Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
ALICE
“You sure you want to do this?” Leon smacks a handful of papers down on the desk.
“Yes. If I’m going to run this place one day, I need to start doing this.”
“I won’t say no to the help.”
“Anything I need to know?” I ask, flipping through the stack.
“Other than the fact that the computer is old and decides to crap out half the time? Save often.”
He winks and is out the door.
“Thanks for nothing,” I mutter.
Half the papers are invoices to be paid and the other half are orders mixed in to log into the system.
Shaking my head at Leon’s organization, or lack thereof, I sort through everything to make my work easier.
The system isn’t too difficult, but he wasn’t wrong. It’s slow and glitchy. Definitely something I can change when I take over.
Will it be in a year? Two years? I don’t know, but once I get my trust, Enchanted Petals will be mine.
It’s the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do. Spend my days surrounded by beautiful blooms and bringing people happiness through them.
Even the monotony of paperwork can’t dampen my good mood at doing this. Stock ordered. Bills paid. Hours entered for our part-time employees. A few requests for events responded to.
Not bad for my first time doing this.
Flipping back to the events page, I’m already brainstorming ideas on what I can do. Weddings. Corporate events. The works.
It doesn’t take much to get my creative juices flowing. A wedding with only white fabrics but they want a pop of color? I’m already imagining the palette of pink flowers I can use to complement what they’re thinking.
This is one of my favorite things about working at Enchanted Petals.
“Someone is here to see you.” Leon pops his head into the back office.
“There is?”
Sneaking a glance at my phone, I don’t see any messages from Declan.
It’s not like it would be him. He should be at practice right now before their game in Vancouver tonight.
It’s the last night of a road trip and I cannot wait to see him.
I’ve talked to him every chance I can get, and it still doesn’t feel like enough.
I miss him more than I thought possible.
Then who in the world would be here?
Closing the laptop, I grab my apron, tying it around my waist before heading out front. The person I least expected to see is standing there, looking more out of place than ever.
“Mom?”
She spins on her low heels, pearl necklace resting against her chest.
“Alice. How are you?”
“I’m fine.”
Walking around the counter, I give her a peck on the cheek. Standing next to her, the differences between the two of us are more apparent than ever.
Her dark hair is pinned perfectly in place, and her makeup is flawless. In a blouse with the collar popping out over her cardigan, her luxury handbag sits in the crook of her elbow.
Me? My blonde hair is in a messy bun and my jeans have new tears from the roses I trimmed last week.
“I wanted to come by and discuss the email your father sent you.”
“Err, right.”
Brown eyes are searching over the store. It’s not the first time she’s been here, but it’s been a while. It’s a judging eye. One that doesn’t approve of what I’m doing with my life.
“By your reaction, I can see you received it.”
“An entry-level analyst position.” I nod. “Not exactly what I want to do.”
Her nose turns up as she looks around the store again. “Alice, we have entertained this job long enough. The position at your father’s firm is a prestigious one. You would be starting out making more than you make in a year here.”
“Mom—”
“It’s a good position, Alice. Stable. You never know what could happen with a place like this.”
“You mean my livelihood.”
“What about when you and Declan have a family? You can’t spend all your time here playing with flowers.”
“Is that really what you think I do? ‘Play with flowers’?”
I put air quotes around her words.
“This isn’t a real job, Alice,” she snaps.
The store is quiet right now, with the only person here talking with Leon at the counter. His eyes keep flitting to mine. I only hope they can’t hear this conversation.
“I’m not going to argue with you about this. I have things I need to do.”
I don’t know how many times I can have this conversation with them. I wish they would understand. Understand what I want to do with my life.
But they don’t.
As I’m turning on my heel to head back to the office, she stops me.
“We expect you both at dinner next week.”
“Me and Declan?”
“Yes.” Her lips are drawn into a thin line.
It’s her look of annoyance. No doubt because I dismissed her by ending the conversation early. Something I’m sure I’ll hear about later.
“But—"
“Declan doesn’t have a game. We already checked,” she answers.
Shit. There goes my excuse.
“Will you send me the details?”
She nods, turning and leaving. The chimes ring out as the door closes behind her. Nerves are already settling in my stomach at the thought of having dinner with them.
“You okay?” Leon asks as I duck around the counter.
“Fine.”
“You don’t look fine.”
“Just my mom doing my father’s dirty work.”
“Ahh.” A knowing look washes over his face. “What position opened up?”
“Entry-level analyst.”
He rolls his eyes. “Perfect if you love numbers.”
“If only I did,” I sigh, pushing open the office door to resume my work.
Maybe if I didn’t like flowers so much, my parents might like me more. But it’s the flowers I like. Working with numbers to make Enchanted Petals stay open? Those I can do.
Being elbow deep in floral creations every day is what I want to do. Not whiling away my time in an office with no windows.
I love the smell of flowers. The feel of the petals under my fingertips. Even the pinch of a thorn doesn’t bother me.
Bold bouquets. Fresh centerpieces. Corsages for dances. Things that make people happy.
That’s what I want to do. What I want to create.
I’m glad to have a husband who supports me. He’s never tried to convince me I needed to do anything else and has always been my biggest cheerleader.
Having him in my corner means the world. Because I know with him by my side, Enchanted Petals will be mine when Leon decides to retire.
With the right person, it makes it easy to chase your dream.
Thank God for Declan.