While I waited to hear back about the butterfly picture book, I worked on a few other submissions that were probably a better fit for me. My style was better suited to middle grade books.
I called Jessica the day I signed the contract with Flowers United for the sale of my business. Until it was official, it hadn’t felt right to tell anyone.
Dean had assured me that they would expect a little pushback on their first offer, but I’d been terrified to ask for more money and slightly different terms. I had seen too many episodes of Shark Tank where the investor got offended and pulled out of a negotiation. Flowers United did not. They counter-offered, and I accepted.
Jessica was so excited for me. “When are they taking it? Does this mean you’re coming for the full wedding week?” she asked. “Hold on, let’s change to a video call. I need to show you the bridesmaid dresses. You could have puffed sleeves right along with them. It’s not too late.”
“Oh, Jess. You did not. You gave your sisters dresses with puffed sleeves?”
Her cute face popped up on my screen. “I did. The biggest puffed sleeves you’ve ever seen. And they are all super excited to wear them.” She leaned down and picked up a pale blue dress for me to see, just like the one Anne wore in the movie. It even had a lace panel bodice with a lace collar that went halfway up the neck. It looked like something a porcelain doll from the eighties would be dressed in. I could see Jessica’s sisters going along with it. And no doubt, when they married, they’d pay her right back with something equally awful. Jessica was the oldest of her siblings, with four younger sisters and twin brothers who came at the end as a surprise.
“Dean and I are still coming for half the week. The deal doesn’t go through until August. They were initially thinking July, but August is the slowest month in the floral industry, especially in Arizona. It’s so hot here.”
“Yeah, I don’t miss Arizona summers at all.”
“You California snob.”
“But you’re still coming to my wedding for sure?” she asked, needing me to reassure her.
“Yes. Our passports should be coming in the mail in a few weeks. I even paid the rush fee for both. Piper is so excited to be a flower girl. The flowers in our yard are all naked because she picks all the petals off and throws them around for practice.”
“I love it. Okay, I need to know. Am I allowed to make some phone calls and drop your name for more illustration work or are you so rich now that you’ll never have to work again?”
“Jess, I will never be that rich, and I have absolutely no pride. Go right ahead.”
“Yay! No pride, like you’ll dress up like Diana Barry with a big lavender bow in your hair and a lavender bridesmaid dress that I didn’t, maybe, have made in case you completely changed your personality and wanted to wear it?”
“Tell me you didn’t.”
“I didn’t.”
“But you did, didn’t you?”
Jessica shrugged in answer. “I’ve never formally asked you to be a bridesmaid because you’re a busy mom and business owner, and you didn’t need the pressure, but if you’re here and you’re feeling it, I wanted you to have a dress.”
How had I never guessed this girl was related to Dean and Henry? She was just as self-assured, charming, and generous. Which meant I’d be wearing lavender at her wedding and probably sporting a matching floppy hat with lace trim.
“Are you happy about the sale?” Jessica asked. “Or will you miss it?”
I glanced around my shop. Closing time was in a few minutes, and it was just me finishing up. “I’m happy.” Once I’d made the decision, a lot of the anxiety around it fell away. As soon as I was done here, I’d go pick up Piper from her after-school program. That was another perk of selling. I could pick her up straight from school every day instead of at five-thirty.
I made Jessica tell me everything about her wedding planning while I cleaned and locked up. I was a fresh set of ears, and she’d admitted her sisters, while supportive of whatever she needed them to do, were tired of hearing about it.
I was almost to the school to join the late pickup line when Jessica asked, “Have you heard from Rob?”
“No. But I follow his Instagram account, so I know his comedy tour just ended. He was in Boulder, Colorado last weekend.”
“Boulder. Wow.”
“Jess.”
“What, I can’t make fun of his career? I notice he still uses the ‘ol ball-and-chain jokes. You should sue him for defamation or something.”
“I’m not afraid of the six people in Boulder who heard his jokes.”
Jessica laughed. “Burn!”
“But no more, okay? It’s not good for my relationship with him. I’m happy he sees Piper once every few months. It’s better than not at all.”
