“You could see yourself living there because you look great in bikinis and surfer shorts,” laughed Elly. “Hefty girls do not belong in areas with beaches. Besides, I visited LA once with Aaron and I absolutely hated it. It was like a concrete jungle. Also, In-N-Out Burger? Totally overrated.”
Kim gave her a gentle smile, the kind of sad smile that said, I’ve never eaten a burger in my life. “So, are you nervous?”
Elly shrugged. “Yes, but I also know they probably won’t pick us, especially after the phone incident with Gemma. Anthony and I were really excited at first, but now I’m leaning more to the practical side. Posies is a lot smaller than the other floral shops in our area. We don’t have the size or status of Clayton Florist, or Babylon, or Sisters. They have more money and a bigger staff, and are probably going to throw their elite social status at the interviewer.”
Kim made a face. “Ugh, you are so negative. Maybe they will pick you because you’re smaller. Perhaps this celebrity is looking for a more intimate experience, with vendors who will really care about them.”
Elly loudly crunched a tortilla chip and pointed at Kim. “You know, I’ve been thinking about that. Here’s the thing: I think that once you’re famous, everyone treats you like you’re special. This woman has probably never had anything but the utmost stellar service from every single person who has ever helped her. I mean, look how far we went for Sunny Kepke, just because she had a ton of money to burn! It’s not wrong, it’s just the way things are.”
Kim nodded. “She was also the mother of your husband’s mistress, so in many ways you treated her way better than she deserved. But maybe your secret celebrity doesn’t want that. Maybe she just wants someone honest who will give her gorgeous flowers.”
“No way. I’m sure rose petals fall at this woman’s feet wherever she walks. And we have to top that. Somehow. Arghhh!!!”
“What?”
“Nothing. I just dropped a chip down my bra and now it is stabbing me. Ugh, I hate chip bra!”
Kim laughed. “That happens to you every time we come here.” Elly’s best friend looked stunning, as always in a striped nautical dress, her wrists dangling with a million gold bracelets. Elly had been feeling daring, and so she was wearing khaki pants and sandals with a teal and black tank top, topped with a long gold necklace. Her arms felt naked and exposed, but at least she was dressing a hair out of her comfort zone. I wore earrings today. That’s a big thing for me.
Suddenly, Elly sat up straight in her chair, alarmed at her own genius. “Kim … what if we actually did that?”
Kim had a quesadilla halfway into her mouth. “Um, did, uh—what?”
“Oh my gosh, I’m amazing! What if we laid rose petals down at her feet? For the interview!”
Kim nodded excitedly and kept chewing. “I see the cogs in your head turning. Tell me more.”
Elly continued, her grin stretching wide. “What if we laid out rose petals, enough to cover the floor of the studio? I mean, how beautiful would that look on camera? As soon as the viewers saw that, the choice would be obvious!” Elly leapt out of her chair and started circling the table. “This is it! The idea to win this thing! Her colors are hot pink and navy and pinstripes.”
Kim made a disgusted face. “Seriously?”
Elly grimaced. “I know, right? Oh, famous people….”
“You say that like you know so many.”
Elly ignored her and began scribbling on a napkin. “We cover the floor with pale-pink rose petals and then make a gorgeous table to match. It will blow them away. Sure, the other florists will do gorgeous work as well, but if we put ourselves forward as a company that will make our celebrity feel like she is walking on rose petals, they will pick us, right? It’s almost too over the top—it teeters on the edge of ridiculous. For a normal bride, it would be. But not a famous one.”
Kim snapped her fingers. “And that is how you will distinguish yourself from the other two florists. It will be such a big impact, color-wise, that they won’t be able to shake the vision from their minds.”
Elly then drew a giant happy face over the entire drawing. “And then we will be on BlissBride!”
“Next up, world domination.” Both women started clapping. Annoyed restaurant patrons looked over at them.
“My friend is going to be on TV!” Kim smiled, showing her perfectly white teeth. The elderly couple smiled back, won over by Kim’s radiant beauty. Elly rolled her eyes before sitting back down and taking a long sip of water. “Kim, I can do this. I can get us onto BlissBride. I know it.”
Kim grabbed her hand. “Absolutely. I’m afraid I won’t be much help, but I’ll keep my schedule as open as I can. I have a baby who keeps me pretty busy with things like poop schedules. Depressing, but true.”
“Oh, right. I forgot you have a baby. Poor Hadley. Two drinks in and we forget about him.” Elly raised her glass and Kim followed. “To walking on rose petals. And to Hadley. May we never forget about him again.” They both giggled.