Elly rolled her eyes. “Okay, okay. Enough with the flattery.” Her heart danced inside her chest. “Let me put Cadbury away.”
Isaac squeezed her hand. “I’ll see you up there.” Then he leaned forward. “Tifah is drunk again. Watch your shoes.”
Elly smiled and pushed him in the direction of his apartment. She closed the door after him, locking it with her antique key. Cadbury and Elly lazily climbed the steps to her apartment, and stepped inside. She looked in the mirror. She normally would be upset that Isaac saw her this way, looking so disheveled, but when she looked at herself tonight, Elly saw her mother staring back at her. And she was fine with that. I’ll love you forever, Momma, she whispered and began her transformation into Isaac’s evening muse.
CHAPTER
ELEVEN
“The tablecloths are being handmade by Wildflower linens. They will be an ecru with gold beading and paisley swirls in copper and pearl. On top of those, I was thinking of gold candelabras with the white orchids and gold metallic votives. Between the candles, I would like ivory gardenias leaning against the favors. Each napkin will then be tied with some birch branches accented with a cattalaya orchid.”
Elly was typing furiously, trying to keep up with Sunny’s intricate details. This was her third conversation of the week with Sunny Kepke, prepping for her daughter’s big wedding.
“Elly, you are so wonderful. Do you have any recommendations for the cake? We were thinking of shipping one in from New York – Weinstock cakes – but if you knew someone who could give us what we wanted, we would prefer to have it made in town.”
Elly took a quick gulp of her green tea. “Yes, Sunny, I absolutely do. Original Icings in the Central West End makes absolutely amazing, over-the-top cakes. Make sure you ask for Rachael, and try the pineapple poppy cake filled with raspberry. It’s mind-blowing.” Mental note, thought Elly, go buy cake.
“I’m not sure what mind-blowing means, sweetheart, but I will give them a call this afternoon. Okay, I think that’s everything for today! We updated the buffet table arrangements, and talked over the centerpieces, so…all that is left is the ceremony décor. Can we have a meeting next month to talk about those?”
Elly nodded. “Absolutely.” Of course I’ll have a meeting with you, she thought. For $45,000 dollars I’ll do anything you ask me to.
“Wonderful!” cooed Sunny. “My daughter will be joining us. I can’t wait to tell her all about you. She’s been in Paris the last few weeks.”
“Well, the feeling is mutual,” said Elly, twirling her cup, “I can’t wait to meet little Miss Lucia.”
“It’s a date then. I’ll email you with the details. Have a great day!”
“You too,” said Elly, dropping the phone onto its hook. She groaned. More updates for this wedding. They seemed endless. “Oh well,” she sighed, and then repeated under her breath, “$45,000. $45,000.”
Snarky Teenager strode up to the front carrying a bright bouquet of teddy bear sunflowers and coral godetia in a square glass vase.
“More stuff for the Kepke wedding?”
Elly rested her head against the cool surface of her desk. “Yes. It’s going to be a lot of work. A massive amount of work. I can’t talk about it. I’m already getting stress-related breakouts.”
“Do you know I’ve never even HAD a zit? Clear skin just runs in my family.”
Elly rolled her eyes under her eyelids.
“Anyways, don’t worry about it. I’ll be here to help,” Snarky Teenager reassured her.
Elly lifted her head with an amused smirk.
“What? Since Kim left, I’ve been super helpful. I delivered 20 arrangements last week, I did the ordering for the Sorrentino wedding, and I just finished the foyer piece for the art museum.”
Elly bowed her head. “You’re right. Thank you. I appreciate your dedication”
“I think I need a raise.”
Elly erupted in laughter. “Not today. But I’ll keep it in mind.”
Snarky Teenager sulked to the back. Elly snickered. A raise? Not until I can’t see your belly button ring all day long.
She glanced at the clock. It was lunch time, Elly’s favorite time of day. She skipped to the back. Anthony was filling dozens of buckets with hot pink gerbera daisies, and Snarky Teenager was unpacking glass bubble bowls.
“Hey, I’m going over to Keith’s for lunch – anyone want anything?”
Snarky Teenager tossed her shaggy blond bangs out of her eyes. “Are you hungry already? We had pumpkin bread for breakfast only, like, four hours ago.”
Elly ignored her. “Anthony, you?”
He grinned. “Nope. I have a homemade salad with arugula, apples, pine nuts and feta. It’s going to amazing.”
“It sounds like it. Are you sure you don’t have extra?” Elly chided.
His smile faded. “No, I’m sorry…I only brought enough for myself, Elly.”
Elly realized that her joke had fallen flat. Awkward.