Page 19

My order for the Petunia Pro Facial Spa might be delayed, but unfortunately for me, my credit card bill is coming right on time.

“Emerson!” Nora shouts my name over the quiet hum of vendors setting up their booths. “We’re over here!”

I pull my sweater tight around me as the chill of the cool Colorado air nips through the Petunia Lemon T-shirt I threw on this morning.

I’ve barely been to a farmers’ market as a customer before, let alone to sell something.

My shoulders ache under the weight of my backpack I loaded up with products, and I’m worried the bag I’m holding is moments away from breaking, but I’m still afraid I’m not anywhere near prepared.

Finances have been tighter than normal since joining Petunia Lemon with the monthly order we’re required to make, but the spur of the moment purchase of professional spa equipment really sent me over the edge.

I can’t lie, once I got home after the party, I had instant buyer’s remorse.

I called Nora in a tizzy, hoping it wasn’t too late to cancel my order.

It was, but she reminded me of the return policy once it arrived and if I still felt like I didn’t want it.

In the meantime, she encouraged me to get out there and try to sell some products.

It doesn’t pay as much as recruiting a new member, but it could be enough to ease some of my stress as bills start rolling in.

“Good morning.” I take off my backpack and put the bag on an open table when I reach the tent Nora’s huddled under with Hayley. “Thank you so much for inviting me today. I can’t tell you how much I needed this.”

“Oh, please. We’re sisters now, whatever I can do to help you, I’ll do.

” Nora waves me off. “I remember how stressful those early days were, but this is the best thing about Petunia Lemon. If you were to start a business on your own, you’d have to figure out everything by yourself.

But with us, you have an entire team who’s been where you are and are ready to help you out. Right, Hayley?”

“Oh my gosh, yes.” Hayley nods her head a little too vigorously for this early in the morning.

“This is what being sisters in skincare is all about! I’m so glad Nora asked if you could tag along today.

I always have really great turnouts at farmers’ markets, and I think it will be the perfect place for you to dip your toe into selling these products. ”

“I have an appointment across town I have to be at, so I won’t be able to stay long,” Nora says. “I just wanted to make sure you made it and didn’t need anything else. Hayley is the best at in-person sales though; you’re in the finest hands.”

“I appreciate you both so much and I’m really excited to learn from Hayley today.” I unzip my backpack and start unloading all of the stuff I brought. “Just tell me where to go and what to do and I’ll do it.”

I don’t talk about it much (read: ever) but once upon a time, I did work in retail.

I got a job at Nordstrom while I was home from college one summer.

My friend worked there, and I was hoping to get a job alongside her in Brass Plum, their juniors department, but the only opening was for men’s clothing, selling ties, cuff links, belts, and the occasional dress shirt.

I went in with dreams of grandeur and left humbled, realizing I didn’t even know how to tie a tie, let alone sell one.

It wasn’t great. I think I spent more on gas than I made, but looking back, I don’t think it was my skills as a salesperson as much as my lack of knowledge of the product.

It’s going to be different this time. I’ve spent the weeks since joining Petunia Lemon going to all of the meetings and learning everything I can about these serums and lotions—the “potions of youth,” as we call them—and I have a really good feeling about today.

Plus, even if I get nervous, I’ll have Hayley by my side to help. What could possibly go wrong?

···

Hayley left.

We had barely finished setting up when her phone rang, and her fiancé was on the other end.

By the time she hung up, tears were streaming down her face and she could barely breathe.

I thought someone had died! Turns out, the caterer she hired for the wedding reached out to tell them they could no longer provide the vegan and gluten-free option she had chosen, and she was going to have to find a new caterer.

I’ve never planned a wedding before and I have no idea how much stress she’s under, but even though I helped her pack up her bag and told her not to worry, I can’t help but think she should maybe worry about me.

At least a little bit.

The sun is high in the sky and it’s a perfect Denver day.

With fall rapidly approaching, people came out in droves to soak up the warm weather while it lasts.

My booth has seen more action than I could’ve ever dreamt, but as soon as anyone asks me anything, just like when I took the SAT, all the information I’ve learned vanishes into thin air.

“Sunscreen is really important,” I say to the lady who’s been picking up and putting down products for the last fifteen minutes. “Nobody wants skin cancer.”

“Nobody wants skin cancer”? Out of everything I could’ve said, that’s what I go with?

Idiot!

“Of course not.” She puts the sunscreen down and glares at me through the thick-rimmed glasses sitting on her face. “That’s how my grandma died.”

Oh fucking hell.

And embarrassment is how I die.

“I’m so sorry.” I reach beneath the table to grab the rest of the samples I have left and dump them into a branded Petunia Lemon paper bag. “Please, have all of the samples you want. If you like them, we’ll be here next week.”

Or more to the point, Hayley will be—if there’s not another catering emergency. I’ll be at home on my couch, still recovering from this interaction.

She snatches the bag out of my hand and whispers something I know I don’t want to hear under her breath.

The crowd is starting to thin and while that was, without a doubt, my worst interaction of the day, I’d be lying if I said most of them went much smoother.

I’ve been here for five hours, and I’ve only made three sales.

And to make matters worse, my booth is sandwiched in between a tamale stand and a gourmet lemonade booth.

I’ve spent more money than I’ve made and my stomach hurts!

Actually, one of the sales I made was to the man selling tamales.

He saw me almost break down after another person walked away when I told them how much the serum cost and took pity on me.

I’m not against pity sales, but I doubt they’re a good foundation for a business.

I look at my watch for the millionth time today and almost weep when I see I still have an hour left. This day has moved like molasses. All I want to do is go home and drink whiskey in the bathtub, but I plaster a smile on my face and try to at least finish the day strong.

Two women start walking my way and that undying flicker of hope inside of me rears back to life.

Before Hayley was rushed away, she gave me tips on how to recognize a potential Petunia Lemon customer.

Middle-aged women who seemed put together and appearance conscious, designer bags were a plus, and big floppy hats or oversize sunglasses were an absolute yes.

And these two women are all of the above.

“Hi! I love your hats.” I scoot to the edge of my tent to greet them, and hope I don’t sound as desperate as I feel. “Stylish and protecting your skin. Brilliant!”

Brilliant. I definitely sound as desperate as I feel.

“Thank you.” One of them picks up a bottle of serum without looking at me. “It’s Loewe.”

“Oh wow. Nice.” I have no idea what that means, but it sounds expensive. “Well, besides your Loewe hat protecting your face from the sun, what else do you use to protect that gorgeous skin of yours?”

I know Hayley said compliments go a long way, but I think that sounded creepy. How do you compliment a stranger’s skin without sounding like you want to wear it?

“Besides what my doctor does for me, I wash my face daily, use a vitamin C serum, a retinoid at night, face lotion, and of course sunscreen.” She lays out all my talking points for me and for once, I think luck might be on my side.

“What about you?” I ask her friend.

“About the same thing.” She puts down the box of our Good Night serum that she’s been studying. “Add in an exfoliating mask every now and then.”

“No wonder both of you have such beautiful skin.” Again, creepy!

“You obviously have products you use, but I’d love to introduce you to Petunia Lemon.

We are a woman-founded company with some of the top-ranked beauty products in the country.

Our products aren’t just clinically tested, but proven by thousands and thousands of testimonials.

What would you say if I told you our sunscreen is the highest ranked on the market? ”

The woman in the Loewe hat looks to her friend, and a smirk that makes my stomach turn pulls at the corner of her mouth.

“I’d say you were full of it,” she says.

“I sold Petunia Lemon years ago and I can’t believe they’re still out here doing the same old song and dance.

You seem sweet enough, so fair warning, whatever you think you’re going to get from this company isn’t there.

And these ‘top of the line’ products you’re selling? I’ve found better stuff at Walmart.”

My mouth falls open, and I struggle to come up with anything to say.

Despite the meetings I’ve been to, nobody prepared me for this.

They take their time walking away, their noses in the air and laughter trailing behind them.

And even though I still have quite a bit of time before the market closes, I grab my backpack and start loading up.

The farmers’ market was a bust, but I’m going to figure this out.

One day.

Maybe.