3. Amelia
Chapter three
Amelia
S unlight streamed through my bedroom window, casting a warm glow across my face. I stretched lazily, enjoying the feel of my soft comforter against my skin.
Wait a second. Sunlight? My eyes flew open, and I bolted upright, glancing at the clock on my nightstand. 7 a.m. How in the world did I manage to sleep in this late? Trevor's daily morning racket usually jolted me awake by six at the latest.
Of course. The ONE day I had planned to confront him about his disruptive early bird shenanigans, he decided to be considerate. I flopped back against my pillows with a groan. Typical. The universe is probably laughing its cosmic socks off right now.
Well, no use lying here stewing like an overcooked petunia. I dragged myself out of bed, determined to have a conversation with him. As I slipped into my favorite yoga outfit—the teal one with little lotus flowers embroidered along the neckline—I rehearsed what I'd say.
"Trevor," I practiced in the mirror, trying to channel my inner diplomat. “We need to talk about your early morning routine. It's more disruptive than a rabbit in a seed store." I paused, frowning. "No, it's too flowery. Come on, Amelia, channel your inner Emily!"
I took a deep breath and tried again. "Trevor, your crack-of-dawn workouts are driving me nuts. We need to find a compromise before I lose my mind and start sleeping in the garden shed." Better, but still not quite right. Oh well, I'd wing it when the time came. What could possibly go wrong?
With my sort-of speech rehearsed, I made my way to the sunroom, ready for my peaceful yoga routine before the impending Trevor catastrophe.
I stepped into the sunroom, the warm morning light filtering through the large windows. Despite the peaceful surroundings, my mind was still preoccupied with the impending confrontation. I took a deep breath, trying to center myself—yoga first, difficult conversations later. I began my usual sun salutation sequence, focusing on my breathing and the gentle stretch of my muscles.
As I moved through the poses, my mind started to wander. Was I overreacting to Trevor's morning workouts? After all, he was in the military—early mornings were probably just part of his routine. Maybe that was what helped him reform. And it's not like he was intentionally doing it to annoy me.
I lifted my head during a downward dog, glancing out the window momentarily, and then I froze. Blinked. Rubbed my eyes. Blinked again. My gorgeous, meticulously maintained garden looked like it had been attacked by a horde of flower-hating gremlins armed with tiny bulldozers. Soil everywhere, plants uprooted, my prized rose bushes trampled like they'd hosted a rhinoceros square dance.
"What the..." I breathed, my yoga zen instantly evaporating. I stumbled out of my pose, my heart racing. I had to get a closer look.
Thoughts of confronting Trevor suddenly vanished from my mind. I raced outside, not even bothering to change out of my yoga clothes. I needed answers, and I needed them now.
The sight that greeted me outside was even worse than I'd feared. My carefully arranged rock garden was in complete disarray, the stones scattered haphazardly like a giant game of marbles gone wrong. And the holes—good lord, the holes. It looked like a team of gophers had declared war on my yard.
Just then, I heard the creak of the apartment door opening. I spun around to see Trevor emerging with a sheepish expression. Cradled in his arms, covered head to paw in dirt, was the unmistakable furry form of Hero. Great. Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the dynamic duo of destruction.
Trevor cleared his throat awkwardly. "Amelia, I...I'm so sorry. I ran this morning and left him off the leash while I was stretching and..."
I held up my hand, cutting him off. "Trevor, please tell me this isn't what it looks like. Please tell me my garden hasn't been turned into the world's messiest obstacle course for vertically challenged canines."
He grimaced, gently setting Hero down. The dog had the decency to look ashamed, his tail tucked between his legs. "I'm afraid it is. Hero must have thought it was a new digging spot. I take full responsibility, Amelia. I'll replant everything, I promise. I'll pay for all the damages."
I stared at him, at the genuine remorse etched on his face. A part of me wanted to unleash a tirade that would make a drill sergeant blush, but another part—the traitorous part that couldn't help but notice the way his t-shirt hugged his muscular frame like a second skin—made me hesitate. Great, Amelia. Focus on the muscles of the guy who just turned your garden into the botanical equivalent of a war zone. Real smooth.
I took a deep breath, trying to keep my voice steady. "Trevor, I appreciate the offer, but some of those plants were rare varieties. They can't just be replaced overnight."
"I understand," he said earnestly, his brown eyes locking with mine. "But I want to make this right, Amelia. Please, let me help. I promise I won't let Hero anywhere near the replanting process. Scout's honor."
Despite myself, I felt my anger starting to dissipate. There was just something about Trevor that made it impossible to stay mad at him for long. It was infuriating. "Okay, fine," I found myself saying, a small smile forming. "Let's do it, but on one condition."
Trevor raised an eyebrow. "Name it."
"Next time Hero needs a bathroom break," I said wryly, "maybe aim for the park instead of my petunias. My flowers aren't into extreme sports."
He laughed, a deep, rich sound that sent a tiny shiver down my spine. "Deal. I'll make sure Hero knows your garden is a no-go zone. Maybe I'll put up some 'No Digging' signs in doggy language."
As Trevor and Hero headed back inside, I took a deep breath, trying to center myself. Okay, Amelia, you can do this. It's just replanting a completely demolished garden with the guy who broke your heart in high school. No biggie. Just another day in the life of Amelia Carter, disaster magnet extraordinaire.
My musings were interrupted by the shrill ring of my phone. I glanced at the screen, my heart sinking as I saw my accountant's name flash across the display. Oh boy, this couldn't be good.
"Amelia, I'm afraid I have some bad news." His tone was grave, and I felt a knot of dread form in my stomach. "I've been going over the numbers for Petals & Blooms, and things aren't looking good."
I closed my eyes, the ruined garden blurring before me. "How bad is it?"
"If things don't turn around soon, you might be looking at closing up shop. Permanently."
His words hit me like a physical blow. Petals & Blooms was more than just a business to me. It was my passion, my life's work. My home. The thought of losing it...
"There has to be something I can do." I hated the desperation in my voice. "Some way to turn things around."
"Short of a miracle, I don't see how. I'm sorry, Amelia. I truly am."
As the call ended, I stood numb, the phone slipping from my fingers to land with a soft thud on the grass. Around me, the tattered remains of my garden seemed to mock me, a cruel reminder of all that I stood to lose.
A truck horn jolted me out of my thoughts, making me jump like a startled rabbit. Addy. In the morning's chaos, I'd completely forgotten she was coming to help at the shop. I forced a smile onto my face, hoping it didn't look as fake as it felt. The last thing I wanted was for Addy to see how upset I was. She was only nine, and I didn't want to burden her with my adult-sized problems.
Addy bounded out of the truck, her face alight with excitement. Kevin gave a quick wave before driving off. We walked around to the back, and her steps faltered, her eyes widening as she took in the state of the garden.
"Auntie Amelia, what happened to your pretty flowers?" Her voice was full of concern, her brow furrowed in confusion.
I knelt down to her level, trying to keep my tone light. "Well, sweetie, you remember Susan's brother, Trevor? He moved into the upstairs apartment. His dog Hero thought my garden was an excellent place to... practice his excavation skills."
Her mouth formed a small 'o' of understanding. "So, the doggy destroyed your flowers?"
I nodded, patting her head gently. "Yes, but don't worry," I added quickly, catching the worried look in her eyes, "Trevor and I will fix it up again. It'll be even prettier than before. We're going to turn this disaster into a gardening adventure!"
Addy's face lit up with an idea. "Can I get to meet Hero and Trevor today?"
"Of course you can, sweet pea. But first, why don't we head inside and start on those logo cards we discussed? We can tackle the garden of doom a little later."
Once inside the shop, I set Addy up at the counter with her new stamps and a stack of blank cards. Her eyes lit up as she carefully selected a purple ink pad and a swirly flower design.
As she happily stamped away, creating a purple flower apocalypse on the cards, I stepped into the back room to make a call. With each ring of the phone, my anxiety grew. Please, please let them have the flowers I need...
"Green Thumb Nursery, how may I help you?" The cheerful voice on the other end was so peppy it made my teeth ache.
I took a deep breath. "Hi, this is Amelia from Petals & Blooms. I need to order roses as soon as possible. I need twelve of the following varieties: Nostalgia, Sugar Moon, and Juliets. It's a bit of an emergency."
There was a pause and the sound of shuffling papers. "I'm sorry, Amelia, but we're completely out of stock on rare flowers. There's been a huge demand lately, and our suppliers are having trouble keeping up."
My heart sank faster than a lead balloon in quicksand. "When do you think you might have more available?"
Another pause. "It could be weeks, maybe even a month or two. I'm afraid there's not much we can do."
I closed my eyes, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill over. First, the garden turned into ground zero, and now this flower famine...it felt like everything was falling apart faster than a sandcastle in a tsunami.
"I understand. Thanks anyway." I hung up the phone, feeling more lost than a GPS in a black hole.
How was I going to fix the garden without the right flowers? And what about the shop? How would I stay afloat if I couldn't get the supplies I needed? Maybe I could start a new trend—bouquets of weeds and good intentions.
I leaned against the wall, trying to steady my breathing. I had to stay strong, for Addy's sake, if nothing else. But inside, I felt like I was crumbling faster than an over-baked cookie.
A sudden crash from the front of the shop jolted me out of my thoughts. Oh no, what now?
I rushed out to find Addy standing over a pile of scattered cards, her eyes wide with shock. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to knock them over!"
Despite everything, I couldn't help but laugh. It was either that or cry, and I was all out of tissues. "It's okay, sweet pea. Accidents happen. Besides, maybe we've just invented a new game—52 Card Pick-Up, Floral Edition."
As we worked to corral the runaway cards, Addy chattered away about her latest art project at school and an upcoming field trip to the zoo. I smiled and nodded, trying to focus on her excitement rather than the storm cloud of problems hanging over my head.
Maybe I would have to settle for some other flowers. I would call around and find the best deal. I didn't know how I was going to fix it all, but I knew I had to try. For Addy, for myself, and for the future of Petals & Blooms.