Page 42 of Air Of Mystery
“This isn’t some Hallmark Channel type of thing,” I said, using his own words from a few days before. “Many of the guests are Witches. It can get pretty wild.”
Now he grinned. “That’s funny. You got me.”
I tucked my shades on top of my head. “I’ve got this. I’m going to take the next hour and put the decorations in place before Kenna, Cordelia and my mother arrive.”
“You’re not going to wait for them to help you?”
“No,” I said. “I want this all done so my sisters and mom can simply enjoy the day without running around and stressing over everything.”
“That’s very kind of you Skye.”
I raised an eyebrow at him. “You sound surprised.”
He stared at me for a long moment. When he finally spoke, he changed the subject. “Brynn dropped off the flowers last night. I’ll go bring them in for you.”
I watched him leave and allowed myself a moment to consider the space and the set up. Setting my purse aside, I dove into arranging the napkins and the plates that I’d purchased. At Brynn’s request everything had an autumnal theme. So, I fanned out scarlet, burnt orange and gold paper napkins,arranging them at one end of the banquet tables. I was opening a package of coppery-colored plastic knives and forks when Charlie walked back in carrying two boxes full of floral arrangements.
“Where do you want them?” he asked.
I rushed over to help as he placed them on the bar. Lifting out the largest one, I said, “This one goes on the mantel.”
“How can you tell?” he asked.
“Because when your sister is a gardener and a floral designer, you learn quick what style of arrangement goes where.”
“I’m supposed to tell you that Jaxon will be in to set up the bar in about an hour.”
“Thank you,” I said. Placing the low and oblong arrangement at the center of the mantel, I stepped back a few paces and made some adjustments. “There.”
“It looks nice,” he said. “Did the flowers all come from your sister’s garden?”
“Most of them did.”
“Where do you want the smaller arrangements at?” he asked.
I smiled and returned to where he stood with the other flowers. “The rest will go on the center of each guest table.”
“They smell fantastic,” he said, “even though I don’t know what some of these flowers are.”
Lifting up one of the smaller arrangements, I pointed to a bright red flower. “This is a dahlia. In the language of flowers, it symbolizes love, passion and strength.”
He picked up another arrangement from the long box to study it. “I recognize the sunflowers.”
After placing the first table arrangement at the center of a table, I pointed out a stem of bright red and yellow flowers.“These are snapdragons. They represent adoration and they mean: you are dazzling but dangerous.”
He smiled at that.
“I was referring to the language of the flowers,” I was quick to say, “but come to think of it—the message could also apply to you.”
“Thank you.” He smiled. Turning the arrangement that he held, he pointed to another flower. “What about this one?”
“That’s goldenrod,” I explained as I walked back to him. “It’s for good fortune.”
“And these yellow ones, are they daisies?”
“Chrysanthemums,” I corrected, stopping directly in front of him. “They embody cheerfulness.”
We were face to face now, and my heart was starting to beat faster.
