Chapter Text
Holtzmann woke up with a start at the sound of her phone chiming an alert. She had fallen asleep in the lab again. This time when working on a new design for a trap for apparitions. Way to go Holtzy… She had a feeling her face had indents from the various knick knacks on the desk. Sighing she looked at the alert instantly swearing as she stared at it. She had gotten so absorbed in her work that she had lost track of the days. Not unusual, the unusual part was the fact she had lost track the week of Abby’s birthday… and she had yet to get a present.
Jillian Holtzmann felt stupid for one of the few times in her life. She did not want to appear as if she was the bad friend who forgets birthdays. Biting her lip and starting to look up stores nearby she hoped there was something good enough for Abby. Her eyes stuck on a floral shop, The Talking Garden. She prayed that was a Lewis Carroll joke, because it would be amazing. A small fist to the air motion when she saw it was a five minute walk from the fire station. She got weird looks when in the car, and did not need that when feeling like a bad friend.
Jillian looked down at herself, the overalls would do, she did not see any holes or burn marks on them like some of her other clothes she worked in. Hopping out of her work stool and giving a stretch, she patted her chest pocket, making sure her wallet was in there, and patted her hip to be sure the phone was back in its case. Feeling satisfied, she hurried out, not looking back after she locked up. Jillian walked with a purpose, which caused a few commuters to move out of her way, prompting a little smirk.
She had a bit of a skip in her step as she tried to think of what the best sort of flowers would even be. Perhaps the florist would know, she hoped that they would. Florists were usually good at that. At least in places like this side of New York City. The ones where she was from needed the bouquet options laid out. Finally, she found herself at the place. It looked nice and cute. Stepping in she noted that the door had wind chimes not one of those annoying bells.
“Welcome to the Talking Garden.”
Jillian looked at the woman at the counter when she walked in. Hells yes. She was expecting a little old lady, instead she had a gorgeous young lady with a denim halter top that showed she had damn good cleavage and cotton candy esque hair. Seriously, she wanted to ask if the woman’s hair was edible cos damn that looked appetizing, but that would be far weirder than even Jillian was usually capable of. She had to tell herself not to attempt to lick the hair to see if it was sugar coated,this person was not Abby. Licking was not acceptable behaviour. Even then, last time she licked Abby the woman had screamed.
“Good morning. How can I help you?”
“Yeah…I need some flowers for a friend’s birthday. Something like massively showy you know?” She felt so stupid for it, but she could at least make things up by getting something impressive.
“Showy I can do.” When the woman started moving, Jillian shifted to try and see her better. She was in a floor length blue shirt with patterns that reminded her of her first foster mom’s hankies. She had to refrain from looking to see if the woman’s ass looked good. “Any particulars about it or am I allowed to go nuts?”
“She likes yellows and purples. And not a fan of the roses.”
“So something floral and fresh. Avoid the roses and keep it more simple with the flowers but showy overall?”
“Yeah, sounds perfect.”
“Did you need this today?”
“Yeah…” Jillian rubbed her head, wanting to shrink away in utter shame. “I kinda blanked and completely forgot that I had to get her something.”
She watched the woman move to a work bench. “You can sit and watch if you want or I’ve got a back room you can wait in.”
“I’ll wait here.” She was thrilled at the sight of a stool to sit on, dragging it over. Jillian loved stools, more sturdy to hit an intruder with than a wood or folding chair, and gave one better reach, especially when one did not have the longest arms. Not everyone could be Erin.
Jillian watched wondering what the woman was doing with these odd flowers. Purple Truffula Tree, that was all she could think of when the woman started to work on the purple flowers. She noted also, how steady her hands were when tying the bow on the vase.
“Tada! Would you like me to wrap this up so the flowers don’t get bruised or deliver it myself?”
“Deliver, knowing me I will find some way to bruise them.” Jillian was always bruising things, especially bananas and Kevin as of late.
“Understandable. Do you want a card for this?”
“Sure.”
When the woman started to hover her hands over the cards, she noted the woman had long fingers, and her nails were short and had chipped blue polish. It looked like some tiny creatures in the night had taken nano hammers to the woman’s nails and taken away some pieces.
“Go nuts. I’m gonna start adding this up.”
Jillian knew exactly what she was going to write on the card. She had it planned for a long time, since Abby’s last birthday to be exact. She was not about to waste an opportunity, no way in hell.
“Got the total. Is this gonna be cash or card?”
“Cash.” Jillian did not like the fact that with a card she could be tracked.
“Alright. Eighty five dollars even.”
After exchanging the money and walking out, she was halfway in the firehouse doors when she realised she forgot to tell the woman her name. Jillian would have to do better. Now that she was done with having everything purchased, she took a minute or two to take a breather. Soon, she was getting to work on setting up the second floor. Erin and Patty walked in, just as Jillian was half way through going nuts with streamers.
The party was going to be on the second floor. It would just be the girls, Kevin had another hide-and-seek tournament that he was taking part in, not that Jillian was about to complain. She was sure the change of decor on the second floor would confuse his already mushy brain. They did not need to do that to the poor creature that was Kevin. Jillian was convinced that he must be an alien, as no human could be that stupid…could they? Surely it was against the survival instinct in all humans.
It was about half til noon when Abby arrived and the party got started. A number of balloons floated up from where Jillian had caged them around the stripper pole. “RELEASE THE BALLOOOOON,” she shouted as they started to float into the second floor from below. Jillian was practically itching as time passed, waiting for the flowers to arrive. The girls usually left the door unlocked during work hours, as long as they were not on a call, so the florist would be able to get in fairly easy. The boombox was playing Ke$ha’s Tik Tok when she finally noticed the sound of light rapping.
She is rapping on the containment unit… Jillian thought it best not to tell the poor woman what she had just knocked on. There was now likely an upset, sleepy apparition in the unit now, not that the poor woman had any clue.
“I’m looking for a Miss Abby?” Jillian shifted, supposing she had glanced at the note to get Abby’s name meaning she knew Jillian’s too. “Delivery of a birthday gift.”
“Here!” Abby spoke and the florist came hither, making Jillian wish it was her birthday.
“Happy birthday Miss.” She said with a nod, stepping back so Abby could open the wrapping.
“Thank you!” Jillian was hanging in the back, watching as Abby unwrapped her present, commenting on the arrangement, on the color. She then found her gaze drifting to the florist, wondering what she was thinking at that moment. Was it often she got to see the face of someone getting her work as a present? Or would she often have to wonder?
“Wow, Holtzmann! Thank you!” Abby came over and picked Jillian up in a hug, which made her smile, feeling better despite nearly forgetting what day it was like a bad friend.
“Alright. I’ll leave ya’ll to your fun. Miss Abby those should last about two weeks if you keep cleaning the water and put a little plant food into the clean water.” The woman clapped and smiled, and Jillian felt a pang of sadness that she had to go so soon, so who could blame her for talking?
“See ya, Beautiful.”
Jillian smirked as she watched the woman react, all sweet gods of science and tech, she looked cute blushing. It was a pity to see her run out, more so when Jillian realized she did not have a name. Once she was out of the room, the containment unit rattled, the ghost must have been pissed by her knocking earlier.
“Shut up, Edison.” She usually named the ghosts after things she hated.