Page 2 of Somebody Else Will

“Okay, Denishia. I hate to hear you sounding down, but do your best to have a great day. And… evaluate what’s making you upset. If it’s something you can change, take the leap and change it. If you can’t change it, let the shit go. Stress is so unhealthy, especially for sistas. Y’all already have so many risk factors working against you. Stress only makes those underlying issues metastasize. Take care of yourself.”

“Thanks, Ford. I really appreciate you for that. I promise to take your advice. I have plenty of deliveries to keep me busy this morning, but as soon as I stop to make floral designs, I’m going to go over things.”

“Floral masterpieces, girl. That’s what you make. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Thanks. Okay. Y’all be safe and have fun.”

“Will do.”

I ended the call as I turned in the parking lot of the shop. One of my workers was sitting in her car, waiting for me to arrive. I needed to just give her a key. My problem was that I didn’t trust people easily when it came to my business. I wanted to be in control. That way, when things failed, I had no one to blame but myself. I quickly grabbed my things and hopped out of the car as she did the same.

Once we got to the back door, she said, “I was just about to call you. It’s not like you to be late.”

“I know. Sorry. I got a late start.”

I unlocked the door and went to the refrigerators to begin loading today’s deliveries in the van. I needed to hire someone to do this too. Then I could focus on making beautiful bouquets that people raved about. Jamia handled the front desk, along with another part-time receptionist named Jerzey. Jerzey was a phlebotomist, but she loved being around flowers. She was single and didn’t have children. So, in her spare time, she was here at the shop.

She was a lot like me. She liked to see love through the floral designs. Unfortunately, it was expressions of love that we both craved but couldn’t get. At least she was single. I wasn’t single and was still craving it. That sucked. I just wanted to feel all the things I was supposed to feel. Was that too much to ask for?

After I finished loading the van, I went up front to let Jamia know I was leaving. She was on the phone, though, and her eyes were big. “Yes, sir. Just a moment, and I’ll let you speak to Denishia. She’s the owner and the only one that can approve something of this caliber,” she said while staring at me.

I frowned slightly as she put the call on hold. “Denishia, Ezekiel Wheeler is on the line, wanting you to provide flowers for his mom’s birthday party.”

“Ezekiel Wheeler?”

My eyes were just as wide as hers. Ezekiel Wheeler was an actor who had played in one of my favorite Christmas movies,Unwrapping Your Love: The Gift. In the movie, he was a single father who was also an athletic director for the school district as well as a little league baseball coach. He’d met a single mother, and sparks flew. The story was so beautiful. Ezekiel portrayed the role perfectly. Hallmark had hit it out of the park with that production. However, knowing that this man was on the line, inquiring about my services, had me cemented in place.

Jamia nudged me, and I quickly snapped out of it and picked up the phone. “Happily Ever After Floral Shop, this is Denishia. How may I help you?”

The line was quiet for a moment, and I thought he’d hung up. Before I could check, I heard him clear his throat. “I’m sorry, Miss Denishia. This is Ezekiel Wheeler. The richness of your voice caught me off guard.”

I could feel my face heating up. Was this fine ass man flirting with me? He didn’t even know what I looked like. I chuckled. “What were you expecting?”

He chuckled too. “A little dainty sounding voice.”

“I’m not in Hollywood, Mister Wheeler. I’m as real as they come.”

“Mm. So I hear. I’m needing someone to provide flowers and work with the event planner on placement for a formal dinner party for my mother. It’s somewhat short notice, but I wanted to know if you would be available.”

“What are the dates and location?”

He chuckled nervously. “It’s in Houston, and it’s in less than two weeks. Not this weekend, but the next.”

I quickly opened the schedule book at the desk and marked out that Friday evening and Saturday. “I’m available for that. What type of flowers were you wanting, and how many arrangements?”

“Honestly, Denishia, I don’t know. Are you free to meet me at the venue on Wednesday?”

“I have to make a trip to Houston’s North side on Wednesday, so a meetup can be arranged. What time?”

“What time is good for you? They will open the venue whenever I want them to.”

“Preferential treatment must be nice,” I said before I could filter myself.

I closed my eyes and bit my bottom lip. “Sorry, Mister Wheeler.”

He chuckled. “Call me Ezekiel. And it’s definitely nice. I don’t hesitate to use my status since they don’t.”

I smiled slightly. I knew he was referencing white people. My voice wasn’t as professional as it should have been for a professional. I wasn’t up for the faking. When I knew I was speaking to someone black, the professional tone seemed to drop. I wasn’t hood or ratchet sounding. I still used correct English, for the most part, but one could definitely tell I was a black woman on the phone simply from the inflections in my voice.

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