Free Elly In Bloom by Colleen Oakes Page A

accounts, business licenses, wholesaler searches and many, many days of sweat and tears had followed her “moment.” The moment that she knew was also a moment that brought complication and responsibility. She remained lost in that thought until Isaac lightly touched her arm.
    “You are a very interesting person, Elly Jordan,” he said, his eyes bearing down into hers with incredible force.
    “Er, thanks,” said Elly. He stared at her as a car drove past them. Elly could see where this night would end up if she kept staring into his deep eyes…she saw herself tackling him, mainly….
    She stood up quickly, knocking her wine glass off her lap and onto the stone floor, where it shattered. “Oh crap!” she yelped. “I am so sorry. Ohhhh, your glass. I’ll totally buy you a new one. I know this great shop up the street. Or you could have one of mine. I have some blue ones like this.” She was mortified, grabbing the glass shards with her hands, muttering to herself.
    “Elly” he said softly, “It’s okay.”
    “Thank you so much for inviting me” she said, “I had a great time – minus the vomit. Not that it bothered me. I mean, it’s vomit, it bothers everyone, but it’s not like it’s not normal to throw up sometimes.” Elly, STOP TALKING , she mentally screamed at herself. “Thanks again!”
    She dumped the glass into the nearest trash can and practically threw herself out the front door. She could hear people talking inside.
    “Is that lady’s mom okay?”
    Then she heard Isaac laughing. A line of sweat dripped down her forehead. She was out. Free. Elly ran down the back of the fire escape and circled around to the front of her store, leaning against her window display, breathing in what had just happened. This man, he liked her. Her, in her mom pants and bad hair. Her, with her ample breasts and generous bottom. Isaac. His name sent teenage flutters through her body. She leaned against the building. Joy overpowered her. “THANK YOU, JESUS!” she yelled and then she did a little dance. As soon as it escaped her mouth, she was seized by a sudden panic. With great trepidation, she looked towards his apartment. And there he was watching her on the balcony, a silent sexy shadow with a burning cigarette flame.

CHAPTER
    SIX

    The next morning, Elly sat at her desk, doodling with a green pen as she watched the girl she was interviewing take a swift nose dive into flames.
    “I was a language student for awhile, but I felt like that just wasn’t me. You know? I still do interpretive dance, which is kind of like a language in itself. So then I was into the traveling thing for awhile. I toured Europe, stayed at hostels, totally met this amazing Spanish guy….”
    Elly mentally checked out and started thinking about the chocolate mousse that she would be getting from Keith’s deli later today. Unfortunately, she knew the minute she opened the door that this would not be her new hire. The girl came for her interview wearing purple leggings with a long band t-shirt over them. She was Elly’s third interview of the morning. The first woman was nice and polite, but barely spoke English; the second was a large, sweaty man who had misunderstood the ad – floral designers, he thought, had meant that he would be lifting things in a greenhouse. At least he had been interesting to talk to. This girl was making Elly want to bang her head against a wall. She forced herself to tune back in.
    “…and I was like, ‘If you can’t respect my decision to not use deodorant – my lifestyle choice- than you don’t respect me.’ And Brazil isn’t just a dream. Paying for a flat isn’t as easy as it seems, but I have to have space for my dancing.”
    “Thank you very much,” said Elly suddenly. “We’ll be in touch.”
    She stood up and shook the girl’s hand. The girl looked bewildered. She walked her to the door, and breathed a sigh of relief when she was finally gone. Then she grabbed a stem of freesia and