Forgetting Yesterday by Meg Jolie

elderly lady asked as she hustled out of the back room. Her silver hair was in a bun. Her light blue dress looked crisp and her white, orthopedic shoes were spotless. Her eyes twinkled, as if she were enjoying being kept so busy.
    I held out my hand to her, assuming correctly that this was Dottie. “I’m Zoey. I’m here to help.”
    “Oh, thank goodness,” she whispered as she eyed up the customer Claire was assisting. “We can use it. Follow me.”
    I did as i nstructed. She led me to a backroom with a set of work tables. Flowers, ivy and baby’s breath and a myriad of vases were scattered across one. Completed arrangements were lining a shelf on a back wall. The other table was littered with pens, cards, ribbons and scissors.
    “I don’t know how much help I’ll be,” I admitted. “I’ve never done anything like this before.” I was eyeing up the flowers, knowing instinctively that I didn’t have the talent to assemble a beautiful arrangement.
    “That’s okay,” she said as she gave my shoulder a pat.
    She proceeded to give me instructions on how I could help without actually having to assemble any bouquets. I began filling out cards that went with orders that had already been placed. The plants were neatly labeled, letting me know what was what, and I was able to match plants to the cards. I checked each order off the list as I went.
    Dottie busied herself with arranging the complicated bouquets.
    I was allowed to adorn a few of them with ribbons—that much I could handle. Or at least I could once Dottie gave me a quick lesson on the proper way to tie a bow.
    Claire was in constant motion, helping customers as they trickled in, answering the phone and checking the inventory.
    Hours flew by feeling like no time had passed at all.
    As the day neared its end, we loaded up Claire’s minivan and she drove the flowers to the funeral home.
    Dottie and I stayed behind to clean up.
    The number of calls and customers had dwindled by then. Dottie kept an eye on the front of the shop until Claire returned. Finally, my friend came trudging back through the front door. She turned off the lights in the front of the shop and locked the door with a flip of the deadbolt. After sending Dottie home, she came back to check on me.
    “You are a lifesaver!” she said dramatically.
    I laughed. “Hardly, but this was fun. Anytime you need help, let me know.”
    She groaned. “I could always use help. I just can’t afford it.”
    “Ah,” I said, understanding. “Is that why your desk is such a mess?”
    She cringed. “You went into my office?”
    I nodded. “Dottie asked me to get some extra ribbon.” I knew why she was cringing. Her desk was a disaster. Receipts, bills, handwritten notes were scattered everywhere.
    “I hadn’t planned on showing you my office. I know it’s a catastrophe. You’re such a neat freak and I’m well…me. But I’m always so busy up front, I’m not very good at keeping up with things behind the scenes,” she admitted. “If you think my desk is a mess,” she said with a nervous laugh, “you should see my books.”
    I tilted my head to the side, suddenly feeling concerned. “You’re bills are getting paid, right?”
    She made a face and shrugged. “I hope so?”
    I was sure she was teasing but even so, I was afraid there was a bit of truth to her words.
    “I could help,” I offered.
    “To be honest, the thought did cross my mind,” Claire said. “But the thing is, I can’t pay you like you would deserve to be paid.”
    “That wasn’t what I meant. I wasn’t expecting you to pay me. I just thought it would give me something to do. It would make me feel useful, putting my degree to work. And it would help you get caught up.”
    I let a slow smile spread across my face. This arrangement wouldn’t have to be about money. Not for now. For now, I’d like to return my friend’s kindness. Claire had just taken me in when I had nowhere else to go.
    She reached for a notepad and