Page 132 of Wallflower in Bloom

“Phew, close call,” Violet said, giggling with Mrs. Maroo. “Can you stay for the next segment? It would be great to get your reaction to Lily’s designs.”

“Look at my little Violet. I missed having you around town,” Mrs. Maroo said, her hand coming to Violet’s cheek.

After Jack had finished filming the Christmas movie in the English countryside, they’d hit the ground running to produce a pilot. Violet had enjoyed four glorious weeks off, doing nothing but reading, baking, and gardening in Jack’s childhood home, but she was happy to be back in Bloom.

They would have a few weeks together before he’d return to Vancouver to finish the final filming of Beyond the Manor Walls. She didn’t know how he had enough energy to juggle it all, but they’d never been happier. They’d already started planning what three, six, or nine months might look like, and Violet tried to savor every moment.

Rose dusted the sleet off her coat and walked over to them with a shipping box.

“I have samples.” She shook the box with a happy smile.

“Oh my gosh,” Violet said, jumping. “Is it the overalls?”

“One and the same.” Rose set the box down and pulled out the sample Violet and Lily had worked on with a local fashion designer. “Reggie said these can ship next week if you approve the final version.”

This was the final test of the first Bloom-branded overalls, and Violet wanted to get it just right, making sure there was ample room for bending over, twisting, and lifting things. It also had to pass Lily and Rose’s style check.

Violet hardly recognized her life now. They were already one month into a partnership with a gardening supply line where Violet and Lily had collaborated on chic, functional designs. These overalls would complement Rose’s vision to set them up as a national brand.

“Do we have time for me to try these on?” Violet said to Jack as he chatted with a crew member.

Jack’s eyes twinkled as he caught her gaze and bent down to kiss her. “Always time for you, my love.”

She wiggled with excitement and ran to the small bathroom to change.

She ditched her flirty floral skirt and kept on her Bloom t-shirt that was expertly tailored. Being in front of the camera didn’t even bother her anymore, now that everything in her closet finally fit and she wasn’t worried about fainting.

She pulled on the overalls, and the soft cotton fabric felt deliciously breathable against her skin.

She looked at herself in the mirror. The overalls hit her waist at precisely the right place. The pockets were nice and big, large enough to hold a tool or several pairs of gloves. The wide-leg bottoms were comfortable and had just the right amount of room to move around in.

She danced out to show everyone, and Rose and Lily applauded with beaming faces.

“Oh my gosh, these are going to be an instant bestseller,” Lily said, checking out the floral pattern she’d custom designed for it. It was a take on Bloom’s logo featuring their three flowers, a rose, a lily, and a violet, woven together with ivy.

“I think it looks fucking amazing. Please please pleeeease approve it,” Rose said with a pleading face at Violet.

Violet happily shouted, “Approved! Can you believe we’ll have our own line of clothes and custom stuff in two months?”

“Yes,” Lily said, stretching, “because I’m exhausted.”

“We should start looking for your replacement soon. It will take a while.” Rose leaned against the counter with a sad smile.

They’d promised their commitment-phobic, no-roots little sister she wouldn’t need to stay past the one-year commitment of opening Bloom. But Violet had hoped she’d just forget about it and stay in Fairwick Falls forever.

“Already?” Violet said, pouting. It wouldn’t be the same without Lily’s energy in the store every day.

“I don’t know,” Lily said, her hand still fiddling with Violet’s overalls, lost in thought. “Seems soon, don’t you think?”

Rose’s face was sad but resigned. “You said you’d give us a year. We only have six months left.”

“Maybe we can wait until January to talk about it?” Lily’s brow furrowed. “I can’t even think about interviewing people on top of our current workload.”

“Speaking of which,” Rose said, clapping her hands together, “our new part-time help starts next week.”

“Praise be to Jack’s handsome face and his ability to do any ad we need him to,” Lily said, raising her hands.

“Love, you ready to get going again?” Jack called over from the side of the store with the crew.

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