Page 3 of A Journey For Jasmine

But watching her boss thrive through her pregnancy was a lovely sight indeed.

“What can I help you with?” Lily asked.

“You might want to sit down. No need to get excited and start jumping around and knock the baby awake.”

Lily put her hand on her belly over her peach-colored shirt. Lily had navy pants on and sandals on her feet. Her boss worked in the offices on the second floor of the flower shop. The retail store was next door and that second floor now housed more offices.

Blossoms was growing by leaps and bounds with their candles, soaps, lotions, accessories that Poppy made and jewelry that Rose did. Though the Bloom sisters started with soaps, lotions and candles, the flower shop was how they began with Carl Blossoms.

It might be the smallest part of revenue for the business, but Jasmine liked to think it was the most important piece of the puzzle.

It was the foundation of all that they did and that fell on Jasmine’s shoulders.

At just twenty-seven years old it was a lot to take on, but she thrived in it. In being in control of her life because she never felt she had been before.

Even in college she didn’t have a lot of control, but at least no one was around in her family to witness her missteps and stumbles, forcing her to figure it out on her own. It only made her stronger.

Lily smiled. “Do I need to get the girls for this?”

“Are they around?” Jasmine asked of Poppy and Rose. “I haven’t seen either of them this morning, but I just got back from the greenhouses myself.”

All the greenhouses were on Lily’s personal property. They’d started with three when Carl first opened years ago and now there were eighteen. She loved it and would be thrilled to spend all her time there, but she couldn’t because on top of having a love for growing and nurturing flowers, she enjoyed presenting them.

Thankfully in the past year, Lily made Violet a full-time manager of the flower shop, taking orders and doing some easy arrangements, allowing Jasmine to spread her wings with what she did so well.

“I think Poppy is in the back. I’m not sure about Rose. Let’s go find out.”

She followed Lily to the other store and into the back and they popped their heads into Poppy’s office. She was on the computer and looked up. “What’s up, ladies?” Poppy asked.

“Jasmine has some news that she said I need to sit down for so the baby doesn’t wake up,” Lily said, laughing.

Poppy jumped up fast and almost skipped toward them. “Don’t break your water,” Poppy said. “It’s too soon. Let’s get Rose.”

Jasmine turned and looked to the other side of the back space where Poppy was already in Rose’s office and could hear Rose’s annoyed voice. “I’m busy, Poppy. Go play with someone else.”

She laughed. These three sisters were a hoot to be around. It reminded her of Dahlia and Ivy. She hadn’t seen her sisters in years, but she did keep in touch with them. When they were younger they had a lot of the same dynamics as the Bloom sisters. Not that she ever told these women much about her upbringing. Just the basics.

They’d asked and she’d given bits and pieces but never a lot. She didn’t like to share, as there was part of her that didn’t want to be judged that she didn’t have a traditional upbringing.

That she’d felt she missed out on so much in life that others got to experience. When she went to college she was a fish out of water and just trying to stay afloat. She put a front on so people didn’t know what she felt inside.

“Jasmine has some news to share,” Lily said to Rose. “Can you take a break so we can hear it all at once?”

Rose took the safety goggles off her face. “Sure. Poppy should have said that instead of coming in here dancing like she was going to brag about what kinky things she and her husband did last night.”

“It’s wonderful being a newlywed,” Poppy said. “You just wait your turn and you’ll feel the same way with Thomas.”

Poppy had married Reese McGill over a month ago, and Rose was engaged to Thomas Klein, the girls’ attorney. That wedding was planned for October.

“I doubt it,” Rose said. “I’m not as fanciful as you are.”

“Girls,” Lily said. “I can see Poppy getting ready to go on the defensive. You two never stop. Jasmine, please share the good news with us.”

“Is it more business?” Poppy said. “We love business.”

“Big business,” Jasmine said. “Like potential to blow my mind.” She put her hands to her head and spread her fingers out to blow them out.

Lily smiled. Poppy laughed. Rose snorted. Typical reactions.

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