many blooms. So I started cutting fresh flowers from her massive flower garden. I set up a stand near the pier, across the street from here actually, with a black and white sign that simply read, FRESH CUT FLOWERS.”
“That’s inspiring, Willow. I have a friend named Melinda who always says that if the job you want doesn’t exist, invent it,” Angela said.
“I guess that’s what I did. I was there every day during tourist season, and every day that the weather was nice in the off season. It wasn’t always easy ... or prosperous. Fresh cut flowers have to be ‘fresh cut’.” Willow laughed. “So I had to try to judge how many I should cut for the day. You can imagine. Some days I had enough left over to fill every vase in Mama’s house!”
“But you loved it, right?” Angela said. “I mean you must have, you’re still here.”
“I did love it, and I did okay especially with no formal training. I just loved flowers and being around them.” Willow’s look went distant. “I think they were also cathartic for me. And for Mama at the time.”
Angela waited for her to explain further.
Willow took a breath and focused on Angela. “Sorry, those were some hard years. It was the time of Jesse’s …” She hesitated.
“Jesse’s accident?” Angela tried to help.
Willow visibly closed up. She held her palms in front of her like a stop sign. “That was a long, long, time ago.”
Angela instinctively knew it was no time to ask or add anything on the subject. Geez, she didn’t even know Willow yet, and she would like to know her. Had she crossed a line? She hoped not. “So, how long have you been at this location?” She was trying her best to get back where they were before.
“Oh, ten years or so. I had a small store down the beach, and then when Katelyn joined me, we grew out of it fast.” Willow busied herself clearing the greenery remnants from the table.
“Looks like a great location, right across from the pier,” Angela said.
“Yes, right in the heart of things.” Willow pulled the waste can out from under the table and brushed the pile of leftover greenery into it. “This is prime property. We were lucky to get it. Jesse was friends with Owen, the owner. That helped. Not to mention it holds great memories for me. As teenagers we would hang out here. It used to be The Tiki Surf Shop. It’s actually where I met my future husband, though at the time I didn’t even like him.” She looked at Angela and laughed. “It took him two summers to win me over.”
The awkward moment had passed. Angela made her way over to the two glass front coolers against the wall. They were filled with arrangements, mostly white with some rose gold accents. “Oh, these are gorgeous!” She walked along the front examining each one.
“Those are for a wedding Katelyn is doing tomorrow. She does a lot of weddings, parties, events, and the like. She has all the work she wants, has to turn down a lot.”
“She is good.” Angela was scrutinizing a huge centerpiece in the cooler.
“She really is. I’m not saying that just because I’m her mama. She loves flowers like I do. The difference is, she had professional training and learned all the tricks of the trade. When Kate came onboard, she brought us up to a whole new level.” Willow furrowed her brow. “Did you see the plaque in the reception area by the front door?”
“Come on.” Without waiting for an answer Willow took Angela’s hand and led her back to the front of the shop stopping in front of a Presidential Appreciation award with Katelyn’s name engraved on it.
“Wow, I’m impressed!” Angela said.
“There’s an article from the newspaper.” Willow pointed to the framed piece next to it.
Angela read the headline.
Local florist invited to the White House to decorate for Christmas.
Beneath the headline was a picture of Katelyn in front of the flower shop. Angela read the article quickly. “It says that thousands of florists apply each year to decorate the White House and only a handful are chosen. But Katelyn hadn’t sent an application.”
“No. She hadn’t. To this day we don’t know who nominated her. She almost missed her chance because the invitation came as an email, and at first she thought it was spam. I guess it’s not too difficult to see that I’m a proud mama.” Willow beamed.
“Was it great… was