Butterflies on the Block

Chapter seven (part two)

The rest of the week everyone was very busy setting up and preparing for Olivias quince. Ruby took on the unofficial role of quince party planner, and naturally he went a little over board. But I wasn't worried, Ruby was brilliant and he cared so much for Olivia. I knew this would be a night to remember.

We all had individual duties, Cesar was taken care of the music, Monse the invitations, Jamal was taking care of the flowers due to abuelita's suggestion and I was going to be the jack of all trades. This mostly meant Ruby's assistant, I would help anyone if they needed it, if Ruby had other things to do. I assumed I would probably be in the kitchen helping with the food but im sure I will be also helping with the dance rehearsals. Mostly because Ruby could get intense and I was there to mediate the situation.

Although Jamal was hesitant about me coming along, Ruby insisted I be there to pick out flowers. He said something about a girls touch and Jamal not being able to pick out the right ones.

As we walked into the nursery, I noticed how tense Jamal was. Although it was pretty empty and a little eerie as we walked through the over grown entry, I wasn't really worried.

"What are you so nervous about?" I asked him laughing a little. He was still looking around suspiciously as he answered me.

"Huh, me? Im not worried about anything." He said, not convincing me in the slightest. I answered him with a suspicious hum but we stopped walking as the plants we were walking by started to shake. Jamal stopped, but untensed a little when we heard a cat hiss. My laugh stopped in my throat when we both turned around and a man was stopped behind us. We both jumped slightly and Jamal grabbed my arm in shock.

"Uh, I saw the flowers, at the cemetery. Cant remember the name of the dead guy. Someone named Nicky or Dicky." Jamal rambled. I was highly confused as to what Jamal was talking about. I started to wonder if getting just flowers was Jamals only intention, and maybe that's why he was so nervous.

"Ricky." The man, who I assumed worked here said as he took a step closer to us. Instantly I understood what was going on. Jamal was still on the hunt for the original Santos. I huffed in annoyance and gave Jamal an irritated look.

"Right." Jamal replied back as we both took a step back. But the unnamed man kept walking closer. "Ricky. Love the plot man." Jamal continued. I was starting to get worried about the whole situation. I would rather pick flowers on the side of the highway then have to continue to inch away from this random man. Clearly this was a horrible plan made by Jamal and I wondered what Abuelita had to do with this.

"Okay, so, we need some flowers for a quinceñera." I tell the man, wanting to get this over with. I did not care about Lil Ricky, I only cared about getting the perfect flowers for Olivia, even if we did have a small budget.

"I was thinking something in the vain of Ricky's grave, but for a party." Jamal tells him. I give Jamal a weird look. Grave flowers were definitely not the way to go for a girls birthday party. "How much did those clients pay? You probably don't remember. No biggie. Can you just pass along their information and I'll ask them?" Jamal quickly asked him. I rolled my eyes, he was looking for the guys relatives?

"No." The man says in a monotone voice.

"No?' Jamal asks him.

"Ricky was my cousin. What do you have?" The man explains.

"Nothing! It just a flashlight pen. You can have it. Its yours." Jamal hurriedly tells him.

"For the flowers." I tell Jamal plainly.

"Oh, for the flowers. Fifty bucks?'" He asked almost in question.

"Sounds like three bins of baby's breath." Ricky's cousin tells him.