Elly nodded, a curl falling loose from her elegant updo. “I feel that our entire staff is very calm and camera-ready. And ready to captivate? Please. We have great conversations ranging from philosophy,”—Anthony talking about how he thought Plato was a planet—“to current events.” If Elly was elected President, she would, after brokering a Middle East peace agreement, declare a national monster cookie day.
Gemma shook her head. “I think you misunderstand me. What I need to know is that, when the chips are down, and our celebrity is screaming in your face, that you will be able to stay calm and cool and not buckle with the cameras right in your face. These weddings are larger than you could ever imagine, and many a vendor has failed. We don’t want a wedding without flowers because someone choked. To be honest, I’m not sure that I see that here.” Elly felt an old anger stirring inside her, something ancient and deeply buried. It forced its way up inside her mouth. She stood quickly, the chair sailing out behind her, sending a poof of rose petals into the air. “Ms. Reynolds, with all due respect, last year I watched my ex-husband marry his mistress. And even though every piece of my soul was breaking, their wedding was perfection. In fact, you can see pictures of it in the St. Louis Chronicle and in Martha Stewart Weddings magazine. So if you don’t think I can handle some entitled reality star who has imaginary issues, then you are sorely mistaken.”
Gemma tilted her head as she stared up, bewildered by the outburst. Then she looked Elly straight in the eye and turned her mouth up in a half smile. Elly went to open her mouth again and then thought better of it. Snarky Teenager reached across the table and grabbed Ms. Reynolds’s hand. “Look, I know that Posies is kind of a quirky store. And it’s true, we’re a little different. Elly Jordan is superweird, but she is the best designer in St. Louis. Her flowers are intricate and gorgeous, and you will not find an equal, I guarantee it. I mean, look at these centerpieces. Look at the floor! The other florists you visit today, I can tell you what you will find: you will find something ordinary.” She sat back in her seat. “We are extraordinary.” Her eyes twinkled and Elly swore she had never seen her look so mesmerizing. She had been on a roll until she proudly declared, “And I am also extraordinary.”
Gemma glared back at her with annoyance, but Elly swore the man holding the suitcase was actually drooling. “Yes, you are,” he murmured quietly.
Gemma clicked her pen once and then packed her clipboard into her suitcase, slamming it shut. “We’ll be in touch. Are you ready to go?” The photographer was running around the room, taking pictures of every surface. “These petals have the most gorgeous texture!” he cried.
“That’s great, let’s go,” Gemma ordered.
At that moment, Anthony strolled out of the back, carrying a bucket of pink and white gerbera daisies. His eyes panicked when he saw the photographer. “Oh hello!” he said cheerfully. “My name is Anthony! I do many important things here at Posies. Yes. I work here.” He looked at Elly and shrugged.
Gemma eyed Elly with fascination as she rose from the table. “I’ve left a contract for you to look over if we pick you.” Looking over at Snarky Teenager she said, “If you’re ever interested in a career in television, let me know. You can’t want to make flower arrangements for the rest of your life, can you?”
She clicked out the door to where an idling black Lincoln Town Car waited for her. The man with the suitcase followed her, but not before he not so smoothly slipped his business card to Snarky Teenager and gave her a wink.
The photographer walked up to Elly and took her hand warmly in his. “Thank you for letting me photograph your breathtaking work. It’s incredible. This made my month.” He kissed her hand fondly.
The door to the shop closed, sending a flurry of pink petals into the street. Elly walked over and sat down at her desk, angrily kicking the rose petals out of her way. “It was a nice try,” she sighed. “I blew it. I totally blew it. Why did I talk about Aaron’s wedding last year? I wasn’t thinking. There were way better examples. I think I probably was quite rude to her when I got upset.” She looked down at the table with tears swimming in her eyes. “What is wrong with me? Why did I even think I could get this? I knew I would never be a person someone wanted to watch on TV. Let’s face it, I would be a train wreck on camera.”
Anthony walked over and put his arms around her. She clutched his arm. “And you, you were almost as terrible as I was! All around, we are a wreck.” He smiled.
Snarky Teenager stared silently out the window. She turned, the bright spring colors bursting out from behind her. “No. We totally got it.”
Elly frowned. “What?”
“We got it.”
“Were you at that interview? Did you see how Ms. Gemma Reynolds hates me?”
“I don’t know. She might have a begrudging respect for you, but I don’t think she wants our shop for the job. But did you even bother to look at the card that guy handed to me?”