Chapter 55
55
The food was delicious, although due to the complimentary desserts they were given, they spent far more time eating than expected and it was almost four before they finally went to check out the flowers.
Holly wasn’t sure what she had expected from a flower exhibition – probably vases. Beautiful vases filled with all different shapes, sizes and colours of blooms. But as she stepped into the first room, she felt the air rush from her lungs.
‘How the hell did they get that in here?’ she said.
Holly was looking at a structure that was at least ten feet high. The copper metal frame looked inches from the vaulted ceiling, and its tarnished orange blended perfectly with the reds and burnt umbers of the flowers cascading down from it. Suddenly, the word ‘exhibition’ made sense. She wasn’t looking at wedding bouquets. She was looking at art.
‘Okay, we are definitely not having anything like that,’ Giles said.
‘It’s amazing.’
‘No, not that one. That one.’
Holly followed his gaze to the other side of the room, where two large thrones had been built entirely out of foliage. There had to be some sort of structure beneath them, Holly thought. Something to stop them from losing their shape. Though even if they were sturdy, how would you sit on them? Surely you’d get grass stains on your clothes. Not to mention stains from all the flowers too. As certain as she was, she still felt the need to check with Giles.
‘They’re just for decoration, right?’ she said. ‘People don’t actually sit on them, do they?’
‘Oh, you can guarantee someone will try,’ Giles replied.
As they continued to study the piece from a distance, a couple approached the thrones, nodding towards one another as they pointed.
‘I think they might get one,’ Holly whispered to Giles. ‘Go on, I think you should ask to sit on it. You know, get a proper feel.’
‘You just want to get us kicked out of here.’ Giles chuckled. ‘No, there’s no way I’m having one of those things.’
‘Well, whatever makes Sienna happy, makes you happy, so maybe she’ll decide she must have them and you won’t have a choice?’ Holly smirked before taking out her phone. ‘Come on, we need to get photos – that’s why we’re here.’
Whether every piece was to Holly’s taste or not didn’t change the fact that every piece was truly phenomenal. The way the artist used the flowers to create colours and textures was absolutely mesmerising, and Holly took photos of them all, although not once did she see anything that looked remotely like a bouquet. There were several arches, though, which she could easily see as places to say your vows beneath.
‘I probably shouldn’t show Hope any photos of this,’ Holly said. ‘She’ll start pulling up Mum’s flowers and trying to make her own creations.’
‘And why shouldn’t she?’ Giles said. ‘You never know – maybe it’s her calling to be a flower sculptor, and she’ll never know because you didn’t allow her to try. Really, suppressing your daughter’s natural talent? I expected more from you, Holly.’
‘Okay, well, how about she tries in your house then? See how you like it?’
‘Fine, you’re on. When we get back, I’m taking her out for the day, and we are doing nothing but flower sculpting.’
‘Oh, that I would absolutely love to see.’
As she rolled her eyes, Holly noticed a sign directing them outside.
‘Come on,’ she said. ‘I heard someone saying that all the biggest sculptures are outside. I can’t wait to see what those look like.’