Destined

Valentine Roses

The shop was opening in an hour all of the pastries were baked and just being kept warm everything was dusted the flowers were watered and pruned and the cards were organized. I filled my coffee cup with water and sat in the café. Gina emerged from the back.

“Ray”

“Yeah” I replied staring into space.

“What are you doing for valentines day?” She asked.

I looked at her suspiciously “Staying at home watching a bunch of Romantic Comedies. Why?”

“Well, there’s this party…” She started.

“No, No, No. GG I am chilling on V day. R. E. LAXING”

“Wait, Ray I HAVE to bring a guest to the party and its full of boring men like doctors and stuff. It’s a singles mingling dinner.”

“Oh, so lonely people, talking about boring things? I’m sorry G I can’t “

“WHY!?”

“I have a date!” I yelled, GG stopped in her tracks.

“And you didn’t tell me?!” She seemed sympathetic now. “Ray, just because I’m lonely doesn’t mean that you need to keep your love life from me, I NEED that encouragement. Ok?”

“Ok”. I said with my head down hoping to end this conversation.

“Ok.” GG Replied. I sighed in relief, finally quiet.

“SO!, Whats his name? GG asked, I rolled my Eyes.

“Direct” I said sarcastically.

“That’s peculiar, Direct what? GG asked seriously curious.

“Direct TV, You can come meet his friend “Pay Per View” if you want, were going out to see “The Engagement.”

GG was fuming mad now.

“RHEA! Be a better friend.” She stormed to the back dramatically.  Her lips were poked out like she was an angry K-Pop star.

 The phone rang.

“Hello” I answered.

“Hi” A man replied on the other line, his voice was smooth. “Is this Necessities?”

“yeah” I replied, “what can I help you with?”

“Oh good” He sounded relieved. “ I’m planning a valentines event and I need 5 dozen roses in four days. I’ve called everywhere and nobody can help, our last florist cancelled. I’ve been praying frantically to find a replacement since last night and when I got to work one of my nurses suggested I give you a call. Can you help?”

After that earful I had to think.

“I should have 5 dozen ready for you by then.” I looked at my blossoming roses and thought about the rows I kept in the greenhouse in my backyard, 5 dozen would be fine.

“Oh Thank You!” The guy on the other line seemed so relieved. “ I don’t normally stress but, Thank you M’am for saving the day.”

“Rhea”

“huh?”

“My names Rhea, I’m not old enough for M’am yet” I smiled.  He chuckled.

“Sorry Rhea, I was so frazzled I forgot to ask”

“No problem, can I get your name? “

“Kevin.” He stopped

I waited, long awkward pause…

“Last name ?” I finally asked.

“Oh! Sorry, I just…”

“No worries” I laughed a little “ I just need the info for the event when and where credit card info and everything.”

“Ok.”

He gave me the information. It sounded like the dinner GG was inviting me to, Minus the doctors.  Kevin and I continued to talk, He asked about the shop and I told him everything. He was easy to talk to.  We probably could’ve gone on for hours but we were interrupted.

“Doctor?” A female voice interrupted in the background.

“One moment please Rhea” Kevin said.

“Sure” I replied.

The voice continued.

“We just got a new patient in, she is stable now but…” Aha, there was the Doctor part.

“Oh ok, tell Doctor Warnm I’ll be there shortly” Kevin spoke to her softly. He pulled the phone back up.

“Rhea?”

“Yes?” I said trying to sound out of breath like I’d been doing something important.

“I’m sorry I have to cut this conversation short but I’ve got to get back to work, Thank You so much for the flowers. This conversation was nice I hope to meet you soon.”

I nearly passed out from the smoothness in his voice

“Y-yea, It was, and no problem, see you then.”

I hung up the phone hurriedly and got to work. The store was about to open and I still had to tell Gina about our new V day plans.