribbon.
“Please, let me know if they call you. I’ll be back soon.” She waved over her shoulder as she headed out.
“I will, see you!”
She always came every week. The next time she came, I was preparing for the anniversary for a sweet, older couple. They said they were at the gala that night, and that the lilacs reminded me of their wedding. Of course, that brought my mind right back to that stranger.
I was currently free; all my events were finished. I hoped for another of course, but the last three exhausted me so I kind of just wanted to slow down. I took a long lunch and went to meet Ivy in the city. She worked in an office building and the design firm took up about ten floors. But there was a nice sky café we always went to there.
“Anything new today?” She asked me, furiously stabbing her salad with her fork.
“No. I’m still recovering from the last few weeks.” I told her.
She was doing well too, she had gotten a promotion to executive assistant. The only difference was a better pay and access to the dump closet. That’s what they call the room where they discard the old fashions. She was so good at her design though, that she managed to make the striped romper she wore look like it was still in style.
“I can imagine. More work will come too, you’re official. Have you gotten the business cards yet?” She gasped.
“Ugh, no. I keep forgetting to go to the post office! They’re just sitting there.” I laughed, not believing I was that tired and busy.
“You’re insane…still thinking about that guy?” She asked. I made a face.
“Sometimes,” I shrugged. I think about him all the time, about how he felt and about how he made me feel. If I ever saw him again though, I didn’t even know what I would do.
“You might run into him again. And if you just ask Sasha, you might find out who he is.” She scolded. She had been telling me to ask Sasha since day one, and I just couldn’t do it.
I didn’t really take charge like that, and I wouldn’t know what to do if she gave me his contact info or anything. Yeah, I was adventurous that night, but that wasn’t really who I was. And there was no way I could do it twice.
“I can’t. It’s fine anyway, he’ll be a distant memory soon.”
~
Back at the shop, I watered a few of the begonias sitting on the windowsill. They were outdoor plants, so I kept them by the window. I hadn’t started putting anything out front yet because I still hadn’t set up the surveillance cameras, and people steal the oddest things.
Once I did that, I was about ready to go. I tugged on my sweater and my phone went off with an email. I glanced at it and didn’t recognize the sender’s address, so I just held off looking at it until I got home.
Since it was the middle of the month, I went through my much-hated process of sending bill payments out, so they would arrive before the fifteenth. Once I paid everything, I had a few hundred left over. I put some in savings and kept the rest. If I needed something, it was nice to know I could pretty much just buy it now. Within reason, of course.
And I had real food.
I started making some chicken and sat in front of the television while the meat cooked. I remembered that email and got to looking at it.
Hello Miss Michelle,
This is Levi Daniels. I received your contact information from a friend of Mrs. Hallows. I am getting married in two weeks and my florist backed out. I know it is last minute, but I want to book you for the event. Whatever your rates are, I will double it. I want this to be perfect for my fiancé and me. I will meet you at your shop tomorrow at noon if you’re up for it.
I read the email over. He really did seem desperate, and I thought it was sweet that he wanted to please his fiancé so much. I had a few days of break from the last event, so there was no reason to say no. It was just that weddings were so different, and I was afraid the short notice would make it hard to get things ordered on time. We would have to start right away.
I replied saying I would meet him, it was past appropriate business hours, so I didn’t expect a reply. My dinner tasted even better knowing I had another client. I wasn’t sure if I would charge him double though, but of course there was nothing I can do if he insisted.