Chapter 20 #2
‘So, are you all set for the festival today?’ Grandma asked, looking around the shop at the mess of supplies that still needed to be loaded into the truck.
‘Yep.’
‘And Elliot will be escorting you?’
‘Escorting me? What year is it, Grandma?’ Daisy asked with a laugh.
‘Don’t be fresh.’
‘Sorry. Yes, he will.’
Her grandma nodded in approval. ‘I think seeing you two together at Beltane will do some major damage control for your image. I overheard several people at the diner this morning comment on how happy and in love you two seem.’
Happy and in love.
If I wasn’t afraid of falling in love with you…
The whole town thinks that boy is in love with you.
No, no, no.
Nope.
Love was not happening. Hadn’t she just decided that?
She and Elliot were just really good actors. Actors who were physically attracted to each other. That was it. That was all she would allow.
Was it warm in here?
Daisy started pulling off her sweater, yanking it over her head and leaving her hair a staticky mess in its wake.
When she emerged, her grandmother looked alarmed. ‘Are you okay, dear?’
‘Fine. Why?’
‘You look … terrified.’
Daisy scoffed. Terrified. Terrified? Terrified of falling in love again. With the wrong person again. Getting her feelings destroyed and her heart broken again. No, not her. Of course not. Why would she be?
‘I’m fine. Totally fine. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to finish loading these things into the truck so I can go set up our booth and make lots and lots of money.’ She tried and failed to smooth her hair down.
Grandma June gave her a worried smile. ‘Okay, but you know where to find me if you need me.’
‘Thanks, Grandma.’
Grandma patted the old cardboard box. ‘And don’t spend too much time in the past, Daisy. Sometimes you need to focus on moving forward.’
Moving forward. Right. Easier said than done.
When Daisy emerged from the shop again with her next armload of supplies, Jeanie was out front on Main Street, as well, giving Logan instructions for his return trip.
‘I’m going to need at least two folding tables, tablecloths, cups, napkins, at least three of the coffee carafes…’ She listed things off on her fingers.
Logan nodded after each item. ‘We can fit it all.’ He patted the side of the truck. ‘Let me get Daisy’s stuff dropped off and I’ll come down to the café.’
Jeanie planted a kiss on his cheek. ‘Perfect.’ She smiled at Daisy. ‘Excited about today?’
‘Excited to sell a lot of flower crowns.’
Jeanie laughed. ‘I’m sure you will.’
Daisy sure hoped so. She needed these sales for next month’s rent.
‘You want to come down for a cup of coffee? Hazel’s meeting me.’ Jeanie gestured down the street. It was still quiet. The festivities didn’t start until late afternoon, but the food trucks were already rolling in.
‘No, thanks. I should get over to the town square and set up.’
‘Okay, see you later.’ Jeanie waved and headed back to the café. Daisy locked up the shop and hopped into the passenger side of Logan’s truck.
He closed the truck bed and climbed in beside her. It would be a short drive, but it was much easier than trying to haul all this stuff in multiple trips in her car.
‘Thanks for the ride.’
‘No problem.’
Daisy knew Logan wasn’t much for small talk, so she was surprised when he cleared his throat and said, ‘I really respect what you’re doing.’
‘Uh…’
‘I mean, coming back to town and not letting everyone rattle you with this curse bullshit.’
‘Is that how I’m coming across? As not rattled?’ Daisy gave a disbelieving laugh.
Logan chuckled. ‘Just hang in there. They’ll move on to something else soon enough.’
‘Thanks, that means a lot.’
He pulled into the parking lot near the town hall. Everyone was setting up in the area surrounding the fountain.
He nodded.
Apparently, that was the end of the conversation.
‘Right. Well, thanks again,’ Daisy said, hopping down from the truck. Logan helped her unload and then headed back to pick up the supplies for Jeanie’s café booth.
All around her, other vendors were setting up, getting ready for the hustle and bustle of the crowds later today.
Daisy spotted George hanging The Gingerbread Bakery sign over at Annie’s table.
Bennett and Mac were dumping out a load of firewood in the grassy area beyond the square for the night’s bonfires, and Kira was helping the committee decorate the stage.
Daisy set up her tables and her tent to protect her from the sun. She covered the tables in dark purple tablecloths and hung the homemade sign she had made with Iris.
The Daisy Chain Flower Shop it proudly read. Iris had added vines and flowers around the letters, and at her mother’s insistence, Daisy had been liberal with the glitter.
It looked good.
She was going to do this.
She was going to save this damn shop and make her ancestors proud.
For now, she kept the crowns in her coolers to keep them from wilting. Her mother would be by soon to help her lay them out. Kira may have been worried about the lack of warmth in May in New England, but it was shaping up to be a beautifully sunny day.
A day filled with possibilities.
Maybe Daisy was excited about more than selling crowns.
Maybe she was excited to celebrate a new season.
Maybe she was ready for one.