White Tulips & Wedding Cake

by Jonathan Solomon

  Ollie reached into the delivery box and brought out a bouquet of red and white roses wrapped in red cellophane.

  Ollie walked up the stairs to a regal and expensive looking door. Ollie pressed the doorbell.

  The door opened and a tired-looking and greying man in his late-50s opened the door. He gave Ollie a stern glare.

  “Hello, I have these flowers to deliver for Ivy,” said Ollie.

  “I’m her father,” said the man and gave a big and unhappy sigh. He looked at the bouquet reproachfully. “I’ll just be a moment.”

  The man turned to walk back indoors. Ollie could hear him yelling his daughter’s name loudly. “Ivy, come down please.”

  Ollie heard the shuffling of feet and a beautiful raven-haired and grey-eyed woman in her mid-twenties came to the door. She had a strong jaw and high cheekbones.

  “Hi Ivy, I have a flower delivery for you,” said Ollie and held the flowers out to Ivy.

  “It better not be from who I think it is,” scowled Ivy. She saw the envelope and opened it.

  “Dad, it’s from Jake! What a nerve!” said Ivy before turning her gaze onto Ollie. “I’m not accepting these flowers. Return them. I will never in a million years take him back.”

  Ollie did not know what to do. He had never experienced a rejected flower delivery before.

  “Uhh, these flowers have been paid for so….,” Ollie faltered.

  “Ivy, just take them inside,” said Ivy’s father.

  “He screwed my best friend, Dad!” said Ivy. “Fine! I’ll take the flowers.”

  Suddenly Ivy walked forward and grabbed the bouquet perhaps a little too forcefully.

  “This. Is. What. I. Think. Of. Jake,” said Ivy as she repeatedly smashed the bouquet against the ground, white and red petals floating about in disarray. Ivy then began to kick what remained of the bouquet as if it was a soccer ball. Ivy then began to sob and fell to a heap in the midst of the pool of red and white petals.

  “Ivy,” said the father gently as he got a hold of Ivy’s sobbing shoulders and brought her back indoors. The father saw the device in Ollie’s hand and motioned that he would be back in a minute to sign receipt of the delivery.

  After a minute the father came back with his phone. He signed off on the device, then held his phone with both hands and took a photo of the messed up puddle of white and red petals at the front door. The father gave Ollie an apologetic smile, then closed the door.

  Ollie stood bewildered by this incident and stood frozen in front of the door. He shook his head and walked down to his bike. He checked the device and searched for his next order. He looked in surprise. It was an order for Gregory in Newtown. Ollie looked in the delivery box. Sure enough, there was a bouquet of white tulips.

  Chapter 30

  Saturday, 14 July – 4:15 pm

  Ollie got off his bike and set eyes on Gregory’s block of units.

  Ollie felt a fluttering in his chest and laughed at himself. What was there to be nervous about? Ollie took off his helmet and placed this in the delivery box. He then retrieved the device and the white tulips. Ollie took a deep breath, walked to the security door and pressed for unit number six.

  “Hello?” Gregory’s voice crackled through.

  “It’s Ollie again. I have a flower delivery for you,” said Ollie.

  “Again?” laughed Gregory. “Are you happy to bring them up to my unit? I’m on the next level up.”

  Ollie was nervous now. He would have felt more comfortable if Gregory had collected them at the security door.

  “Sure,” said Ollie.

  The security door automatically unlocked. Ollie walked in and saw a concrete staircase with a plain wooden handrail held up with thin balusters. He walked up the steps tentatively and stepped through a doorway leading to the first level. And there was Gregory standing, with his screen-door open. He gave a wave. He was barefoot, wearing tracksuit pants and a fleecy jumper, which had a large V-neck. Ollie could see the honey muscle texture from Gregory’s neck to the top of his left shoulder.

  “White tulips again?” said Gregory as he signed the mobile device and then received the flowers from Ollie.

  “Yes, looks like it. Although there seems to be a card this time,” Ollie pointed out. Gregory turned the tulips to one side and saw a card fitted beneath the ribbons.

  “You’re right,” said Gregory. He looked at Ollie. “Did you want to come in for a cup of tea?”

  “A cup of tea? I suppose that can’t hurt?” said Ollie.

  “Unless, I accidentally spill it over you,” said Gregory. He saw Ollie’s face whiten. “I’m kidding, Ollie.”

  Ollie failed to smile, and gave what is termed, a twitch.

  “Come in!” said Gregory as he opened the screen door wider and Ollie walked past Gregory’s body. Ollie could feel the warmth emanating from Gregory’s sensuous being.

  “Please have a seat,” said Gregory as he gestured to the light-blue sofa. “I’ll just put these flowers in a vase.”

  Ollie walked into a cosy one-bedroom unit. There was a fish-tank, a flat-screen television. And books. There were books everywhere, hidden in a variety of storage-saving boxes and shelves. Ollie could see quite a few books on Tibetan Buddhism, Aristotle and Patience. Several books by Dr Seuss were also sighted.

  Ollie sat down obligingly as Gregory walked to what happened to be a small kitchen. Ollie could hear the sounds of a kettle being put on to boil.

  “Any sugars?” Gregory called out.

  “One please,” Ollie responded.

  Soon Gregory returned to the living room with two hot cups of tea and laid these down on the coffee table in front of the sofa. Gregory took out the envelope in his pocket.

  “So I read the card and I still don’t know who it’s from,” said Gregory. “There’s no name. I can’t recognise the handwriting. Mum might have done this for me but she passed away a few years ago. This is still an anonymous delivery. Did you want to have a read? I don’t mind.”

  Gregory handed over the card to Ollie. Ollie reached out to get the card. Their hands both touched accidentally in the process. Ollie then took his hand away and he opened the card.

  Dear Gregory,

  I feel so guilty about what happened to us. I failed to see how good you were to me. You genuinely loved me but somehow I held back my love for you. Please forgive me for breaking your heart. I cry now, for what I have lost.

  “That’s certainly an intense message,” Ollie observed. “Maybe if you could work out who has broken your heart in the past, you could find out who is sending these white tulips to you.”

  “Let me count,” said Gregory. “There was Adam who had to move overseas. Then there was Daniel who had to move interstate for a new job. Then there was Timothy, a lovely tall man, but he was very independent. And there was one other guy, the one who loved himself a lot. He could stand in front of a mirror or any reflective surface for hours on end, but I can’t recall his name, was it Nathan? Nigel? I don’t know. I cried for weeks over the breakup but in the end I chose to forget about him. So that’s being in love three, no, four times in my forty-eight years.”

  “You’re forty-eight? You look much younger than that,” remarked Ollie.

  “I like to run and do weights regularly, and I meditate. But you know what, youth is not everything. I’m enjoying getting older and the wisdom that comes with age. I’ve also been single for the past seven years but it’s been okay,” said Gregory.

  “Oh, okay,” said Ollie. Growing up he felt bombarded by these impossibly good-looking young and muscular men. Gregory’s comment seemed heretical.

  “What’s your story,” Gregory asked as he went to sip his tea. Ollie totally forgot about his tea and went to lift his warm cup of tea.

  “Oh, my dad passed away five years ago from a heart attack while he was teaching me how to drive,” began Ollie.

  “I’m sorry to hear about that,” said Gregory.

  “And I’ve been living by myself as Mu
m has recently moved into a shop she inherited from her uncle. She runs her own florist business. Um, what else. I work as a bartender in Balmain on top of delivering flowers. Oh and I’ve been single for the last three years. I got my heart broken in my last relationship,” said Ollie.

  “You’re very handsome, Ollie. You should be dating, not moping around,” said Gregory.

  “I’m not ready. I still haven’t really gotten over my last relationship with Jack,” said Ollie.

  “You need to forget about him, Ollie. Move on. Every day is a new day,” said Gregory. “Why won’t you let go?”

  “Because I was so unbelievably happy. I had a great time and I’m just really sad it’s over. I don’t want to forget the good memories,” said Ollie.

  “But by holding onto the past you’re not allowing yourself to be open to new experiences and meeting new people,” said Gregory. “Ollie, you’ve got to stop living in the past. Stop punishing yourself and live in the now. Forget about the past.”

  Ollie finished his tea.

  “I really should get going,” Ollie said and stood up.

  “No worries,” said Gregory as he also stood up and opened the screen door to let Ollie out.

  “I’ll give the white tulips more thought as to who could be sending them to me. You enjoy your weekend, Ollie,” said Gregory.

  ”You too. And, thank you for the tea,” said Ollie as he left for the concrete stairs.

  Chapter 31

  Saturday, 4 August – 1:57 pm

  Iris was standing in the domestic arrivals area. Her mother should be appearing at any moment, having taken a flight direct from Grafton to Sydney.

  Iris’s face lit up when she saw her mother walk out behind a group of men wearing bright Hawaiian shirts.

  “Mum, I’m here,” yelled out Iris as she waved her hands in all directions, attempting to get her mother’s attention.

  Gladys scrutinised the people around the arrivals area and smiled when her eyes laid on Iris. Gladys gave a nod and walked over to where Iris was standing.

  “Mum, I hope you had a smooth flight,” said Iris as she kissed her mother in welcome.

  “It was a good flight,” said Gladys. She was holding a small backpack. Gladys always packed light. She was not the type to hang around in airports, waiting for luggage to finally turn up.

  “And how have you been Iris?” asked Gladys.

  “Not too bad. Though the police are still investigating the window incident,” said Iris.

  “I’m sure it was just a one-off attack, being in the city and all,” said Gladys. “And how’s Ollie?”

  “Ollie’s been living by himself in Penrith and he’s really helped out with the flower deliveries. I’m happy to see him get out and about and meeting new people,” said Iris.

  “That’s good to hear,” said Gladys. “And I look forward to seeing your store.”

  “I’ll drive you there now,” said Iris as she and Gladys walked out into the carpark. Iris then drove out of the airport and towards the Eastern suburbs.

  “I have the French letters with me,” said Gladys as they were driving through Alexandria.

  “Yes, thank you for bringing those along. The tenant next door, Malik, can read and speak French,” said Iris.

  “And Malik’s the one that escaped the window attack with few scratches?”

  “Well, a few scratches and a cut to his upper leg. He had to get stitches. But yes, that’s him,” said Iris as she carefully navigated the streets near Central Station. “I’ll introduce you.”

  Gladys held onto her backpack in her lap as she looked out of the windows at the ever-changing Sydney landscape. Construction projects were popping up all over the place.

  The flower van then stopped in front of the Late Bloomer Blossoms store.

  “What a lovely store! It’s a beautiful building,” complimented Gladys as she opened the van’s front door.

  Gladys was introduced to Pahi and was given a tour of the store as well as Iris’s living quarters upstairs.

  “You’re doing well Iris,“ said Gladys giving Iris a few pats on the back.

  “Thanks Mum. Let’s go and see Malik next door,” said Iris and they made their way back out onto the street.

  Gladys looked through the window of Fond of Fondant. Today there was a cake in the shape of a high heel, a stunning light blue wedding cake and a cake in the shape of a horseshoe.

  Iris and Gladys walked inside Fond of Fondant where Lian was busy serving a customer. Lian nodded at Iris in recognition.

  “Hi Lian,” said Iris. “This is my Mum, Gladys. I was wondering if Malik is in.”

  “Nice to meet you, Gladys. Yes, Malik is in the kitchen,” said Lian.

  “Thanks Lian,” said Iris and led Gladys towards the kitchen area.

  “Hello Iris,” greeted Malik as he was in the process of pressing dowels into the base of a wedding cake.

  “Hello Malik, this is my mother, Gladys,” introduced Iris. Malik wiped his hands on his white apron and gave Gladys a kiss on the cheek. Gladys was surprised by this gesture.

  “So, Malik,” began Iris. “Remember what I said about my uncle moving to France? Well, Mum has the letters that my uncle Jack has kept all these years but they’re written in French,” Iris explained. “I was wondering would you be able to help translate it for us?”

  “Sure, no worries,” said Malik. He moved over to a desk and brought over two chairs for Iris and Gladys to sit on. Gladys sat down and opened her backpack. She took out a display folder, which had the letters carefully inserted. Gladys handed over the display folder to Malik.

  “Here we go,” said Malik, squinting at the first letter due to the sloping and spidery handwriting style.

  August 1972

  Mon Jacques,

  I am here for the week in Canberra for a government function and already I’m missing you so very much. I am so in love with you. How lucky I am to have had my posting to Sydney, otherwise I would never have met you. Alas, my posting is coming to an end in eight months and I need to make plans for the future. Would you consider going back to France with me? By the way, I got the leather jacket and dog collar you wanted.

  Ton Amour,

  Pascal.

  September 1972

  Bonjour Jacques,

  Your demand is very high. You know that I’m a very rich man so I’m starting to think you only want me for me money. My heart is so in love with you but my head is more cautious. To pay you $80,000 is a lot of money in order to move with me to Paris. Please reconsider your request for such a large amount of money. Is my company not enriching you? Do you not find the presents I shower you with of sufficient value?

  Pascal.

  October 1972

  Mon Jacques,

  I have deposited the requested amount of money into your bank account. This is on the understanding that you shall move with me to Paris and live with me until I die. This money is also given on the basis that you stay faithful to me. If you cheat on me I will ask to have all my money paid back, with interest. Your visa has now been approved. This will be a new chapter in our relationship. And please dispose of those photographs.

  Pascal.

  “Blackmail?” said Gladys out aloud.

  “Thank you, Malik,” said Iris. “I appreciate you giving up the time to translate these letters.”

  “Anytime,” said Malik as he handed the folder back to Gladys.

  Iris and Gladys both got to their feet and left the cake store to return to the flower store.

  “So, looks like Jack sold himself out,” Gladys began. “Sold himself out of the country. And Jacques, how pretentious. Jack has been and always will be from a modest Australian family. I’m not having any of this ‘putting on airs’ business. And photographs. That sounded like blackmail.”

  “Mum,” said Iris patiently. “To me it sounded like Jack wanted some form of security in case the move to France didn’t work out.”

  “He’d got security all right. A su
gar daddy,” Gladys said.

  “Mum! I hate seeing you this bitter,” said Iris.

  “I’m not bitter. I’m just, just,” Gladys seemed lost for words. “Look, if you want to know the truth, I do feel guilty about how I treated Jack. I live with this guilt every single day. There’s not a day where I don’t think I should have minded my own business and for once be happy for my brother. And now I feel even more guilty because he thought of you to give you this building. I’m terribly confused, that’s what I am.”

  Gladys took a deep breath.

  “Anyway, I’ll need to check in to my hotel so I’ll go and do that now. We’ll go somewhere nice to eat.”

  Gladys kissed Iris on the cheek and exited the flower store.

  “Mum can act weird sometimes,” said Iris to Pahi as she walked over to the workshop table.

  “We all have that unusual family member,” said Pahi and smiled. The telephone rang and Pahi went over to answer.

  Iris directed her attention on the next flower order, a collection of banksias, grevilleas and bottlebrushes.

  “Iris, it’s a call from the police. They would like to talk to you,” said Pahi.

  “Oh, really?” said Iris, taking the phone from Pahi’s grasp.

  “Good afternoon, Iris speaking.”

  “Good afternoon Iris. It’s Detective Hibiscus here. How are you?”

  “Oh, I’m good, thank you. And yourself?”

  “Never felt better. I just wanted to ask if you could come back to the Surry Hills Police Station. We’ve made a breakthrough in the investigation and wanted to advise on the next steps we are going to take,” said Detective Hibiscus. “I’ve just spoken to Malik and he advised he will wait for you before heading to the station.”

  “Sure, I’ll be right down there with Malik. We’ll be there in about fifteen minutes.”

  Chapter 32

  Saturday, 4 August – 4:27 pm

  “Thank you for stopping by at such short notice, Iris and Malik,” said Detective Hibiscus in the police station’s waiting area.