Read Online Following Isaac by Casey McMillin - Free Book Online Page B

it was the flower crew.
    "Take five while I speak to this person, please," Johnny said. He walked the ten feet to where the girl stopped and watched as she set down her object. "I wanted them lining the bottom of the window," he said. He seemed annoyed.
    "Yes sir, they told me," she said. "What window would you like?"
    He motioned to the one near the place she was standing, and she gave the signal for the guys to set down their loads next to it.
    "I assumed they'd be ready to go," he said, staring at the plastic packages.
    "We had your arrangement designed to your specs, but unfortunately it didn't make the trip over here. I have the same flowers, but I had to stop on the way here to pick them up. I'll have to put it together here if that's okay. I'm the one who made the first one, so I'm pretty confident I'll be out of your hair pretty quickly—maybe an hour or so."
    I'd been looking away when she spoke, but I glanced up when she finished speaking to see what Johnny's reaction would be. She glanced at me when I looked her way, but quickly focused her attention back on him.
    "That's fine. We have a bit longer where we're at, so you won't be in our way over here."
    She gave him a slight nod and set to work. There were a couple of wardrobe racks nearby, and she set up on the other side of them.
    I'd almost forgotten she was over there until we finished shooting. Johnny went straight over to see how her progress was going, and I figured I'd take a peek since I was headed that way. I finished unbuttoning my shirt on the way over there and gave it to one of the stylists who handed me a T-shirt in exchange. I pulled it over my head as I walked, and stretched it over my sides as I came around to stand behind the photographer.
    "You see why I wanted them in the picture?" Johnny asked, looking over his shoulder at me.
    "Yeah, those are cool," I said.
    The girl glanced up at me when I said it. I only caught her gaze for a split second before she looked down again, but I instantly noticed her bright eyes.
    "What kind of flower is that?" I asked, hoping to get her to look up again.
    "Orchids," Johnny answered.
    The girl started to look up—I could see her flinch, but she looked down again with a smile as soon as Johnny answered.
    "I'm almost done, and I'll take care of all this," she said, without looking up as she continued to gather some of the trash she'd spread around.
    "Thank you for making this happen so quickly," Johnny said. "I know it wasn't your fault, and you did a nice job."
    She smiled, but didn't look up as she continued tidying her area. "Thank you. You chose a great flower."

 
    Chapter 9
    Becca
     
     
    I got a call Monday afternoon from Bethany at Signet. "What are you doing right now?" she asked.
    "I'm going to The Crestwell later, why, what's up?"
    "All you're doing at The Crestwell is maintenance and watering, right?"
    "Yeah, why?"
    "Because Valerie got in a wreck and I need you to make that orchid delivery."
    "Is she okay?"
    "Yeah, but the flowers aren’t."
    "Seriously?"
    "Yeah."
    "When do they need a replacement?"
    "Now."
    "Now?"
    "They're taking a photograph of them at two o'clock."
    "That's an hour from now."
    "I know. That's why I'm calling you."
    "I'd have to go to the supplier to get the flowers, and it took me two hours to do that arrangement. Can't they use something else?"
    She let out an annoyed sigh. "I told the guy we'd make it happen. Can you just help me out and go do it?"
    I couldn't believe she was acting annoyed at me when she was the one asking me to do her a favor. "I hope they know I’m not going to have it done by two o'clock. There's just no way that can happen."
    "I'll let him know you're on your way."
    "Where am I bringing this?"
    "St. Andrews—in the ballroom."
    "I'm on my way, I guess."
    "Great, I'll tell him."
    She not only didn't say thank you, but she also hung up on me. The line went blank and I scrunched up my face thinking some people had no manners.
    The Flower Pot was one of