Elly summoned her weary strength, standing up from the curb. “Let the record show,” she declared, “that you are the most annoyingly cheery person I have ever met.”
Heaving three centerpieces up to her chest, Elly started walking up the long staircase, the first of four trips she would make with her workers. Step by step, sweat bead by sweat bead that dripped from the back of her neck, Elly worked out the dormant anger that had laid restless in her heart since she opened her eyes that morning. She was here to do her job, and not even Aaron’s arrival back into her life would prevent that from happening. Ranting to herself with every step, Elly kept her eyes glued to the top, never looking back. Her heart hammered, her face was flushed, and she felt that her calves were ready to separate from the rest of her body. Wheezing pathetically, she finally reached the top. The three of them stood at the top of the hill, sweaty (except for Snarky Teenager, who was simply bathed in a sensual glow - Elly hated her) and accomplished. They turned around and gazed at the empty Pavilion.
“Now, let the real work begin,” sighed Elly, wiping her face with an apron.
In each archway surrounding the reception area, Anthony hung a dark orange satin ribbon and looped it through a single pomander, tying a beautiful bow at the top. The round balls of red berries, yellow skyline roses and burnt orange chrysanthemums circled in the wind, their ribbon tails swirling gaily underneath them. A makeshift aisle was taking form as young men in black shirts threw down white chairs. Elly tied bundles of orange cockscomb to the end of each chair lining the walkway. Anthony and Snarky Teenager gently carried large glass urns to the front, each exploding with yellow aecidium orchids and cattails. Elly spread orange and red rose petals down the aisle, creating a thick carpet to the front.
They took a ten minute break - enough time for Elly to breathe and get her face down to a relatively normal shade of red. She sat beside Anthony who was lounging under a crab apple tree overlooking St. Louis’s greatest asset, Forest Park. Its expanse was vast. Trees, trails, and flower gardens wove together making a tapestry of city and nature. From their position on the hill, Elly could make out the Art Museum and the Zoo, along with the Science Center, nuzzled cozily against the highway.
“I love this city,” sighed Anthony happily, a mirror of Elly’s thoughts. “I never knew it was so beautiful. I’ve lived many places – New York, San Francisco, Austin…but I’ve never found a home until I settled here. I knew it the first time I walked through Clayton. And then I stumbled across your shop and saw the Now Hiring sign. I had always dreamed of working with flowers. It was meant to be.”
Elly smiled and nudged him with her elbow. “Well, it was between you and the craziest woman I have ever met. You weren’t the obvious choice, but I figured, hey – why not?”
Anthony laughed. “You’re terrible.” He took a slow drink of water. “Elly, I don’t know you very well, but I know you’ll get over this. It doesn’t feel like it right now, but you will. You’ll emerge stronger on the other side. He doesn’t deserve you. He never did. God will see it through, girl.”
Elly nodded, trying to hide her suddenly blurry eyes. “Thank you, Anthony. You are an extraordinary person.”
As she looked at the ground, a pair of pink sneakers stepped into her line of sight. “Um, I know you guys are having a moment or whatever, but the linens are up and the wedding party is going to be here any minute.” Snarky Teenager looked at Elly. “I know you need a break from the stairs, but you might not want the bride to know.”
Elly closed her eyes for a moment and imagined herself flinging Snarky Teenager down the hill by a lacy bra strap. “I’m coming. Be nice.” She pulled herself up and walked towards the centerpieces huddled together in the shade near the entrance.