We didn’t want to have a big wedding at all, it wasn’t the kind of people we were, but sometimes these things take on a life of their own. That, coupled with his parents’ excitement, and we let the event take on a life of its own. It was hard to believe it was only a year ago we’d met, mostly because it seemed as though we had always been meant to be together.
When we met, we actually didn’t meet at all. I had been poisoned by an apple with a toxic chemical still on it that had come in a fruit basket. While I never did figure out who that basket was from, it had to have been an accident, so I’d given it little thought once I’d gotten better. Besides, it brought me to Jacob. He was my doctor for all intents and purposes, and even though I couldn't communicate at the time, I fell in love with him. His constant checking in on me, and his determination to find out who I was and how to revive me, was what fairy tales were written about.
I could hear him shuffling about upstairs in our apartment, and I knew he’d be watching his coffee brew before he made it down to my flower shop to say hello. There was one last event I was designing flowers for and then we were closing up for a week. I’d never gone that long without working in my shop, and the thought of it gave me some anxiety, even though I was excited to get married.
I picked up the stems that hadn’t quite made it to the trash bin and dropped them all into my rubbish can of leaves, other stems, and flowers that didn’t make the cut, and took the bucket of gardenias to the cooler. They needed some time to drink water and get cooled off again before I could work more with them. If you handle the flowers too much, they’ll wilt, and nobody wants a wilted centerpiece for their event.
The flowers for my wedding were traditional. Even though I had access to blooms from anywhere in the world at reasonable prices, the champagne rose would always be my favorite. A dusty, pale sand color, they coordinated with pink, red, blue… anything you could imagine. And they smelled incredible. I ordered far more than I even knew what to do with, but I couldn’t help myself. I’m a florist after all, how could I not?
As I smiled to myself, thinking about the sheer volume of roses that would be delivered in a few days.
“Hey beautiful,” a voice said softly from behind me.
Startled, I jumped and clutched my hand over my chest. “Jeez, Jacob! You scared the hell out of me!” I exclaimed.
“I really think you need to get a bell for that door.” He lifted an eyebrow at me. We’d had that conversation numerous times, and I didn’t want it to sound like an old bodega when people walked into my shop. It also wasn’t a priority. Who wants to shop for a doorbell so they don’t get startled? Boring.
“Yeah, yeah. We’ve discussed this. Maybe something soft-sounding on a motion sensor, but I’m not getting an obnoxious bell that sounds like someone’s running in here to get a pack of gum or a six-pack of beer.” I pursed my lips at him.
Jacob made his way over to me, planting a soft kiss on my lips. Thus, ending the debate on doorbells. “How is your last day of work as Miss Jaqueline Snow going?” He set his coffee cup down and leaned on my table to chat while I pulled out some vases for the arrangements.
I grinned, the thought of becoming Jaqueline Snow McIntyre racing back to the forefront of my mind. “I’m having a lovely, quiet day down here.”
“Happy to hear it. Are you almost done?” he asked.
“I am not.” I didn’t elaborate. He knew I’d work into the evening so the next day, when the flowers were needed, they’d be as fresh as possible. All Ella had to do then was open up for the customer, and hand over the beautiful arrangements. “How did you sleep?” I asked, promptly changing the subject.
“I slept great. I wish I didn’t have to go to work, but otherwise, all’s well.” He scrunched his face up, an annoyed expression that wasn’t meant to make me smile as much as it did. I couldn’t help it, Jacob was everything a woman could want. He was ridiculously good-looking, responsible, and had a fantastic job—granted, the hours were terrible, but he was kind and generous. Most of all, he loved me.
I set the last vase I needed on the table and moved to where he was still leaning forward onto the large wooden work counter. “Come here,” I said, pulling on his arm.
He slowly straightened himself out, and wrapped his arms around me tightly, resting his chin on top of my head. I loved when he did that, it made me feel safe. Protected. “I’m sorry you have to do all this stuff by yourself the next couple days.”
I squeezed him a little tighter. “I don’t mind. Of course, it would be more fun with you, but you have an important job. People need you.”
“Don’t you need me?” he asked.
“Of course I do. But not when I’m busy making the flowers for our wedding. I have plenty to do.”
He leaned back a little bit a
nd smiled down at me. “I really wish that we’d hired someone to do the flowers so that you could just have a few days off to spend with your aunt and my family coming in. And, to just do whatever you want,” he added.
I laughed. “That was never going to happen. I can assure you that creating my own wedding arrangements makes me far happier than any day off, wondering what someone else was doing. I’d be far too judgy, and I besides, I know what I want. I’m a florist. Every little girl that grows up to be a florist knows what flowers she wants on her wedding day. It’ll be a peaceful reprieve for me from all the chaos.”
“It is a lot of chaos.” Jacob sighed. “I know we wanted to have something small and you let my mom convince you that we had to have a bunch of hoopla.”
“Hoopla is good. It makes people happy,” I replied. “I want your mom to be happy. And our guests, of course.” I smiled. I didn’t really care if it was a huge affair or an afternoon at the courthouse. I was simply thrilled to become Jacob’s wife. Something about it becoming official, however it might happen, just felt so meant to be.
“But does it make you happy?” he asked. “Because that’s all I really care about.”
I leaned further back, letting him tend to his coffee before it got cold. Propped against the counter, I folded my hands over my chest and made my admission. “It makes me very happy, Jacob. I know that in the beginning, I said that I just wanted to have a small wedding, but I have to confess… being a princess for the day is fun. I’m enjoying it. The hoopla is exactly what I wanted after all.” I giggled like a giddy schoolgirl getting ready for prom.
Jacob laughed. “Ah, I see. So you actually do enjoy the attention?” he teased, knowing full well that I hated to be the center of attention.
“Let’s just say that I’m enjoying the idea of marrying my Prince Charming in front of everyone we know, and I have a pretty amazing dress I can’t wait for you to see.” I was beaming. I could feel it. The love I had for Jacob was all-consuming. While it seemed like we’d fallen into a routine of sorts, between work and moving in together, he lit a fire within me I hadn’t believe existed. He was protective from before we ever met, and I couldn’t imagine my life without him. I was the luckiest girl in the world.
Snow White was finally marrying her Prince Charming.