11. Chapter Eleven
Shayna walks into the activity room at Sunrise Springs, carrying a large box filled with flowers. I push the final chair into the long row of tables and move toward her.
“Need help?”
“I’m good.” She grunts. “Just need to—” Shayna places the box on a table and sighs. “Set it down.”
“Do you need to get anything else from your car?”
She shakes her head. “That’s the last of it.”
“Thank you again for doing this. The residents will be so excited to make flower arrangements.”
She smiles. “I’ve always wanted to teach a flower arranging class, so you’re the one doing me a favor.”
On the long row of tablespace in front of us are clear vases in various shapes and sizes. Scattered around them are shears and floral tape ready for use.
We work together, staging the blooms Shayna brought from Shirley’s Florist on an end table for the residents to select from. We arrange the flowers by color and place the multiple types of greenery beside them. The area smells like a floral haven when the residents enter the activity room.
“Aren’t these prettier than a peach?” Darla walks over to the flowers and leans down to smell the blooms.
“At least there’s a variety.” Lorraine wrinkles her nose at the colorful array of flowers before running her fingers along the petals of the cream and tan ones with a satisfactory nod.
I walk around, handing out name tags to the residents so Shayna can easily identify them when answering questions or helping with their arrangements.
I move to the front of the room once everyone is seated. “All right, everyone. Today we have a special guest. My friend, Shayna, is here today from Shirley’s Florist. Let’s give her a warm welcome.”
Soft claps fill the room, and I motion for Shayna to take the floor. She flashes a bright smile. “Thank you all for having me. Today, I’ll be showing you how to create your own floral arrangements.”
“Did she say funeral arrangements?” Hank, one of the older residents who uses hearing aids, yells, eliciting laughs from other seniors in the room.
“ Floral arrangements. Flowers.” Darla motions to the table they’re sitting at.
“Oh good.” He nods. “That’s less morbid than funerals. Although, there are flowers at funerals.”
I hold my hand over my mouth to hide my smile. This is the kind of commentary I’ve come to expect on the days when I host events here, and I love every entertaining second of it.
“There will be plenty of time for you to discuss funeral arrangements with your loved ones later.” Shayna shifts on her feet, obviously uncomfortable about the direction the conversation went.
“Unless we die tomorrow,” Darla adds. “I mean, I’m fit as a fiddle, but I can’t say the same for everyone else.”
Shayna shoots me a panicked look before lightly clearing her throat, trying to regain control of the senior citizens now talking about what kind of flowers they’d like at their funerals. “For now, what do you say we get back to these beautiful blooms?” Without waiting for an answer, she jumps right back into teacher mode. “You can select a vase of your choosing from the table in front of you and then make your way to the end table and select the flowers you’d like to include. I’d suggest a mix of flowers, greenery, and baby’s breath to add texture. Then, we can discuss how to arrange your bouquets. Kelsey and I will be around if you have questions.”
After everyone is back in their seats, Shayna walks around, instructing the residents on how to arrange the flowers and pointing out where some stems might need trimming. As the arrangements start to come together, compliments flow from my friend. Seeing the residents beam at the praise of the people coming in to teach them something new always does my heart good.
“That looks great, Darla,” Shayna praises. “Your arrangement is so vibrant.”
Her flowers are an explosion of rainbow that perfectly matches Darla’s bright, spunky personality. Lorraine’s arrangement is a dead ringer for her personality as well.
Shayna walks over to her. “Lorraine, I love what you did with the muted tones. Very sophisticated.”
Lorraine sits taller at the praise while Darla snickers. Lorraine glares at her, and Darla’s laughter grows louder. At first glance, someone might think they’re enemies who enjoy poking fun at each other. But being around them long enough, I’ve come to realize they’re more like frenemies. Yes, they mock each other constantly, but I always find them side by side at events, and it’s clear they enjoy one another’s company, even though they’re complete opposites. It’s sweet and makes me appreciate my friends who show up for me even more.
The residents finish their floral arrangements and slowly filter out of the room, offering thanks to me and Shayna for the event.
I help Shayna pack up everything she needs to take back to Shirley’s Florist when my boss, Kevin, pokes his head into the room.
“It’s time,” he exclaims. “They’re ready to fly the roost.”
“I’ll be right there,” I say.
Kevin scurries away as quickly as he arrived.
Shayna’s head pops out around the box she’s filling with the extra flowers. “What’s that about?”
“I have to escort some ducks through the building.”
Her eyes go wide. “Did you just say ducks?” I nod. “Is that some kind of code for something?”
“No, I’m talking about actual ducks.”
“You have to escort literal ducks—the animals—through the building.” She says the words slowly, eyeing me warily like something was lost in translation.
“Long story short, a bunch of ducks live around the pond in front of the facility. A few of them lay their eggs around it, but one specific mama duck flies into our courtyard every year at the start of fall to lay her eggs. I’m guessing it’s because she finds it safe from other natural predators since it’s an enclosed space.”
“Don’t most ducks typically breed in the spring?”
“Yeah, at least that’s what the internet told me.” I shrug. “I don’t know why she lays so late in the year. But the staff has to march the mama duck and her ducklings out of the enclosed courtyard into the building and through the sliding doors back to the pond annually.”
She’s grinning at me like this is the most entertaining thing she’s heard all week. “And management asked you to march them out of the building this time?”
“Yeah, once they found out I was a dog walker, I guess they assumed I should do it since I work with animals .”
She laughs. “I can’t wait to see this.” With a glance at her phone, her smile drops. “Oh, sugar.” Yes, Shayna’s so sweet that the closest she gets to cursing is saying sugar . “I have to return to the shop so Shirley can make it in time for her book club. You have to tell me the play-by-play in elaborate detail when you get home.”
“I will. Will you be okay getting everything to your car?”
“Yeah.” She waves me on. “Go help the ducklings, you little animal hero.”
“I expect a cape when I get home,” I call over my shoulder. Shayna’s laughter follows me into the hallway.
When I reach the courtyard, a crowd of residents and staff are waiting like spectators for a grand sporting event rather than marching ducks through the building.
“There’s the woman of the hour.” Kevin ushers me toward the ducks.
Here goes nothing.
I kneel in front of them. Even though I researched ducks, the internet didn’t have much help to offer in terms of how to escort ducks through a building without incident, so I’m just spitballing here. “Come on, little duckies. Time to cross the proverbial road and enjoy all the pond life offers.”
I turn and walk toward the sliding glass doors to enter the building, hoping with everything in me that the mama duck is following. As long as she follows me, her babies are sure to follow behind.
I glance over my shoulder and grin. The mama duck is waddling behind me, her ducklings trailing behind her.
Kevin shoots me a thumbs up as I walk past him before swiping his badge to open the doors. We enter the building with ease. I can’t believe I’m doing this. I don’t know where exactly I’d put it, but I feel like this deserves to be on my resume.
Little Animal Hero. Escorted a mama duck and her eight ducklings through a building to find their place in this world.
It seems like an important thing any future employers should know about. Although, hopefully, I won’t have any more future employers if my plan for opening my own dog rescue goes according—
The flapping of wings causes me to duck and cover my head. I look to the left and watch as the mama duck abandons her babies and flies around the lobby, causing mayhem among all the residents simply trying to enjoy their Thursday afternoon.
I turn to Kevin, adrenaline coursing through my body. “Will you watch the ducklings? I’ll go fix that situation.” I gesture toward where the duck went.
“Of course,” he says, though his face pales. Kevin gets on the ground, cooing at the ducklings. I know he needs help, but I have a much larger issue at hand.
I run through the seating area in the lobby where I last saw the duck go. When I pass Hank, who earlier asked if we were making funeral arrangements rather than flower ones, he sputters. “Was that a duck?”
I nod and skid to a stop. “Did you see where it went?”
He tsks and points to the hallway beside us. “Just when you think you’ve seen everything. Now people have ducks as pets.”
“Thanks,” I say, already running down the hall. A scream sounds from my right, and my heart rate picks up when I realize it came from Darla’s room.
“D, are you okay?” I call out, running into her open door without waiting for a response.
The duck is in the air, its wings flapping against the window like it is trying to escape before it flies back toward me and out the door. Darla sits on her couch with popcorn all around her, clutching her chest, which is rising and falling in rapid succession. I rush over to her, placing my hand on her shoulder.
“Are you okay? Do you think you’re having a heart attack?”
She reaches up and pats my hand. “I—I’m okay.”
Relief floods my body. “Great, give me a few minutes.”
I run back into the hall, where residents point toward the lobby with gaping mouths. When I’m back in the seating area, I quickly spot the duck. Thankfully, she’s back on the ground, waddling back toward her ducklings as if nothing out of the ordinary happened. Kevin and I usher her and her babies out the next set of double doors with arms spread wide.
I stand back, watching with bated breath, until the doors slide shut. Only when they’re closed do I allow my guard to fall. Kevin is slack-jawed when I turn to face him.
“She’s never left her ducklings before. That’s unusual behavior for a mama duck, but no one was harmed, right?”
I shake my head. “Not that I saw. Just a few scared residents. Speaking of which, I need to go make sure Darla’s okay. The duck flew into her room.”
“Lord have mercy.” Kevin shakes his head. “I’ll have someone write up a report.” He crosses his arms. “Maybe next year we can create a barricade so the only path for the ducks is from one door to the other.”
If only he’d thought of that bright idea before now or, you know, at any point in the last few years this has been happening.
“That’s a great idea.” I motion toward the lobby. “I’m going to check on Darla before I head home.”
He nods before walking off. When I return to Darla’s room, she’s still sitting on the couch, reading a gardening magazine as if a duck didn’t just fly into her room. I sit beside her, and she smiles at me.
“Well, I think that might be the most exhilarating thing that’s happened to me since moving in here. Nothing exciting ever happens with these fuddy-duddies here. My only sources of entertainment are your events and that duck.”
“I’m glad you enjoy my events.” I place my hand on her arm. “Are you sure you’re okay? We can have a doctor check you out.”
She purses her lips. “I’ve watched enough Grey’s Anatomy to know that I’m fine.”
A grin pulls at my lips. “I don’t think it works that way.”
“I know plenty of doctors if I need to call one,” Darla says with finality. “But something awful did happen.” She points to the popcorn littered around us. “The duck startled me and sent my bowl of popcorn flying.”
I walk into her small kitchen and pour some of the bagged popcorn on the countertop into another bowl. “Crisis averted.”
“You’re an angel. Truly.” I hand the bowl to her, and she pops a piece into her mouth. “You know, I still think you’d be perfect for my nephew.” Her eyes light up like the sun peeking out on a cloudy day. “He’s single and has a good job. Handsome, too.”
I nod at the vase of flowers perfectly arranged in the center of her coffee table. “Are those from him?”
Darla smiles. “He brings me a bouquet every Thursday after he gets off work. He’d probably do the same for whoever he was dating.” She winks. “He left not even ten minutes ago, otherwise I could’ve introduced you. He’s going to be sad he missed all the action. I’m not even sure he’ll believe me when I tell him what happened.”
“I’m not sure I can believe it, and I witnessed it with my own eyes,” I tease. “And that’s sweet of you, but I’m not looking to date right now. I already have enough going on between all my jobs.”
“I thought you mentioned that you left two of your jobs.”
“I did, but I started working for my next-door neighbor, which is a whole other job itself.”
She lifts a brow. “You’ve been holding out on me, missie. Does said neighbor happen to be a hunky man?”
I grimace. I open my mouth to respond, but she raises her hand, cutting me off.
“Don’t even bother lying. Your face says it all.” Darla shimmies. “He must be the bee’s knees to get that kind of reaction from you.”
“It’s not like that—”
“Well, if it’s not like that, you shouldn’t mind going on a date with my nephew.” She throws another piece of popcorn into her mouth. “I could’ve just died. Would you really let me leave this earth without finding out if my nephew and my favorite activities lady could be each other’s happily ever after?”
When she phrases it like that, there’s no way I can tell Darla no. I wouldn’t mind going on a single date, especially if it’ll help get my mind off Tyler.
I hold up my pointer finger. “One. I will go on one date with him, D. But I’m not promising anything.”
“All you need is one.” Darla leans back into the cushion and sighs. “We’ll be planning the wedding in no time.”
I shake my head at her antics. “Don’t get your hopes up.”
“I don’t need to. A woman knows these things. My gut never steers me wrong. Well, unless I eat five brownies because it told me one more wouldn’t hurt.” She finishes off the bowl of popcorn and hands me her phone. “Anywho, if you give me your number, I’ll text you where and when your date will take place.”
I add my info to her contacts. “You better know how much I like you. I wouldn’t do this for just anyone.” I hand Darla her phone, push up off the couch, and head to the door.
“That’s what I was counting on.” She cackles. “You’ll hear from me soon. I can’t wait to hear about your date.”
“Bye, D.” I step into the hall.
As I’m closing the door, I hear her humming, “Here Comes the Bride.”
I press my lips together to hide both my laughter and horror. I have a gut feeling of my own that I have no idea what I’ve just gotten myself into.