The Flower Shop

Chapter Nine

           29, 30, 31, 32, 33....34, 35. Perfect." Nadia said to herself as she counted the number of vases that she had.
           The day of the event had finally come and Nadia and Jalil had gotten an early start to their day. It was 6:30 AM and still dark. But Because it was just them as employees, they had a lot to do.
           "You got all the marble pathos, right?" Jalil called out and Nadia nodded, still looking at the flowers. "They should be on the right side."
           "I got them." Jalil shouted back.
           She walked outside to where the flowers sat in trays waiting for her and Jalil to get to work. She'd never seen her shop covered in this flowers, but she wasn't complaining. She loved her job and being able to help others was something she truly did care about.
           Jalil came out to where she was and watched as the delivery trucks drove away. He grabbed her hands and kissed them. "You ready?"
           Nadia smiled and kissed his lips lightly. "Yeah, let's get started.
           And so the pair worked. They put each individual flower into it's own vase and when that was done, they began to put bows on the outside of the vase. Each bow had the logo to the business on it so there would be no mistaking where they came from.
           When they were done, their hands were covered in dirt and Nadia looked at the time- seeing that three hours had passed them by.
           "Baby I can't believe three hours has passed by this quick." Nadia said as she wiped her forehead with the back of her hand. "And I'm tired. You know, I think I need to start exercising." She said as she took a sip of her water. While her work did require her to do a lot of physical labor, Nadia did feel she could be stronger than what she was.
           Jalil smiled at her. "When I was locked up exercise became a form of therapy for me. If you want to get started- I say go for it." He said as he washed his hands.
           "I think I will. Mama has been saying she wants to work out so maybe I can convince her to join me." Nadia said as she washed her hands after him. Jalil nodded and looked at the clock that sat above the door.
           "What time did they say they were coming to pick up the flowers?" He asked, leaning against the worktable.
           "9:30." Nadia said as she looked at her arm watch. As soon as the words came from her mouth, the doorbell rang and she stood.
           "That must be them." Nadia said as she walked through the swinging doors that led to the main floor of her shop. Jalil followed her and watched as she opened the door and in walked several men with the same crimson colored shirts and gold letters on them. They must be in a fraternity, Jalil thought as he observed the men. While he didn't attend college straight out of high school, he did read a lot about black history when he was locked up and recognized them from some photos in books he'd read.
           "Hi Darryl." Nadia said as she hugged him. He hugged her back and she took a step back. "Hi everyone." She waved to them.
           They all spoke back, and she stood beside Jalil. "For those of you that don't know- I'm Nadia, the owner of Nadia's Flowers. This is Jalil, my assistant and partner in crime." She smiled up at him and he winked at her. "We're the sole employees but we know this business like the back of our hands. So during the process of moving, we're gonna split up into two groups. One will go with me and the other will go with Jalil. We're gonna instruct you on how to handle the flowers and accompany you to the venue so that we can accurately help you display them. How does that sound?"
           All the men nodded, and Nadia smiled. "Great. Can half of you guys stand over by this shelf and the other half stand by the opposite one?" Nadia asked. Once the men were assembled, she took one group and led them around the building to the back while Jalil's group stayed in the shop.
           As the groups got to work, Nadia watched at how well they worked together and moved as a unit. She felt a presence beside her and looked over her shoulder seeing Darryl standing beside her.
           "You really know how to command a room." Darryl said as he stood beside Nadia.
           Nadia smiled and shrugged. "Nah, I'm just doing my job." She said as she touched her scarf that was underneath her dad cap. She scratched her head.
           "Nah, you got it. You always had charisma though. But I have a question- you ever thought about putting overhead shelters back here? It's just empty space. If you had shelters, you could make a greenhouse back here and wouldn't have to worry about your plants as the winter came."
           Nadia placed her hand on her hip and looked at the empty lot. She had always dreamed of turning this lot into something more.
           "That's actually not a bad idea, Darryl. I would just have to check my budget to be honest. I'm still paying off my very small student loan." Nadia shook her head at the thought.
           Darryl smiled. "Welll- if you consider my firm I'd cut you a nice deal." He stood in front of her. "A real nice one."
           Nadia looked up at him. "Are you serious?"
           "As a heart attack." His smile grew wider and she shook hands with him.
           "Talk to me after this, ok?" She said and he nodded, his smile growing wider. He rubbed his hands over her own and Nadia all of a sudden realized what Darryl was doing.
           Removing her hand from his own, she stuffed her hands into her back pocket.
           "How about we talk about that later? Right now lets get these flowers loaded so we can be off.
           Darryl smiled and nodded, bending down to pick up two vases. Nadia trailed him, taking her time. She couldn't believe that she didn't see his flirting before.
           She spotted Jalil, who smiled at her and she gave him a nervous smile back. She'd tell him another time. Right now they had business to handle.

**
           "Nadia these flowers look amazing!" Michelle smiled as she pranced around at the arrangements. Nadia thought she looked amazing in her pink fitted, strapless dress. It hugged her frame nicely and her bob shaped weave shaped her face well.
           Nadia touched her cap and suddenly felt out of place as she looked at Michelle.
           "You look great, Michelle." Nadia said. "I'm glad you like the flowers."
           "Like them- I love them! When is your mom getting here, I'd love to show her around." Michelle said as she looked at her friend.
           "She said she'll get here around 11." Nadia said as she looked at her arm watch.
           "Great. Will you stay for the event? Oh, you have to. I have to recognize the wonderful woman who helped me out." Michelle said. She sounded more enthusiastic then ever and Nadia wanted to roll her eyes.
           "I don't know, Michelle, I'm not dressed for this event." She said as she touched her dirty t-shirt. "I just said I'd come and help out."
           "Oh please. I'm sure one of my sisters has a spare dress you can wear. Oh I know- Kimberly is about your size. Come, I'm sure I can get you in something." She said. Before Nadia could protest, she had grabbed Nadia's hand and led her to a back room.
           "Kimberly! Kimberly!" Michelle yelled. Suddenly, a petite light skinned girl appeared. Nadia thought she was very beautiful as she took in her slender features, but it was her expressive green eyes that Nadia admired the most. And right now, she could tell that Michelle screaming her name did not leave her impressed.
           "There you are." Michelle smiled at her. "Listen, this is the lovely businesswoman who helped us with our flowers. I told her that we, as the sorority, want to recognize her. Do you have a dress that she could borrow. I figured that you two were the same size."
           Kimberly smiled at Nadia. "I think I do-"
           "Great. Get my girl situated please. Evie, I need to speak with you. Why wasn't I informed about the music choices for this event." Michelle said.
           Nadia silently prayed for Evie, who looked at as she was scared to interact with Michelle."
           Nadia turned to Kimberly, suddenly aware that they were alone and were strangers.
           "Hey, you don't have to do this. I wasn't expecting to stay." Nadia apologized, wrapping her arms around herself.
           Kimberly's green eyes softened. "Girl, it's no problem at all. Michelle is just loud...and annoying. Ion know who died and made her boss. She gets on my nerves."
           Nadia laughed and Kimberly did the same. "Why don't you come and let me get you together. Not that you aren't beautiful already- but I can hook you up. I'm a licensed esthetician and cosmetologist."
           Nadia nodded and sat in a vacant chair that Kimberly pointed too. "I actually just bought this dress. I don't really like it, because it's too blah and I'm too skinny to make it pop. But you got a little more thigh than me, so I think you can make this work. It's green though. Is that ok?"
           Nadia nodded. "Yes. That's not one of y'all sorority colors, so I'm good. I don't want anyone trying to greet me like I'm apart of it. I respect y'all."
           Kimberly smiled. "I feel that. To be honest, there are days where I wish I hadn't joined. Especially now that Michelle is our event coordinator. She's aggy. But anyway, I see your hair is in mini braids. I could refresh the edges so that it looks fresh and give you an updo. But- to make it fancy, I could put a flower in the top of your hair. Kinda like Billie Holiday."
           Nadia nodded as the image of herself with the style popped into her mind. "I'd like that."
           "Great, now lets get started."
           Thirty minutes later, Nadia looked at herself in the mirror and  touched her hair in surprise. Kimberly stood behind her with a wide grin.
           "Yeah girl, you look good!"
           "I- I have no words." Nadia said as she looked at herself in the mirror. And she truly didn't. Nadia's mini braids were pinned up elegantly in a style she knew she could never achieve on her own. The white azalea flower that stuck out on the side of her head was positioned so that while it only added to her beauty. Kimberly had done her makeup in a simple fashion that Nadia was comfortable with, yet it stood out.
           The emerald dress hugged her frame nicely and stopped at her ankles. While it was form fitting, Nadia had plenty of room to move in the floor length dress thanks to a split that ran up to the middle of her thigh. Luckily, she and Kimberly were the same size shoe so the heels she wore accidented the dress well.
           "I have to pay you for this." Nadia said as she reached for her purse. Kimberly stopped her.
           "Pause, girl. No you don't. Your contribution to my sorority was enough.
           "Well, at least give me a whole bunch of business cards. I'll put them in the shop so my customers can contact you."
           "Now I can work with that." Kimberly said. Once the business part was done, the girls walked out of the room and down the hallway with one another. Once inside of the ballroom, Nadia gasped at how beautiful everything was coming together. The guys had did a wonderful job of creating an almost lush garden- minus the bugs.
           "I'm gonna find my seat. But we have to stay in touch Nadia. Yes, business. But also, a friendship. I like you." Kimberly said and Nadia looked at her, seeing sincerity in her eyes.
           "I'd love that." Nadia said as she and Kimberly exchanged numbers before Kimberly went to her seat.
           Feeling someone tap on her shoulder, Nadia turned and was met with the smiling face of her mother.
           "Mama!" Nadia said, hugging her mom. She felt her mother's arms hug her back gently.
           "Hello, daughter. I see you've been touched by Kimberly." She smiled nodding to where Kimberly sat. "She's always shown me her work, but I see how good she is now. You look radiant, Nadia."
           Nadia blushed. "Thank you, mama."
           "I thought you weren't staying." Her mom asked, taking her arm in her own and leading her to a seat at the front of the ballroom.
           "Oh I wasn't. This was last minute. Michelle said that they wanted to recognize me. I honestly wasn't prepared." Nadia said.
           Her mother nodded and waved to one of the girls that was seated. "I see. Well, you can sit with me. My line sister coulnd't make it. She caught a summer cold. So I'd love it you sat with me."
           "Thanks Mom. But I'll be back. I need to check on the guys and the trucks. Also Jalil."
           Nadia's mom smiled at the mention of Jalil. "I saw him. They have him dressed as well."
           Nadia's eyes widened in surprise. "Really?"
           "Mhm." Her mother nodded. "Michelle was all in his face." Her mom looked at her. "Watch her."
           Nadia nodded, taking in her mother's words. She'd spoke low so that only Nadia could hear her. And Nadia did.
           Standing, Nadia walked to the entrance. She looked around, scanning for Jalil. As she did, she waved to the fraternity brothers who were now dressed in tuxes as well.
           Seeing a hallway, Nadia walked in it's direction. Maybe he's down here, she said as she turned the corner. As soon as she did, she saw someone in a tux and smiled, thinking it was him. But- when the person turned around, she saw that it was Darryl.
           "Nadia, you look amazing." Darryl said as he scanned her body.
           "Thanks. Question- have you seen Jalil? I need to go over something with him."
           "Last time I saw him, he was in the foyer with Michelle. She was asking him something." Darryl said as he got closer to her.
           Nadia nodded and turned to leave. Before she could, Nadia felt him grab her hand softly.
           "Hey, I've been meaning to ask you something." Darryl said as he looked at her. "Since coming back and Michelle telling me that you were a free agent, I've been thinking that maybe we should go out."
           Nadia looked at him. "She told you what?"
         

***

...and I had to leave y'all with a cliffhanger. See you soon.

With love,

Malaysia