Page 5 of Cocky Choices: Zoe Cocker

“Hey, Tom! You’re right on time. Have I thanked you lately for being so reliable?”

“You did yesterday morning.”

“Oh. Right. I forgot. Well, I just finished the orders for delivery today.” I wipe my hands on pale blue jeans, smooth the hem of my white silk blouse, and feel a rush of satisfaction as I point my chin toward the lined up bouquet vases.

Tom approaches, leaning forward to get a better look, and inhale the calming aroma. “Wow, these are beautiful! Where are these going today? I gotta say, the customers will be stunned by what you did here.”

I can’t help but smile at his compliment. “We have three dozen red roses going to the Kellers for their anniversary, these seven vases with the mixes of seasonal blooms are for Mrs. Thompson’s birthday, and these two dozen sympathy arrangements are for the Johnson family wake.”

Tom nods, jotting down notes on his clipboard. “I can take them all. The roses and the birthday bouquet should be fun. The sympathy arrangements will need to be handled with care, right?”

I ask, “Don’t they all?” confused.

“Because of the incident.”

“Oh,” I sigh, a pang of sympathy twisting my heart as I remember. “Yes, his untimely death while robbing that storehasmade mourning a little tricky for them. I’d quietly deliver these and get out of there as soon as possible. The father didn’t even want flowers. I was surprised when I saw the order.”

“Yeah, their grief is complicated, isn’t it,” Tom nods, lips pressed together in thought. He shrugs is off. “Let me run and grab my sturdy boxes.” He pauses at the immense display I created yesterday. “Look at that! How did I walk right by this and not see it?” He jogs a thumb at the arrangement. “Where is it headed?”

“The Four Seasons Hotel.”

He strolls around the large round glass table I bought at a yard sale, where the arrangement sits beside flourishing potted pants all labeled for sale. “This is somethin’ else. You’ve outdone yourself, Boss. But I don’t think it’ll fit in my Jeep with all of the other ones. Want me to take this bad boy first and come back for the rest?”

I frown in thought, gaze drifting back and forth between the many orders that must go out today, weighing the time-table schedule they’re expected arrivals demand. “Hmm… that could work. Oh wait, no. The funeral is at eleven o’clock this morning and you won’t be back in time. They’ll need ample to display them and you know…process the impact.”

“You mean have an argument? Better to be safe than sorry. Four Seasons last then?”

Considering it, I hum again, “Hmm…” as Ralphie stretches and walks across the counter toward me, slinking between flower vases, his own personal obstacle course. “That was meant for last night.” I frown, disappointed in myself. “But something came up.”

“You’re never late with an order. Not since I’ve been working for you.” Tom tilts his head. “Everything okay?”

“Oh, it was just…” I give a self-conscious laugh and tuck a stray lock of hair back into my hurried messy bun. “It was nothing. Just got sideswiped by something I didn’t expect. Something bad. Which is how we get sideswiped, right? It’s not like you can prepare for a side-swipe. I’m rambling. You know I do that.”

Tom looks at me with concern, like he doesn’t believe what happened to me wasn’t important. “You’re always peaceful every time I see you.” He walks closer, more intimate. “Everyone alright in your family?”

I gasp, “Oh no! It was nothing like that! We’re all fine. Thank you, Tom.” Touching one of the peonies, I remember Margot’s face, how she seemed so blasé doing the thing I’ve always wanted to do. Hold Ryder’s hand and be called his girlfriend. Have I been pining away on a fantasy all these years? In love with what could be rather than what is? That’s a source of misery I no longer want to swim in. “You know what? I think I’ll go to the Four Seasons myself and you can take the rest. I’ll put a sign on the door for how long I’ll be gone. I could use a drive.”

Tom grins like he’s happy about the smile this idea gave me, “Works for me, Boss,” and leaves to retrieve his boxes. With a moment to spare I check the computer for any new orders, find none, and glance up as the bell roars his return. Tom strolls in, gathers the bouquets, and I take a moment to watch him bend and load them into his sturdy boxes. He’s in great shape as I’ve noticed most delivery people seem to be. I guess carrying packages both light and heavy up stairs all day, plus all the walking they do, keeps them fit. He glances up, catches me watching, and gives his lopsided smile. “You know, the way the sun is catching in your beautiful green eyes, Zoe, it’s almost like they’re glowing.”

I blush, glancing down at my splotchy fingernails. Need to paint these again. “I thought the same thing about Ralphie when I set him down today. The sun caught in his eyes, too.”

“You share the same color,” Tom remarks. “A pale perfect green.”

“Thank you,” I whisper, heart thudding a little.

He completes loading the flowers, unaware I’m now following his every move. I realize suddenly how reassuring it is having someone like Tom by my side in this dream business of mine. He’s not just my delivery guy; he’s part of the little family we’ve created here. It’s me, my two part-time florists Amelia and Perry, and Tom. They’re all such nice people. Oh, and Ralphie Rooster. My cat is just as much a part of the family as any of us. “So, how’s your day looking after this?” I ask, shocking myself.

“Not too bad. Got a few more deliveries lined up with my other job later. Always around though if you have more orders come in. Then I thought I might stop by that new café after work,” he replies, his blue eyes lighting up.

He didn’t ask why I asked.

I could just try…

Say it myself.

Take a chance.

Would you like someone to go to the café with you?

---