Elly in Love - Colleen Oakes

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      “Heck, yes, of course we can! We are awesome! I wonder who it is.”

      Anthony stepped back. “I hope it’s Lisel Jones. She’s all kinds of crazy. Oh my gawd, I love when she throws chairs at people.”

      Elly nodded. “I hope we get a soap star. They are so glamorous.” Elly sighed happily. “Or maybe we’ll get a sports star! The Olympics are on soon! Did you know that it was always my dream to be in the Olympics? A figure skater.”

      Anthony gave her a sad look. “Darling, I don’t see that being in the cards for you. I think that ship has sailed.”

      Elly danced in a small circle. “I can’t believe this is happening! That BlissBride chose our little store! That Posies might be on TV!”

      Anthony sat down at the consultation table. “Honestly, I’m not surprised; your designs have no competition in this city and you have such a good way with your brides. It’s a no-brainer in my opinion. What was she like, the lady on the phone?”

      “She had the weirdest name … it was like Jima or something, and she was kind of, I don’t know, mean and British.”

      “You poor thing. Want me to treat you to an apple indso from Ada’s?”

      Elly turned her head. “Hold on—I mean yes, but—what is that noise?” There was a tiny voice echoing through the store. Elly could hear random sharp beeps. “What is that? Is that an alarm somewhere?” She paused. “Oh, no.” She picked up the phone, which was halfway off the receiver. Fearing the worst, she tentatively lifted it to her ear. “Hello?”

      “Yes, hello, dear. You didn’t quite hang up the phone,” said Gemma Reynolds.

      Elly felt her throat close up. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered. “Did you hear everything?”

      “How could I not listen to such stimulating conversation? Of course I heard,” replied Gemma. “It’s not Lisel Jones. But that’s not a bad guess. And you spell my name G-E-M-M-A. It’s really not that hard to say.” She paused. “Good luck on Tuesday.” And then she hung up the phone.

      Anthony and Elly sat in silence. “Are they still coming?” he asked.

      She gave a silent nod and buried her head in her hands.

      He cleared his throat. “Do you need a hug?”

      Later that evening, circling her glass of sangria under the stars, Elly found herself going over that hideous moment on the phone again. And again. She had invited Kim over, and now they were sitting together at a small Mexican restaurant in downtown Kirkwood. Large hanging lightbulbs buzzed in the warm night as they laughed and talked. Kim languidly leaned back against her chair, her long hands spread on the cranberry tablecloth, her toffee-colored hair falling over her shoulders in a long braid. “This is too much. It has been way too long since I’ve had a night out. Thanks for getting me out of the house. Hadley is teething, and while I love my little boy, I need a break. Sean’s on call, so if I have to run suddenly, I’m sorry in advance.”

      Elly shook her head. “Ah, the life of a urologist’s wife, so terrible.”

      “Hey! It’s been intense lately. The hospital is expanding so Sean’s stressed, Hadley’s teeth are coming in, and some days I am so enraptured with love for this baby that I cry, and then other days I am so lonely and I just want to kill everyone, so yeah—good times at the Creeden house.”

      Elly smiled. “I think that sounds pretty normal for a new mom. I’ll take Hadley off your hands sometime soon. We can go to the zoo. Would that help?” Elly patted Kim’s hand. “You are a great mom. I know you don’t think so, but you are, absolutely. I’m so glad you came tonight. Who else am I going to talk to about BlissBride? Keith?” The thought of Keith talking in depth about divas and garters and diamond-encrusted wedding cakes made Elly laugh. Kim’s sea-glass eyes glittered in the rosy dusk light. “Really, Elly?”

      Elly gave a sigh. “Okay, I did tell him. But you are much more fun to talk to about this.”

      “I still can’t believe they called you! This is huge!”

      “Kim, I could not have been taken more off-guard. Seriously. You’ve seen the show—they usually do weddings in only New York or LA—I don’t think I’ve ever seen a show set in any other city!”

      “That’s where most of them live. The movie stars live in LA, and the music and Broadway stars live in New York.”

      Elly twisted her hair around her pinky. “Why would anyone choose to live in LA?”

      Kim shrugged. “I like California, I love visiting there. Sean had an interview there recently. I could see myself living there, growing heirloom tomatoes, and playing in the sand with Hadley.”

      “You could see yourself living there because you look great in bikinis and surfer shorts,” laughed Elly. “Hefty girls do not belong in areas with beaches. Besides, I visited LA once with Aaron and I absolutely hated it. It was like a concrete jungle. Also, In-N-Out Burger? Totally overrated.”

      Kim gave her a gentle smile, the kind of sad smile that said, I’ve never eaten a burger in my life. “So, are you nervous?”

      Elly shrugged. “Yes, but I also know they probably won’t pick us, especially after the phone incident with Gemma. Anthony and I were really excited at first, but now I’m leaning more to the practical side. Posies is a lot smaller than the other floral shops in our area. We don’t have the size or status of Clayton Florist, or Babylon, or Sisters. They have more money and a bigger staff, and are probably going to throw their elite social status at the interviewer.”

      Kim made a face. “Ugh, you are so negative. Maybe they will pick you because you’re smaller. Perhaps this celebrity is looking for a more intimate experience, with vendors who will really care about them.”

      Elly loudly crunched a tortilla chip and pointed at Kim. “You know, I’ve been thinking about that. Here’s the thing: I think that once you’re famous, everyone treats you like you’re special. This woman has probably never had anything but the utmost stellar service from every single person who has ever helped her. I mean, look how far we went for Sunny Kepke, just because she had a ton of money to burn! It’s not wrong, it’s just the way things are.”

      Kim nodded. “She was also the mother of your husband’s mistress, so in many ways you treated her way better than she deserved. But maybe your secret celebrity doesn’t want that. Maybe she just wants someone honest who will give her gorgeous flowers.”

      “No way. I’m sure rose petals fall at this woman’s feet wherever she walks. And we have to top that. Somehow. Arghhh!!!”

      “What?”

      “Nothing. I just dropped a chip down my bra and now it is stabbing me. Ugh, I hate chip bra!”

      Kim laughed. “That happens to you every time we come here.” Elly’s best friend looked stunning, as always in a striped nautical dress, her wrists dangling with a million gold bracelets. Elly had been feeling daring, and so she was wearing khaki pants and sandals with a teal and black tank top, topped with a long gold necklace. Her arms felt naked and exposed, but at least she was dressing a hair out of her comfort zone. I wore earrings today. That’s a big thing for me.

      Suddenly, Elly sat up straight in her chair, alarmed at her own genius. “Kim … what if we actually did that?”

      Kim had a quesadilla halfway into her mouth. “Um, did, uh—what?”

      “Oh my gosh, I’m amazing! What if we laid rose petals down at her feet? For the interview!”

      Kim nodded excitedly and kept chewing. “I see the cogs in your head turning. Tell me more.”

      Elly

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