Chapter Text
Vi loved the smell of early mornings in her flower shop. The combination of subtle and sweet aromas that filled the air, along with the earthy smell of dirt that always brought her back to her years at Vander’s farm. Just a kid running barefoot for miles and miles, with nothing but blades of soft grass under her feet.
She would hear the chime of the bell as she unlocked the front door and would smile at the bright collection of colors lining the shelves and floor. With care and ease, she would water each plant, slowly inspecting the flowers, making sure everything was healthy and vibrant.
Sometimes she would just stand, eyes closed, in the middle of the shop where the roof’s skylight shone brightest and would allow herself to feel the heat of the sunshine warm the skin on her bare arms. It had been years since she’d been able to hug her mom, and somedays she thought this felt like the closest thing to it.
Today was the same as any other day. She had arrived early to set up flower arrangements for the orders they’d received on the website. She’d already been working for an hour and was in the midst of picking flowers for the Sweetheart Special bouquet, when she heard the familiar sound of Powder’s boots stomping through the front door.
She was struggling to hold a large flowerpot that was almost the size of her entire upper body when Vi rushed over to her.
“Hey sis! A little help here!” Powder grunted; head barely visible over the top.
Vi grabbed the huge thing from her arms with complete ease and Powder slumped back against the door. Chest heaving from exertion.
“That was a stupid idea, I should’ve just had you grab it from the car.” She wiped the sweat off her brow with an oversized sleeve and looked back at her with a sudden happy realization “I brought coffee!” And with a shining smile she ran back out to her jeep, returning with two coffees in tow and a large bag filled with decorating supplies.
“Thanks for helping me today, Pow” She said grabbing a cup of coffee “I’ve been preparing all week for the Talis wedding, and it’s been kicking my ass. I’ve got the arrangements out back” she took a sip and pointed over her shoulder with her free hand.
Powder was going to school to become a veterinarian but had worked with Vi for a few years when she first opened her business. Whenever she had an especially big order or special event she needed to work, Powder always volunteered, she had watched Vi sweat and toil to open her business and was extremely proud of her.
Powder opened the door to the back room and her eyes widened in surprise “Holy shit, Vi! You did all this yourself?!”
Dozens of flower arrangements garnered the room. The counters filled to the brim with the splendor of garden roses, parrot tulips, orchids, and hydrangeas.
Vi shrugged her shoulders “I told you, this order has been kicking my ass. It’s one of the biggest one’s I’ve ever had. I even had to ask Mylo and Claggor for help this week.”
Powder gave her a concerned look. Asking for Mylo and Claggor’s help arranging flowers was the equivalent of asking a bull to stock shelves in a china shop.
Vi laughed at her reaction “It wasn’t that bad, honest. I did the arranging, they mostly ran the shop and delivered orders. Mylo’s actually got pretty good customer service skills. I’ve never seen his car salesman technique up close till this week.”
Vi glanced at the clock and tried not to worry. She still needed to get the flowers to the venue and finish setting up.
They heard the familiar honk of the delivery van behind the back door and were greeted with Claggor’s warm face as he popped his head through the doorway. “Ready?” he asked with a grin, and the group got to work.
//
The wedding venue was a gaudy church located in a ritzy part of town. Even without the flowers, the place was already outrageously decorated. Silk drapes hung from the ceiling above a chandelier that was dripping with glass beads. Vi got the impression the chandelier had been installed just for this event. It didn’t quite fit in with the rest of the church’s sad, stained glass Jesus portraits.
Vi was wearing what she always wore on wedding delivery days. A button-up shirt that she would leave unbuttoned over a sleeveless tank top, and a pair of jeans and boots. The button-up was just in case she needed to talk to the customer. More often than not, she would end up taking it off as she set up the flower displays. Wanting to keep the shirt clean, just in case.
She just so happened to be in her sleeveless top, reaching high above, her lower abdomen exposed as she secured flowers on the wedding archway, when she was distracted by the sound of a woman politely clearing her throat. She lowered her arms and looked down from her short ladder into a pair of dazzling blue eyes. The woman’s face was slightly blushed with color, almost as if embarrassed.
“Pardon my interruption” she said with a shy smile “I was told I should come see you about my bouquet”. Vi smiled at her, she must be the bride, she thought. The woman was breathtaking. The features on her face were sharp, yet delicate, a long, thin nose and dark eyebrows that furrowed with a nervous curiosity.
Her navy hair was styled up, with a few strands loose in wavy curls around her face, she noticed one of her flowers decorated the small headpiece that adorned her head. She wasn’t in her wedding dress yet, but her make-up was fully done, and she looked radiant in a simple sundress.
Then it hit Vi, a wedding planner had reached out to her about the arrangements, and she had never actually talked to the bride until this moment.
Vi’s legs were suddenly shaky, she felt those striking blue eyes examine her as she slowly lowered herself from the ladder. Now standing on the floor, she had to look up to meet her gaze. Vi felt stunned by her elegance and tried her best to compose herself before motioning to follow her.
“Right this way Miss-”
“Caitlyn, my name’s Caitlyn. And yours?”
“I’m Vi, it’s nice to meet you.” She said, her palm outstretched to Cailyn who was walking beside her. Caitlyn grabbed her hand, and the simple contact sent a wave of warmth from her palm right through her chest. Caitlyn looked at her with an unreadable expression and held her palm a second longer than necessary before dropping it.
She could still feel the heat in her hand after she’d let go.
She was walking toward Powder, watching as her braids swung wildly with every movement as she set up the bridal party bouquets, when she suddenly felt a hand grab her shoulder.
It was Claggor, he had a panicked look in his eye. And bless his heart, he did his best interpretation of a whisper as he said “Uh code red, or is it orange? I can’t remember, Vi! It’s an emergency!”
Trying not to lose her cool in front of the bride she said “Hey, sorry. You see the woman with the long blue braids? That’s my sister, Powder, she can help you find your bouquet. I have to take care of this.”
Yes of, course. She heard the polite mumble as they parted ways.
She followed Claggor outside to the delivery van where she saw the wedding planner standing with a clipboard in her hand, looking stressed and agitated.
“Oh, there you are! Look, I know this wasn’t in the initial agreement, but I had a last-minute cancellation from the carriage driver for the reception. It said in your resume that you have experience handling horses?”
Only at a posh wedding like this one would a wedding planner have asked her for a resume. She’d felt ridiculous trying to build one and thankfully had Powder’s help, she didn’t know anyone as skilled at bullshitting as her.
“Yea, at my Dad’s farm. But it’s been a while” Vi said as she scratched the back of her neck.
“I’ll give you $300 for an hour. The carriage ride is short, but I need you there in case the wedding couple decides they want to take pictures on it”
Vi hesitated for a moment, but she didn’t want to turn away an easy $300 dollars “Ok, what time do I need to be there?” With a smile the wedding planner regaled her with all the details.
//
“Claggor, what was that about? You were freaking out!” Vi said as she playfully punched him in the shoulder.
“Ow! That woman scares me, Vi! And she said she really needed to see you, I thought it had to do with the flowers. Sorry!”
They were carrying the last of the flowers back into the venue, Vi was laughing at Claggor’s silly embarrassment when she ran full force into Caitlyn, spilling water from the vase all over her pretty sundress.
“Oh, shit! I’m so sorry. Uh… let me help you!” Vi was internally panicking. She put the vase down and did the first thing that came to mind. She took off her shirt and handed it to Caitlyn so she could dry the wet spot on her dress.
Caitlyn grabbed the shirt absentmindedly and stood there frozen. Staring at Vi’s now very exposed upper body covered only by the thin fabric of her sports bra. Vi’s internal panic worsened; she felt a rush of blood color her face as she saw Caitlyn’s slack jawed expression burning into her.
“Uh… I’m sorry! I can put my shirt back on, I’m not trying to offend you. I just felt bad about spilling water on your nice dress” Vi reached out to grab the shirt and Caitlyn seemed to snap from her trance.
“No, please! I’m not offended, you’re too kind. I think we have some napkins around here somewhere” She gave a low effort glance around her “and I need to change soon anyway. It’s really not an issue at all.” She handed Vi back her shirt but seemed almost hesitant to do so.
Vi put her shirt back on quickly, feeling Caitlyn’s eyes still on her. She gave her a sheepish smile, grabbed the vase, and walked away.
Claggor followed behind her and whispered in her ear “Hey, I know I’m not the best at this kind of thing. But I really think she was checking you out just now”
Vi punched him in the shoulder again, not playfully this time “Claggor, seriously dude?! This is her fucking wedding day! Get your head out of the gutter” And as much as she tried to deny it, Claggor’s words gave her a slight pang of guilty hope.