What would she tell me to do?
Elly read the paper again, thrilled to be drinking in this leftover trinket of her mother’s love. Unheard words from her mother about Elly; this was an absolute gift, a whisper of love from the past. I cannot tear myself away from her, not even for a minute, or fathom how this tiny angel came into my care. Elly is the love of my life, and words can never express how happy she has made me. Elly felt a large tear roll down her cheek as she struggled to remember what her mother had said about her father. “The best worst night of my life” was the only line she could remember her ever saying about him, and there was something about her not knowing he was married. Married to Dennis’s mother then? Or someone else? Elly gave a loud sniff and watched as dusk settled in outside the store windows. It was late April, and the spring was creeping up on all sides. Practically glowing yellow, a goldfinch fluttered happily in the bushes outside her store, feasting upon invisible bugs. Elly rested her hand against her cheek, tears pooling and spilling with joy and panic in equal measure. Oh God, what do I do with this? What now? I have a brother, and he obviously needs help. A brother. I am a sister. Elly reveled at the sound of this. I am a sister. She had always been an only child, beloved and a quite honestly, a bit spoiled. Now she could be a sister, a big sister! She could take Dennis to Ted Drewes ice cream, to the St. Louis Zoo, and they could spend hours talking on the phone. Maybe she could plan his wedding. She smiled through her tears. Okay, she was getting ahead of herself. First, she needed to close the store. She needed to call Kim. After one last glance at the note sent her back into a flurry of tears—I will find a way to provide for our daughter and give her the beautiful life she deserves—Elly finally folded it into her pocket and went about closing the store, locking the doors, sweeping up the remaining pink petals on the floor. Was it today that she had rolled in them with Keith? That seemed a lifetime ago. She emptied the reeking garbage and switched her little retro sign over to CLOSED. Later, she would remember doing none of it, so great was the shock to her system. Emotionally spent, she climbed the stairs to the apartment. She glanced at her cell phone, wondering if she should touch base with Keith, but figured it would probably be best just to wait to hear how the check-in at the hotel went. So she called Kim instead. An hour and many tears (his mother dead in a car accident, his alcoholic Dad abusive and neglectful, what kind of life has he had?) and a few laughs (Aaron and Lucia are miserable … bwaaahh!), she hung up the phone with Kim. A voicemail was waiting, and she eagerly punched in her code, expecting to hear from Keith. Instead, the shrill, barking voice of Gemma Reynolds pierced the air.
“Hello, Elly Jordan, Gemma Reynolds here, I’m the producer from BlissBride. I’m sure you remember me.” Of course I do, you daft wit, thought Elly. Then she frowned. Was that a British thing? A daft wit? She thought so. Elly generally prided herself on being very worldly. “Well, we met with the other two florists today, and even though I preferred both of them, my executive producer, Mr. Jackson, insisted that I show the pictures of your work to the client first.” There was a long pause and Gemma sounded equal parts pissed and incredulous. “I’m surprised to tell you that our celebrity has chosen you to be her florist for the twentieth episode of BlissBride. She was a big fan of the pink petals.” The Brit gave an exaggerated moan. “If you would like to accept the job, please give me a call back at….” The number was purposefully mumbled, and Elly was grateful that her cell phone had recorded it. “You have twelve hours to accept the job. If you do not, the position will be given to Sisters Flowers in Kirkwood. They did a beautiful orchid spread, with tropicals and greenery. Anyway, give me a call by tomorrow morning and let me know your decision. Thank you. And I just want you to know, that if it was up to me….”
Elly hung up the phone and stared at it in her hand. She was going to be on BlissBride. She was going to have enough money to open up another store. And she had a brother, one who she had thought was trying to kill her. Elly turned and looked at Cadbury, lying belly up on the couch, his one shaggy eye focused on her. “Holy crap,” she said out loud. Then she headed to the kitchen to pour a large glass of Riesling.
Chapter Ten
Elly shielded her eyes from the glare of the towering metal buildings. “I’m not sure about being so close to downtown. I mean, shouldn’t we look for something on a side street? Does it have to be quite so … corporate?”