“Agreed,” said Snarky Teenager, hanging the last of the lanterns. “My turn next.”
Never, thought Elly. Before she could stop herself, her mind was racing to the future. I wonder if Keith and I had a son, would he have bright-blue eyes like mine, or a deep stormy blue like Keith’s? Would he be chubby from the get-go? Have a natural knack for making sandwiches? Would he able to carry a tune? Hadley pushed out the world’s most-violent sneeze, making his eyes cross. Elly’s heart leapt with happiness. It was all too adorable. She looked around the store. With the lanterns hung, it really started to look how Elly had pictured it. It had that deep, aesthetic spiritual connection, that lulling coolness, that “it” feeling, whatever it was. It was a certain hipness that she didn’t have. Hadley was trying to eat her sleeve. “Okay, your turn.”
Snarky Teenager held out her arms. “Babies are, like, so in right now. They are the ultimate accessory.”
“Try not to drop your new accessory.”
“I’m not an idiot,” she snapped. Hadley dangled precariously from her arm.
“You’re a natural.” Elly reached out to catch him as he almost squirmed out of the girl’s tiny bird arms.
“Yes, hello?”
Both Elly and Snarky Teenager jumped. Standing in the gigantic open glass doors was a stunning Japanese woman. “You do flowers here, yes?” she asked.
Elly looked over at Snarky Teenager with confusion. She gave a shrug. “I’ll take Hadley.”
Hadley stared at the woman, totally confused. Elly pushed the wheeled chair back from the desk with her foot. What was intended to be a smooth, professional movement quickly escalated out of control. The floor had recently been waxed, and the chair flew backward. Behind Elly was a pile of bamboo shelving that hadn’t been mounted yet. The chair hit the wood, spinning, and launched Elly sideways into the air. She landed on her stomach, smacking her knees down behind her. The chair tipped and landed on top of her shins. Before she even realized what was happening, Elly’s face was against the cool floor. Oh, she thought with surprise, this mountain maple color looks really good up close. Then, why am I on the floor? She heard Snarky Teenager’s shrieking laughter coming from somewhere beyond the desk. Hadley was clapping.
Suddenly, the woman was upon her. “Are you okay?”
Elly pushed herself up with her elbows. Oh Lord, her abdomen ached.
The woman reached out and took Elly’s arm, speaking in a thick Japanese accent. “Here, let me help you up.”
Elly sat up, her hair flopping in her face. “What can I help you with?” she asked, trying to laugh it off. Her face burned with embarrassment. Snarky Teenager was now sitting on the floor, tears of laughter dripping down her perfect cheeks as Hadley bounced on her lap.
The woman looked down at the owner, sprawled out on the floor. “You guys are the florist, right?”
Elly gave a nod, brushing off her pants. “We are, but we aren’t open for business yet, as you can probably tell.”
The woman gave a pert nod. Her chin-length bob bounced, and perfectly jet-black hair came untucked from behind her ear. From her years of selling flowers, Elly could tell from the way this woman carried herself that she was probably very important. “Huh. Interesting. Good location. I was strolling through. Well, let me know when you are open. I would maybe be interested in using your services.”
Elly stuck out her hand. “I’m Elly Jordan. I’m the owner of this shop. I also own Posies, down on Wydown, by Keith’s deli?”
The woman clasped her hands together. “Oh! I love that deli! And I love your window displays! The one you have up most recently—the display with the black and white? Very good color blocking.”
Elly saw Snarky Teenager make Hadley give her a high five in the corner. “Well, thanks,” said Elly, knowing it would annoy her young employee.
“I’m Karen,” said the woman, stretching out her hand.
Elly shook it, marveling at how her own large hand seemed to completely swallow the woman’s. “It’s nice to meet you.” Elly gestured around the shop. “Today we are just setting up things, so we don’t have any flowers yet. But, if you want to contact me over at Posies, I’m sure we could help you.”
“Oh, I’m not into traditional flowers. But let me know when you are open. Are you the manager?” Elly saw a look of concern cross Snarky Teenager’s face. What was that about?
“Yes. And once we open, I would love to design you something special, on us. I’ll have it delivered to you.”
Karen raised herself up on her toes and gave a single clap. “That sounds perfect. I’ll have my people email your people.”