Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 88742 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88742 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
But sentimentality will get you almost nowhere in this business.
“Of course. Employee morale is essential to having a good, working business, and I like to take care of my own.”
“I couldn't agree more,” George nods. I glance over at Tammy, who isn’t saying much of anything. She hasn’t said anything to me directly, but from the flush on her cheeks, I can tell that she’s listening to our conversation. Maybe it’s time to pull her in.
“So, what is Tammy doing? It’s been a while since I’ve seen her at one of these events, hasn’t it?”
“It must have been…” her mom starts. “Tammy, baby, when was the last time you came to a barbecue?” Margie asks, tapping her daughter on the shoulder. Tammy looks at her mom, her eyes wide.
“I don’t know. Maybe three, four years.”
“Well, what have you been doing since then? What’s going on in your life?” I ask her directly. She looks at me, our eyes landing on one another. There are a few seconds where it’s just the two of us before she drops her gaze back to the ground.
“I work in a flower shop,” she mumbles, almost all of the color leaving her face.
“Oh my goodness!” her mom clasps her hands together, laughing a bit. “Tammy is being modest. She is so talented with her flower arrangements. I used to think that type of work was not serious. You know, just put colors that look decent together with one another. But Tammy showed me there is so much more to it. She’s actually trying out for that new reality show, Fantastic Florists.”
“Oh, yes,” her dad adds. “I offered to help her with the audition tape since I’m an industry man myself, but Tammy straight up refused. Said she wanted to do this by herself. Told me it was a matter of pride.”
“She’s such a self-starter. Always going after what she wants,” Margie continues. “Have you heard of Fantastic Florists?”
“No, I have not,” I chuckle, telling a little white lie. After Tammy told me about the audition, I conducted a quick internet search to give myself a rundown of what the whole show was. It looked interesting enough, but I’d never thought critically about flower arrangements before. Like Margie, the floral industry never really seemed like something that I needed to think about.
But Tammy definitely has me thinking about it now. She has me thinking about quite a few things in fact.
“You know,” I say, “there’s actually a very beautiful greenhouse on the campground. We didn’t ask the grounds to open it up for us, but considering Tammy’s interest in horticulture, would that be something you’d like for me to arrange?” The gears are already turning in my head. I had already started forming a plan before I came here regarding how to use that tape of Tammy, but now my plan is finally becoming a lot more concrete.
Margie gasps, her smile growing even bigger. “Oh my goodness, yes! That would be absolutely perfect! Tammy loves places like that. I know she would love to see the greenhouse here! Right, honey? You’d like that.” Margie turns to her daughter. Tammy's hands close into two fists. Tension is clear throughout her entire body.
After some prodding, Tammy nods, her mouth tight.
“Come on, Tammy. You have to thank Brick,” George adds.
“Thank you,” she mumbles.
“It’s no problem. I’ll just ask one of the employees if they can bring a key around. It'll be super easy to arrange.”
“Really, thank you for this opportunity. This is so perfect. You have no idea how nice of you this is.” Margie is gushing like I just offered not only to walk them all up to the pearly gates, but got the family a way inside.
“It’s really not a big deal.” And I mean it. I'm doing this for mostly selfish reasons, so the thanks feels excessive. “When it’s all squared away, someone will come get you. Enjoy the day until then.” I look over at Tammy, who gives me another glance. I’m sure she’s said less than a dozen words throughout this entire exchange, but she has to feel the same charge in the air that I do. It is literally electric.
All of this sexual energy cannot be one-sided.
I say goodbye and leave the Thompsons to talk among themselves. Right now, I’ve got to find someone to open up the greenhouse for me. Problem is, I don’t really know a lot about these campgrounds. When I say I only sign the checks, that is not an understatement. My hands are not on the setup for these events at all.
Meaning I have no knowledge of the inner workings of this event or this place. Which means I need to find Robert and ask for his assistance.
There’s a lot of ground to cover in a short amount of time, and I do not have the patience to run around this place.