Saturday morning was turning out to be quite pleasant with its subtle breeze and the absence of the scorching sunrays. The sun was barely out and about. It hid behind the grey and dark clouds as though It simply, wanted to sleep in for the day. To Adelaide's and Dylan's luck, the weather forecast did not say anything about upcoming rainfall.
Tackles promotional sale was to start from one o'clock as most people, prefer having desserts and especially coffee for and after lunch.
The event site, Tackles, was currently being beautified to appeal to a greater audience. Although the decor was simple and sophisticatedly redesigned after Adelaide's suggestion, there were quite many tiny details like lights, stickers, vines, and coloured ballons that had to be put in place. Owing to such work, Dylan and his team were on site by seven-thirty in the morning and were now working towards completing everything effectively well and before time.
Adelaide took a half-day from work and decided to leave her office at sharp twelve-thirty, completing her work with extra zeal and efficiency so that she didn't have to waste extra time going through it again. As much as she loved going on and about her job, she couldn't help but look out for the event happening at Tackles more. She was anxious, expectant, excited and above all hopeful that the event goes well.
Shutting down her laptop after mailing the last design to her supervisor, Adelaide quickly packed her belongings and headed to her table.
"I've sent the design to your mail Gemma, can I leave now?"
Waiting for Gemma's answer as she scrutinized her changes made Adelaide nervous. Surely, Gemma was a great person, but, she seemed to have another side to her in her supervisor mode. Nothing Adelaide couldn't put up with, but someone she did not want to be scrutinized by. Gemma in supervisor mode was like, the strictest and most disciplined teacher in a school whom every student feared. And just like every student who was desperate to not fail that teacher's class, Adelaide anxiously awaited her reply.
Gemma shot one last glance at a detail and changed her line of sight from the laptop to Adelaide. Adelaide with bathed breath looked at Gemma with a small, almost desperate, smile.
"It's good, you may go." -Gemma said with a genuine smile making Adelaide sigh in relief and flash a content smile back at her.
"See you on Monday, Gemma!" -Adelaide replied excitedly and started to make her way out of Gemma's cabin after receiving a quick nod from her.
Since 'Tackles' wasn't quite far from Envisage, Adelaide's workplace, she didn't need to rush there this time as she, luckily, left well and before the planned time. Taking an outwardly quiet but internally loud walk, Adelaide, with paced steps approached her destination while making a mental note of all the things she had to do and check out for.
As she reached the end of the lane, opposite the end where Tackles stood, she could notice the changes that were already put in place. Although the details weren't quite evident, the idea that something was happening there was crystal clear. Slowly, focusing on her surrounding in hopes of noticing interested people, Adelaide made her way closer to the shop. She was barely fifteen steps away from the shop when she grasped the details she had planned with Dylan.
The shop's initial entrance which leads to the few outside tables and chairs now had a small wooden entrance, not a typical door but rather, a small temporary decoration comprising of two medium-sized Mahogany wooden pillars on top of which rested a triangular prism of the same type. It was in all honesty, quite similar to a George II style Palladian door surround made by Mahogany wood. The colour of the wood matched well with the beige outside walls and all in all, didn't stand out as something extra or unusual. Although, that too was probably the case only because of the event.
Walking through the door and onto the garden tiles, Adelaide noticed how the few outdoor tables had already been covered with fresh off-white linen accompanied by a small vase containing a cute bouquet of red and white buckwheat flowers each. Completing the outside setting was the chairs, which too had been put to their designated places. Taking a look around at the small yet spacious area, Adelaide wondered why Mr Riccardo didn't make use of this lovely area in the past.
Glancing in through the picture windows, Adelaide caught a glimpse of Dylan instructing a few things to someone by the counter. Astonished at what she laid her eyes on, Adelaide couldn't help but stare with awe at the sight before her. What had her attention stuck to that particular place was not an alluring Dylan in a gorgeous brown-black suit but in fact, the delicate vines that decorated the countertop. Having caught sight of it, Adelaide, fast on her heels, rushed indoors and stood before the counter.
While planning the initial interior of Tackles, Adelaide had the wild idea of making it tropical but had to drop it just in case it wouldn't be widely appreciated and also because it was out of her budget.
Looking at the vines that gently decorated the previously empty countertop and its empty white back wall, Adelaide felt contempt. The bright green of the vines glistened under the rays of the sun and they looked like they were simply meant for the counter. Although fake, they served their purpose of making the counter look less lonely and just a little exorbitant.
Dylan who noticed Adelaide standing before the counter and looking up at the few vines that occupied the space went towards her after dismissing the venue manager.
"Do you like it?" -Dylan spoke as he stood behind her and saw her back flinch in response.
Adelaide turned around to face Dylan.
"Of course I do. It was my choice to begin with."
Facing her back to Dylan again, Adelaide continued.
"It truly is sad that I can't let it stay after the event."
"And why is that?" -Dylan questioned after seeing her face which held a sulky pout.
Turning to her right, Adelaide pointed at the cherry blossom painting that stood on the not-so-lonely wall.
"Because they don't go too well together."
Dylan glanced in the direction that Adelaide had pointed at and took a good look at the painting and then back at the counter.
"Do they not?" -Dylan pondered out loud as he didn't entirely feel the same as Adelaide. Sure it was a tad bit odd, but the naturistic vibe did go fairly well together.
"For a short time, maybe. But then, the more you focus on it, the more they look out of place."
Looking at her crossed arms and disappointed face, Dylan went on to speak.
"Then why put them temporarily in the first place?"
Adelaide bit her lower lip in annoyance. She didn't want to answer his question. But, there was no reason not to reply. And so, she started but stopped in partial embarrassment.
"Because..." -she replied while looking at the painting.
Dylan, whose eyes didn't leave her, repeated her words with a confused tone.
"Because?"
"B-because I want the vines, why else!" -Adelaide now completely turned her body in the direction of the painting. She didn't want to admit that she wanted the vines even though she knew they weren't the best choice for the counter's shape or the entire interior.
Dylan couldn't understand why she reacted that way. After all, she did have the right to get what she wanted regardless of it looking good or bad. But he couldn't question her as Mr Riccardo called for her. As she left in a frenzy, he noticed how her pale ears were now a faint red and couldn't help but stifle a giggle.
After having a quick conversation with Mr Riccardo, Adelaide went on to change her clothes to match the black-brown theme of the day. She left the washroom wearing a straight knee-length black skirt paired with a black shirt and a brown short tie roughly put together into a neat triangle shape. She finished her outfit with a waist down saddle-brown apron, the same shade as her tie, and kept on her two-inch black heels.
Coming back into the main area of the cafe, she finally took in the hall's decor and smiled in contentment. The hall was decorated with a decent but not excessive number of coffee coloured balloons, many that were floating near the ceiling while some others were on a balloon stand near the entrance. The lights were turned on, making the shop, even more, brighter with the help of the sun and almost like a glowing golden warm room.
The wooden door, which was now open held a small oval-shaped silver plate that reads welcome. And near the entrance, Mr Riccardo was seen putting the medium-sized wooden standing board that read "open" in italics bold accompanied with "for dine-in and takeaway" in plain bold.
"Embrace yourself, it's going to be rush hours soon." -Dylan spoke as he stood beside Adelaide waiting for Mr Riccardo.
Adelaide was quite surprised and partly weirded out by his words and confidence when they left him but now, she knew just how much he meant them.