The Florist And The Prince (ON HOLD)

~ 14 ~

Avery's POV

After setting up the table for breakfast, Avery went out to the balcony and cut some Rosa Peace roses that were growing out there and took them back inside with her, before putting them in the vase, adding water then took them over to the dinning table and stood it in the middle.

"Nan, papa breakfast is ready!" She called to her grandparents.

Joshua walked out of the dinning room to see what his granddaughter had prepared and smiled when he saw that she had made his favourite.

"This looks wonderful, thank you sweetheart." He gave Avery a side hug and pecked her on the head before sitting down. "Claire!"

"I'm coming, I'm coming."

Avery giggled as her grandmother stumbled out of their storeroom with a small box. "What is that?"

"Claire, it's early in the morning, what on earth are you doing?" Joshua frowned, looking at his wife.

Claire huffed and left the box on the coffee table in the living  room before walking over to the dinning table. "The committee board put me in charge of overlooking the decorations for the summer dance."

"That's great nan." Avery grinned.

"Thank you, but there are other people on the board too. Younger people with fresh ideas, they should be given the chance, I'm getting old for this."

"You're not even that old." Joshua disagreed.

"Thank you darling, but you are only saying that because I'm your wife."

"No, you can still do what most of these young people can do and you are one of the best events planner in town." Joshua replied stubbornly.

Avery nodded. "Yes. I agree with papa one hundred percent."

Claire looked at her family then laughed. "You twos are being biased."

Once they had their breakfast and cleaned up, Avery and Claire went down to the shop while Joshua headed over to the local clinic to have his monthly check up, because he used to be a cancer patient. While Claire helped their employees open up, Avery remained in the storeroom which also happened to be adjacent to the stairs that led up to their home then she saw something misplacing there.

"Nan, didn't Mrs. Garrett order some flower bouquets?" She called out.

"Yes she did, why?"

"They aren't here."

"What?" Claire exclaimed and hurried into the shop's storeroom. "Morena!"

"Yes Mrs. Cartwright?" One of their employees, a young woman a few years older than Avery walked over to them.

"Do you know what happened to the flower bouquets that were in this crater?" Claire asked her, panic rising within her.

"No." Morena shook her head.

"Oh my goodness, what happened to them? She pre-ordered and paid for them in advanced, and will be here to pick them up soon for the junior beauty pageant. What will I do now?"

"Don't worry, I can make them. We still have time before she comes to pick them up." Avery assured her grandmother.

"I'll help." Morena offered.

Claire released a sigh of relief. "Alright. Thank you girls."

Grabbing the flowers that were used, they set to work on a table nearby.

"Is the announcement for the contestants today?" Morena asked Avery.

Avery nodded her head as she took another hyacinth and added it into the bouquet that she was working on. "Yes. It will be at noon."

"You are so lucky. You are in the required age group."

"I wouldn't really put it like that. There are so many girls."

Morena's eyebrows  furrowed and inquired. "How many of you in totally?"

"From what I heard at the townhall, there are a hundred and twelve of us." Avery replied.

"Good heaven's, so how on earth did they choose three out of a hundred and twelve of you in roughly a month?"

"It's the royal family. I'm pretty sure they have hundreds of people to help with things like this."

Morena mused. "Of course they do."

By the time they were done with the bouquets, there was a few minutes remaining before the owner was going to come and pick them up.

"These are lovely, thank you so much." Claire thanked both young women, after seeing the bouquets.

"Looks like Madam Eunice has arrived." One of the other employees stated matter-of-factly looking out of the window, just as Avery walked out of the storeroom.

"Really?" Avery questioned and walked over to one of the large windows to peep out but she didn't see anything out of the ordinary.

"Yes. A royal convoy just drove by." The same employee replied.

"Okay, we best be getting ready to go over there." Claire said.

"We still have three more hours, nan and it looks like Mrs. Garrett is also here."

"Oh good."

Avery moved away from the window as the door opened a petite woman in her mid thirties with light brown hair, blue eyes, fair skin walked into the shop with her seven year old daughter.

"Good morning." Mrs. Garrett smiled.

"Good morning Mrs. Garrett and my, don't you look beautiful today Amber."

"What do you say to that Amber?" Mrs. Garrett looked down at her daughter.

"Thank you Mrs. Cartwright." Amber replied shyly, prompting Avery to smile at the adorable child.

"Your welcome dear."

Mrs. Garrett then looked over to the counter top and saw the bouquets. "Are those the ones?"

Claire nodded her head. "Yes."

"They are perfect, thank you so much."

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