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Never having siblings of my own, I’m unsure how to navigate typical family dynamics…especially while trying to remain professional, so settling back into my chair as gingerly as I can, I just say, “Oh.”
Breckyn sits across from me, but instantly leans forward, her forearms planted on my desk. “He’s actually really great. Overprotective but great. You should’ve seen him last week when he found out we weren’t going to homecoming. He was so pissed.”
“Neither of you got asked?”
Breckyn’s a very beautiful young woman. Her features are dark like her brother’s, and they both have the same golden-beige skin tone, but Breckyn has an unmistakably softer, friendlier face.
When her head wobbles from side to side noncommittally, I tell her, “You should’ve asked someone.”
She smiles. “That’s what Reece said.”
“So, it was a matter of not wanting to go?”
“We wanted to go, but…” The smile wanes. “Our mom can’t afford extras.”
My vision blurs and I have to look up at the ceiling to blink several times to clear it. Extras. I went without extras my entire childhood.
“Doesn’t Reece help?” I ask once I’m able.
“He tries to, a lot, but my mom doesn’t always let him.”
“Did she let him this time?”
“He didn’t really give her the option to. He just did it. We tried telling him there wasn’t enough time to get nice outfits, but he wouldn’t listen to us. He even took us to this exclusive boutique and let us get whatever we wanted.”
“Do you have any pictures?”
She hands over her phone with instructions of which way to scroll to see more. In the photos, Breckyn’s wearing a dapper suit while a girl almost identical to her is in a gold floor-length gown.
The suit and dress he needed on short notice.
“Reece paid for us to have a limo and everything.”
“Did you have fun?”
“It was…nothing above.”
I glance up from the screen. “Nothing above?”
“Yeah. Like when something’s the best. Top tier. Nothing above it.”
Her brother said the same thing about apex predators.
Nodding, I return her phone.
“You both looked amazing.” More importantly, they looked happy. Their faces were radiating joy in every picture. “Did your brother help with the flowers, too? He seems to have a great appreciation for them.” Charlie had a gorgeous corsage that complemented her dress, and Breckyn had a simple boutonniere that fit perfectly with her suit. Although small, a lot of thought went into the arrangements.
Breckyn’s laugh is light and fond as she says, “No, our mom made those.”
“Your mom could be a florist,” I tell her honestly.
“She is. She runs Silvy’s.”
I rack my brain, trying to place it. “Over on Saint and Fifth?”
“Uh-huh.”
More pieces of the puzzle that is Reece Souza start to fall into place. Some, but not all. Silvy’s is busy, if not the busiest flower shop in Fox Hollow. Why isn’t their mother able to afford extras?
