Lizette glanced down at it. “This looks fine, I guess. It’s not ideal, but when I work with you I guess we all have to lower our expectations.” The girl’s face fell. Elly felt compelled to take her into her arms. Lizette headed towards the exit. “Think about what I said Elly. We could be of use to each other. It’s just good business. Otherwise, you might find yourself needing MAH help to get brides.” She turned to her assistant. “AshLEE! Go get the car. Right now. Also, call my nanny and tell her that Tommy is sick. I swear to God….”
Elly clutched the handle of her shopping cart, closed her eyes and counted to ten. Taking deep breaths, she slowly calmed down, reminding herself that homicide was never legal, even when it was justified. When she opened her eyes Lizette was gone, and Kim stood in front of her face looking skeptical. “Why are you standing in the middle of the wholesaler with your eyes closed? Did something happen?”
Elly sighed. “I’ll tell you in the car.” She looked at Kim’s carts, piled high with shopping bags. “Wow, you did some major damage.”
Kim grinned. “I know, isn’t it great? I found these amazing black and white paisley cashmere throws, this Springray topiary, and just wait until you see all the other pink stuff I bought for the nursery.”
Elly mustered up a smile. “I can’t wait.”
Kim put her hand on her hip. “What’s wrong? Tell me now before I shake it out of you.”
“Well...” Elly replied, “the good news is that I found some adorable votives. The bad news is that I think I’m being blackmailed.”
CHAPTER
TWENTY-FOUR
Anthony held up Elly’s bright pink polo.
“What the heck is this?”
Elly put her finger up and mouthed “Hold on,” as she pulled the leaves off a yellow ranunculus while cradling the phone with her shoulder.
“No. No. Sir, please, you are not listening to me. I need everyone ready to go at 7 am. Yes, seven. I know that means you have to get up at 5:30, but that is what time I need you and your workers to be here.” There was an uncomfortable pause. “I’ll buy everyone breakfast burritos.” A smile stretched across her tired face. “That sounds great. I will see you Saturday.”
Elly grimaced as she hung up the phone and turned to Anthony. “What is it? I’m not sure I can handle any more problems today.”
It was three days before the wedding. Elly had been up since the night before, getting the store ready for the massive flower shipment arriving tomorrow, and the next day…and the day after that. One hundred and fifty water-filled black buckets lined the walls of the store, the counters and various desks and tables. Elly had already knocked over two today, leaving her knees damp and sore.
“What’s wrong with that shirt?” she asked.
Anthony looked at it with disgust. “You are designing and delivering the wedding of the year. You cannot wear a pink polo.” He spit out the words as if they disgusted him.
Elly rolled her eyes in his direction. “What would you have me wear – a ballgown? Maybe a tiara?”
Anthony snickered. “No, just something with some…elegance.”
Snarky Teenager marched up to Elly from the back of the store, her perfect ponytail bouncing behind her. “I’ll buy you something. I have wicked style.”
Elly frowned. “I’m not wearing just a bra if that’s what you have in mind.”
Snarky Teenager accidentally kicked over a bucket of water as she reached for Elly. “What size are you – crap!”
Elly sighed. “Ignore it. I’m pretty sure our carpet is already ruined.” Elly spun around as Snarky Teenager grabbed for her collar. “No – no, I’ll just write it down for you.”
Snarky Teenager caught her and glanced at her tag. “Whoa. I thought sizes only went up to eight. Where do you buy...” she gestured to the tag. “THIS size?” She paused dramatically. “Do I have to go back to the mumu store?”
Elly gave her an exasperated look. “A fourteen-sixteen is not that hard to find. I’m not talking to you anymore. Go finish prepping the greenery.”
Snarky Teenager stomped her foot. “Seriously? I’ve been prepping now for, like, three hours!”
“Wait until the actual flowers get here, then you will have nothing to complain about. It’s a good thing we are doing the greenery early, because we are going to be processing and designing every hour of our life for the next three days.”
Snarky Teenager sulked to the back. She looked so ridiculous that Elly couldn’t help but snicker.
Anthony swept up some stems in a tiny space between buckets. “She’s crazy about you – you know that, right?”
Elly harrumphed him. “Thanks to you, she is probably texting all her friends my size right at this very moment.”
Anthony laughed. “Probably.” He looked around. “Are we all ready for this? I’m starting to have stress dreams and stomach cramps.”