and less. It’s been six months since my father died, and even though he
wasn’t good company, it has to be weird for her, being alone. She got a job
at
one of the elementary schools, so she did end up moving here. She
chose a small suburb on the outskirts of Boston. She bought a cute two-
bedroom house on a cul-de-sac, with a huge backyard. I dream of planting
a garden there, but that would require daily care. My limit is once-a-week
visits. Sometimes twice.
“What are you going to do with all this junk?” she asks.
She’s right. There’s so much junk. It’ll take forever to clear this place
out. “I have no idea. I guess I’ll be busting my ass for a while before I can
even think about decorating.”
“When’s your last day at the marketing firm?”
I smile. “Yesterday.”
She
releases a sigh, and then shakes her head. “Oh, Lily. I certainly
hope this works out in your favor.”
We both begin to stand when the front door opens. There are shelves
in the way of the door, so I careen my head around them and see a woman
walk in. Her eyes briefly scan the room until she sees me.
“Hi,” she says with a wave. She’s cute. She’s dressed well, but she’s
wearing white capris. A disaster waiting to happen in this dust bowl.
“Can I help you?”
She tucks her purse beneath her arm and walks toward me, holding out
her hand. “I’m Allysa,” she says. I shake her hand.
“Lily.”
She tosses a thumb over her shoulder. “There’s a help wanted sign out
front?”
I look over her shoulder and raise an eyebrow. “There is?”
I didn’t put up
a help wanted sign.
She nods, and then shrugs. “It looks old, though,” she says. “It’s
probably been there a while. I was just out for a walk and saw the sign. Was
curious, is all.”
I like her almost immediately. Her voice is pleasant and her smile seems
genuine.
My mother’s hand falls down on my shoulder and she leans in and
kisses me on the cheek. “I have to go,” she says. “Open house tonight.” I
tell her goodbye and watch her walk outside, then turn my attention back
to Allysa.
“I’m not really hiring yet,” I say. I wave my hand around the room. “I’m
opening up a floral shop, but it’ll be a couple of months, at least.” I should
know better than
to hold preconceived judgments, but she doesn’t look
like she’d be satisfied with a minimum wage job. Her purse probably cost
more than this building.
Her eyes light up. “Really? I love flowers!” She spins around in a circle
and says, “This place has a ton of potential. What color are you painting
it?”
I cross my arm over my chest and grab my elbow. Rocking back on my
heels, I say, “I’m not sure. I just got the keys to the building an hour ago,
so I haven’t really come up with a design plan yet.”
“Lily, right?”
I nod.
“I’m not going to pretend I have a degree in design, but it’s my
absolute favorite thing. If you need any help, I’d do it for free.”
I tilt my head. “You’d work for free?”
She nods. “I don’t
really need a job, I just saw the sign and thought,
‘
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