Friday Romance: Bouquet
Robert would open his flower shop every morning at nine, and close at six. Throughout the day he’d get his usual visitors, some there to buy, others to chat. One thing he’d been told by every...
Robert would open his flower shop every morning at nine, and close at six. Throughout the day he’d get his usual visitors, some there to buy, others to chat. One thing he’d been told by almost every newcomer was that he should change his hours, to stay open later so there would be more time for people to browse after getting out of work, but he had no intentions of changing his business hours.
On a Tuesday in July, the sun a beautiful burning orb looking down upon the flower shop, the bell above the door alerted Robert. He looked up from counting out the day’s haul in the register. She wore a flowing dress, with her long hair resting over her shoulders. She held a young boy’s hand, no older than five, thought Robert, as her purse dangled over her left side and hit her hip as she walked forward.
“Sorry,” she said, “I saw the sign outside, I know you’re almost closed. Do you mind if I have a look around?”
“Not at all,” replied Robert. “Does your son like sweets?”
“Yes!” shouted the young boy.
“I have some suckers here,” Robert reached for the bowl on the other side of the counter.
“That’d be nice,” she replied. “Charles, go get a piece of candy and then you can help mommy pick something out.”
The young boy walked over, his eyes grew wide at the sight of the bowl. He picked a small sucker, with blue and pink wrapping.
“Cotton candy is my favorite flavor too,” said Robert. “Think I’ll have one myself.”
The young boy unwrapped the sucker and smiled at Robert before joining his mother.
“Looking for anything in particular?” asked Robert. He closed the register and walked out from behind the counter.
“Yes, actually,” replied the woman. “I need daisies, white daisies, along with whatever would look good in a bouquet I suppose. I’m not too great with these things. I’ve actually tried to stop in this shop before, a few times actually, but you’d always be closed. I’m glad I caught you just in time. Have you considered staying open later?”
“I’ve kept the same hours since the days my wife and I first opened this shop,” said Robert. “We’d lock the doors and tidy up, then get into the car and home in time for supper at seven. That was our routine for fifty years. Fifty wonderful years.”
“What happened? Is she? Never mind, I shouldn’t have asked,” said the woman, “that’s personal.”
“It’s no problem,” said Robert as he placed a dozen daises into a vase. “I was lucky to have all that time with her,” he laughed as he looked around the shop. “She was much better at making arrangements that I am, but fortunately I learned a bit from her, enough to keep this place afloat.”
He grabbed a bit of Baby’s-breath and walked it over to the arrangement. “That’ll work. Still missing something. My Kathryn, she had a creative mind, I swear she saw the world differently than most. Give her anything, old clothes, forgotten trinkets, and she’d find a way to make them beautiful again. Come to think of it she probably did that with me,” he smiled and a tear rolled down and lingered on his cheek before he wiped it away. “I was a grump when we first met.”
“My husband was like that too,” said the woman. “Stubborn I suppose would be the word I’d use. He’s an amazing father, though. I think it’s the job he was destined for.”
“Are these flowers for him?” asked Robert.
“Yes,” replied the woman. “He’s been overseas, and comes home tomorrow. It’ll be his last tour, says he’ll take my father’s offer to work at the dealership. My husband’s parents are no longer around, but his mother always loved daisies. He’s told me stories about how his father would bring a single daisy home with him for his mother each day after work. I thought it’d be nice to have some daisies waiting for him, to both remind him of his parents, and let him know he’s found a new family that loves him.”
“He’s lucky to have you,” replied Robert, “and you, Charles.” He tied a pink ribbon around the vase, and then a blue one. “Just like your sucker, that way a part of you will be waiting for your father as well.”
“It looks so lovely,” said the woman. She let go of her son’s hand and raised her purse up so she could peak inside. “How much do I owe you?”
“Your company was payment enough. I see a lot of Kathryn and myself in your story.” He pushed the vase to the edge of the counter. “I’m sure your husband will be delighted to be home, and happy to know he’s found himself in such loving care.”
“Thank you, I, I don’t know what to say. I appreciate you staying open a bit longer. I’m sure you have places to be.”
Robert checked his watch and then looked back up at the woman. “I’ll still make it in time,” he said. He turned around and picked up a small basket. “Each day after work I visit Kathryn’s memorial, I haven’t missed a single dinner since the day I said ‘I love you’ for the last time. The beautiful thing about having this shop, and keeping these hours, is that I never have to say goodbye.”
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Abigail Bloom's life is thrown into a sweeping romance when a new deputy rolls into the small town of Brooks Landing, but when her ex-husband enters back into her life, she's unsure if she can hold onto her new chance at true love. A break-in in the small town causes Abigail's ex to suspect the new deputy - Can she trust her new love interest or is he using her as an alibi?
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(First 3 episodes FREE) John Prince's life in Peak Creek seems perfect. He's been seeing Cassandra Queen for six months and hopes to move in together. However, Cassandra resists the change, putting John's romantic future into question. When an opportunity to advance at work opens up, John feels his luck turning around. Katie Young, a recent transfer at the firm, has other plans. Their rivalry collides when they have to co-present during a company retreat.
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