Read Burning Flowers for Free Online Page B

about things.
    “Let’s see how it goes and then call someone
if we need them, okay?”
    “Alright,” Katie said with a sigh before
hanging up the phone.
    Clarke grabbed the business binder
containing all the numbers of her contacts where she might be able
to order stock quickly and began to go through them, calling each
number one by one to see what they had that they could spare for
the day. She had to fight tooth and nail to find anyone who was
willing to work with her on it.
    She heard the door to the shop open and
peeped her head out of the office after slamming her phone down on
the desk in frustration. Vince had let Katie in the door. “Hey
boss, how’s it hanging?” Katie asked with her usual wide smile. How
she was always so positive Clarke did not know, but she filed it in
the back of her mind to ask her what exercise she was doing or what
pill she was taking so she could jump on the bandwagon.
    “Well, it could be going better, but I’m
sure now that you’re here you’ll help me figure this out,” Clarke
said hopeful, walking all the way into the room. She caught Vince
glancing at them from out of the corner of her eye and cleared her
throat.
    “Sure I will. What do you need me to
do?”
    “Maybe we can split up the numbers of
contacts to call and see if we can replenish our stock fast and to
the best of our ability for now. We need some basic sells and
something for seasonal and something to show for prom at least.
I’ve already got some roses and carnations on the way. But that’s
not going to cut it.” Clarke was speaking fast, running away with
her stressed thoughts. Katie walked up to her and placed her hand
on her shoulder.
    Katie looked to Vince who was whistling yet
again, which just made Clarke feel worse. “Has she been like this
the whole time?”
    Vince looked up, seemingly surprised that
anyone was trying to talk to him before nodding. “Oh, yes. In fact,
she’s been worse at times.”
    Clarke shot him one of those killing looks
before looking to Katie and pouting silently. Katie led Clarke back
into the office and sat her down, showing her how to breathe in
through her nose and out through her mouth. “So, Clarke, instead of
stressing over this for just a moment, how about you tell me who
that hottie is out there,” Katie said in a whisper.
    Clarke looked up in shock. “You’re married,
Katie!”
    “Yes, I am, but you aren’t.”
    “He’s just fixing up the place for a really
good price. He’ll be out of my life in a few days.” And he’d be
better for it, but Clarke didn’t bother adding that part.
    “Mmhmm, okay. I’ll take your word for it for
now. But let’s get to these phone calls, shall we?” Katie pulled
out her cell phone and began where Clarke left off, calling every
other number. Katie frowned as the first two numbers she called
turned out to be closed, and Clarke found herself arguing with yet
another person on the phone. Just when she was ready to give up,
she heard Katie actually talking to someone. With that great
attitude of hers she was sure to convince someone to help them
out.
    “Okay, thank you so much for helping us out
here. We really owe you. You’ve made a customer for life. Yes, I
can hold,” she heard Katie say into the receiver before hearing
loud elevator music coming from the phone. Katie looked up and gave
a thumbs-up to Clarke. This nursery has a lot of extra stock and
could use the sales. She’s going to take our order in a minute and
have her employees load a delivery truck right away. They aren’t
that far either.”
    Katie went back to the phone as the music
stopped and introduced Clarke, knowing Clarke would have specifics.
Katie headed up front as Clarke heard someone knocking, probably
for that first order, and Vince came to the back to begin his work
there. Clarke smiled at him and stood up to move out of his
way.
    Clarke finished up the order and went to the
front to help out when she heard a grating voice following