The alarm sounded at 4:30 am, jerking Elly out of a dense, dreamless sleep. She felt as though she had been drugged. She showered slowly, letting the hot water drip over her throbbing back and legs. Elly dressed in silence, a pulse rising in the corner of her brain. She pulled on her long khaki pants and the black ruffled blouse that Anthony had purchased for her so she wouldn’t wear her normal pink delivery polo. Her golden curls were swept up into a loose ponytail – she couldn’t deal with hair in her face today. She gave Cadbury a quick nuzzle and headed into the studio, which was still a complete wreck.
When Elly had left yesterday, the floor was a sea of compost, and the chaos of a giant wedding evident in every corner, but they had all been too exhausted to clean. Today, amongst the chaos, the arrangements stood lined up at the front in stately rows, and the bouquets pulled out so that they would be fully opened. The back design table was covered with the ceremony arrangements. Everything was organized and ready to go, all within a disastrous mess. A wave of love swept through Elly as she looked at her employees standing among the flowers, breaking through the numbness that had overwhelmed her that morning.
“You guys…what have I done to deserve you?”
Kim handed her a hot chocolate. “Nothing. But you are paying us VERY well.”
Ardelle stuck her nose in the air. “She’s not paying me ZAT well. I am a one of a kind.”
Elly ignored her and took a sip. “Let’s run over today – does everyone have their notes?” Her team nodded.
Elly, Kim, Snarky Teenager and Ardelle sat at the consultation table, shoving aside candles and buckets of rose petals. Each had typed up detailed notes of their schedule for the day.
“Okay. Kim, tell me your schedule.”
“I wait here for the delivery drivers that are coming at 7 am. I tell them exactly what to load and where it goes, along with giving them a map to the hotel and a list of all our cell phone numbers. I then periodically check in with you via your cell to see if you need anything, or if any of the delivery drivers are not where they are supposed to be.”
“And?”
“And, I make any last-minute arrangements if they are needed.”
“Yes. Wonderful.” She turned to Snarky Teenager. “And you?”
She gave an exasperated sigh. “Do I have to go over it AGAIN?”
“Yes.”
“Fine. I take all the personal flowers straight to the bride’s room. I set up the bouquets, making sure that I double check them with Lizette, who will be with Lucia all day.” Her face distorted when she said Lucia’s name. “I then pin all the groomsmen, the fathers, the ushers, the grandparents, aunts and moms. After that, I meet Elly in the Grand Ballroom to help with the reception set up.”
Elly nodded. “What else?”
Snarky Teenager groaned. “I watch Ardelle.”
“Yes. Ardelle, you know what you are doing?”
Ardelle ran her French manicure over the table. “Oui. I do whatever she,” she gestured flippantly to Snarky Teenager, “tells me to do. Also, I fix any arrangements zat might encounter travel damage.” Ardelle sat primly at the table, her lavender scarf tied in a giant bow around her neck.
“And what do we we not do?”
Ardelle winked at Elly. “We do not hit anyone with brooms. But I might trip people if zey get in my way.”
Elly waved a hand at her. “That’s fine. Just no brooms. We’re all set, yes?”
There was a deafening silence.
“You have to tell us your schedule,” Kim said gravely.
“Right.” Elly took a deep breath. “I stay here to help Kim load all the delivery vans and direct the drivers, who will then unload everything for us. I then drive over and set up the ceremony in the hotel courtyard. Isaac is meeting me there and helping me.” She smiled at the thought of his cheerful face. “After that is done – and I imagine it will take at least two hours – I will decorate the reception venue, and will be joined by the other two. We will all ride back together. If all goes perfectly, we should finish setting up the reception right before the ceremony begins.”
Ardelle started to say something.
Snarky Teenager shushed her. “No crazy today.”
Ardelle stopped, and Elly stood up. “Are we all ready?” She sounded much more confident than she felt.
Kim held up a finger. “Wait. We aren’t saying what needs to be said.” Everyone’s eyes were riveted to her. “Don’t forget; under NO circumstances is Elly to see either Aaron or Lucia. Do you both understand that? Elly is setting up the ceremony and some of the reception alone – easily the biggest job of the day.”
“Isaac will be there,” Elly interjected.
Kim narrowed her eyes. “Right. This is a trade off so that she does not have to be ANYWHERE near them. Is that clear?”