White Tulips & Wedding Cake

by Jonathan Solomon

  It was then Iris’s turn. Although Iris did not see the car involved, she did give a statement outlining the sounds and the injury Malik had received.

  Detective Hibiscus then collected the audio-recordings and informed Malik and Iris to remain in the interview room while they were being transcribed. After about half an hour, Detective Hibiscus came back with printouts of the statements, which Malik and Iris checked and signed, since they found no inaccuracies.

  “Thank you, Iris and Malik for the statements,” said Detective Hibiscus after she received the signed statements. “It’s been difficult to find witnesses apart from you two. It was very quiet at that time. We’re unable to ascertain if this was either a random or targeted attack. At this stage we have the rock that was thrown through the window. We might get both you and Malik fingerprinted just to cover all bases.”

  Malik and Iris nodded their heads.

  Twenty minutes later, Iris and Malik left the police station after being fingerprinted and were presented with a copy of their signed statements. Iris and Malik were soon back inside the van.

  “I honestly don’t know who would do this. I’m very new to the area. It is most likely a random attack. Probably a hoon,” said Iris. “You live in Marrickville?”

  “That’s right,” confirmed Malik.

  “I’ll drive you there,” said Iris as she drove away from the police station.

  Chapter 24

  Thursday, 7 June – 11:03 am

  It was a sunny late morning as Ollie walked along Oxford Street in his black lycra bike suit with the gold lettering LATE BLOOMER BLOSSOMS. Ollie felt a bit self-conscious but soon forgot about this as he was doing this to help his mum out. Ollie saw his mum looking at the boarded up shopfront window with a frown on her face.

  He walked up to Iris outside the shop.

  “Mum, what happened?” asked Ollie. His jaw dropped as he gazed across the store. “Who would do something like this? Are you all right?”

  “Hey Ollie. I’m still a bit shaken. Malik injured his thigh so I took him to hospital, the police station and I drove him to his home in Marrickville. He actually offered me a sofa to sleep overnight, so I stayed at his place.”

  “You stayed over at Malik’s place?” asked Ollie.

  “Ollie, it was strictly platonic. And anyway, he’s too young for me,” said Iris.

  “So who would have done something like this?” asked Ollie.

  “I honestly don’t know. The police don’t know either. It was probably an unhappy youth with too much time on their hands,” said Iris.

  “So, is Malik feeling any better today?” asked Ollie.

  “He’s got stitches in his thigh so he will take a day off today. I feel so guilty. Malik shouldn’t have had any reason to get hurt.”

  Pahi walked out of the store entrance with the custom-made delivery bike.

  “Look at you Ollie,” Pahi said as she appraised Ollie wearing a lycra bike suit.

  “Yes, I got a few strange looks. They might have thought why I didn’t have my bike with me,” said Ollie.

  “Well Ollie, the bike is here for you. I‘m just going to get the orders and bring them out,” said Pahi.

  “Thanks Pahi,” said Iris as Pahi ducked back into the store.

  “So the helmet is in the box,” said Iris and Ollie took the helmet to fasten on his head. “And please be careful on the roads.”

  “I will be careful Mum,” reassured Ollie.

  “We have three orders for you today,” said Pahi. She placed the three orders carefully in the box. “You’ll also have to do a bit of travelling. You have one order in Bondi Junction, the second order is in Potts Point and the last order is in Newtown.”

  Pahi also handed over to Ollie a point-of-delivery mobile device.

  “So every order is entered into this delivery point mobile. You will find the address in there. You will also need to confirm you have the right person and their name will be in the job information section. You need to ask the recipient to sign electronically on this device with this pen thing-y, which confirms receipt of the order,” instructed Pahi as she picked up an electric pen attached to the device by a thin cord.

  “So if for some reason anything goes wrong please call me or Pahi and we will sort out whatever issues that may arise,” said Iris.

  “Got it,” said Ollie as he read the details of the first job and placed the point-of-delivery device carefully amongst the flowers in the box. Ollie entered the address into his GPS app on his phone and secured the earphones. Ollie fastened the helmet straps under his chin and mounted the bike. He double-checked his phone and saw that the first job was located a ten-minute bike ride away.

  “Good luck,” said Pahi as Ollie rode away in the direction of Bondi Junction.

  “Stay safe,” Iris called out and waved.

  Ollie began pedalling away and cycled onto Oxford Street. He was soon on the Bondi Junction section of Oxford Street before turning left down into a side street. He took several turns and was now in the designated street. He slowed the bike down and then walked alongside the bike.

  He was looking for house number 94. Ollie spotted it. The house was a single storey Federation house with a well-kept front garden.

  Ollie placed his bike against a large tree and placed his helmet in the delivery box. The first order was a bunch of long-stemmed red roses. There was an accompanying envelope with the name “Poppy”. This name matched with the recipient details in the mobile device.

  There was something almost comical in how Ollie straightened up into a manly pose, almost like as if he was meeting someone for the first time on a date.

  Ollie held the roses in his left hand and was pressing the doorbell. He could hear chimes faintly tingle away inside. Then there was the rustle of someone unlocking the door and the door opened. A lady in her early thirties appeared. She had deep, light brown eyes and thick wavy dark hair.

  “Hello, I’m here to make a flower delivery to a person named Poppy,” said Ollie in his most clear-sounding professional voice.

  “That’s me!” said Poppy as she brought both her hands to her mouth in half-surprise/half-laughter. “Oh they’re beautiful!”

  Poppy brought her hands out to receive the flowers into which Ollie placed the red roses. She graciously accepted them. While smelling the roses she felt a note tucked into the wrapping paper.

  “I think I know who these flowers are from,” said Poppy with a mischievous glint in her eyes. “My future husband!”

  She opened the envelope with one hand and read the card.

  “Oh, he’s the sweetest thing! Can I read it out to you?” said Poppy before launching straight into reading the note, without waiting for Ollie’s response.

  My Dearest and Precious Poppy, You’ve changed my life. Every day I wake up like I have been granted a new lifetime. A lifetime to share with the most beautiful woman I have ever met. A joyful lifetime, where I hope to love you for eternity. Love Armand.

  “Oh, that’s the sweetest thing,” said Poppy as she pressed both the roses and the card to her chest. “Thank you so much for delivering these flowers.”

  “No problem,” said Ollie. “Oh, I almost forgot, you just need to sign off on the delivery.” Ollie went back to his bike and obtained the device.

  “Sure thing,” said Poppy as she juggled the flowers and the card and signed off on the device. Poppy smiled a very happy smile to Ollie and closed the door behind her.

  Ollie fastened his helmet back on and checked the location of the next delivery. He saw the address and entered this into the GPS app. Ollie got on the bike and manoeuvred the bike out onto the road. He now had to make his way to Potts Point. Ollie rode back onto Oxford Street and then cycled through Edgecliff before pedalling hard up the steep incline past Rushcutters Bay and into Kings Cross. He rode along Darlinghurst Road and then turned into Potts Point.

  He rode to the front of a grand dark-brick 1940s apartment block. Ollie alighted from the bike and bro
ught out an arrangement of white lilies. He spotted the intercom and pressed for unit number 15. A beeping noise occurred before the clunk of a handset being answered could be heard.

  “Hello?” a scratchy and frail voice came through the intercom.

  “Hello, I’m Ollie and I have a flower delivery to make for Delphine,” said Ollie.

  “Yes, that’s me,” said Delphine hesitantly.

  “Did you want to collect the flowers here at the intercom?” asked Ollie.

  “You can come in,” Delphine’s scratchy voice continued. “I’m on the third level.”

  A creaking sound occurred, which indicated the security door was now open. Ollie pushed through the door and placed his bike against the wall in the foyer, praying that nobody would steal the bike. Ollie left his helmet on. He came across a large stately and winding staircase where he walked his way up to the third level. He could see to his left a half-opened door with the number 15. As he approached the door holding the lilies and the mobile device, the door opened wider and Ollie could see an elderly and upset lady.

  “Delphine?” asked Ollie.

  Delphine slowly nodded as she reached out her arms to take the lilies. Ollie handed over the flowers and Delphine looked down at them, as if she was holding a newborn-baby.

  “My husband died,” explained Delphine. “The funeral was a couple of days ago. I miss him terribly.” Delphine put a hand to her head as if she was experiencing a headache. “We were married for fifty-three years. Fifty-three happily-married years. Thank you for bringing these flowers up. I hope I can find a big enough vase.”

  “I’m sorry to hear about your loss,” said Ollie as he handed the mobile device to Delphine. Delphine picked up the electronic pen and signed off on the order. She gave an attempt to half-smile at Ollie but instead looked even more sad. As Delphine turned away to close her door Ollie glimpsed the look of overwhelming loss, a person who had lost their bearings.

  Ollie walked back to the foyer and felt somehow callous for leaving Delphine to deal with her grief alone.

  Ollie was relieved to find his bike still located in the foyer with the final order to be delivered in Newtown. Ollie checked the device and sourced the Newtown address. He entered this into the GPS app. Ollie put the earphones back in his ears, pushed the bike out onto the street and started to ride into the city.

  Chapter 25

  Thursday, 7 June – 12:40 pm

  Ollie’s legs were really getting a working out by now. He was definitely going to get aching legs the next morning. He was now riding onto George Street before moving onto Parramatta Road and then made his way onto King Street.

  He found the side street he was searching for and slowed his bike down. It was a three-storey block of flats built in the 1970s. There was nothing out-of-the-ordinary about this building. It was a plain red-brick building surrounded by a brick boundary.

  Ollie leaned the bike against the brick boundary and saw the final order was for a Gregory. Ollie reached into the box and brought out a bouquet of white tulips. There were a dozen crisp white tulips, ready to bloom and wrapped in white tissue paper. Ollie held the tulips, along with the device and walked up a concrete pathway to the security door. He saw the intercom system. Ollie pressed the button for unit 6. The intercom rang out for about ten seconds before the other side picked up.

  “G’day,” said a friendly man’s voice.

  “Hello, this is Ollie and I’m here to make a flower delivery for Gregory,” said Ollie.

  “Yep, that’s me,” said Gregory. “A flower delivery?”

  “Yes. Did you want to collect the flowers at the entrance or for me to bring these flowers inside?” asked Ollie.

  “I’ll come down now. Won’t be long,” said Gregory and hung up on the intercom. Ollie looked about the front yard and saw there was a small garden of yucca and ferns, which were covered by wispy spider webs.

  Ollie could then make out a figure approaching behind the security door. The man opened the door and held it with his back. He was of average height and wore a dark blue chesty bonds singlet, white footy shorts and black thongs. Gregory had the figure of a rugby player cross-bred with a ballet dancer. He had a dark blonde buzz cut, wide grey eyes, and a friendly smile.

  Ollie was taken aback. Gregory was a handsome man. His age was unascertainable though. Ollie guessed between late thirties to early fifties. There was one thing Ollie was sure of. Gregory was in very good shape.

  Ollie then remembered what he was here for and handed over the white tulips. This delivery somehow felt deeply personal, as if Ollie were giving flowers to his very own lover. Ollie felt his heart beat a little faster in his chest.

  Gregory looked mystified as he received the flowers.

  “You sure you have the right person?” said Gregory, and laughed. “I don’t ever recall being given flowers before.”

  Ollie double checked his mobile device.

  “Yes, it says it’s for Gregory,” confirmed Ollie. “Please sign here, for receipt of delivery.”

  Gregory electronically signed on the mobile device and looked at the flowers. He was searching for something.

  “Was there a card, a message or anything?” asked Gregory.

  “I’ll check my bike in case something fell out,” said Ollie as he went over to the bike. Ollie checked the delivery box but could not find a card. Ollie turned his attention to Gregory.

  “Let me just make a phone call to see if it was left behind, I will only be a minute,” said Ollie.

  “No worries. Take your time,” said Gregory. “I’m not in any rush.”

  Ollie took out his mobile phone and called his mum.

  “Hi Mum. The first and second orders went smoothly. I just need to check with you if there was a card for the third delivery?” said Ollie. “Yes for Gregory. I will let him know. See you soon.”

  Ollie put his phone away.

  “I’ve been told this order was made anonymously,” Ollie informed Gregory.

  “An anonymous order? I guess this falls into the secret admirer category. But seriously, these flowers could be from anyone,” mused Gregory. “I have had quite a few relationships. But I don’t know if any of them would be the type to send me flowers. Well, I won’t keep you waiting Ollie. Thank you for stopping by.”

  “No problem,” said Ollie as he put the mobile device into the delivery box. “Enjoy the rest of your day.”

  “You too,” said Gregory with a smile that showed deep laugh lines around his mouth. Gregory turned back inside and let the security door clank shut behind him.

  Chapter 26

  Sunday, 10 June – 10:30 am

  Gladys took a deep breath and was very pleased with how her garden was looking. She took off her dirty gardening gloves and made her way back inside. She kicked off her shoes and opened the screen door to let herself in. While in the kitchen making herself a cup of tea she thought she should give Iris a call. Gladys picked up the landline phone and dialled.

  “Hi Iris, how are you going? Ollie told me about what happened to your store,” said Gladys.

  “Hi Mum. Yes, I got quite a fright but I’m feeling much better now. It could have been worse. I’m just relieved that Malik is okay. He’s back in his cake store now.”

  “Are the windows still boarded up?”

  “Not anymore. The storefront has been replaced with safety glass and you wouldn’t know the smash had happened in the first place. It’s really just a small hiccup. I have faith the police will find the person who caused the damage,” said Iris. “By the way, have you been able to find any other information about where Jack got the money from?”

  “No, darling, I haven’t. I still have the French letters that need to be translated,” said Gladys. “Maybe I could come down to Sydney and show them to you.”

  “Mum, that would be lovely! I get to see you and then I can show you the store,” said Iris.

  “Sure, I might come down sometime in August. I’ve heard that Sydney can be miserab
le in June and July,” said Gladys. “The weather that is.”

  “Sure, in your own time, Mum,” said Iris.

  “Well, I’ll still keep in touch anyway. It’ll be interesting to see the building that Jack somehow managed to buy. You look after yourself darling,” said Gladys.

  “You too, Mum,” said Iris, and with that the call ended.

  Gladys put the landline back into the receiver and thought again about the last time she saw Jack. It was at Sydney Airport.

  21 April 1973

  Gladys walked with Iris into Sydney Airport. Iris was excited as it was the first time she had been in Sydney. Iris had been absorbing Sydney with wide and curious eyes. Iris was also excited to see her uncle again. Gladys had mixed feelings. Gladys was in Sydney for a school friend’s wedding. The church ceremony was to take place in several hours. Gladys called Jack’s place at Potts Point several days beforehand advising Jack that Gladys and Iris would be visiting Sydney and whether they could meet up. Jack sounded cagey and said he was quite busy but if they needed to see him they could meet him in the airport. “Sydney Airport?” Gladys thought. Gladys did not have time to ask any more questions when the line cut out.

  So here they were at Sydney Airport. There were people milling about. Pilots could be seen confidently walking across the tarmac with uniformed flight attendants following in tow.

  Gladys walked with Iris into the Departures Lounge. Then all of a sudden there was a loud whoop and Gladys saw Jack waving and running up to them. Gladys received a kiss on the cheek, surprised by such affection on Jack’s behalf. And, Jack was showering Iris with kisses and hugs.