The Flower Shop

Part One: Blossoming

Nadia sat in the  back area of her flower shop and listened to her mother drill her about not having a boyfriend.
        "Babygirl you are 26 years old. Smart, beautiful, and honest. I want some grand babies before I turn 60." She listened to her mother.
        Nadia rolled her eyes, thankful her mother couldn't see the scowl on her face. "Mama, my time will come. When God allows it to come to pass, it will."
        She heard her mother sigh heavily on the phone. "I swear in all my years as Barbara May Samuels, I've never heard any of my children say that except for you. Even your knuckle head of a brother done found someone."
        "Mama, now you know as well as I do that Nelson isn't consistent." Nadia said as she cut the thorns off of her azaleas.
        "I know. But you should see how he's acting now. All giggly. The child even offered to carry in groceries for me the other day. When I tell you I wanted to pass out- I almost hit the curb."
         Nadia couldn't help the burst of laughter that came from her mouth. As soon as she did, the door to the back part of her shop swung open and in walked in Jalil.
        He waved at her and she waved back. Nadia watched as he began to take already made arrangements and gather them in his hands.  
        "Listen Ma, I'll call you when I get home ok?" Nadia said into the phone.
        "Yes you sure will. We are not done with this discussion. I love you!" She heard her mother sing into the phone.
       Nadia smiled. "I love you too Mama." She said clicking the phone off.
        Nadia slid her phone into her apron and grabbed a vase from Jalil.
        "Thanks Nadia." He flashed a smile at her.
        The pair walked to the front of the store and put the fresh arrangements on the shelves.  Christmas was a week away and most of the arrangements reflected that in some way. Shades of red and green danced in her shop. She loved this time of the year as it reflected joy.
        "So, not to be nosey or anything- but was that your moms?" Jalil asked as he placed the cases down.
         Nadia rolled her eyes. "Yes. I love her. But if I hear "when are you gonna get a man" one more time- I think I'm gonna scream."
        Jalil laughed and Nadia smiled against her will. She stuck a clip-on santa cut out on one of the flower stems.
        "I think your mom is just concerned," Jalil started. "I mean, you ain't ugly or nothing. You could get any man if you wanted."
         "Well thanks," She smiled. "I don't want just anything though."
          Jalil watched as she walked over to the door to turn the sign from closed to open on the entrance. He observed her slender frame as she fixed the alarm. He knew that security was important to her- especially after what had happened last year.
         "And what exactly are you looking for in a man?" Jalil asked as he leaned against the flower post.
          Nadia turned her lips to the side as she thought about what Jalil had asked her. "I guess I'm looking for someone who is sweet with me." Nadia shrugged. "I mean, sweet as in patient. I don't want anyone to be too firm with me."
          "You don't like firmness?"
          "I do," Nadia nodded. "But in my experience some guys think that they're the end all be all to your life. Like they act like they are the solution to all your problems- and I can't stand that." Nadia rolled her eyes.
          Jalil smiled at her facial expressions. "I can see you wanting someone sweet, as you put it." Jalil nodded.
         Nadia smiled at his words. Over the last year that they had been working together- their friendship had grown. Nadia loved how Jalil was always listening to her in his quiet way. She didn't mind it because it always relaxed her.
          The bell chimed and Nadia looked towards the door and saw one of her regular costumers coming in. She walked over to them and began chatting away, but not before looking back at Jalil and feeling something new rise up in her heart.

                                 **
         A few days passed and Jalil turned up the volume in his earbuds as he clipped the thorns from a bouquet of roses. Nadia had taught him how and now he was pretty good with it. He clipped the last of the thorns with ease and rapped to Ambitionz as a Ridah by Tupac.
          When he was done with the vase, he grabbed it and two other arrangements and walked to the front of the store. He almost jumped out of his skin when he saw a woman standing at the front desk with her coat on and her fingernails drumming the desk. He couldn't quite place her age, as she looked to be about in her late 40's. Even so, her brown skin was flawless.
            Taking one of his earbuds out of his ears, he sat the vases on the counter before walking over to her.
           "Hello ma'am, how may I help you?" He asked.
           She looked at him up and down before answering. "Hello. I'm Barbara Samuels, Nadia's mother. Is she here?"
            "No ma'am. She stepped out for a few minutes to go to the post office down the street. Would you like to have a seat?"
           Mrs. Samuels nodded and watched as the young man went and grabbed her a chair. When he sat it down, she sat comfortably, with one leg crossed and her Kate Spade bag sitting comfortably on top.
          "So," Mrs. Samuels began. "You're Jalil right?"
          Jalil smiled. "Yes ma'am."
          "Ah yes. I'm surprised this isn't the first time we've met. Nadia has told me a lot about you. And I want to thank you for being there for my baby during the incident last year. Lord knows I would be a mess if something happened to my girl- my only baby girl."
           Jalil nodded as flashes of the incident ran through his mind. Nadia crying and that bastard Charles on top of her,  he clenched his jaw at the memory. He shook his head of the thought as he looked at one of the red poinsettias.
           "Yeah. Well- I was just glad to be there. You raised a really great person. I wouldn't want to work for anyone else." Jalil stated truthfully.
           Mrs. Samuels nodded at his words. "I see. I know it's late notice, but how would you like to come to Sunday dinner? It's a Samuel's family tradition."
          Before Jalil could reply, Nadia came walking in the door.  "Jalil, I- Mama?" She said.
           "Hello daughter." Mrs. Samuels smiled, getting up to hug her child.
           Jalil smiled at the pair and continued to cut the stems of the flowers.
           "Ma, what are you doing here?" Nadia said as she allowed her mother to hug her.
           "Well, I told you I'd come see you at work more often. So here I am. I also got to know Jalil a bit more. It's a shame you haven't introduced us earlier."
          "Nadia glanced at Jalil, who gave her a small grin.
         "And guess what?! Jalil has accepted my invitation to Sunday dinner. Be a doll and give him the address to our home. See you Sunday!" Mrs. Samuels said as she kissed her daughters cheek and left out the door.
         "Nadia stood rooted in one spot as she exhaled loudly. I swear my mom is always up to something, she thought to herself as she went behind the counter and began to look through her mail.
          As she sorted it, she felt Jalil staring at her. She looked up at him and couldn't help but to feel her cheeks flush.
         "Jalil, I'm sorry if my mom was being extra pushy." Nadia apologized. "I mean she can get that way. So if you don't want to come to Sunday dinner, you don't have to."
    Jalil walked over to where she stood. "I want to come. I mean- you never invited me." He gave her a wink and a grin, which caused Nadia to smile widely.
         "You sure you wanna come?" Nadia asked.
        Jalil shrugged. "Yeah. I'm not trippin' off the invite. I think it would be cool."
        Nadia nodded. "Cool. I'm glad I'll have someone to help me escape this time."
       "Yo, the dinners can't be that bad." Jalil laughed.
         Nadia opened the flower magazine and began circling inspirational arrangements. "They're not bad in theory- but my mom always asks me when I'ma get a man. So I questions will be off the chain this time because you'll be there."
          "I'm cool with the questions." Jalil nodded. "I'll be honest. I don't have a reason to lie."
          Nadia shrugged. "If you say so. But listen, we usually eat right after church- like around 1."
         Jalil nodded. "I got you. You go to Second Street Baptist, right?" He asked.
        "Yeah."
        "Bet. I'll see you there at what- 10:30? That's when service starts, right?"
        "Yeah, it does. Wait- you tryna come to church?"
        "Don't act so surprised." Jalil playfully rolled his eyes. "Yes, I'll come to church."
    Nadia held her hands up in surrender. "Ok, ok. I wave my white flag. But seriously- if you don't want to do this, you don't have to. There's no pressure."
    "Nadia, listen- If I didn't want to do it- I wouldn't. Trust me." He said as he flipped the sign on the door to open and walked to the back of the shop.