Too Close, Too Fast

A Disturbing Call

William

I was running some errands around the city when I got a call.  Unknown number...  My brother Peter always tells me not to answer, in case it's press. You know, our family is full of rich businessmen who want their public picture to remain nice and clean, blab blah...

 I usually disagree because I find it very impolite to not answer a call and I think that is pretty simple to kindly explain they've got the wrong number, if it's the case. Although, maybe I've been wrong all this time and I definitely should not have responded this particular call. “Hi, is this William? I have news for you about your fiancé Kirstie... or maybe a warning. You should pay her a visit her in New York. She's flirting with another man here, so maybe she needs to be reminded that she has a great partner and quite a catch in you... "

 I think it was woman's voice but it was rather deep but creaky at the same time, so I guess the person used some techniques, not to be recognised by voice. But of course that's my thinking now. At first I thought only that it was a joke or a mistake. “Who's this?” I asked but the person on the other side hanged up immediately. That phone call left me perplexed and shaken, to be honest.

I wondered around two blocks or so and it was like I've completely forgot what I was supposed to do or where was I supposed to go. I tried to convince myself that it was a misunderstanding and this “snitch” in reality wanted to warn a completely different person and not me - but it was hard. How could it be a mistake if the person knew all the details? The names, locations and relationships? I mean how many Williams in London have a fiancé named Kirstie in New York? What are the odds I'm not the only one? All of this made a mess in my head, but I kind of ‘woke up’ from all this, when I was crossing the street (luckily!) on Victoria Road and remembered that I was actually heading to the flower shop called My secret meadow.

I was meant to discuss the arrangements for the wedding - mine and Kirstie's of course.  I turned left and headed towards the shop. Then I kind of froze again – and just in front of the display in front of the shop. I just stood in the middle of the flower decorations and I realized that maybe it is stupid and premature to continue with the wedding preparations, if I don't know for sure that the bride will come back to London for the wedding.

I must confess I started wondering and doubting everything. Truth is, Kirstie has been a little distant these few days or maybe whole week? Or two weeks already?  I've been calling her but she does not answer, she's not texting me as much as she used to and every time I ask, if she's ok, she changes topics. Maybe there is something wrong and she's afraid to tell me? But it's probably my fault too - I did not give her a chance to talk to me. I am here and she's there...  'Should I go visit her then? But why expect the worst? We will figure out anything, so I should go order those flowers anyway...'  I made two steps and then stopped again, thinking: 'Shouldn't I wait with this stuff?'

My head was aching from all that speculating but then I looked up and my eye caught a glimpse of something violet. Of course it was the amazingly coloured hair of the flower lady, ironically named also Violet. I am always glad to see her, but in this particular moment I would rather be invisible.

 I did not want her to notice I was standing in front of her shop, probably with a really stupid expression in my face. Oh, too late - our eyes met and she smiled at me and waved as saying: 'Come inside, don't be shy!' She's so sweet and if I'm being honest, I love her smile - so radiant and sincere that it always makes my day better. It worked even this time a little. Of course I couldn't ignore her, so I waved back and finally got to the door.

You know, in a normal circumstances I really love going to this flower shop. I like it's not too boring but rather comfy. It has unique style - it’s modern but with a feeling of vintage in it. When the sun is shining, it goes right through the big window, it lights up the place and all the flowers. And if I say flowers? They are everywhere - few on the floor by the door, some in front of the white counter with the cash register. Of course next to the register there is a vase with fresh lilies, sunflowers or other flowers that are currently popular, depending on a season. Plus from the ceiling there are hanging few flowerpots in the form of white buckets - I mean it, must take an awful amount of time to water all these, but it's worth it – I think it looks amazing.

In the right corner of the shop there is even a small violet table with two white wooden chairs - in case you come inside while Violet is taking care of another customer. Or sometimes when you are making a big order and you decide between some options, she sits down there with you, while you look into her big folder with a million pictures in it.

Normally I quite enjoy admiring flowers (even though it's not really manly and my brother always teases me about it) and even talking to Violet. Today was different; everything in the shop reminded me about the wedding, about Kirstie and that stupid phone call. I tried to act normal but I cannot really lie or pretend - I’m just not good at this stuff.

“Hi! 21st century man, how do you do?” Violet greeted me joyfully. 21th century man - this little nickname she gave me a while ago, it always makes me laugh. It’s our little inside joke. It goes back to the first time I visited this shop...

Five months ago

I’ve been talking to Violet for the first time and she was quite surprised that I was helping with the preparations for the wedding, especially that I'm in charge of flower decorations and arrangements.”I usually deal with the brides. Are you sure you are in the right place and your lady didn’t send you for... a caterer, maybe?” she asked. I was so used to these kinds of stereotypes, that I didn’t even get offended. I’ve heard about it million times before, even from my own brother – that I act like a girl and so on.

I decided to just be optimistic about it. “Don't be old fashioned - it is the 21st century after all, so now a guy can take care of flowers for his own wedding, isn't it right?” I answered and I was looking a little offended. Violet started apologizing, clearly worrying that she would lose a customer, but I began to laugh and she understood that I was joking. She was quite relieved that I was just messing with her, the ice broke and I explained to her that my fiancé is extremely busy with work and I, on the other hand, don’t need to build a career, because I already had one. Violet thought it was great how I was so cool about it and that I wanted to be involved in the preparations. I confessed I’ve always liked flowers (even though I don’t know much about them) and she explained everything very nicely.

***

 We’ve been friends ever since that. No wonder she immediately realised from my sad and cold greeting, that something was wrong with me. She looked at me, worried: “Are you okay?” I tried to pretend nothing was wrong. “I’m fine, just tired, I guess.” Violet nodded but it was clear she didn’t believe me. “Are you here for the wedding arrangements, or just to pick up a small bouquet for another occasion?” she asked like a true professional. I paused for a while, clearly distracted. “Yeah, yeah, the wedding...”

“I’ve prepared everything for you, don’t you worry. I have a few ideas and I am really curious what you’ll think...” I saw the excitement in her eyes and I knew she had really made an effort but I was not in the right mood for this. I was looking at the pictures, she was showing me, but everything seemed the same to me. “Oh, come on, you seem like you don’t care at all. Where is the William I know?” Violet asked after a while and I just shrugged.

“Ok, I think we will deal with the wedding stuff some other day. Forget about the flowers, you just don’t look ‘okay’ to me. Please, have a seat here; I’ll make you a coffee. If you want to talk about what’s been bothering you, I’m here. And If you don’t, I won’t ask. We’ll just drink coffee together. What do you say?” Yes, she’s really amazing like this.

“Coffee sounds great. I feel like I would really need one,” I answered and I obediently sat down, waiting for Violet. First I thought, that I wouldn’t tell her anything, we didn’t know each other THAT MUCH to babble about personal matters. I think it was the great coffee that changed my mind... or those delicious cookies with chocolate chips which Violet had found in the back of her shop. She basically commanded me to eat some! “Chocolate helps with everything, trust me, I am a woman, so I know.” That remark made me chuckle a bit. After few minutes, I found myself confiding in her and telling her everything, even about that phone call.

Violet was a great listener and really understanding. Plus she waited for me to finish my story, before asking if she could tell me her opinion on the matter. “Of course, please, do! You may have a different prospective, “ I encouraged her. Violet put down her cookie. “You shouldn’t worry too much about that phone call. I know it must have been sad to hear stuff like this but you’ve said it yourself – it was women’s voice. So in my opinion, it was someone jealous of Kirstie and couldn’t stand the fact she is happy in her life. Trust me, girls can be mean!”

I nodded and truth is, there are a lot of reasons someone would be jealous of Kirstie. “Yes, I can imagine that, Kirstie is really beautiful and successful too. She’s preparing big fashion show in New York, I am really proud of her.” Violet looked impressed and then she chuckled. “Fashion industry, then? Probably surrounded by dumb and jealous models all the time – and they can act like b... you know what I mean. It was probably one of them... don’t stress too much over this.”

I thanked her and finished my coffee. I felt a lot better now and I thought I was ready to forget about this. “But... New York, you say?” Violet asked and I began sweating nervously again. She asked me, how long was Kirstie away, and we talked about it for a while. “It’s really far away... and you know how it is - with long distance relationships.” I already knew where she was aiming with this. “So, you think I should go visit her? Should I go surprise her in New York?”

She shrugged. “I mean... It can’t hurt, if you go. Ok, let me just say this last piece of advice – this decision is only yours... Nevertheless - if you visit her, please don’t do it because of that phone call, or because you want to control her, or because you don’t trust her – that would be a disaster. If you go to New York, it should be because you love her, you miss her and you want to work on your relationship. Because love is really about hard work, you know?” I thought about it for a minute, while eating another delicious cookie and then I thanked Violet and figured out she was right.

I told her that i would call her after I come back to London, so we would discuss the wedding preparations. I headed home, packed some clothes and now... here I am – in New York. I didn’t even call Kirstie first, because I thought it would be a nice surprise for her. And boy, she seemed really surprised to see me, when I showed up in the studio. Truth is, I don’t really know if she was happy... or not.

I was really ready to forget about every doubt I had, yet she seemed so distant and somehow nervous, when she saw me there. And now she said she had still some work to do and left me here waiting... It’s been already at least ten minutes and I don’t know what task she could be doing... She just disappeared and quite frankly, it seems that she’s the only one, who works this late around here. Ok, ok, I am exaggerating – one model left a minute ago. Plus one girl is still here, doing some paperwork. She’s really great looking, I think she could be a model too. Long blonde hair, even though tied up in somewhat of a hairdo. Nice slim figure and even seems tanned to me – maybe it is tan from a salon ,because it’s actually pretty chilly here in New York too. I probably should have take more warm clothes with me – come on, William, you should know these kind of stuff already. You are almost thirty years old!

Oh no, while I was thinking this, I was still staring at that blonde girl and now she noticed me... I shouldn’t stare at her, probably. Oh my god, she’s approaching me. Is she angry? No, no, she is smiling. And she is close now, so I see she has chocolate eyes – interesting.

 Yeah, it’s fine, she introduced herself. Natalia – she seems really nice. She noticed I’ve been waiting here alone for Kirstie and she thought she could keep me company for a while – that’s polite! At least now I don’t have to feel like a lonely i***t.