Chapter 32: Rainy Day conversations
Chapter 32: Rainy Day Conversations
The sky was a soft gray when Lila unlocked the shop's door early that morning. The air smelled of rain, a crisp freshness that hinted at an incoming storm. She liked mornings like this—quiet, reflective, and filled with a sense of solitude.
She flipped on the warm lights inside the shop, illuminating the rows of flowers waiting to be arranged. The gentle hum of the refrigerator in the corner was her only company. She had just started organizing the violets near the window when she heard the first rumble of thunder.
Moments later, the rain began. It started as a soft patter on the rooftop, then quickly escalated into a downpour. The streets outside blurred under the sheets of water cascading from the sky.
Lila glanced at the clock—it wasn't even 8 a.m. yet. She doubted she'd get many customers in this weather. Still, she took comfort in the shop's cozy atmosphere. She brewed herself a cup of tea, the aroma of chamomile and honey filling the air, and settled at the counter.
The shop bell chimed unexpectedly, startling her. She looked up to see Ethan standing in the doorway, water dripping from his jacket and hair.
"Good morning," he said, shaking the rain off like a wet dog. "Hope you don't mind me barging in."
Lila smiled, her surprise fading into warmth. "Of course not. Come in before you catch a cold."
Ethan stepped further inside, wiping his feet on the mat. "I was on my way to the café next door when the rain hit. Thought I'd take shelter here instead."
"You made the right choice," Lila said, motioning toward the teapot. "I just made some tea. Want a cup?"
Ethan nodded, a grateful smile spreading across his face. "That sounds perfect."
---
Minutes later, they were seated at the small table near the back of the shop, steaming mugs of tea in hand. The rain continued its relentless drumming against the windows, creating a soothing backdrop.
"Do you always open this early?" Ethan asked, his hands wrapped around his mug.
"Not always," Lila admitted. "Some mornings I just wake up early and figure I might as well get a head start."
He nodded, his gaze drifting to the violets by the window. "I was actually planning to stop by later today. Guess fate had other plans."
Lila tilted her head, curious. "More violets?"
"Yeah," he said, his voice softening. "They're my sister's favorite. She's always loved them—said they reminded her of spring, of fresh starts."
Lila leaned forward slightly. "You talk about her a lot. She must mean a lot to you."
Ethan's expression grew somber, his gaze fixed on the rain outside. "She does. But I didn't always show it the way I should have."
Lila didn't press him, letting the silence stretch. Finally, Ethan spoke again, his voice tinged with regret.
"When we were younger, I was supposed to look out for her. She was the quiet one, the dreamer. And I… well, I was too wrapped up in my own world to notice when she needed me most."
Lila sipped her tea, her heart aching at the vulnerability in his voice. "What happened?"
Ethan sighed, running a hand through his damp hair. "She had a tough time in high school. Bullying, mostly. I knew about it, but I didn't step in. I thought she'd figure it out on her own or that it wasn't as bad as it seemed. But it was. It left scars I couldn't see until much later."
Lila's throat tightened. "That's a lot to carry."
"I tried to make up for it," Ethan continued, his voice steady but filled with emotion. "When we got older, I made an effort to be there for her. But by then, she'd built walls. She didn't trust me the way she used to. And honestly, I don't blame her."
Lila reached across the table, her fingers brushing against his for a brief moment. "It sounds like you're doing everything you can now. That counts for something."
Ethan met her eyes, a flicker of gratitude passing over his face. "Thanks. I hope so. The violets seem to be helping. She hasn't told me to stop, at least."
Lila smiled softly. "Sometimes it's the small gestures that mean the most."
---
For a while, they sat in comfortable silence, listening to the rain. Then Ethan glanced at her, his expression curious. "What about you? Do you have any siblings?"
Lila shook her head. "No, it was just me. My parents always said I was their whole world, though."
"That must have been nice," Ethan said.
"It was," she replied, her voice tinged with nostalgia. "But it also made losing them harder. They passed away years ago, not long before I met James."
Ethan frowned. "That's a lot of loss for one person to bear."
"It is," Lila admitted, her gaze dropping to her tea. "And sometimes it feels unbearable. But James… he made it easier. He had this way of making everything seem brighter, even in the darkest times."
She paused, her voice trembling slightly. "I still feel guilty, though. For not saving him. For not finding a way to make him stay."
Ethan's brow furrowed. "Lila, you can't carry that. Sometimes things happen that are completely out of our control. It doesn't mean you failed him."
Her eyes glistened, and she blinked back tears. "It's just hard to let go of the 'what ifs.'"
"I know," Ethan said, his tone gentle. "I feel the same way about my sister. But guilt… it doesn't fix anything. All we can do is try to be better moving forward."
Lila nodded, his words settling in her heart. For the first time in a long while, she felt truly understood.
---
The conversation shifted to lighter topics, and soon Ethan was recounting a childhood story about getting stuck in a tree while trying to impress a girl.
"She told me I looked like a monkey," he said, laughing. "I thought she meant it as a compliment."
Lila burst out laughing, the sound surprising and freeing. "Did she at least help you down?"
"Not a chance," Ethan said, grinning. "She walked away and left me there. My mom had to come with a ladder."
Lila shook her head, still laughing. "That's terrible!"
"Yeah, but I learned a valuable lesson," Ethan said, his eyes sparkling with humor. "Never climb trees for love."
Lila's laughter faded into a warm smile. "You have a way of making things seem less heavy, Ethan. It's… nice."
He shrugged, his expression soft. "You've got enough on your plate. If I can make you laugh, even just a little, then I'm glad."
---
By the time the rain began to ease, the shop felt cozier than ever. The tension in Lila's chest had lessened, replaced by a quiet sense of peace.
Ethan stood, stretching slightly. "Looks like the storm's letting up. I should probably get going."
Lila walked him to the door, her heart unexpectedly heavy at the thought of him leaving.
"Thanks for the tea," he said, turning to her with a smile. "And for listening."
"Thank you," she replied, her voice soft. "For being here. And for… everything else."
Ethan hesitated, as if he wanted to say more, but then he simply nodded and stepped out into the damp morning air.
As Lila watched him walk away, the rain now a gentle drizzle, she felt something shift inside her , her heart didn't feel heavy.