Page 58 of For My Finale
“The show must go on,” Lilah repeated gravely.
“Then I’ll see you at rehearsal,” said Gloria, sweeping out of the cafe once more.
Blossom turned back toward Lilah, who was still staring at her, wide-eyed.
“You defended me,” Lilah said, almost in disbelief.
Blossom rolled her eyes. “Of course I did.”
“Even after… even after I accused you of selling my story.”
Blossom shrugged. “You were right, I will always back you when I think you’re right.”
“Even when I’m… kind of an asshole?” Lilah asked.
Blossom laughed. “Yes, Lilah. Even when you’re kind of an asshole. Although, I’d prefer that you weren’t, if that’s at all possible.”
Lilah nodded thoughtfully. “Yes, of course. Right.” She picked up her coffee, drained it, and set the cup down before standing up.
“Got places to be?” Blossom asked.
“Mmm,” Lilah said. She grinned. “Actually, I’ve got things to do.” She put some money down on the counter. “See you later,” was all she said as she fled the shop.
Blossom watched her go, wondering what had just happened. Then another customer came in, and she got back to work, Lilah’s weirdness fading into the back of her mind for the time being.
Chapter Twenty Four
The day had just started turning into evening when there was a knocking on the door. Blossom, who’d been going through her accounts one more time just in case something had changed overnight, got up to answer with a puzzled frown. She wasn’t expecting anyone.
No questions were answered when she opened the door. She was greeted by flowers. Not just a bunch of them, but what felt like an entire field full. So many flowers that the doorway was filled by them. So many flowers that it was only when she heard a ferocious sneeze from behind them that she realized there was anyone there at all.
“Lilah?” she said incredulously.
“I think I might have allergies,” Lilah’s voice said from behind the flowers.
“I think you might have bankrupted several small countries in the process of buying all these,” Blossom said.
“Um, can I come in?”
“You’ll have to move some flowers,” Blossom said uncertainly. “But yes, of course you can come in.”
Between the two of them they managed to get the immense amounts of flowers through the door, and then, using a combination of a vase, pots and pans and most of Blossom’smug collection, they got them all into water. One tremendous bouquet went into the bathtub.
“Now,” Blossom said, slightly breathless and covered in pollen and leaves. “What is all this in aid of?”
“An apology,” Lilah said.
“Lilah…”
“I know, I know, but I wanted to do something big. I wanted to make an impression,” said Lilah.
“They’re too much.”
“They’re not enough.”
Up until this point, Blossom had been amused if slightly befuddled. But now Lilah was coming closer, stepping in, and she could see that Lilah wasn’t joking at all. She was deadly serious.
“They’re not enough,” Lilah said again. “Because I wasn’t just a bit of an asshole, I was a total asshole. You’re right, I know that you wouldn’t sell me out. I should have trusted in that, not come in guns blazing and full of accusations.”
