Chapter 36: Petals of Memory

Chapter 36: Petals of Memory

The soft hum of the afternoon enveloped Lila's shop as she rearranged a display of violets and lilies near the window. The light filtering through the glass cast a warm glow on the petals, and for the first time in a long while, she found herself smiling without a trace of sadness.

The bell above the door jingled, and she looked up to see Ethan entering with his usual easy stride. He held a small bouquet of daisies in one hand, and his expression brightened when he saw her.

"Hey," he greeted, setting the flowers down on the counter. "I wanted to stop by and thank you again for coming to the party. Nora hasn't stopped talking about how cool you are."

Lila laughed softly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "She's a sweet kid. It was nice to see her so happy—and to see you surrounded by family."

Ethan leaned against the counter, his gaze softening. "It meant a lot to have you there. My sister—Nora's mom—mentioned how much she appreciated the bouquet you brought. She's been... going through a rough time. Seeing her smile like that was rare."

Lila paused, her hands stilling on the flowers she was arranging. "I didn't realize Nora's mom was your sister. I thought—"

"That she wasn't around?" Ethan finished gently. "She's here, but not fully herself. After Nora's dad left, she shut down. She's been trying, though, for Nora's sake. The violets... they're her favorite. They remind her of when things were good."

Lila nodded, her chest tightening with an ache she recognized all too well. "Flowers have a way of holding memories, don't they? That's why I started this shop. It's my way of holding on to James, to the life we had."

Ethan's eyes met hers, and in the quiet between them, something unspoken passed—a shared understanding of grief and the fragile beauty of memories.

Before either of them could speak, the doorbell jingled again. Clara swept in, her bright energy immediately filling the room.

"Lila, you'll never guess who I ran into at the bakery—" Clara's words trailed off when she spotted Ethan. "Oh, it's you again! What is it, your second home now?"

Ethan grinned, unfazed by her teasing. "Just can't stay away. Good flowers, better company."

Clara smirked, turning to Lila. "Well, at least someone appreciates you properly. Unlike some people..." She let the statement hang with a dramatic sigh, clearly referring to her own day.

Lila shook her head, amused. "Clara, what do you need?"

"Nothing, actually," Clara replied, settling into a chair near the counter. "Just thought I'd visit. But now I see I've interrupted something."

Ethan chuckled, raising his hands. "Not at all. Stay as long as you like."

The bell chimed a third time, cutting off Clara's response. This time, Rachel walked in, her heels clicking sharply against the wooden floor. She was followed closely by her husband, who carried a small box and seemed slightly uncomfortable.

"Lila," Rachel greeted, her tone overly sweet. "Still running this little flower shop of yours, I see. Good for you."

Lila tensed, but she kept her voice steady. "Rachel. What can I help you with today?"

Her husband stepped forward, holding up the box. "We'd like to buy 100 red roses. Rachel wanted to surprise me with flowers for our anniversary, but I thought it'd be better to get them fresh from you."

Lila nodded, moving to the cooler to start gathering the roses. "I'll wrap them up for you."

As Lila worked, Rachel's gaze drifted around the shop until it landed on Ethan. Her eyes widened slightly, and she tilted her head as if trying to place him.

"Well, aren't you a surprise," Rachel said, her voice dripping with curiosity. "You don't seem like the type to hang around flower shops."

Ethan met her gaze calmly, offering a polite smile. "And you don't seem like the type to buy 100 roses, but here we are."

Rachel's smile faltered for a moment before she regained her composure. "I like to make bold statements," she replied, stepping closer to him. "You seem... familiar. Have we met before?"

"I don't think so," Ethan said lightly.

Rachel studied him, her gaze lingering on his striking blue eyes. "Hmm. You remind me of someone. Must be a coincidence."

Lila watched the exchange, her hands tightening around the ribbon she was tying around the roses. She could feel the tension in the air, thick and uncomfortable.

Rachel's husband shifted uneasily, his jaw tightening as he noticed the way Rachel was looking at Ethan. "Rachel, let's not take up too much of their time," he said, his voice low but firm.

Rachel ignored him, her focus still on Ethan. "So, are you a regular here? Or just passing through?"

Ethan shrugged, his tone casual. "I guess you could say I'm a regular. Lila's got the best flowers in town."

Rachel's smile turned sly, her gaze flicking to Lila. "Interesting. I didn't know Lila had friends like you. She's usually so... reserved."

Clara cleared her throat loudly, drawing Rachel's attention. "Lila has plenty of friends, Rachel. Maybe you should try being one sometime."

Rachel's expression hardened, but before she could respond, her husband stepped forward, taking the roses from Lila's hands. "Thanks for these," he said quickly. "We should get going."

Rachel hesitated, clearly reluctant to leave, but her husband didn't wait for her. He turned and walked out, leaving her to follow reluctantly.

As the door closed behind them, Clara let out a low whistle. "Well, that was awkward."

Ethan glanced at Lila, concern in his eyes. "You okay?"

Lila nodded, though her hands still trembled slightly. "I'm fine. She just... has a way of getting under my skin."

Ethan placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You handled it well. Don't let her ruin your day."

Lila looked up at him, grateful for his steady presence. "Thank you," she said softly.

Ethan smiled, his hand lingering for a moment before he stepped back. "Anytime."

As he turned to leave, Lila watched him go, her chest tightening with an emotion she couldn't quite name. It was too soon to call it hope, but for the first time in a long while, she felt like she wasn't entirely alone.