Their First Family Meal

'This... from the lavender he planted himself? From the garden?'

Elsie's glossy green eyes stared blankly at Nathaniel's smiling face before she slowly lowered her gaze, looking at the bouquet still held by him. The familiar sweet scent lingered on the tip of her nose.

Lifting her hands, Elsie could feel the shivers from her heart traveling to her fingertips. She took the bouquet from Nathaniel, holding it carefully as if it was something precious.

"...these flowers are beautiful," Elsie murmured, her voice laden with faint sobs, "Thank you, Niel."

Elsie had always loved flowers, but lavender became her favorite on the day Nathaniel left the orphanage[01]. He left her a gift in his locker in the form of a basket of dried lavender.

From that moment on, the sweet and woody scented purple flowers took hold of her heart. They always reminded her of the young man.

The one from her youth.