Page 101 of Bridesmaid Undercover
She can decorateandset up small moments with the girl I’m trying to get back together with. She can create a warm and stylish event. She shows empathy when it’s needed, levity too. She can do it all—and without breaking a sweat. She’s unmatched.Is there anything she cannot do?I head over to thetable where Maple is working and just as I’m about to take a seat, she says, “Never thought I’d see the day when Hardy Hopper is wearing an all-pink suit.”
“I’m full of surprises, Maple.” I chuckle and glance over the materials on the table and pick up one of the personalized cookies. It’s a cutout of a flamingo and written on the body isPolly and Ken, with a heart between their names. Cute. “Think you’ll be able to eat this flamingo cookie without guilt?”
“I don’t know,” Maple answers. “It looks delicious, but eating a flamingo goes against everything I believe in.”
“I understand the dilemma. But this flamingo doesn’t have feathers or a beating heart, so…”
“True,” she says, glancing my way with a smile. A very familiar, warm smile. Feels like comfort. Like going back home after a long semester.
I clear my throat. “So what are we doing?”
“We’re sticking a cookie and a thank-you note that talks about the importance of flamingos into each of these bags and then tying them up. Think you can handle it?”
“I think so,” I say. I pick up a bag and stuff a cookie in it, along with a thank-you note, and then tie it at the top. “How’s that?”
She examines my work. “Looks good to me.”
“Perfect,” I say as I reach for another. “So, you missed a fun time the other night, full of pom-pom garlands and centerpieces.”
“I know. I felt bad about that,” she says, sounding a lot more like herself than our last few interactions. “But it seems like you guys did a good job.”
“Yeah, Everly’s great. She knew exactly when to pull me from making the centerpieces and put me back on garland duty.”
“You’re telling me you couldn’t handle the arrangements?” she asks.
“Not so much,” I say.
“Surprising,” she says with a touch of mirth.
Okay, this is progress.
This is way better than the bowling alley.
Sure, I’ll admit that I wasn’t at my best that night and conversation wasn’t flowing, but this is a step up for sure.
As we continue to work, I ask, “How are the flamingos?”
She glances my way. “They’re good. I think they’re still getting used to me, so it’s been a little different. When I was in Peru, we weren’t interacting with the flamingos, we were observing, so it’s like a change of mindset for me. I tend to find myself just watching them at times and have to be reminded that I’m a caretaker, not an observer.”
“I can see the challenge in that. Have you bonded with any of the flamingos?”
“Not like in Denver. But I’m sure it will take some time. The other zookeepers are pretty good friends, so fitting into an already established friend group is hard as well. Not to mention, I’m not super outgoing, so…it’s just been an adjustment.”
“I would say you’re pretty likeable, Maple.”
“Thanks,” she says and softly smiles. “It’s just…different.”
“I’m guessing you’re missing Peru.”
“Think about it every day,” she says on a wistful sigh.
“Why did you have to leave?”
“The research grant was up, which meant it was time to leave. We all had to look for new jobs and, well, there was an opening here and I decided to apply. Thought it would be nice to be close to Polly again. Which it has been, but I’m going from living in a permanent tent for two years, to a real apartment with running water and, well, it’s just a change.” She lowers her head. “I miss a simpler life.”
“It was simple there?”
“Very,” she says. “You didn’t have all of the distractions that you have now. It’s you and nature and the people and animals around you—that’s it. You get to watch the stars dance across the sky every night. Fall asleep to the sounds of the wild, wake up to crisp morning air rather than the honking and yelling of people trying to make it through their morning commute.” She shrugs. “I just miss the silence and peace.”
