Not bad for my first time doing this.
Flipping back to the events page, I’m already brainstorming ideas on what I can do. Weddings. Corporate events. The works.
It doesn’t take much to get my creative juices flowing. A wedding with only white fabrics but they want a pop of color? I’m already imagining the palette of pink flowers I can use to complement what they’re thinking.
This is one of my favorite things about working at Enchanted Petals.
“Someone is here to see you.” Leon pops his head into the back office.
“There is?”
Sneaking a glance at my phone, I don’t see any messages from Declan. It’s not like it would be him. He should be at practice right now before their game in Vancouver tonight. It’s the last night of a road trip and I cannot wait to see him. I’ve talked to him every chance I can get, and it still doesn’t feel like enough.
I miss him more than I thought possible.
Then who in the world would be here?
Closing the laptop, I grab my apron, tying it around my waist before heading out front. The person I least expected to see is standing there, looking more out of place than ever.
“Mom?”
She spins on her low heels, pearl necklace resting against her chest.
“Alice. How are you?”
“I’m fine.”
Walking around the counter, I give her a peck on the cheek. Standing next to her, the differences between the two of us are more apparent than ever.
Her dark hair is pinned perfectly in place, and her makeup is flawless. In a blouse with the collar popping out over her cardigan, her luxury handbag sits in the crook of her elbow.
Me? My blonde hair is in a messy bun and my jeans have new tears from the roses I trimmed last week.
“I wanted to come by and discuss the email your father sent you.”
“Err, right.”
Brown eyes are searching over the store. It’s not the first time she’s been here, but it’s been a while. It’s a judging eye. One that doesn’t approve of what I’m doing with my life.
“By your reaction, I can see you received it.”
“An entry-level analyst position.” I nod. “Not exactly what I want to do.”
Her nose turns up as she looks around the store again. “Alice, we have entertained this job long enough. The position at your father’s firm is a prestigious one. You would be starting out making more than you make in a year here.”
“Mom—”
“It’s a good position, Alice. Stable. You never know what could happen with a place like this.”
“You mean my livelihood.”
“What about when you and Declan have a family? You can’t spend all your time here playing with flowers.”
“Is that really what you think I do? ‘Play with flowers’?”
I put air quotes around her words.
“This isn’t a real job, Alice,” she snaps.
