Chapter Eight
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Ben
"Alright, boys," Barrett calls to get our attention. Caleb and I have been talking and giggling about the silliest things while he shows me around the back workroom and where extra supplies can be found. "It makes my heart happy to see the two of you getting along so well already."
"I haven't been this excited to go to work in a long time," I admit.
"Aww, you lovies me already," Caleb teases before another round of giggles breaks free from both of us.
Barrett rolls his eyes at Caleb's silliness.
"We have several new custom order requests," Barrett says sternly, getting us back on track. And as fun and silly as we can be, I know Caleb and I both take our jobs seriously.
"Hit us with 'em, Daddio," Caleb says, and I don't hold back my smile.
Caleb told me that as long as we keep it professional on the showroom floor, we can have our fun in the back. So that is what we've been doing for the past hour.
Barrett explains the orders to us and then hands over the order forms before heading to the front of the shop, where he will be waiting on customers today and is likely to take more orders for Valentine's Day.
Caleb holds up the first order. I feel a surge of nervous energy as he rattles off the details.
"It's a complex arrangement for an anniversary, a cascade of deep crimson roses and delicate white lilies.
Do you want to help me with it? It might be fun to collaborate on this one.
" Caleb asks, and my heart jolts with excitement.
Perhaps having help with the first arrangement would be a good idea, so I can get a feel for his approach to creating something.
Caleb begins gathering stems with practiced ease. His movements are fluid and confident. I watch, absorbing every detail. When Caleb gets back to the workbench, the air is thick with the sweet, heady perfume of fresh blossoms.
A scent that I'm already beginning to associate with this new adventure.
Just as I'm done tying the bow around the base, and Caleb is swapping out one of the lilies that isn't as perky as he would like, the doorbell from the back door rings, causing me to jump.
Caleb giggles at me. "It's probably the flower order Barrett placed."
"Wow, that was a fast turnaround." He just placed the order on Saturday.
"Usually is. We get most of our deliveries the next day. Except weekends."
Barrett emerges and says that he'll help with the delivery since the shop doesn't open for another half an hour.
Before long, my arms are laden with vibrant blooms. A cascade of crimson-red thornless roses fills my arms, and Caleb's, too.
Barrett chuckles and grins at the scene in front of him.
With a quick motion, he raises his phone.
"Hold it, boys," he calls out to us, and we stop.
After the picture, he pockets his phone and escapes to the back alley to grab more flowers and supplies.
The delivery isn't just the roses. There are also sunshine-yellow sunflowers, elegant lavender, fragrant eucalyptus, and the striking deep purple of calla lilies.
Caleb, with a knowing wink, steers us towards the pile of tickets. "Looks like Barrett knew what we needed based on these order slips."
"Yep. And we're going to have a busy day ahead of us." I tell him, excited to make my mark.
"Divide and conquer?" Caleb asks.
"Divide and conquer." I give him a fist bump, and we begin.
After making a couple of arrangements each, Caleb and I decide it's time for a break. I pull out my phone to check my messages since I felt it vibrate in my back pocket while I was working. I hold it up to my hear so I can listen to the text.
Jason: I hope you're enjoying your first day. Can't wait to hear all about it.
Warmth spreads through me that has nothing to do with the humid air of the shop. Jason's message feels like a sunbeam cutting through the pleasant haze of rose and lily.
I can picture Jason, with his kind eyes and steady hands, being playful with the students in his classroom today. He said they have several craft projects lined up for the holiday and that he will probably be sporting glitter until Easter.
I can't wait to share about this intoxicating day. This new life I'm creating with so much opportunity and possibility.
We've been texting back and forth since Saturday, getting to know each other a little better before our date tonight. I decide to forward the picture Barrett took of Caleb and me with the flowers.
He sends back a heart.
When Caleb comes back, he hands me a water bottle and promises we will have lunch delivered around noon, "a perk of the job", he claims. He nudges my shoulder, a friendly smirk on his face as he gestures towards my phone.
"I take it you're texting with a particularly hot teacher-daddy?" He teases.
"Don't let your daddy hear you say that. He'll growl and get all possessive." I laugh.
"You noticed that did you?" Caleb blushes.
"I think it's sweet that he’s still like that after you guys have been together for so long." Jealousy rears its ugly head.
Still buzzing from Jason's text, I meet Caleb's gaze, a new confidence solidifying within me. The shop, with its symphony of colors and fragrances, feels like a place where anything is possible. Even a promising connection with a charming, daddy-type stranger.
As we both randomly grab the next ticket to work on, mine is a vibrant arrangement of sunflowers and eucalyptus destined for a birthday.
When I glance at the bottom of the ticket, where it states: Customer Special Request, I see the note and stop to think about what I'm reading.
No roses. Other flowers can be used with the sunflowers.
I wonder if the person hates roses. Or their favorite flower is the sunflower, like mine.
I get lost in my head, and before I know it, my hands are weaving a narrative.
Barrett's voice cuts through the Disney tunes playing on the Bluetooth speaker. His tone is soft and serious. "Ben, could you pop into the office for a few minutes? We need to get your new hire paperwork sorted."
My stomach flips. I've been so caught up in the rhythm of the shop and the easy camaraderie with Caleb that I forgot about the business side of things.
Caleb smiles at me as I set down the floral wire, unaware of my internal freak-out.
I follow Barrett into the small office, the air tinged with an anxious undercurrent to the flowers sitting on his desk.
Barrett slides a thick stack of papers across the desk. "Just need you to fill these out. Standard stuff."
My eyes land on the dense blocks of text, the endless lines of tiny print blurring before my eyes. A familiar knot of dread tightens in my chest. I try to focus as my gaze skitters across the page, each word a separate, insurmountable obstacle.
I feel exposed.
Swallowing, my throat feels suddenly dry, "Barrett," my voice a little shaky, "I, uh…
I was wondering if I could possibly take these home with me?
Just to make sure I get everything perfectly right.
Also, we have so many flower orders waiting, I wouldn't want to hold things up by getting bogged down here.
" I force a smile, attempting to hide the silent panic rising in me.
Barrett furrows his brows slightly before nodding. "Of course, Ben. Whatever works best. Just get them back to me as soon as you can."
Relief washes over me, but my hands tremble slightly as I gather the papers and put them back in the folder. I try to swallow down the shame I feel. I want more than anything to be able to simply fill out a few forms without it feeling like a monumental task.
With the paperwork tucked into my bag, I put it out of my mind so I can enjoy the rest of my workday.
After lunch, Caleb and I work side-by-side, our hands moving with a growing synchronicity as we assemble cheerful bouquets for a bride-to-be and her bridesmaids. The wedding isn't until this summer, but Ben promised her a mockup to help settle her hyperfixation on the flowers.
I am simply present, lost in the joy of creation. Each carefully placed bloom feels like another twirl my mom did while she danced in my childhood garden.
As the afternoon sun lowers in the sky, I feel a genuine sense of accomplishment.
I'd navigated the intricacies of the bridesmaids' bouquet.
At the same time, Caleb worked on the bride's, complementing each other's style while harmonizing with Caleb through a Disney singalong.
I even manage to push the looming paperwork to the back of my mind. I'll figure something out.
"Oh. My. Gosh." Caleb stops suddenly and looks at me with wide eyes. Did I do something wrong? "We should totally have a playdate."
I blink at him and his unexpected suggestion. A playdate.
My mind, still humming with the last strains of We Don't Talk About Bruno, momentarily stalls.
I look over at Caleb, whose bright eyes are practically sparkling with genuine enthusiasm.
Pure excitement. Sincerity. The same openness that has made me feel comfortable all day. Comfortable enough to sing off-key.
"A playdate?" I repeat his words. A slow smile spreads across my face. The word tasted a little surreal. I can imagine it: more singing, more laughter, maybe even sharing some of my anxieties about the paperwork with Caleb, who seems like he'd offer a kind word or a silly anecdote in return.
The connection I feel with Caleb is different from the kind I feel for Jason. Jason's is fluttery. This connection with Caleb is something different. I can't explain it.
Before I can talk myself out of it or get too deep into my head, I nod. "I think that would be fun," I tell him softly.
"Yay!" Caleb bounces on the balls of his feet. His excitement is infectious. "Like, we could have a movie night? Or Daddy Barrett can make us dinner? Go to a toy store? Or bookstore? There's a vintage one down the street that has the best children's book section.
A pang of nervousness hits at the word bookstore. But, don't daddies read the books to the littles? I can just sit back and enjoy the stories and the pictures.
"Let's get through Valentine's Day and then things will hopefully slow down and we can plan something," I tell him. Am I ready for a playdate? I've played with other littles at the club, so this wouldn't be much different. Right?
I carefully place the arrangement I made on the counter in front of Barrett. The customer is going to pick it up before closing, which is still an hour away.
"Ben." Barrett's words come out soft and genuine. "This is stunning. I think this is the best one you made all day," he tells me. "But, then again, all of your arrangements have been wonderful. You've got a real gift. Truly,"
I know my cheeks are red from the praise. My last boss never praised me for my work. He always found fault with something and needed to make adjustments.
"Thanks, Barrett."
"I'm so glad you decided to join our little flower family.
This is just the beginning for you here.
" My heart swells with a mix of pride. I'm building something here, not just with flowers, but with these connections.
I wonder if I confide in him about my dyslexia, he'd help me fill out the paperwork.
"Can I ask–" my words are cut off by the front bell. I turn to see the most handsome guy standing there with a smile that matches mine. "Jason, you're early," I tell him, walking over and giving him a hug.
The texts we've been exchanging for the past couple of days make him feel more like an old friend than a stranger.
"I couldn't wait to see you," he tells me when I pull back. "I wanted to chat with Barrett as well for a few minutes.
"Ben, why don't you go clean up your workspace, and then you can take off a little early today. You've earned it." Barrett gives me a wink, and I nod, excusing myself to the backroom with a promise I'll be out shortly.
As I tidy up my workspace, the scent of eucalyptus and lavender clings to my clothes like a pleasant memory.
The afternoon had been a whirlwind of color, music, and newfound confidence, punctuated by Caleb's delightful, unexpected invitation.
The idea of a "playdate" with Caleb, a chance to extend this easy friendship beyond the fragrant walls of the shop, feels…
right like an unexpected bloom in the garden.
"Hey, Caleb," I call over to him as he finishes rolling a spool of ribbon he'd been working with.
"Yeah?"
I know Caleb doesn't like certain flowers for his arrangements because he is very particular. I glance down at the discard pile.
"Do you think I could take some of these?" I ask.
He looks at me and grins, knowing what I'm thinking.
He doesn't respond, just motions to the bin.
After I dig around for some discarded flowers that I think are stunning, I get to work laying them out on some brown paper.
Once I have them exactly how I want them, I roll the paper around them, creating a small bouquet. Caleb hands me the twine.
"Thanks, I tell him," as I knot the twine.
"Have fun on your date, and I can't wait to hear all about it." He steps up and gives me a hug, careful not to squash the flowers. "I had a great day working alongside you."
"Me too."
We make our way down the hallway to where I know Jason is waiting. I grip the bouquet in my hand, hoping it's not too much.
When we step out into the showroom, the last of the sunlight paints the shop in hues of amber and gold. The shop, once a place of nervous anticipation, now feels like a place where I can truly begin to blossom.