Mr. Martin came in just before closing,” she lied. “It’s his wife’s birthday and he needed flowers.”
“Gilbert?” Mrs. Cleary chastised. “You know perfectly well what time my shop closes, and Gladys’ birthday or not, if you don’t remember to come in earlier, you have to wait until tomorrow.”
Bella glanced up from the flower stems she was trimming for the vase arrangement. Mr. Martin fidgeted under the older woman’s unyielding stare. Bella sort of felt bad for the man.
“It’s my fault,” she interjected. “I told him I’d come up with a special arrangement for his wife since he said she wanted something different than roses this year.”
“Different than roses?” Mrs. Cleary repeated, skeptical. “I wasn’t aware Gladys had an opinion on flowers except that she receives them.”
Mr. Martin did nothing more than give a curt nod. He seemed unsure if he should stick around or flee the scene. Bella wanted to opt for fleeing herself, but a few moments later, when Mrs. Cleary and Mr. Martin caught their collective breaths as she put the finishing touch on the birthday arrangement, Bella gave an imaginary fist-pump.
“That’s just exquisite, Bella. You certainly have a gift,” Mrs. Cleary praised.
“My wife will expect something like this every year now,” Mr. Martin grumped.
“Then I suggest you get your standing order in early, Gilbert. We won’t be staying open for you next time. And this is going to cost you.”
“Actually,” Bella spoke up, wondering what in the hell was wrong with her when the next words left her mouth. “I wanted to take care of the cost.” Both people focused sharply on her and she fought that fleeing urge again. “Please.”
“Whatever you said to this girl, Gilbert, you’d better apologize. That arrangement is worth at least a quarter of her paycheck.”
“I-I’m sorry I was rude, Bella.”
Bella smiled. Mr. Martin’s eyes were full of chagrin and defiance. It was interesting to watch his face shift from one emotion to the other and back again. She knew how hard it was for some people to see her, and how much harder it was for them to be nice. She didn’t expect it to happen overnight, but maybe one day…
“Please wish Mrs. Martin a very happy birthday,” Bella said, handing over the vase of flowers.
“Thank you.” Mr. Martin nodded once in her direction and once in Mrs. Cleary’s, then departed the flower shop as though hell were hot on his heels.
“Now, young lady…” Mrs. Cleary started.
Bella turned and faced her boss. She’d broken the rules. It was the first time, her first infraction, but Mrs. Cleary wasn’t anyone to mess with.
“You didn’t have to be as kind to Gilbert as you were, and you can’t let people know how easy it is to get to you.”
“I know, but he scares me,” Bella admitted, to which Mrs. Cleary laughed.
“He’s nothing more than bluster and that was a very sweet thing you did. He won’t soon forget it, but he’ll be confused by your motives for a long while. It’ll do him good though. He’s used to getting his way but he’s not used to getting out of having to pay for it.”
“I was happy to do it. It was the least I could do. I know Artie pretty well drained the Martins’ savings.”
“Your brother is a scoundrel. Always was, and it’s not your job to make up for his mistakes.”
“Someone has to do it.”
“Your parents would’ve been proud of you for trying, but it really isn’t your responsibility. However, it has helped me come to a decision. There’s something I should’ve told you when you first came to me months ago looking for a job.”
“Told me? About what? Did Artie do something else? I thought I knew about everyone he’d hurt, everything he’d done, but if he did something to hurt your business investments or something—”
“No, dear girl. It’s not something Artie did. It’s something I did.”
Mrs. Cleary suddenly looked uncomfortable, nervous even. It
“Gilbert?” Mrs. Cleary chastised. “You know perfectly well what time my shop closes, and Gladys’ birthday or not, if you don’t remember to come in earlier, you have to wait until tomorrow.”
Bella glanced up from the flower stems she was trimming for the vase arrangement. Mr. Martin fidgeted under the older woman’s unyielding stare. Bella sort of felt bad for the man.
“It’s my fault,” she interjected. “I told him I’d come up with a special arrangement for his wife since he said she wanted something different than roses this year.”
“Different than roses?” Mrs. Cleary repeated, skeptical. “I wasn’t aware Gladys had an opinion on flowers except that she receives them.”
Mr. Martin did nothing more than give a curt nod. He seemed unsure if he should stick around or flee the scene. Bella wanted to opt for fleeing herself, but a few moments later, when Mrs. Cleary and Mr. Martin caught their collective breaths as she put the finishing touch on the birthday arrangement, Bella gave an imaginary fist-pump.
“That’s just exquisite, Bella. You certainly have a gift,” Mrs. Cleary praised.
“My wife will expect something like this every year now,” Mr. Martin grumped.
“Then I suggest you get your standing order in early, Gilbert. We won’t be staying open for you next time. And this is going to cost you.”
“Actually,” Bella spoke up, wondering what in the hell was wrong with her when the next words left her mouth. “I wanted to take care of the cost.” Both people focused sharply on her and she fought that fleeing urge again. “Please.”
“Whatever you said to this girl, Gilbert, you’d better apologize. That arrangement is worth at least a quarter of her paycheck.”
“I-I’m sorry I was rude, Bella.”
Bella smiled. Mr. Martin’s eyes were full of chagrin and defiance. It was interesting to watch his face shift from one emotion to the other and back again. She knew how hard it was for some people to see her, and how much harder it was for them to be nice. She didn’t expect it to happen overnight, but maybe one day…
“Please wish Mrs. Martin a very happy birthday,” Bella said, handing over the vase of flowers.
“Thank you.” Mr. Martin nodded once in her direction and once in Mrs. Cleary’s, then departed the flower shop as though hell were hot on his heels.
“Now, young lady…” Mrs. Cleary started.
Bella turned and faced her boss. She’d broken the rules. It was the first time, her first infraction, but Mrs. Cleary wasn’t anyone to mess with.
“You didn’t have to be as kind to Gilbert as you were, and you can’t let people know how easy it is to get to you.”
“I know, but he scares me,” Bella admitted, to which Mrs. Cleary laughed.
“He’s nothing more than bluster and that was a very sweet thing you did. He won’t soon forget it, but he’ll be confused by your motives for a long while. It’ll do him good though. He’s used to getting his way but he’s not used to getting out of having to pay for it.”
“I was happy to do it. It was the least I could do. I know Artie pretty well drained the Martins’ savings.”
“Your brother is a scoundrel. Always was, and it’s not your job to make up for his mistakes.”
“Someone has to do it.”
“Your parents would’ve been proud of you for trying, but it really isn’t your responsibility. However, it has helped me come to a decision. There’s something I should’ve told you when you first came to me months ago looking for a job.”
“Told me? About what? Did Artie do something else? I thought I knew about everyone he’d hurt, everything he’d done, but if he did something to hurt your business investments or something—”
“No, dear girl. It’s not something Artie did. It’s something I did.”
Mrs. Cleary suddenly looked uncomfortable, nervous even. It
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