sort today’s stock I’ve bought into piles ready for Violet and keep an eye on the shop, while I help here?” he says in a calm controlled manner. She walks back into the main area as I hear her get to work. “Now then, my little sweets, shall we talk?” he asks as I perch on the edge of a chair and he kneels beside me on the floor.
My voice quivered unable to form the words coherently in between my ragged sobs, “These were in the display,” I say as I pass across the note, as stoic faced Adam just let a chuckle out. “Violet, my heart was going crazy like someone had hurt you, and you have got an admirer?”
Words echoed around as I thought. “Me? Adam, I have never had an admirer, a valentine ever.” The sheepish tinged cheeks of embarrassment I could feel as the heat hit my skin.
The widest grin split his face. “Well, get used to it, as it looks like someone wants our little Violet.” Adam takes my hand and leads me to the front of the shop.
My earlier crazy thought maybe hadn’t been that crazy, I knew it wasn’t Bea in my heart. The only reasonable explanation was an admirer, but I didn’t want to digest the information and be wrong myself. I needed confirmation, certainty before letting a tiny bubble of hope rise.
Annie was busy with tasks but noticed the pair of us walk back into the main room. “Everything alright?” Concern washes over her face. “Yep, let’s focus on today’s display.” As always Adam’s choice of flowers were exquisite iris and phlox were the two main specialities he had brought upon our presence today, an unusual item, combined with one of the most popular, so my idea of a suspended flower wrapped hoop for day three, got my blood pumping round my body that little bit faster.
With an eye shattering display, I admired the intricate details in awe, I ended up with the strenuous task to finish and hang the piece alone, after threaded material weaved along the brass structure, which held the flowers in the fixated loop. I had called Annie and Adam to assist but received no answer. Unusual as I look outside my thoughts, they could have their headphones in to blasted music from various eras, even though deadly unprofessional, drained to the realisation I was faced with instead of a picture of surrealism, just deathly silence. Neither had let me know that they were popping out, Adam, fair enough he wasn’t an employee, he came and went as he pleased but Annie, hmm. She wouldn’t just go anywhere unless it was important especially without letting me know.
With the window display flawless, the upkeep of getting it perfect and immaculate in-between running the shop was crazy. Annie walked back in without a care in the world around lunchtime just as the mad rush arrived. My temper burst, with all the flowers sent by customers to their partners as an ‘I’m sorry I fucked up . . . please forgive me’ cards were about to swarm in, and she has the nerve to swan in like she owns the place. “Annie, what the fuck, where did you go?”
Annie walked past with a slightly flushed appearance that had piqued my interest before she turned and gathered her composure. “I told you I had a meeting and I would be back,” as she shrugs her shoulders, tying her apron around her waist, “should have reminded you.”
The recollection didn’t spring to mind, but I was tired. “Next time tell me, I was concerned.”
As we all closed up for the evening, Adam promised to check everything was secure as I touched the resin necklace around my neck, taking the short journey home with my friends, daydreaming as if this is a reality.
Chapter Eight
Adam
This morning a weight felt lifted off my shoulders, I knew I was doing the right thing with my mission in place. Violet deserved so much, and this was just a small token of gratitude in which I could show her how much I actually cared for her, a small part of a jigsaw puzzle slowly connecting back together. As I walked the lengths of the markets, I saw irises and just knew they would be a perfect addition to her work. Not an ounce of doubt present I took my time and scoured for the perfect complement to work alongside them before I made my way back to the shop.