Flora
Subsequent to the sucessful final dress fitting, Nicole hands me the invitation to her and Tanner's wedding and I read it with my eyes to find the location they're tying the knot at the Crane Club in Port Saint Lucie. I've seen the pictures of the country club on The Knot and it spells opulence from it's beautiful as well as spacious scenery to it's eye-catching lavish interior to accomodate a myriad of event designs and aesthetics.
"The color schemes are blush pink, ivory, and champagne. Do you have any kids?"
"Yes, I do. I have a daughter," I beam fondly.
"That's awesome! Tanner and I will have kids coming to the wedding as well, since we don't want the kids to feel left out." Nicole adds.
"All right!"
"One more thing; I didn't know Abby is your sister! She and I used to run track in high school together and I hope she comes to the wedding as well because it's been years since we last saw each other at our high school graduation."
"I'll let Abby know you said hi and I'll see you and your groom on the 17th."
"Thank you again, Flora. You make my dream dress a vision come true. I'll see you and your date then."
"It's my pleasure. We'll see you then." More likely attending Nicole and Tanner's nuptials with my baby. It's all right though because Nicole said kids are welcome to the wedding and I'm bringing Celeste along with me given the fact that weddings celebrate love between two people and the people they love. And as I ponder on the situation, this is a perfect idea to bring Matthew to Nicole and Tanner's nuptials, so that we can find some inspiration that might catch his eyes on for him and his pain-in-the-ass fiancee with the offering hand of Daphne.
I slide into my car seat and shut the door right after I put my stuff on the passenger seat beside me around the same time I start the car with the radio playing "Key Largo" by Bertie Higgins. I place the invitation gingerly in my purse. I drive off and now it's past twelve o'clock in the afternoon, I consider about going to have lunch by the water. While I'm on the road, I check my meter is getting low. So, I pull up to the nearest gas station to fill up my tank and moments later, I pay for the gas and proceed my destination.
Throughout the two and a half hour drive, I've sing along to songs from today and yesterday. By the time I approach the restaurant in Punta Gorda, I gather my phone along with my purse and keys prior to extricating myself out of the seat belt in addition to stepping out of the car and locking all doors. I walk towards the door, pulling the handle towards me as I'm welcomed with various loud chatters coming from the diners just as the mellow soft rock plays in the background. My eyes roam around the room to find a table, only to find an empty booth by the windows that is overlooking the water. I take a seat and place my stuff beside me before I pick the menu up from the table. I scan what food they have with my eyes until they land on a grilled cheese sandwich with salt and pepper mildly seasoned steak fries along with a glass of iced tea.
"Hey, Flora! How may I serve you today?" The owner Bob queries with a joyful beam expanding on his face.
"Hi, Bob! I would like the usual-- a grilled cheese sandwich with seasoned fries and a glass of iced tea."
Bob swiftly writes my order in his notepad. "A grilled cheese sandwich with seasoned fries and a glass of our down to earth iced tea. Coming right up!"
"I appreciate it, Bob!" I grin before I take my planner out of my purse to check off today's task of Nicole's final dress fitting that went on without any kind of flaws. She happens to initially be my first client to search for a wedding dress that focuses on petite women and right after the appointment, I ponder on what could be the blessing of my life as well as the women who have a short stature who have a hard time finding the right dress to wear on their big day. I want them to feel equally special and show them that the Blush Boutique is not just a bridal boutique that caters to tall women-- there are curvy like myself and petite, along with various gowns that can fit on the bride. The Blush Boutique is a boutique that supports diversity in all body types because every bride is beautiful, especially on their special day.
"By George, if it isn't Matty Matt!"
I lift and turn my head to observe Matthew looking dashing in his blue plaid buttoned-up shirt with the sleeves going past his elbows along with his pair of dark blue denim jeans that make him look like a model on an advertisement for Levi's. My goodness, he is the example of a walking Adonis with dirty blonde facial hair adorning his chiseled jawline. He's handsome then and he is handsome now as ever. Since he's here, I could invite him over to discuss what has been on my mind since I left the villa earlier.
"Mr. Bob! Long time no see!" Matthew chuckles delightfully as both men greet each other with a hearty hug given the fact that they haven't seen each other in a while.
"Matthew!" I call with a clarion voice, so he can hear me above the loud chatter.
He turns his head to find who's calling him until he notices me sitting by the windows. I wave at him with an elated grin as I watch a radiant smile light his entire face along with his twinkling green eyes that look like precious jewels scattering the evening sky. He faces Bob to say something to him before Bob nods his head and his lips are moving, but I couldn't make out what he's saying prior to heading back to the kitchen. Matthew walks towards my table while I scoot myself out of the booth for the both of us to have our arms closing around as our bodies press together.
"Hey, Flo-Jo!"
I take in his aroma of cedar that is lingering on his clothes, which brings me back memories of me and him finding oranges Mr. and Mrs. Rapaport's garden for her to use oranges to make homemade orange juice, a three layer lemon orange cake besides her pecan pie, and orange iced tea for the rest of our families to gather and enjoy the food together on late evenings.
"How was your first night back in the Sunshine State?" I query and we break our hug to have a seat with Matthew sitting across from me.
"It was beautiful night last night, I was watching the waves by the balcony and funny enough, Jax's apartment was spotlessly clean."
I stare at Matt to see if he's joking because there's no way he's talking about the same Jax who used to put a plate of tuna fish sandwich under his bed for days turned to weeks to months until it reeked as well as leaving a hill of putrid socks by his bedroom closet. Yeah, it was dire for sure.
"No way," I shake my head.
"I'm not kidding! As soon as we came in his apartment, he has the living room smell like Downy. I could bring you with me to show you I'm not lying."
"Alright."
"What did you do today?" Matthew queries.
"I just did the final dress fitting for one of my clients, who is marrying her fiance of five years in two weeks. She sent me an invitation to attend their wedding and I thought about bringing Celeste. Nicole said I could bring a plus one and I was thinking maybe..." My voice trails and avert from his face to the wiped-till-shined wooden table.
"Hey, Flo-Jo." A finger softly lifts my chin to peer at him in the eyes as my shyness slowly fades away with his assuring care. "Are you asking me if I would come to the wedding with you?"
"Would you like to?" I question curiously.
"I'd be glad to." Matthew answers. The weights of nervousness have been lifted off my shoulders because I can breathe since Matthew just finished my sentence for me. All I exhale is a shaky, but a deep sigh. "That's terrific! Since we're attending the wedding, I brought a folder with me that includes the couple's theme for their wedding." My fingers delicately press against the folder as it glides across the table in front of Matthew. His fingers opens the folder and his eyes wander on the paper.
"Their names are Nicole Jones and Tanner Cohen. They are twenty three year old Olympic pro-athletes, running for track and field. They met in the start of their junior year at our Alma mater; Palm Beach Lakes High School back in 2012 soon after Nicole moved from Massachusetts and they began dating in August of the following year, but they went to different universities while they ran for track; Tanner ran for the Arkansas Razorbacks Men's Track and Field from the University of Arkansas while Nicole ran for the Women's Track and Field at the Georgia State University. They visit each other until Nicole moved in with Tanner after graduating from Georgia State University and you can even watch their videos on their YouTube channel called Nicole & Tanner, which takes their subscribers on a journey of their relationship and their track/field careers."
"Oh, wow! Tanner proposed to Nicole last May at the Riviera Maya." Matthew nods his head intriguingly.
"Yes! And their engagement photos spell true love, too." I smile zealously as I envision Nicole's eye gazing into Tanner's eyes with genuine adoration in their engagement video that has reached two million views on YouTube six months ago with the acoustic cover of "I Choose You" by Kiana Ledé playing in their video.
"I'll take your consideration of becoming one of their subscribers." Matthew hums.
"Here you go, you two. Your meals are on the house." Bob chimes merrily as he presents with my grilled cheese sandwich with fries along with my glass of iced tea as well as a turkey burger with steak fries and a glass of green juice in front of us. As if he's reading my mind, he answers, "It's kale juice."
I nod understandingly before I look up to face Bob. "Thank you, Bob." I smile.
"Your food hits the spot as always, Bob." Matthew claps his hands and rubs them together in anticipation.
"It's my pleasure and I'm so glad to have two of my favorite customers here together again." Bob smiles affectionately before he heads back to the kitchen while Matthew and I exchange our cheers with my grilled cheese sandwich and his turkey burger before we dig in our meals.