Eliana’s eyebrows shot up. “I’m good. Heading over to get it fixed up right now.” She paused, still looking concerned. “Do you remember where you’re supposed to sit?”
Oh, great. Now Eliana thought she was losing her mind. Any minute now, and she’d be talking to her like she was a toddler.
“Yes, I remember,” she snapped. “I wanted to see if the flowers were delivered yet.”
“They just arrived. In fact, I’d better make sure they’re getting wound into the archway.”
From the corner of her eye, she saw Gerard pause at the edges of the group separating them.
“I’ll help.” She nearly dragged Eliana toward the archway by the elephants. Lulu was standing close to the fence, watching all of them in rapt attention. Horace found his seat.
Winnie peered over her shoulder to find that Gerard had been waylaid by Harry and Virginia. Relief whooshed through her. Followed by the realization that she was going to have to avoid Gerard all night. Her chest tightened.
It’ll be fine, Winnie. It’ll be just fine.
Chapter 33
“Well,ifIcan'tbe happy, I can be useful, perhaps.”
–Louisa May Alcott
Eliana came to an abrupt stop at the flower archway set up right in front of Adia and Lulu’s enclosure.
“What are these?” Eliana asked in a shrill voice. She pulled her hands into fists at her side as her stomach sank. Grandma Winnie tightened her grip on Eliana’s arm.
The teenager, who had woven most of the flowers through the archway, blinked and pulled an invoice from his back pocket. “Um, let’s see. Roses and lilies.”
“No.”
“No?” he repeated, confused. They both stared at the arch, where the roses and lilies were clearly displayed.
“We specifically didn’t order those flowers.”
“Well—” He looked around him as if hoping someone—anyone but him—would save him from the crazy lady yelling at him.
“Where’s your boss?” she asked.
“Back at the store.” He perked up. “Want to call her?”
She hadn’t come? It was a wedding. She was supposed to help weave the flowers into the archway. “Yes. I do.”
Grandma gave her a questioning look, her piece of burnt hair standing up nearly straight. But before Eliana could explain why she was freaking out, the florist answered the phone. “Flowers and More. This is Carrie.”
“This is Eliana, with the Kent/Peters wedding.”
“Oh yes,” Carrie answered, sounding way too delighted. “What can I help you with? I sent my son, Trent, down there with the flowers. Is he there yet?”
“Yes,” she said through her teeth. “But he brought the wrong flowers.”
“Oh dear.” Eliana heard rustling and clicking. “Can you put me on speaker phone?” Eliana held the phone up between her and Trent. “Which flowers did you grab, Trent?”
“The blue bin. The one with the roses and the lilies,” he said.
“That’s the right one,” she said. “And I sent the green bin with Troy to take to the funeral.”
“What was in the green bin?” Eliana knew what the answer would be before Carrie even said it.
“Hmmm, let’s see. White gardenias and jasmine.”
