Page 2 of Love for a Lifetime

“I’ll do one better. Are you free tomorrow afternoon around four?” Olivia asked.

“Yep. As of right now, I’m free as a bird.”

“Good. Pencil in some plans with me and Wendy, but for now, I’ll definitely say a prayer for her.”

“Thanks. I know I can always count on you.”

“Every time. Love you.”

“Love you too.”

Olivia ended the call and asked her incredibly smart vehicle to call Julia’s Flower Shop. Was it the car or the phone making the call? Either way, technology was phenomenal.

The robotic voice announced, “Calling Julia’s Flower Shop.”

Wendy was at the top of Olivia’s prayer list with good reason. The woman was getting pummeled by life lately, and the hits didn’t seem to stop coming.

She’d only known Wendy for a few months, but that was another relationship forged by fire. Wendy was a recovering addict who recently lost a friend to the drugs that kept a hold on so many desperate lives. If anyone needed help, it was Wendy, and Olivia never missed a chance to help someone in need. It kept her mind off the soul-crushing fact that she’d probably have another surgery under her belt soon.

Nope. Not going down that road.

“Thanks for calling Julia’s Flower Shop. This is Wendy.”

“Hey! How are you?”

“Hey! I’m makin’ it. How about you?”

And that question would get a quick side-step. “I’m great.” (Read: Not great, but I want to assure you that I am absolutely, one hundred percent, great.)

“What can I do for you today?” Wendy asked.

“I was wondering if I could set up a consultation to talk about Lyric’s wedding.” Asa and Lyric’s wedding wouldn’t be a massive event, but Olivia and Lyric had already mapped out a small floral budget.

“Oh, of course! That’ll be fun. Do you know what colors she wants? I’ll put some samples together.”

“Navy and chocolate.”

“That’ll be gorgeous for a fall wedding,” Wendy said. “How about tomorrow afternoon.”

“Does four work for you?” Olivia asked.

“Of course! When the bride has two jobs, it’s usually hard to make plans.”

Wasn’t that the truth. Thankfully, Lyric’s long hours meant she delegated most of the tasks to Olivia, her unofficial wedding planner.

She’d have to add that to her ever-growing resume. If she kept volunteering to help people with things, her credentials were going to look like a trade encyclopedia.

Caterer? Been there.

Moving service? Done that.

Charity event planner? Got the T-shirt.

Snake sitter? Never again.

Face painter for parties and festivals? So many times.

“What time do you get off work tomorrow? Want to have dinner with Lyric and me after?”

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