AllFreeNovel
Share Us
One
Olivia
This can’t be happening! What is she doing here and where can I hide? And no, I’m not kidding. I quickly scan the room. My heart drops straight to my feet and I swear I’ve stopped breathing. Behind the desk? Under our antique wooden worktable? Maybe I could just slip behind my best friend Ellie, who is working beside me. Desperate times call for desperate measures - and right now I’m definitely desperate. Shit! It’s too late.
“Olivia, honey! Look at you. It has been way too long.”
Grace Bennett has just walked through the doors of my Reed Point flower shop and I’m pretty sure I’ve lost all ability to form a simple sentence.
“So, this is Bloom. It’s amazing.” Mrs. Bennett steps further into the store with a starry-eyed look on her face. Her heels clatter on the wood floor beneath her.
I somehow manage a smile as I take her in. She looks as beautiful and put together as I remember in her tailored navy blazer with round gold buttons, perfectly paired pants, a crisp white blouse and Prada kitten heels. Her rich brown hair is neatly styled in a bob at her shoulders and there’s a warmth in her eyes that makes you want to love her. She is a rarity in Reed Point- her priorities have always been her family and their happiness, and not material things like some woman in this city. Since Reed Point has become the new, albeit smaller Hamptons, big money is everywhere, and some just love to flaunt it. Insert eyeroll.
“These arrangements are all absolutely stunning and I love what you have done with the space. I am so proud of what you have accomplished.”
“Thank you.” I inhale deeply, trying to calm myself.
I shakily look around the small room, seeing it through Mrs. Bennett’s eyes. Ellie and I started Bloom three years ago. My dream of being a small business owner, now a reality.
Ellie is my lifelong best friend and now business partner, and I should add superhero to that list of titles, because she is thankfully coming to my rescue. Noticing my state of shock, Ellie has dropped the bunch of eucalyptus stems she’d been shearing and stepped out from behind the desk to save me. She takes over the conversation with Mrs. Bennett and I take advantage of the opportunity to remember how to breathe again.
“What brings you into our store, Mrs. Bennett? My name is Ellie, I co-own Bloom with Olivia. You might remember me from high school? I was in the same grade as Parker,” Ellie says, shooting me the side eye and nudging my shoulder, snapping me out of my temporary brain freeze.
Geez, Olivia, get it together.
“I do remember you, Ellie. It’s so nice to see you again.” She adjusts her purse on her shoulder while I continue to suffer from heart palpitations.
“Well, girls, it’s my 40th wedding anniversary and you know how we like to celebrate! We are having our closest friends and family over to the house for drinks and a catered dinner and I am in need of floral centerpieces - I couldn’t think of anyone better for the job than you two! Do you think you can do it?”
She can’t be serious. Step foot inside the Bennetts’ house again? It’s not happening. Has she forgotten everything that happened between her son and me?
There is no way I will risk seeing Parker again when just the sight of his mother standing in front of me is enough to twist this giant knot in my stomach. She reminds me far too much of him, with her dark hair and dark eyes and striking features. Those eyes… man, Parker’s eyes. Olivia, stop it.
“We’d love to!” Ellie practically sings, snapping me out of my fog. She is rubbing her hands together like she just won a prize at the Reed Point fair. Which we all know is impossible. Those stupid games are always rigged.
I glare at her.
“Really?” Mrs. Bennett’s eyes go wide, looking directly at me for my approval.
“Of course!” Ellie nearly screeches back in excitement.
What the actual EFF Ellie, are you doing? Has she lost her mind? It’s the only possible explanation because otherwise my best friend is clearly a traitor! I am seeing red! If eyes could kill, Ellie would drop dead on our perfectly swept floor. I’m ready to bury her body.
I have never been able to hide my emotions, always wearing my heart on my sleeve. Mrs. Bennett can surely see my hesitation written all over my face. She takes my hand and says sweetly, “The entire family would be thrilled to see you and I would be honored if you would do this for me.”
Well, I can think of one family member who wouldn’t be happy to see me, but I can’t say no to her. Mrs. Bennett has been nothing but thoughtful and compassionate towards me, she is one of the kindest women I’ve ever met. I may have spent the past eight years trying to erase her son from my mind, but I can still remember all of those happy times I spent in her family’s home. And now, with her standing right in front of me, every memory Parker Bennett and I ever made is rushing back, flooding my mind.
There is no way out of this mess. I’m flustered and anxious but manage to respond, “Thank you, Mrs. Bennett.” I somehow remember how to speak again. “How could we ever say no to you?”
What did I just do?! I want to bury my body alongside Ellie’s.
“Perfect!” exclaims Mrs. Bennett, grabbing my hand. All of my friends have been raving about you and your elegant arrangements. I can’t wait to see what you come up with.”
It is no surprise to me that her friends are “raving” about Bloom. Reed Point is small enough that everyone seems to know everyone else’s business - and my business is not exempt.
I’ve gotten used to people talking about me and my family over the years. Unfortunately, we have given them a lot to talk about. We have made it through some very hard times, but not without heartbreak, not without my world crashing into pieces thanks to my father. I haven’t seen or spoken much to him since then, but that will all be changing soon.
That was then, and this is now. With time, the pieces of my life have been put back together like a puzzle and these days life is good. I only hope it will stay that way.
