Chapter 28
Chapter 28
Lily stood on the stage, putting finishing touches to the vases by the couple’s chair. Around her, staff were setting up rows of chairs and rolling out the carpet. She had been working with the floral designers and event planners for months— choosing the flowers, the arrangement styles, ordering, and the logistics of the deliveries. Lily hardly worked on weddings, but each time she did, she found it was her favorite type of event. Helping couples bring to life the wedding of their dreams gave her pride.
The bride had chosen roses as the central flower for the event. Together, they had looked through a variety of old-world roses, garden roses, and modern roses, trying to pick the perfect flower before finally settling on Quicksand roses. They symbolize the admiration a couple has for one another. A rose-covered arch stood at the entrance of the venue, brimming with romantic charm. It had taken the floral designers 3 hours to make. Lily couldn’t do much but hand flowers to them as they worked and she had enjoyed every minute.
There was a commotion near the entrance, the bride had arrived.
Lily straightened, picked up the bouquet on the chair, and headed to the bride's dressing room. After a knock, she was let in. The bride was surrounded by make-up artists and bridesmaids as she was fitted into her dress. Lily stepped forward. As soon as she saw Lily, her face lit up.
“Lily, can I call you that?”
“Yes,” Lily laughed.
“Thank you so much. As I walked in I saw everything— the arch, the vases, the stage. It all looks like a dream. I can’t believe you made it happen.” Her eyes turned misty. “I’m sorry if I had been demanding.”
Lily smiled, waving it off. “Don’t worry, you weren’t. You deserve to have everything just the way you want it on your special day.”
The bride smiled, blushing slightly. “First time getting married. Hopefully, the last too.”
The people in the room smiled and assured her it would.
Lily brought out the bouquet from behind her back and handed it to the bride. The arrangement was made up of Quicksand roses, pink peonies, and white lilies.
“Oh my god,” she whispered, holding the bouquet to her chest. “It’s better than I imagined.”
She turned to Lily with misty eyes. “You have to stay for the ceremony. Please, it would mean a lot to me.”
Lily nodded and excused herself.
She found a seat somewhere in the middle, next to Blender— the lead event planner— and her team. From where she sat, she had a clear view of the stage and the entrance.
The ceremony began.
The groom stood on the stage, all smiles, while the bride walked in. As the priest spoke, a slideshow played behind them.
The bride and groom had also been childhood friends, just like her and Ethan. They were next-door neighbors who met in the summer they were nine, when the bride's family had moved into the area. They had been inseparable ever since.
They went the same middle school, high school, and college in another state, before moving back home to watch. Somewhere along the line, their love had bloomed. And now they were getting married. Watching the slideshow of pictures made her smile. Their deep bond was clear in every picture.
When it was time to say their vows, the bride and groom cried through every word.
After the ceremony, it was time for the bride to throw the bouquet. The bridesmaids and guests stood at the back jumping excitedly.
“3. 2. 1. Throw!”
The bouquet flew into the air. By a twist of fate, it landed on Lily’s lap.
The guests applauded and cheered, wishing her good luck.
Brenda nudged her playfully.
“Looks like you’re next,” she teased. “You have to let me plan your wedding. I promise to do a good job.”
Lily blinked, stunned and a little embarrassed. “I’m still single.”
Brenda gasped, shocked. “I don’t believe it. You’re so nice and pretty.”
“I’ve never been in a relationship,” Lily admitted, brushing her fingers over the petals.
Brenda shook her head. “Well, I’m sure your true love is just around the corner. The universe has said so.” She nodded towards the bouquet in Lily’s hand.
Lily smiled and said nothing.
She didn’t get a chance to say goodbye before she left the venue. The bride and groom had to rush off shortly after the reception started to catch the flight to their honeymoon destination.
When she got back to the flower shop, the sun was beginning to set, painting the shop in warm orange hues. As she was packing up to go home, her phone buzzed.
It was a message from their high school group chat. The group chat was usually silent. Other than wedding or childbirth announcements, not much was usually said. A high school classmate sent a message.
Dan: “I just saw Ethan.”
Peter: “Which Ethan?”
Sarah: “Blackwell? ”
Dan: “Yes, Ethan Blackwell.”
A photo followed. It was obviously taken without the protagonist's knowledge. Ethan stood dressed in a suit among other men in suits.
Dan: “My wife and I were having dinner when we saw him.”
Lily’s hand shook when she saw the picture. Her former classmates continued talking but she wasn’t following the conversation. Nobody had seen Ethan since high school. Nobody except Stacy Peters and now Dan.
She clicked on Dan’s avatar and sent him a private message.
Lily: “Good evening. What is the name of the restaurant?”
Dan: “Chef’s house. It’s the newly opened French restaurant.”
Lily: “Thank you.”
She searched for the name and found the address. She hurried to lock up the shop.
As she drove, her mind raced. She thought of what she should first say to him. How he had been doing all these years.
She parked and slowly made her way into the restaurant, her heart racing. The place had a retro style vibe with a modern twist.
She stepped through the glass doors, scanning every table.
He wasn’t there.
“Good evening, ma’am,” a waiter asked politely. “Do you have a reservation?”
She shook her head. “No. Sorry, I thought I saw someone I knew.”
She stepped outside.
And stood there for a full five minutes.
Then she got into her car and drove home..
Why did she run to look for him? She had better things to do.
And since he was back, why didn’t he tell her?
It’s been five years and he was still the same.