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“That sounded dirty.” Isla’s nose wrinkled.
Mom smiled. “I know.”
“Okay, I’d love to stick around and chat, but I have to get started on those centerpieces for the Nealon wedding.”
“Your work station is waiting for you.” Dad motioned toward the back area, and Isla headed to her home away from home.
The centerpieces would match the shabby chic wedding, and Isla planned on using distressed wood rectangular planters filled with a mixture of white and pink hydrangeas, pink peonies, eucalyptus, and a few well-placed white roses to symbolize the bride and grooms undying love.
The bride had loved the mockups, and Isla was excited to bring it to life. She sat down and got to work. She had five out of the ten done when a familiar voice floated in.
Isla looked up just as Raelyn, Morgan’s Bay’s party planner and good friend of Isla, strutted in, brown hair blown out in beautiful layers that bounced with each step she took. The tan wedges she wore gave her an extra three inches to her 5’4 frame and accented her olive skin toned legs. She wore a navy blazer over matching shorts and a white camisole beneath. She had the planner in her hand, not that Isla was surprised, Raelyn would be lost without it. She also held a folder, which meant she was here to talk business.
“Hey,” Isla said as Raelyn plopped in the chair across from her and slipped out of her blazer.
“Summer heat is already kicking my butt.” She waved her hands at her face, then straightened. “So how have you been?”
Isla finished placing a rose in the centerpiece she was working on. “I’ve been good.”
“Good, I’ve been worried about you.”
“You weren’t worried about me. You were worried about your clients.” Raelyn used Isla for all her flower needs. She would bend over backward for her clients.
“Probably true, but I was worried about you, too.”
Isla laughed. “What can I do for you?”
“I thought you’d never ask.” Raelyn dropped the folder onto an open spot on the tabletop Isla used as her workstation and started pulling out pictures. “I have a fiftieth wedding anniversary, and I’ve talked the clients into small centerpieces. I need about twelve. Nothing elaborate—something simplistic yet fun. The couple is a young seventy-five.” Raelyn pointed to the pictures she’d laid out. “I was looking at these.”
The pictures were pretty with sunflowers and gerbera daisies, but Isla like the flowers to not only look pretty, but to have meaning as well. “Violets and yellow roses are used to commemorate fifty years of marriage, so I think we should somehow incorporate those into the design. Violets are tricky, though.”
“But you’re the best, and I’m sure you can figure something out.”
“When’s the party?”
“August, so you have a little time.”
“I’ll come up with some ideas, get costs together, and get back to you then.”
“Perfect. Now let’s talk about the baby shower I have at the end of August. Cost is not a problem. It’s a very well-to-do family, and this is their first grandchild. It’s a boy, and the shower will be held in the backyard of their estate.”
“Are you looking for centerpieces as well?”
“Yes, and what do you think about doing a flower wall?”
Isla had done a few before and enjoyed placing the flowers. It was therapeutic. “I’m all for it.”
“I knew you would be! They just want a place where people can take pictures.”
“Why don’t we do flower boxes for the centerpieces that look like the alphabet blocks, painted in white and blue and for the flowers, white and blue hydrangea, white roses and I’ll dye some roses blue. We can use the same flowers in the wall. It’ll be really pretty.”
Raelyn smacked her hand down on the table. “Sold!”
“That was easy.”
“Because you always know exactly what I want, even when I don’t.”
“Part of my job.”
