Chapter 18 #2
They'd left her nieces parked beside the pool, under the watchful eye of their great-grandmother.
Lian wouldn't let anyone harass them. Although, from the looks of the girls, they were hoping for a little male harassment.
Violet had never seen anyone wear that much makeup to go swimming.
Meanwhile, Rodrigo and Max had invited her father and brother-in-law to a game of golf.
Apparently, everyone was having fun except her. She was in hell.
The florist shop in the tiny retail area of the resort wasn't large. It barely fit the woman behind the counter and all four of Violet's party.
"Can I help you?" the woman said, with a genuine smile.
"I'd like to speak to whoever is in charge. It's about the flowers for the Durant-Lee wedding," Violet said, the words feeling alien on her tongue.
"Of course, let me get her for you." She tapped on the computer beside her and then lifted the phone.
"Tina, the bride from the Durant-Lee wedding is asking about the flowers for their ceremony tomorrow.
Could you come talk to her? Thanks." She gave them another smile.
"She's in our cold storage and will be here in about five minutes.
I hope there isn't a problem, but if there is, Tina will be able to sort it. She's our head florist."
"Is she the owner?" her mother asked, probably out of professional curiosity.
"No. The estate owns the business, and we have an administrative manager, but Tina heads up the creative side of things. Don't worry, she's been with us for years. You're in good hands."
Violet shared a knowing look with Katrina.
If Tina had been there for years, then she must know about the smuggling and money laundering.
Even if the business manager took care of the paperwork, the head florist would be aware of orders coming and going in ways that didn't add up with the weddings they’d planned.
Violet wondered how much Tina had been paid to turn the other way when she had questions.
Sadly, for some people, it didn't take very much at all.
While they waited on the florist, her mother and sister went around the store, commenting on the different bouquets and arrangements, and gasping at the prices.
"I don't charge enough," her mother declared.
"I don't think Caribbean resort prices will work in Glasgow," Violet reminded her.
From the look in her mum's eyes, she was going to try them anyway. Violet had come by her stubborn streak honestly. It was strong in the female side of her family.
The door at the back of the shop opened and a tall, brown skinned woman sailed into the room. She had a welcoming smile, and the lines around her eyes softened her angular face.
She considered the group before saying, "I'm Tina the florist. Which one of you is the bride?"
When Violet didn't instantly answer, Jasmine placed a hand in the middle of her back and shoved.
"I'm Violet," she said as she skidded to a halt in front of the florist. "The bride." The urge to gag was strong.
"I'm so pleased to meet you." Tina held out her hand. "You had some wonderful flower choices for your wedding. It's a pleasure to put it together for you. How can I help you today?"
Against her better judgement, Violet liked the woman. She really hoped she wasn't involved in the drug running side of things.
Her mum elbowed her way in front of Violet. "I'm Violet's mother," she said. "I'm a florist too. I own a shop in Scotland." She gestured to the room full of colorful blooms. "Of course, it's nothing on this scale, but I'm so excited to see what you’ve planned for my daughter's wedding."
Jasmine couldn't be left out. She crowded Violet on the other side. "I run the business with my mum, and I have so many questions for you. She pointed to the refrigerated bouquets. “What do you use in the water? Those look far fresher than ours."
Her mother took offense. "I wouldn't say far fresher," she grumbled.
Jasmine ignored her. "We'd love to take a look at Violet's flowers." She angled her head, maybe hoping to see through walls into the back of the shop. "Are they here?"
Tina seemed delighted to find more florists. It was as though she'd just found out they were all members of the same cult. "I'm afraid they're in the warehouse."
"Could we go to the warehouse?" her mum asked. "I'd really like to have some input in what she's doing." She gave Violet a pointed look. "Seeing as we only heard about the wedding at the last minute."
Violet sighed and squeezed past her family. "If you could let them get a look at the flowers, I would be so grateful. I mean, have-your-baby grateful. They won't shut up about them. I'm getting serious guilt-trip stuff because I didn't get married in Scotland and let them do the flowers."
"Violet!" Her mother glared at her, before giving the florist an embarrassed smile. "She got her manners from her father," she said.
"Please," Violet said to Tina. "I'm begging you, let them at the flowers so I can concentrate on getting married without listening to digs about the floral arrangements."
Tina burst out laughing. She cast a glance at the woman behind the counter who seemed equally amused.
"Well," Tina said. "It isn't strictly allowed, but seeing as you're both in the business, I don't think it would hurt to let you get a peek behind the curtain."
"That's wonderful!" Jasmine beamed at Tina and then her mother. "Violet won't even tell us what she picked." She lowered her voice. "We're worried she's chosen funeral flowers."
Her mother was nodding. "She also has her father's sense of humor."
"No funeral flowers," Tina said. "Unless we count the wreath." She winked at Violet.
Oh, yeah, she liked Tina. It would be such a shame if she was a drug-dealing criminal.
"Follow me," the florist said. As they passed the desk, heading out the back of the shop, she leaned into the woman behind the counter. "No need for management to know about this, is there?"
"Know what?" the other woman said with a grin.