Chapter 33: A New Perspective

Chapter 33: A New Perspective

The morning sunlight streamed through the shop windows as Lila finished restocking a display of violets. It was a rare day off from the shop, and Clara had convinced her to step away for some errands.

"You can't live on tea and toast forever," Clara teased as they walked toward the grocery store. "You're coming with me, no arguments."

Lila managed a small smile. Clara had a way of pushing her out of her comfort zone, though she knew it came from a place of care.

The grocery store was bustling with early-morning shoppers. The hum of carts, chatter, and faint music over the speakers made Lila feel slightly on edge, but Clara's lively energy kept her grounded.

"Go grab some vegetables," Clara instructed. "I'll meet you by the bakery."

Lila wandered toward the produce section, scanning the rows of fresh greens and colorful fruit. She was inspecting a basket of tomatoes when a familiar voice caught her attention.

"Are you always this focused when choosing vegetables?"

Lila turned to see Ethan standing a few feet away, holding a basket and grinning. His casual presence caught her off guard.

"Ethan," she said, surprised. "What are you doing here?"

"Grocery shopping," he said, lifting his basket slightly. "I guess even mysterious strangers need to eat."

She chuckled softly, the tension in her shoulders easing. "I didn't expect to see you here."

"Well, I didn't expect to bump into my favorite florist in the produce aisle," he replied, his tone light and teasing.

Lila shook her head, but a small smile tugged at her lips. They fell into step together as they moved through the aisles, Ethan occasionally making lighthearted comments that drew quiet laughs from Lila.

At one point, he picked up a bag of cookies and held them up. "Do these count as a balanced breakfast?"

Lila rolled her eyes, suppressing a laugh. "If you pair them with coffee, maybe."

Ethan grinned and tossed the bag into his basket.

As they approached the floral section, Lila's gaze drifted to a display of sunflowers. Their vibrant yellow petals seemed to brighten the room, and for a moment, she was lost in a memory of James bringing her sunflowers after a particularly rough day.

Ethan noticed her lingering. "You like sunflowers?"

"They're... cheerful," Lila said softly, not meeting his eyes.

Without hesitation, Ethan picked up a small bouquet of sunflowers and placed them in his basket.

"What are you doing?" Lila asked, her brow furrowing.

"Buying them," he said simply.

"For who?"

"For you," he replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Even florists deserve flowers."

Lila stared at him, her chest tightening. No one had bought her flowers since James, and the unexpected gesture left her unsure of how to respond.

"You don't have to—"

"I know I don't have to," Ethan interrupted, his tone gentle but firm. "But I want to."

Lila opened her mouth to protest but found herself unable to form the words. There was something so sincere in his expression that she couldn't bring herself to argue.

"Thank you," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper.

They continued shopping together, Ethan filling the gaps in conversation with stories and quips that kept her at ease. By the time they reached the checkout, Lila realized she hadn't felt this light in months.

Clara appeared with a baguette and a mischievous grin. "Making new friends, I see."

Lila flushed, but Ethan didn't miss a beat. "I'm just here to make sure she doesn't buy too many tomatoes," he said with a playful smirk.

Clara laughed, clearly enjoying the dynamic.

As they left the store, Ethan handed the bouquet of sunflowers to Lila. She accepted them hesitantly, her fingers brushing against his.

"Thanks for the company," he said, his tone warm. "And enjoy the flowers."

Before she could respond, Ethan gave a quick wave and walked toward his car.

Clara nudged Lila as they watched him go. "He seems nice," she said, her voice teasing but kind.

Lila looked down at the sunflowers in her hands, their bright yellow petals almost too vibrant against the gray of her lingering grief.

"Yeah," she murmured, her voice filled with uncertainty and a hint of something she couldn't quite name.