Hey all! Welcome to my very first attempt at sharing my writing with someone. I am a longtime reader, but first-time poster here at Lit. So be gentle with your comments and criticisms. I originally wrote this for the April Fool's Day Contest, but something went wrong the first two times that I have submitted this story. Please forgive me for the out-of-date theme.
Also, I used the romance category because of how much Annie loves her husband. But if you think I should have used a different category, please let me know as I'm still learning.
Please note that in this story, sex will be alluded to but won't be particularly graphic. I'm just not ready to try to write that difficult of a scene. Sorry to those of you looking for a quick fix. I hope you'll enjoy my first effort anyway.
For Him? Anything!
March 15
th
- Near the end of the business day
Annie Iverson happily hummed to herself as she put the final touches on an arrangement meant as an anniversary gift for the wife of one of her most cantankerous customers. Mr. Gray always seemed cranky, communicating mostly through short, clipped sentences and grunts. Annie smiled though because she knew a secret. Mr. Gray loved his wife very much. He would do just about anything for his, Helen. In fact, no significant occasion passed without Mr. Gray ordering a new arrangement or bouquet for her. Birthday, Mother's Day, Easter, you name it; he bought her flowers. It was truly sweet. So, Annie was determined to deliver something special for the slightly intimidating man.
The bell above the shop door jingled as Mr. Gray came in leaning heavily on his cane and muttering something about parking meters. Never one to succumb to a blight on her sunshiny outlook, Annie's boss, the aptly named, Felicity greeted the salty curmudgeon with a beaming smile. "Welcome back to Allegro's, Mr. Gray. Annie is just finishing your order now."
"Hmph! It should be finished already. You'll make me late for dinner," the old man fairly growled.
"No such thing," Felicity gently admonished. Turning her attention to Annie, she reached for the yellow daffodil arrangement - Mrs. Gray's favorite -- and then laid it on the counter.
Annie held her breath. As with every bouquet, corsage, or arrangement she made, she nervously awaited the customer's criticism. Despite how often Felicity praised her work, Annie struggled with her confidence. The truth was that Allegro's would be in big trouble if Annie ever decided to open up a rival shop. She was that talented. But Annie was way too introverted to attempt such an endeavor.
"What do you think? Isn't it lovely?" Felicity enthused, while Annie prayed.
"I suppose it will do. It's awfully yellow though," Mr. Gray grumbled.
"I'm sorry!" Annie jumped in. "I thought you requested yellow daffodils. I'll fix it straight away, if you tell me what you'd prefer," she anxiously offered hoping that she hadn't completely blown a sale.
"No need, Annie. Mr. Gray did, in fact, order the yellow ones. Didn't you, sir?"
"Harumph. Yes, I did, but who knew they would be so damn yellow!" he complained as he handed over his credit card.
While ringing up the order, Felicity inhaled deeply and said, "Now, Mr. Gray, are you really going to give us a hard time about the color, yellow, when your dinner is waiting for you? Mrs. Gray will be put out if you let your food go cold," she said. She then handed him his receipt and a bag with the flowers and led him to the door. "Now, you bring these home to your beloved and I am certain that she will be delighted with your thoughtfulness."
Mr. Gray grunted wordlessly in response, but he turned and flashed a tiny smile at Annie before taking the hint and leaving. Annie blew out the breath that she hadn't realized that she had been holding and giggled to herself. Felicity just threw up her hands after the door closed.
"Well, at least you got a smile out of him. I don't think I ever will. My mom was sure that I would always inspire happiness in others when I was born. That's how I got my name. But THAT man challenges my abilities," she said exasperatedly walking towards the refrigerator to pull out the makings for a new order.
"Don't worry. Eventually, you will crack that nut. You're too bold not too! I wish I could be like you. I just get nervous and shy as soon as someone challenges me. It's pathetic."
"That's not true. I know for a fact that you have Evan wrapped around your little finger. And from what you tell me, you seem to do fine with your friends."
Laughing self-deprecatingly, Annie answered, "Well, Evan doesn't count because he loves me. Thank God it's the man who does the proposing though. If it were left to me, we'd probably still be dating!" She paused a moment. Then added thoughtfully, "And I'm only so relaxed around our friends because we've been each other's buds since our college days. I know that they will always be supportive. In fact, Ben and Deenie are coming over for dinner tonight. It's game night! They are going down!"
"That's the way!" Felicity cried. "I love it when you show that kind of confidence. Now, we've just got to get you to spread that attitude through the other bits of your life. I know you can do it, Annie."
"I don't know about that, but Evan keeps encouraging me to take baby steps about pushing past my boundaries. So maybe one day, I'll surprise you."
"Amen, sister."
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March 15
th
: Nearly 7 pm
Ben exhaled in disgust as he passed another grandma on the road. "Come on babe! I have the perfect plan to mess with Evan for April Fool's, but I need your help to execute it."
"I don't know, Ben. Every year you mess with Evan and every year your prank gets more and more elaborate. One of these days he's going to get really mad at you," Deenie worried, then gasped. "And stop changing lanes every five seconds!"
Ben looked over at his wife incredulously. "What am I supposed to do? Drive the speed limit?!" Deciding not to challenge his wife's withering look, he switched back to the subject at hand. "Bah! Evan has been threatening to kill me since we were in high school and not only has he not followed through, but he always forgives me after a week or two. There is nothing a man won't forgive in exchange for mid-court seats to a Nuggets playoff game. Thankfully, my boss loves me and has the hook up."
"Thankfully your last three ad campaigns were a big hit. You may not always be so lucky."
"How could I not? My ideas are always brilliant!" he declared smugly. "Don't worry about it. Now, what do you say? Are you going to help me?"
"Slow your roll, buddy," Deenie eyed her husband suspiciously. "You still haven't told me what you're planning. I'm not agreeing to anything until I know what I'm getting into."
