AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Risa crouched in front of Tommy. “Would you like me to help you decide on which flowers to choose?”
Tommy grabbed Aiden’s hand. “He’s here to help me.”
Aiden winked at Risa. “We need flowers for a special lady. I’m allowed to help with the choosing, but for now he’ll only tell you who the flowers are for.”
“It’s supposed to be a secret,” Tommy said.
“You’re right,” Risa said.
Aiden watched Tommy’s face as Risa patiently explained to him what flowers she thought could work. It was clear the little boy was taking the whole endeavor quite seriously. “We can put a few of these Stargaze lilies on a bed of red roses, add a red Peruvian lily or two, and maybe add purple double…”
What kind of flowers would Vivian like? Roses? The rich, deep red color?
“Do you think, Aiden?” Tommy was asking.
He also crouched down so that he could focus on Tommy.
“I think I’ve made up my mind,” Tommy was saying and took out a couple of dollars from his pocket. “Do I have enough money?”
“Of course, you have,” Aiden reassured Tommy. “Have you told Risa who the flowers are for?”
Handing Aiden the notes, Tommy beamed. “Yes, but I’m going to deliver them myself. I’ll pick them up before the Valentine’s ball.”
“You’re going to the Valentine’s ball?” Aiden asked.
Risa laughed. “Everybody in town goes to the Valentine ball.”
The next moment, Tommy hugged Aiden’s legs. “Thank you for helping me. Bend down.”
Aiden crouched down. Tommy leaned forward and whispered a name in his ear. With a big grin and wave, the little boy rushed out.
Dumbstruck for a moment, Aiden stared after him, a strange tightness in his throat. Of course.
“You do know two dollars is not enough?” Risa chuckled.
Aiden put the two dollars down and pulled out his wallet. “I’ll take care of it…”
Risa picked up the notes. “It’s more than enough for Tommy, I’m just teasing. Anything else I can help you with?”
Aiden looked at the flowers. “Well… yes, I should probably also buy flowers. Which ones work best for an apology?”
Eyes twinkling, Risa pointed toward the buckets. “Roses and lilies. They work every time. If you give me the address, I’ll make sure she gets it today.”
“I need flowers delivered to two different addresses.”
She grinned. “You’re new in town, aren’t you?”
“Just visiting.”
“Just visiting and you have to apologize to two women? Wait till Carol Bingley hears about this. Don’t worry.” She laughed when she saw his face. “My lips are forever sealed. Carol is sitting in Java Café across the street, and as soon as you leave, she’ll be in here to ask who the flowers are for.”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously.”
And lo and behold, he’d just started his car when he saw Carol hurrying across the street. Why was she so interested in other peoples’ lives? What was her story? If journalism had taught him anything, it was that everyone had a story, everyone was carrying baggage around, and very few people were able to ever make peace with theirs.
He was one of those people. Driving back to Aunt Janice’s house, he remembered her words—he rarely shared something of himself. Talking about feelings, sharing his innermost thoughts with a stranger? Frowning, he tried to picture himself telling someone what had happened two years ago.
