“No. I can’t really talk right now. I will call you later.”
Isaac rushed into his sentence. “I can come. I mean, the band is here, but I will leave now. You are the most important thing to me. They can wait.”
Elly frowned as her words were twisted around. The pleading tone in his voice pulled at her heartstrings, and she found herself relenting. “No. Don’t come. Be with your band. I’ll talk to you when I’m done.”
“Elly…” Isaac said pleadingly.
Elly hung up the phone and wiped a tear off her face. As she looked over the half finished terrace, she felt a wave of nausea run over her. She knelt on the ground, her head between her knees. For the next ten minutes, she focused on breathing and letting the sun beat down on her, warming her skin and pulling her out of the depths of despair. Shakily, she stood, resolving that she would finish the job, Isaac or not. She plunged the third batch of foam into the water. There was a soft thudding sound to her left. She heard footsteps echoing down the narrow alley and turned around, a surge of joy pulsating through her. A man’s khaki pants strode toward her, his face and chest covered by a white box, which Elly knew contained white dendrobium orchids strung onto fishing wire. She wiped her hands on her bottom, instantly regretting the action, as she knew the back of her pants were now covered with wet green handprints. Thank you, Lord!
“Hey! You came!” A wave of relief crashed over her. “I didn’t think you would actually leave everyone. I’m sorry for the things I said. Give me a kiss!” Elly cried.
He turned around, putting the box down gently. Keith’s face broke into a grin. “Are you sure?”
Elly gasped. “Keith? What are you DOING here?”
Keith’s blue eyes widened. “So does that mean I don’t get a kiss?”
Elly stopped awkwardly. “Er – no.” She gave him a tight hug. “I, uh…”
Keith chuckled. “Never thought I would see you speechless. I came to help, of course. What, do you think I would stay at this ridiculous place?” He waved his arms at the lush hotel. “I’ve catered here before, so I know the layout. Kim told me where you would be. She didn’t look so great.”
“What do you mean, she didn’t look so great?”
“Oh, she looked tired.”
“Keith” Elly grinned. “She’s eight months pregnant.”
“That must have been it.” Keith put his hands on his hips. “Well, what can I do?”
“Didn’t you have your niece’s christening today?”
Keith bowed his head and fidgeted nervously. “Yes, I did. I got halfway to Kansas City when I turned around. I knew that you needed help, and what kind of friend would I be if I left you when you needed it most? Besides, my niece doesn’t need my help to get christened, but it looks like you need my help to get this…” Keith looked around, baffled. “Whatever THIS is, done with.”
Elly felt adrift in confusion. She was still wishing that the man behind the box had been Isaac, and yet…she was so happy that Keith was here. It felt right, as if his arrival guaranteed that things would be okay. Gazing at his wide smile, she realized that it wasn’t that she couldn’t do it alone – she could – but that she had someone who believed in her, who knew without a doubt that she would succeed. Keith had always given her the gift of believing in her, more than she did herself. She was staggered by this revelation, but had no time to dwell on her thoughts. She was already an hour behind, and the reception was waiting.
“Okay. These are manzinita branches. They go in these urns…”
“Before we begin,” noted Keith, “you should know that you have charcoal all over your face.”
They worked for an hour, quick and furious. Elly gave rapid directions and they moved well as a team. The forest made of manzanita trees went up first, followed by pink cymbidium orchids that were tucked into their rough nooks. With Keith on the ladder and Elly passing them up, they hung dangling curtains of white dendrobiums from a gorgeous wood arbor, bathing the outside aisle flowers with a shower of tiny white blooms. Buckets full of white and pale pink rose petals were spread down the aisle in the couple’s monogram: A large letter L crossed over a smaller A. Elly was tempted to write out some other choice words, but Keith gently reminded her of Sunny and her job stability.