Ah, windows. Joy grinned. They provide so much. A glimpse into this little world. A flower shop in Venice. Venice itself.
Next Joy adorned the arrangements with ribbons and tags, then placed them in the cooler for displaying the next day. She rinsed a towel in the sink and used it to wipe off the workbench, scissors, shears, and knives. One by one, she placed them inside the drawers of the workbenches, then helped Dina wrap the other fresh flowers in the waterproof paper Alessandro had supplied them.
Holding one bouquet of pink carnations, Joy embraced them as she would a friend and inhaled their scent deeply. Immediately her mood improved. Nothing could ruin her time with fresh flowers. Not even Tony.
Flowers had always been her smiling friends.
Soon the work was done in the shop. The shadows over the piazza grew longer, Joy hung up her apron, washed her hands in the little sink near the back exit, and checked her hair in the mirror.
“Heading to the hotel now?” Dina asked. She leaned against the counter as Vito lowered then locked the front gate.
“Yes.” Joy exhaled. “Tony is taking me to dinner.”
Dina’s eyes widened.
“Just dinner. That’s all.” Joy grabbed her purse.
“We’ll see.” Dina pursed her lips.
“No. I mean it. I know he only wants to see me because his heart is broken. But I’m here for him as a friend. Nothing else.”
Dina raised an eyebrow, and Vito crossed his arms. He whispered something to Dina in Italian, and she nodded.
“I mean it.” Joy giggled at her friends. “I promise.”
But she sensed her friends didn’t believe her.
In fact, Joy didn’t believe herself.
At the hotel, Joy prepared an outfit to wear to dinner. Her phone vibrated, and Jaime’s name appeared. “What time is it there?”
“So are you meeting Dad?”
Joy squinted at the sound of hope in Jaime’s voice. Her daughter was desperate for them to reconcile. Some, including Jaime, might argue with her and say that Jaime only wanted to help her dad. But Joy knew her daughter, and she couldn’t promise anything. Jaime was in for disappointment . . . again.
“Yes.”
“That’s great, Mom. I know you’ll help him. He’s crushed.”
“I saw him today. I must admit, he does look rather . . . pathetic.”
Silence.
“I mean, tragically hurt.” Joy regretted using the word pathetic, even if the adjective fit. “I know he loved Tiffany.”
“It is tragic. Anyway, I know you’ll lift his spirits. How’s Venice? Should we consider it as a honeymoon destination?”
“I believe you should. It is lovely. So many sights to see. The water, the architecture, the museums. You’ll love it.” She imagined herself walking with Alessandro by the flowers on his farm. “So lovely.”
“What are you going to wear?”
Joy’s mind returned to the black blouse and striped wide-leg pants on the bed. “Nothing fancy. Just those wide-legged pants you gave me. They are so comfy.”
“Good.”
She could almost hear Jaime smile.
“You’ll look pretty. Oh, and maybe a gondola ride after dinner?”
Joy grinned and shook her head. “I suppose if one is available to—”
“Dad already booked tickets.” Jaime gasped. “Oh, shoot. I wasn’t supposed to tell you.”
Joy’s heart skipped a beat, but not from excitement. From anger. “Oh, he did, did he?” She raised an eyebrow.
“Mom. He means well. He isn’t trying to manipulate you or anything.”
Uh-huh, Joy thought. She knew Tony well enough. “Well, I’m sure we’ll have a good time.”
“Can’t wait to hear about it.”
After running a brush through her medium-length brown hair, spraying her bangs in place with hairspray, and putting on simple silver earrings, Joy headed out the door.
Loud conversations echoed through the hotel halls. Joy looked left, then right. A few guests peeked out and chatted.
“What’s going on?” Joy asked.
