Those were the projects she loved doing the most. It made her have to think; challenging her and the team to find new and innovative solutions. Though, she would never say it out loud, it was those pieces that made her proud to own the place.
She heard the clanking sound of keys tapping against the glass door and squinted her eyes in frustration. The last thing she needed was scratches on the front of the shop. Clarke looked to the front to see her assistant manager, Katie, coming in the door.
The chubby girl with the ageless face and dishwater blonde hair waved and headed back into the office with her patriotic bag that was way too big to fit in any of the desk drawers. In so many ways, Katie was the exact opposite of Clarke. Clarke imagined that Katie's house was full of half-eaten food, clothes on the floor and an unmade bed. But when it came to running her shop, if she could ever learn to trust anyone with it, it was Katie. She was a hard worker who had a passion for flowers and art. And she'd come in with plenty of experience and didn't make too many complaints about the way Clarke did things while still keeping her more frustrating quirks in check.
"I should have known you would be here to check up on me," Katie commented with a wide smile on her face. There was that too. The clients loved her because she was so sweet and cheery. "I told you everything would be fine, Clarke. So, tell me what you've changed." Clarke felt slightly like a scolded child, but Katie was a mother after all. It seemed to make sense.
"Honestly, I opened the look book for the prom selection. I wanted to measure out that display, but I knew that would drive you crazy." Clarke followed Katie behind the counter and watched as she opened the drawer like she often did. "I can't believe this doesn't make you nervous." It wasn't the first time she'd said this to Katie.
"People who are nervous usually have something to hide, Clarke. Look, I know you love the shop and all, but you really should quit worrying so much and take some time for yourself. I'm a mother of three with a job, and I still find time to go take a painting class or sit and read for a while," Katie said without turning around. Clarke wouldn't know what to do with herself, though. She had never taken any spare time. She spent college filling her schedule with community service, clubs, and extra credit. She even had a job on the weekends and at nights just to keep from being bored or having to find out how to relax and have a good time. It was a scary concept for her almost.