“A cold compress, and I stretch at night before I go to bed, then massage the area really well, get those burses bumped around. Then I put on a pain patch.”
Molly grabbed her phone and showed Mrs. Mason her favorite brand online. “These work wonders.”
“Thank you, Molly,” Mrs. Mason said, over her flower frustration.
“I’m happy to help,” Molly said.
“I guess I’ll take birds,” said Mrs. Mason. “But you are going to get in more flowers, aren’t you?”
“Yes, we are,” Molly assured her.
“Good. Be sure to save some for me.”
“I’ll do my best.”
Three customers down the line stood Reggie, giving Molly a thumbs-up. It made her day.
The line moved up and Molly helped another customer. At the window next to her, Helen called, “I can help whoever is next,” and he let the man in front of him go ahead.
“That was very chivalrous of you,” Molly teased when he stepped up to her window.
“I am a chivalrous man. You handled that situation with Mrs. Mason very well,” he said.
“I guess I’m in touch with my inner Santa,” she replied. “For once. You know, when you deal with so many people, it’s easy to turn them into a parade of irritations. But they’re just people, all trying to get through the day the best they can.”
“I think you helped her,” he said. He laid down the paper he’d been carrying. “You made the news today. I’m surprised nobody’s said anything.”
“My best customers haven’t come in yet. Well, until now,” she added, smiling at him.
“It’s a great write-up. Oh, and I have one more thing for you.” He dug in his coat pocket and produced a bobblehead figure shaped like a round Mrs. Claus. “I thought your mister needed a missus,” he said. “Most misters do.”
“She’s darling.” Molly took the figure and placed it on the windowsill next to her others. “I’m getting quite the collection.”
“You can never have enough bobbleheads,” he said.
“Or kind friends who come in to make your day.” And friends who were becoming much more than simply friends.
“Hey, are you done talking?” demanded a man in a business suit.
Reggie turned to him. “Did you know this woman’s a celebrity? There’s an article about her in the paper.”
“That’s nice,” the man said. He held up a long business envelope. “I need to overnight this.”
So much for being a celebrity. “Of course,” Molly said.
Reggie stepped aside and let her wait on the man, who said a brisk thank-you and then went on his way.
“Christmas spirit,” Reggie said as the man left. “It’s on sale today.” He lowered his voice. “I guess he wasn’t buying.”
“Well, then, his loss,” she said.
“Want to go see a movie tonight?”
“Sure,” she said. Dinner, lunch and now a movie. Things were moving right along.
“We can sit in the back and neck,” he said in a low voice and gave her a wink.
“I might want to watch the movie,” she teased.
