I looked at her, stunned, wondering how she knew I was pregnant. I didn’t want her to see me as a burden because of it.
She sensed my hesitation and moved closer, holding my hand. “Nadine, I’m not trying to push you to tell me. I just want you to be comfortable around me.”
“Or have I given you any reason to?”
I shook my head vigorously. “No, no, and then hugged her tightly, becoming emotional again. “Oh Sydney, you’re just too good to be true.”
Sydney hugged me back gently. “I’m glad you feel that way. We’re friends, and I want you to know that you can trust me with anything.”
I pulled back slightly, wiping away a tear. “It means so much to me to hear that. I’ve been so worried about how to handle everything.”
“I’m here with you every step of the way,” Sydney said. “And that baby is my godson. I won’t let any harm come to him, not even from that guy-what’s his name again?”
Through a mix of laughter and tears, I said, “Logan.”
“Yes, Logan. And we’re going to make sure he knows he can’t mess with us.”
I laughed nervously and nodded.
“I’m pregnant, and when I found out, he was suspicious, but I managed to deny it.”
“Good one,” Sydney said with a glint in her eye. “I like that.”
“Hungry?” she asked suddenly.
“Of course,” I said. She tugged me along to the kitchen. I wanted something light so I wouldn’t throw up and embarrass myself.
In the kitchen, Sydney quickly got to work, preparing a simple snack. She made a light salad and a few crackers.
“Here you go,” she said, handing me a plate. “I thought this might be easy on your stomach.”
I took a bite and found it perfect. As I ate, Sydney chatted about places we could explore together. Her easy conversation helped distract me from my worries and made me feel more at ease.
I started to feel dizzy and yawned. When I glanced at Sydney, I noticed she was slowly dozing off. I gently tapped her to wake her up without startling her. She opened her eyes, and we both stood up and made our way to our rooms.
As I headed to my room, I noticed it was right next to Sydney’s.
I unlocked my door and stepped inside, feeling a bit tired. I quickly changed into my pajamas and got into bed, reflecting on how much Sydney’s support meant to me.
****
As planned, I headed to the flower shop where I had seen the job vacancy. The shop was filled with a variety of flowers, and the mix of scents made the air fresh and pleasant.
The shop’s exterior was a pretty pastel blue, with large, arched windows showing off the flowers inside. A vintage wooden sign with gold lettering hung above the door.
Behind the counter, an elderly woman with a warm smile was working. Her face lit up when she saw me.
“Hello, young lady! How are you?” she said, moving from behind the counter to greet me.
Her friendly reception instantly warmed my heart, and I couldn’t help but smile genuinely.
“Hi, I’m Nadine,” I said, still smiling.
“Nadine, such a beautiful name for a fine lady,” she said, emphasizing “fine lady” with a wink. “I’m Lily. My son will find you very attractive, by the way.”
I blushed and smiled again, feeling a bit shy but happy to be welcomed so warmly.
I know I’m pretty, but not the kind of beautiful people usually talk about. I’ve always lived in Nathalie’s shadow since she was always the center of attention.
That’s probably why I struggle with my self-esteem. When people say I’m beautiful, it feels hard to believe.
“I’m here about the job vacancy,” I said.
Her smile widened. “Great! We’re always looking for passionate people to join our team. Let me show you around and we can talk more about the position.”
Lily gave me a quick tour of the shop, explaining the different tasks and flower arrangements they offer.
I felt more confident as we talked, thinking this job might be perfect for me.
The shop had a cozy, rustic feel with wooden beams overhead and a polished oak floor.
A long counter ran along one side, cluttered with tools, ribbons, and vases of all shapes and sizes.
Behind the counter, a wall of cubby holes held individual stems, roses, lilies, peonies, and more, ready to be selected and arranged into custom bouquets.
“Come right here, Nadine,” Lily said. “I had someone helping out as a shop assistant, but she decided to go back to college. Since you’re here, how much do you know about flowers?”
I moved my hand nervously, unsure if my answer would disqualify me from the job.
“I’ve never worked in a flower shop before, but I’m good at learning new things and putting my mind to it.”
Lily’s face brightened. “Wow, I love that attitude. Then you’ve got the job!”
“We need someone enthusiastic and willing to learn. I’ll show you some basics and get you started with simple tasks.”
She led me to a workbench with various tools and flower supplies.
“Here’s where you’ll start-learning how to create basic arrangements, how to care for different types of flowers, and how to keep the shop organized.”
As she explained, I felt this could be a new beginning for me,
A young lady around my age stepped outside with a bright smile on her face.
“Lily, I just finished with the customer order. I’ll call the bus for delivery,” she said.
“Come here, Zoey. Meet Nadine, the new assistant.”
Zoey and I exchanged pleasantries and quickly hit it off. Afterward, I went into Lily’s office to discuss the terms of payment and fill out some forms as a new employee.
We went over the details of the job, including my responsibilities and work hours.
Lily explained that the pay would be fair and that I’d be working with a supportive team.
As I stepped out to start my work, I was arranging some flowers when two large men walked in.
I wondered what they were doing here. Maybe they needed flowers for their girlfriends, I thought, trying to reassure myself.
Zoey stood beside me as the two large men walked in.
One of them locked eyes with me, and there was something intense in his gaze as if he could see right into my soul.
I felt uneasy and shifted nervously, unsure how to handle the situation. I tried to look away, but my heart was racing.