The narrator:NowNine Days Until Bridget'sWeddingI study the illustration on the table in front of me,frowning.It'smore detailed than my typical sketches.Sometimes,just to show off,I'llwhip up a simple line drawing while a client watches.But I'vebeen working with flowers for more than five years,and I don'tneed to mock up the archways and chuppahs anymore.This time,though,I'vecarefully rendered each leaf and petal,shaded them in greens and blues and whites.But it'sstill not right.Floral archways are my specialty,and this one has to be spectacular.Breathtaking.Perfect.Because this is the arch Bridget will stand beneath when she and Miles promise to love and cherish each other,forever,in front of their friends and family.It'swhere they will share their first kiss as a married couple.Bridget'sdad is walking her down the aisle,but I feel like I'mgiving her away,too.My best friend,soon to be married.
The narrator:"I think something'smissing.It needs more drama,"
The narrator:I say to Farah.She'smy second in command at In Bloom and has worked here almost as long as I have.She'sa poet with an impeccable eye and a creative soul that was catnip to my aunt.Farah says arranging flowers helps her art.She likes her eyeliner smudgy and black and her clothing bright.Today it'sneon orange bike shorts.I spin in my stool to face her.
The narrator:"What do you think?"
The narrator:She hums,then shuffles the papers so that all my sketches of Bridget'sflowers-the centerpieces,bouquets,boutonnieres,swags,and various other arrangements are lined up together.
Farah:"You'vegot so much plant material here,there may not be room for the guests."
The narrator:Farah has a manner that oscillates between indifference and disdain.It took months of working together before I saw her full smile,the cute gap between her front teeth,and months after that to learn the attitude is mostly bluster.Farah brings her black Lab,Sylvia,to work with her,and she'sa doting dog mom.Sylvia'ssleeping under the table now,her nose on my foot.
The narrator:"You think it'stoo much?"
The narrator:I ask.She slits her espresso eyes my way.
Farah:"You don'tusually overthink the design like this."
The narrator:It'strue.Aunt Stacy showed me how to properly care for flowers,both in the garden and the vase,and she delighted in handing down her tricks.But my sense of balance,of color and form-that'sinnate.And once I'mflowing,the way my hands take over for my brain is magic.The quick snip of shears against stem is my favorite sound.
Aunt Stacy:"You have an eye,my darling,"my aunt used to say."A gift that cannot be taught."
The narrator:Stacy was an actor before she was a florist.Her claim to fame was a recurring role as a busybody Italian relative on the Canadian teen drama Ready or Not and three seasons with the Stratford Festival.She was full of proclamations,and she doled them out with grandeur.
The narrator:"I know,"
The narrator:I say to Farah.
The narrator:"But . . ."
The narrator:I drift off.
Farah:"It'sBridget,"
The narrator:she finishes.
The narrator:"Yeah.It'sBridget."
The narrator:My best friend has the mouth of a sailor,the heart of a mother lion,and a frightening passion for lists,label makers,and spreadsheets.And in true Bridget fashion,she'soverseen wedding planning with surgical precision.There'sa color-codedbinder and a shared Google calendar for the myriad appointments-both her fiancé,Miles,and I have access to it,as well as her files with vendor and bridal party contacts,a day-of schedule,and ceremony musical selections.The flowers are the only thing she'sabdicated control of.She'sgiven Farah and me free rein,and we'vespent hours scheming about how to make the Gardiner Museum look like the most magnificent greenhouse.Peonies and roses,lilies and ranunculus,trailing ivy and asparagus fern and magnolia leaves.Bridget will love whatever I do.She'smy most vocal advocate,my loudest cheerleader.My only cheerleader now that my aunt is gone.She'sthe one person in my life whose love and support come freely and without conditions.She believes in me more than I believe in myself.Her wedding day flowers are a chance to say thank you,to pay her back for everything she'sdone for me.They will surpass anything I'veever done.They'remy gift to her.And I want my gift to make her cry.I give my forehead a gentle,frustrated bonk on the table,startling Sylvia.I offer her a scratch behind her ear,and she settles back down.The bell over the door chimes,and I bolt upright,smiling at the young man who'sjust walked in.He'sdressed nicely and looks nervous.A first date,I'mguessing.Maybe it'san important date.A proposal?I have a nose for this sort of thing,and Farah and I run an unspoken contest to see who guesses right.Maybe he'sasking his partner to move in with him?
The narrator:"Hello,"
The narrator:I say.
The narrator:"Can we help you with anything in particular?"
Man:"Yeah.I want to get some flowers."
The narrator:I can feel Farah resisting an eye roll.
The narrator:"Well,you'rein the right place.Is it a special occasion?Who are you shopping for?"
Man:"They'refor my boyfriend'smom.I don'tknow what she likes."
Farah:"Meeting the parents?"
Man:"Yeah."
The narrator:She looks at me,smug.I was close.
Man:"We have a reservation at six at a restaurant down the street,"
The narrator:he says.
Man:"I saw your sign and realized that I should probably bring her something."
The narrator:I glance at the clock.It'sfive forty.That'sodd.Bridget should be here by now.She'ssupposed to meet me in five minutes,but she'susually early.Her final gown fitting is this evening,at a boutique a block west.We'rewalking there together,getting the dress,then grabbing dinner.
Farah:"Let me help you,"
The narrator:Farah says,standing.She speaks to the customers with a tone that manages to sound both resigned and wise.I could never pull it off the way she does.I'mbubbly,my smile full of teeth.She leads him to our hand-tiedbouquets.There are only three left,but he'slucky he has any to choose from.We'reoften sold out at the end of the day.As she helps him pick,I go back to the drawing.I squint one eye,imagining Bridget in ivory,Miles in his suit.Her dress is elegant,simple.It'sone of the reasons I feel the archway should make more of a statement.If her gown were extravagant,I would make sure the flowers didn'tundermine it.The dress is stunning,but there'snot a flourish on it.There'snot even a train.A train.I pick up my pencil and begin a rough sketch of an archway that cascades to the floor in a waterfall,extending over the ground.It will be a river of flora.A train of flowers.I don'tnotice Farah standing over my shoulder until I hear her say,
Farah:"Elaborate."
The narrator:"Perfect."
Farah:"Perfect,"
The narrator:she agrees.The next step is figuring out what I need to order,but I'vegot time.The flower auction,where I do the bulk of my buying every week,is first thing Tuesday morning so I still have five days to decide.And now that I have the archway design nailed,I can turn my attention to tomorrow.I chew on my lip.