Covent Garden Flowers [Open 7/8/9]

[joan-notjane.livejournal.com]

Joan had been thinking a lot about Penelope over the past few days. She wasn't sure if her friend had made it back to town or not, so she left a message and hoped that she would stop by.

In the meantime, she tended to the flowers and plants and wondered why the sign suddenly specified that they sold real flowers. Did someone think they were silk?

Covent Garden Flowers – REAL FLOWERS, THANK YOU

Eliza Doolittle, prop.
Fresh flowers from nosegays to bouquets!
Delivery available upon request.

Comments

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

Penelope recieved Joan's message and after her first period class, made her way to the flower shop feeling a wee bit nervous, and with good reason she thought.

She approached the counter slowly and smiled tentatively at Joan. "Hi, Joan."

[joan-notjane.livejournal.com]

It took a second but then Joan's eyes got very wide and she clamped her hand over her mouth.

"You actually did it," she managed.

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

Penelope misunderstood and smiled. "I did."

[joan-notjane.livejournal.com]

"But you still managed to come back," Joan said, looking sad for her friend. "That's good at least. And, hey, it worked."

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

She looked at Joan and tilted her head in curiosity at the sadness. "They why do you look so sad? And I promised you I would come back. There is nothing for me at home now save my parents and I have a feeling they'll be fine for a good long while."

[joan-notjane.livejournal.com]

Okay now Joan was confused. "What about your husband? I mean... isn't that how you broke the curse?"

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"Oh!" She laughed, and shook her head. "No, no, Joan! I didn't marry Edward. I didn't go through with the wedding!"

[joan-notjane.livejournal.com]

"You didn't?" Joan smiled widely. "Oh, thank goodness. But... how?"

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"I didn't!" she exclaimed brightly. "It was weird but so simple. I was staring up at Edward and realized I couldn't say 'I do'. I finally figured out that I like myself. I like myself just the way I am and that was with my cursed nose and all." She paused, smiled wide. "I had the power all along to break the curse. I just didn't know it." And her mother didn't help with that either.

[joan-notjane.livejournal.com]

"Oh, wow," Joan said, coming out from behind the counter to hug Penelope. "I'm so proud of you."

And suddenly the message she had been asked to pass along made a lot more sense.

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

Penelope hugged her back, tightly. "Thanks, Joan. Thank you for being there for me. I'm still the same me." She thought to add that because Hurley had such a difficult time understanding it.

[joan-notjane.livejournal.com]

"Of course you are," Joan said. "Your nose didn't change you before, why would it now?"

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"I knew you'd understand," she said, relieved. "Some... person is having a difficult time with it."

[joan-notjane.livejournal.com]

Joan made a face. "I can just guess who that is. Don't let it get you down, Penelope. You deserve to be happy. And there are so many things in life you need to experience."

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

Penelope was so thrilled with the idea of going and doing and seeing, that it was hard to let Hurley affect her too much. "I want to do everything too, Joan! I'm not going to let him get me down. I can't. If he thinks I'm different because of a new nose, then I can't change that. I want to have fun."

[joan-notjane.livejournal.com]

"We are totally going to go and have fun," Joan promised. "You name it, I'm there."

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"I'm not sure what to do," she admitted, grinning.

[joan-notjane.livejournal.com]

"I'm sure we can figure out something," Joan said. "You work tonight, huh? Maybe we can go out this weekend."

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"Yes, I almost forgot. I do work tonight." She mentally wished for an incredibly slow evening. "I'm free, Joan, so I'd love to."

[joan-notjane.livejournal.com]

"All right then," Joan said. "That gives us a couple days to figure out what we want to do."

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"Plenty of time and I would like to do what you want to, too. The things you do for fun, I am certain to enjoy." She leaned forward on the counter and was able to admit freely: "Being an heiress gives me the means to do pretty much anything I want. So Joan, money is not an option. Let's be wild!"

[joan-notjane.livejournal.com]

Joan grinned. "Okay, wild it is."

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

It was obvious Penelope was happy. "Now tell me if anything happened while I was gone, worth sharing."

[joan-notjane.livejournal.com]

"New kids," Joan said with a shrug. "Nothing astounding that I noticed so far though."

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"Glad to know I didn't miss much," she said. "Oh, before I go and being that you're working, do you have any pimpernel in stock? I would love a bouquet if you do."

[joan-notjane.livejournal.com]

"We should," Joan said. "Let me check."

A minute later she called, "What color?"

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"Scarlet," she said loud enough to be heard.

[joan-notjane.livejournal.com]

Joan returned carrying a large bouquet of them. "We also had yellow, so I wasn't sure," she explained.

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"I love the scarlet," she said, smiling wide at the bouquet. "They are so gorgeous." Penelope laid her bills on the counter, enough to cover the expense. "Do you ever buy flowers for yourself, Joan? I would be coming home with something new every day I worked here."

[joan-notjane.livejournal.com]

"I don't usually," she admitted. "But now that you mention it, maybe I'll pick something up to take back and spruce up the cabin."

She rang up Penelope's order and asked, "Which cabin are you in?"

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"Lightning Bug, and you so should. Flowers brighten up any space and just make you feel good." That and Penelope liked to choose flowers for their meaning.

[joan-notjane.livejournal.com]

"I'm in Bitterwoman," Joan said. "And I think I will. Got any suggestions?"

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"What a name for a cabin," she laughed.

She considered for a moment.

"I think you could start with a yellow tulip, or a Chrysanthemum, a dandelion, or a blue violet, even an Angelica. All would suit you Joan, perfectly."

[joan-notjane.livejournal.com]

Joan smiled and jotted those down on a pad by the register. "Thanks for the tip."

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"You're welcome! We'll talk later about this weekend. Enjoy the rest of your day," she said and turned, light on her feet, towards the door.