White Tulips & Wedding Cake

by Jonathan Solomon

  “That’s me. I’ll be down in a moment,” said Lilian.

  Ollie stood waiting at the front door when the door opened and he saw a woman with greying hair mobilising in a wheelchair.

  “Oh, they’re lovely,” said Lilian as she received the flowers from Ollie. “They must be from the court. I was appointed as a District Court judge yesterday. I’m thrilled by the appointment.”

  “Congratulations,” said Ollie. “If you could sign off on the delivery here please.”

  Ollie handed over the device for her signature. After signing, Lilian retuned it to Ollie. She manoeuvred herself back into the building.

  Ollie had one more delivery to do. He checked the device and emitted a noise of disbelief. It was Gregory’s address in Newtown. Again. He saw the flowers and it was the same order, a bouquet of white tulips. Ollie started to feel nervous again and pushed his way onto the bike.

  Ollie huffed his way up Bondi Road and finally returned to Oxford Street. Ollie cycled through Surry Hills and headed into Newtown after cycling through Cleveland Street.

  What a workout, thought Ollie as he took off his helmet and took a sip from his water bottle. He wiped away the sweat from his forehead and took several long deep breaths. Ollie sat on the brick boundary and tried to relax for a couple of minutes. He then got up and placed the helmet in the delivery box. He retrieved the white tulips and the device and proceeded to press the button for Gregory’s unit.

  “Hello Gregory, it’s Ollie again. I have another delivery for you,” Ollie said over the intercom.

  “Are you serious? Again!” said Gregory and Ollie could hear Gregory’s fit of good-natured chuckling. Did you want to come in or me to come down,” Gregory asked.

  There was a nervous pause.

  “I’ll come up,” Ollie decided. The security door opened automatically.

  Ollie walked up to the first floor and saw Gregory standing behind the screen door. He was wearing a loose dark blue singlet and black boxer briefs. Gregory smiled.

  “Let me guess. Ahh, white tulips?” said Gregory as he covered his eyes with his left hand. Gregory brought his hand down and looked at the tulips.

  “What a surprise!” said Gregory. He looked up and made gentle eye contact with Ollie. “What a lovely surprise. How have you been Ollie? It’s good to see you again.”

  Gregory was glowing in a healthy and radiant manner. He seemed genuinely interested in Ollie’s well-being.

  “Not too bad. And yourself?” said Ollie.

  “I feel great,” beamed Gregory. “Ah, I see there’s a card in here. Will this be the end of a long-running mystery? Let me read it out.”

  Dear Gregory,

  I want to apologise for my past selfish behaviour. The reason I have been sending you these flowers is that I’ve realised the error of my ways. I recently had a near-drowning at a pool party with all these hot guys. I saw a glimpse of myself in a mirror set-up near the pool and I wasn’t watching where I was going. I slipped and I hit my head before entering the water. Apparently I have been in a coma and was diagnosed as having a traumatic brain injury. For some reason you have been in my thoughts a lot and I just wanted to say how sorry I am again. You deserved better. So much better.

  From Narciso.

  P.S. I’ll stop pestering you now. I hope that someone better than me comes along and loves you unconditionally, just the same way you loved me.

  “Of course, Narciso!” exclaimed Gregory. “I thought his name did start with an N. Well, there you go. Mystery solved.”

  “Good to see you have the answer,” said Ollie as he handed over the device to be electronically signed. There was an awkward pause as Gregory handed over the device to Ollie. Their hands touched as Ollie received the device. Ollie took his hand and the device away.

  Gregory looked at his feet and was shuffling them side to side. Gregory then looked up into Ollie’s eyes.

  “Will I ever see you again, Ollie?” asked Gregory. “When you’re ready, I’ll be here. Ollie, I will always be here for you.”

  Ollie stepped back and turned towards the stairs but paused, standing fixed to the ground, his back to Gregory. He heard Gregory’s soft treads behind him and in a brief and quiet moment, Gregory’s right arm came across to rest upon Ollie’s chest. Gregory leant forward, nuzzling his forehead into the back of Ollie’s neck, which caused Ollie to move his head back in ecstasy.

  Yet Ollie soon stopped himself from enjoying this moment of unfettered bliss, this unbelievable flow of warmth from Gregory. Ollie abruptly straightened up his posture.

  “I should find someone closer to my age,” Ollie said quietly. Gregory took his arm away and stood back as Ollie exited the building.

  Chapter 35

  Friday, 14 September – 6:43 pm

  “These are the gazebo flowers. Ollie, please place them carefully into the box and move them into the van,” said Iris.

  “Sure, will do,” said Ollie as he began carefully placing the wired flowers into the box.

  “So how are the bouquets going, Pahi?” asked Iris.

  “They’re going really well. I’m just finishing up on the purple bouquet. Iris had a look at the bouquets, all lined up neatly on the workshop table.

  The red bouquet was Eucalyptus Macrocarpa, Anigozanthos, Callistemon, Camellia Japonica, Gymea Lily, and Waratahs.

  The orange bouquet consisted of Nuytsia floribunda, Orange Eucalyptus flowers, Clivia Miniat, Anigozanthos, Gazania and Grevillea.

  The yellow bouquet was composed of Grevillea, Australian Wattle, Native Golden Penda and Leucospermum, Yellow Flowering Banksia and Craspedia Globose.

  The green bouquet included Snow Queen Protea, Eucalyptus leaves and Leucadendron Linifolia.

  The blue bouquet was made up of Hedgehog Sage, Kangaroo Lobelia, Brunonia Australis and Cheiranthera Cyanea.

  The purple bouquet, which Pahi was finishing up was Buddleia Black Knight, Callistemon, Indigofera Australis, Osteospermum and Tibouchina.

  “There we go, the purple bouquet is now finished. I’ll now move onto packing the reception hall flowers,” said Pahi.

  For the next half hour Iris, Pahi and Ollie helped pack the flowers and transported the flowers into the van.

  “Phew, I think that’s everything,” said Iris. “Thanks for helping me out again, Ollie.”

  “Yes, you’ve helped out a lot Ollie. This is a huge job,” added Pahi.

  “No worries,” said Ollie.

  “So Pahi will manage the store tomorrow,” said Iris. “I’ll drive Ollie and myself to the Southern Highlands early tomorrow morning and start setting up during the day. Apparently, Malik said to me we will need to transport the cake, as he has to work on finishing five wedding cakes by tomorrow lunchtime. I said we would be more than happy to help out.”

  “Oh, shoot, I almost forgot, the lapel flowers,” said Pahi and darted back into the flower store. The lapel flowers were single white roses but dyed rainbow colours using natural dyes.

  “Sounds like a plan. Mum, I’ll meet you here at 9 am then,” said Ollie.

  “Thank you, Ollie. Have a good night’s sleep,” said Iris as she waved to Ollie, who was now walking away.

  Pahi brought over the small box including the lapel flowers and placed it in the van.

  “Well I should be heading off Iris. Good luck with tomorrow,” said Pahi. They exchanged hugs and Pahi crossed the road to catch the bus.

  Iris locked the store. She was going to get a quick bite but noticed that Malik’s store light was still on. She walked in front of the cake store window and could just make out Malik working. Iris pushed the front door. It was unlocked. Iris walked towards the kitchen space and she could see Malik was detailing Anthony and Heath’s wedding cake. Malik was placing and attaching beautiful rose constructions onto the tiers of the wedding cake.

  “Hi Malik,” said Iris. “You’re still working?”

  “Hello Iris,” said Malik as he gave Iris a friendly wink. “I didn’t want to tire
Lian out as we have a really busy morning tomorrow so I sent her home for the day. I’ll probably need an extra hour to finish this cake.”

  “Do you mind if I watch?” Iris said. “I won’t say anything.”

  “No problem,” Malik said.

  Iris watched Malik as he shaped gum paste into beautiful big roses. Iris thought Malik looked irresistible while in deep concentration as he took such care with each simple action in making the cake. Iris almost wanted to take a time-lapse video to show the beautiful progress of the cake. Iris imagined how those strong and steady hands would feel on her.

  Iris watched as Malik carefully and gradually coated the six-tiered cake with gum-paste coloured roses, from red at the top, all the way down the rainbow, to purple on the bottom tier.

  “Well, that’s done,” said Malik. “This cake will be all right at room temperature, so I will leave this cake here, and in the morning I’ll have this boxed up and ready to go. At 9 am, as agreed.”

  “Yes at 9 am,” confirmed Iris.

  Then Malik’s face brightened up.

  “Iris, I just wanted to say thank you for looking after me when your window got damaged,” said Malik. “It was so nice of you to take me to the hospital and stay overnight at my place to see if I was all right.”

  “Oh, don’t mention it,” said Iris abashedly.

  “I was thinking how I never had a chance to say thank you properly. So yesterday when a cake order got cancelled, I used the time to create a cake for you,” said Malik.

  He walked over to the corner of the kitchen, where there was a sheet-covered object on a foam base. Malik carefully took off the sheet and Iris stood back in amazement. It was a four-tiered fondant white wedding cake. It was covered entirely with ivory buttercream roses.

  “Oh, what a lovely surprise,” said Iris, taking in the sight. “Such a lovely gesture. But, I’m not getting married. And it looks too good to eat.”

  “That’s all right, Iris. I just wanted to use my creativity to say thank you, and I will place this cake in the window for passers-by to enjoy,” said Malik.

  “It certainly is a beautiful cake,” Iris said.

  “I decided on alternating vanilla and almond cake with chocolate cream filler for the inside. I had to order in almond essence.”

  “I love the smell of almond essence,” said Iris.

  “I have some right here,” said Malik as he went to pick up a small bottle of almond essence. He opened it and placed the bottle between himself and Iris. They both inhaled deeply.

  Iris looked into Malik’s kind eyes and felt overwhelmed by his intense gaze.

  Iris’s mood changed, and she stepped back.

  “Well, I should get going Malik. Tomorrow is going to be a very busy day for the both us. I’ll see you tomorrow at 9.00 am,” said Iris as she started walking to leave the cake store.

  “Have a good night, Iris,” said Malik as he put the lid back on the almond essence and watched Iris walk out into the dark night.

  Chapter 36

  Saturday, 15 September – 8.30 am

  Iris woke up as her alarm clock went off. She groaned at the awkwardness of last night. She was thrown and disoriented by the closeness to Malik. A bit too close. Iris was struggling with these confused feelings, which were a mixture of longing, frustration and the fact that Malik was just too young for her. She did not want to mess up his life if they got involved together. Malik had his whole life ahead of him. Iris got up and went to have a shower to get ready for the day ahead.

  It was now 8:50 am and all that was needed was for the cake box to be moved into the flower van. Iris saw that Malik was already out the front with the cake on a trolley.

  “Morning Iris,” said Malik.

  “Morning,” said Iris. She averted her eyes as she unlocked the back doors of the van. Malik lifted the cake from the trolley and into the van. Iris could see how Malik’s t-shirt stuck closely to his toned back. Iris made herself look away.

  “There we go,” said Malik as he stepped back. “You can borrow the trolley, Iris.”

  “I’ll be sure to return it,” said Iris in her most professional and detached voice. Iris then went to tie down the cake box securely amongst the flowers and then closed the van door.

  “Thanks again,” said Malik as he walked back to his store with a wondering and upset look in his eyes. Iris looked away and saw Ollie walking up the pavement with Lian. They were having an animated conversation.

  “Morning Iris. We have a busy morning. Five cakes to prepare today! Have a great day,” said Lian as she walked into Fond of Fondant.

  Iris nodded. “So Ollie, are you all ready?”

  “Yes,” assented Ollie.

  They both got into the van.

  Iris started the engine and wordlessly drove into the direction of the city before making her way south.

  Ollie sensing that his mother was quieter than usual, looked at Iris’s profile.

  “Mum, are you okay?” asked Ollie.

  “Yes, I’m fine,” said Iris, keeping her eyes on the road ahead.

  “You seem, I don’t know, really quiet,” said Ollie.

  Iris stayed silent and shrugged. The van slowed down at a set of red traffic lights. She opened the glove box, took out several CDs, and chose one at random to place it in the van’s stereo player.

  Ollie gave Iris a perplexed look before looking out the window. The lights turned green.

  The van made its way past Liverpool. Iris was trying to blink away tears as the almond essence triggered a long forgotten memory.

  December 1992

  It was a balmy night and Iris was having trouble sleeping. She turned over and saw that the other side of the mattress was empty. “Where was Roddy?” thought Iris. She got up to investigate. She peered out the bedroom door and saw light coming out from the direction of the kitchen. She stepped out and walked over to the kitchen. She saw Roddy, standing in just his underwear, preparing some sort of meal. Iris saw yet again why she was so happy to call Roddy her husband. He looked so handsome with his blonde and caramel-coloured hair, broad shoulders and muscular legs, built like columns.

  Roddy then turned right to find an ingredient he was after, and saw that Iris was standing behind him.

  “Iris, go back to sleep! I don’t want to ruin the surprise,” said Roddy in horror as he stretched his arms out to block Iris from seeing what he was doing.

  “I’m surprised all right. But what are you doing up so late?” asked Iris as she stepped forward. Roddy stepped forward to stop Iris coming any closer to the kitchen bench.

  “It’s your birthday tomorrow. I wanted to make your favourite dish. From scratch,” said Roddy.

  “You were going to make me tiramisu?” asked Iris and looked over at the ingredients.

  “Now you’ve spoiled the surprise. I was going to make amaretto almond tiramisu,” said Roddy unhappily.

  “I can help out. At the moment I can’t go to sleep. It’s too hot,” said Iris.

  “I suppose you can help me out with making your surprise dish,” said Roddy.

  Iris and Roddy then worked to make the tiramisu. Roddy then placed the finished product into the fridge.

  All of a sudden, Roddy grabbed a handful of caster sugar and threw it at Iris.

  “What are you doing?” said Iris as she felt grains of sugar rolling off her body.

  “That’s for ruining your birthday surprise,” said Roddy.

  Iris reached over to the leftover mascarpone and poured it over Roddy’s head.

  “You didn’t,” said Roddy and went to get the bottle of almond essence, and poured this all over Iris. The smell of almond essence filled up the entire kitchen space. Iris responded by grabbing the coffee mix and heaping this over Roddy.

  “Roddy!” shrieked Iris. “We’ll wake up Ollie.”

  “Too late,” remarked Roddy.

  A toddler walked into the kitchen and he took in the scene of his giggling parents in a mess of tiramisu ingredients.
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  Iris wiped a tear that escaped from her right eye. That tiramisu escapade had been the start of making many cakes together with Roddy. Black forest cake, triple-chocolate cheesecake, cherry flan cake, banana cake…

  Chapter 37

  Saturday, 15 September – 8:45 am

  Jonquil was looking out of the window of her kitchen. She had just made herself a cup of coffee and braced herself for the day ahead. She drank her coffee carefully as she put on her tuxedo, which was a shiny black and silky suit. The plan was that the wedding party, that is, Heath and Anthony, Camille and all the six grooms-maid would head over to Jonquil’s home in Hunter’s Hill. Then they would all be driven in limousines to their destination in the Southern Highlands.

  The doorbell rang and Jonquil placed her mug of coffee down on the kitchen bench. Jonquil walked through the large living area to open the front door.

  “Morning Jonquil,” said Camille, who was beautifully made up and dressed up in her tuxedo and high heels. Her grey hair looked glossy and immaculate. “Your house is just absolutely huge, Jonquil. You could land an aircraft here. Commercial-grade.”

  “Yes, it’s quite a large residence,” agreed Jonquil and she let Camille in. “Would you like a coffee?”

  “Yes, please,” said Camille. “So the wedding day for our boys has finally arrived.”

  “Yes, a big and important day for our boys,” said Jonquil.

  Camille was watching the water views from Jonquil’s living room. The views looked over the Valentia Street Wharf.

  “Well, looks like we both share a love of amazing water views. This view is a stunner,” said Camille as she looked over the water and saw the cityscape far off into the horizon.

  “It is a unique property. This property has passed down through several generations. Though the maintenance costs drive me mad sometimes,” said Jonquil.

  “But the views! I’m sure the money spent is all worth it,” said Camille as she joined Jonquil in the kitchen.

  The doorbell rang again.