15-05-2021-052358It-Ends-with-Us

We both spend the day busier than we thought we’d be. Between
phone orders, Internet orders, and walk-ins, neither of us even has
time to take a lunch break.
“You need more employees,” Allysa says as she passes me, holding
two bouquets of flowers. That is at one o’clock.
“You need more employees,” she says to me at two o’clock, holding
the phone to her ear and writing down an order while ringing
someone up at the register.
Marshall stops by after three o’clock and asks how it’s going. Allysa
says, “She needs more employees.”
I help a woman take a bouquet to her car at four o’clock, and as
I’m walking back inside, Allysa is walking out, holding another
bouquet. “You need more employees,” she says, exasperated.
At six o’clock, she locks the door and flips the sign. She falls
against the door and slides to the floor, looking up at me.
“I know,” I tell her. “I need more employees.”
She just nods.
And then we laugh. I walk over to where she’s seated and I sit next
to her. We lean our heads together and look at the store. The
steampunk flowers are front and center, and although I refused to sell
this particular bouquet, we had eight preorders for more of them.
“I’m proud of you, Lily,” she says.
I smile. “I couldn’t have done it without you, Issa.”
We sit there for several minutes, enjoying the rest we’re finally
giving our feet. This was honestly one of the best days I’ve ever had,
but I can’t help but feel a nagging sadness that Ryle never stopped by.
He also never texted.
“Have you heard from your brother today?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “No, but I’m sure he’s just busy.”
I nod. I know he’s busy.
We both look up when someone knocks on the door. I smile when
I see him cupping his hands around his eyes with his face pressed to
the window. He finally looks down and sees us sitting on the floor.
“Speak of the devil,” Allysa says.
I jump up and unlock the door to let him in. As soon as I open it,
he’s pushing his way inside. “I missed it? I did. I missed it.” He hugs
me. “I’m sorry, I tried to get here as soon as I could.”