I was watering a few of the flowers near the window when dizziness began to creep over me. I ignored it, brushing the sensation away. I wasn’t ready to be sick, not now. I had just accomplished something I’d dreamed of for so long, opening this shop. But the feverish warmth radiating through my body hinted that this was beyond my will."Good morning, Vera." A middle-aged woman greeted me as she entered, her voice warm and familiar. She wandered toward the flower pots in the corner, admiring the displays. The purple flowers, as always, caught her attention, their beauty was undeniable.Their velvety petals, in deep shades of violet and lavender, seemed to glow softly in the morning light. Clusters of lilacs filled the shop with their sweet, delicate fragrance, while the tall, graceful irises stood proud with their intricately folded petals.“This is beautiful,” she exclaimed, lifting a flower pot from the table and bringing it over to me. "I want this one."“That will be ten dollars,”
“I don’t know if I can do this, Brenda,” I whispered, my voice barely holding steady. “I left that life for a reason. And now, it feels like it’s all pulling me back in.”Brenda’s eyes softened, understanding washing over her face. “You don’t have to go back to that life,” she said quietly. “You’ve built something new here, Vera. This baby doesn’t mean you have to return to the past. You can still do this your way.”I shook my head, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill. “You don’t understand. Ivan—he’s the father. I didn’t tell anyone why I left Canada, but it wasn’t just for a fresh start. I had to get away from him. Things between us... they weren’t good. I couldn’t stay.”Brenda’s eyes widened, but she didn’t say anything, letting me continue.“I thought I could close that chapter for good,” I whispered, the tears finally spilling over. “But now... this changes everything.”Brenda squeezed my hand tighter, her voice gentle but firm. “Vera, you’re stronger than you reali
~Three years later~“Are you planning on taking that one?” Kelly asked, standing next to the elderly woman who had just entered our shop. “You know, this is the best flower we have. My mommy always smiles when she waters them, and I’m sure it’ll make you smile too.”The woman chuckled and picked up the flower. “You know what, cutie? I’m going to take this one. If my daughter likes it, I’ll come back and get something just for you.”Kelly grinned, crossing her arms over her chest. “I’m sure she’s going to love it.”The woman placed the flowers on the counter, still smiling, while Kelly wandered off to the other side of the shop. She had a special way of making our customers feel welcome every time they came in.“Your daughter is truly remarkable,” the woman said as she handed me the money. “You must be so proud to have such a wonderful child.”“Thank you,” I replied with a smile. “She has a gift for making people happy.”As the woman left, Kelly returned to my side, her hands clasped b
“You’ve got to be kidding,” Brenda said, her mouth forming a perfect circle. “Are you saying Ivan Carlos came to your shop today, after three years?” I nodded, still trying to process it myself. “Yes, Brenda, and now he knows about Kelly. He even asked me if I was married.” Brenda shifted on the couch, settling into a more comfortable position, her eyes wide with intrigue. “What a coincidence! I knew if Ivan loved you, he wouldn’t just let you go.” I rolled my eyes at her comment. “Brenda, this isn’t some romantic reunion. This is far more complicated than that. I don’t want Ivan anywhere near Kelly or me.” “Why?” Brenda’s tone shifted, her expression serious as she studied me, making me feel the weight of my decision. I sighed, rubbing my temples. “There’s so much you don’t know, Brenda. When I left, it wasn’t just because of Ivan. His mother… she made it impossible for me to stay. She threatened me, told me to leave or else she’d ruin my life.” Brenda’s brows furrowed. “What? W
"Kelly, sweetie," I leaned down to her level and gently ran my hand through her hair. "I promise we'll come back another time, but Mom isn't feeling too well right now."Kelly pouted, her bottom lip sticking out in disappointment. It tugged at my heart. I knew how much she had been looking forward to this trip, but I had to do what I had to do.I took her hand softly, squeezing it gently. "I promise I'll make it up to you."She sighed, her small hand resting on top of mine. "Okay, Mommy," she said with a hint of sadness in her voice. "But I really wanted to see the lions today."My heart clenched. “I know, baby. We’ll come back soon, I promise.” I kissed her forehead, hoping that would ease the sting of disappointment. She gave me a weak smile, nodding in understanding, though I could see she was still upset.Brenda shot me a look, silently asking if I was okay. I nodded, but I wasn’t sure how much longer I could keep up the charade of calm. Ivan and that woman, whoever she was, were
“Mommy, I got ice cream for you!” Kelly shouted, skipping towards me with a bright smile, holding out a small cup of melting strawberry ice cream. Brenda followed closely behind, but when she saw Ivan, her steps faltered. She gave me a knowing look, her eyes wide with concern.Kelly stopped just a few feet away from Ivan and tilted her head. “Hey, I remember you,” she said innocently. “You’re the one who came to buy some flowers.”Ivan's face softened as he crouched down to her level, offering her a small smile. “That’s right. And you helped me pick the best ones,” he said gently, his eyes shifting between Kelly and me.Brenda cleared her throat, breaking the moment. “Vera, do you want me to take Kelly for a walk around the park while you... finish up here?” she asked, her tone hinting at the tension.“That won’t be necessary, we should head back home,” I replied, trying to sound calm but feeling the tension coil tighter in my chest. I didn’t want any more interactions between Ivan a
“That’s for the patronage,” I said, waving to Mr. Hawkins as he headed out after placing a large order of flowers. “I hope to see more of you.”“Very well, Veronica. Say hi to that little angel for me,” he replied, pushing open the door with a smile.I took a deep breath, returning to the ledger to finish logging the sale when a voice, one I hadn’t heard in years, froze me in place. That voice, cold and commanding, had chased me out of Canada three years ago.“Good morning. My son said he got some flowers from this shop yesterday. I’d like to order more for his wedding ceremony.”The words echoed in my head like an alarm. Slowly, I looked up, and there she stood—Mrs. Carlos. Her eyes widened with shock, her mouth forming a perfect O.“Veronica Carlisle?” she gasped, her voice breathy with disbelief. “Oh my, what a coincidence.”I clenched my jaw, the memory of her threat hitting me like a wave, and I could feel the anger bubbling up inside. This was the woman who had forced me to leav
After putting Kelly to bed, I walked into the living room and collapsed onto the couch, rubbing my forehead and taking a deep breath to steady myself.“Don’t tell me you’re overthinking again,” Brenda said as she entered the room, taking a seat beside me. She grabbed the remote and switched on the TV.“I’m not. I just finished putting Kelly to bed,” I replied, trying to sound casual, though my mind was still racing. “So, how was your day? How did the date go?”Dean, Brenda’s co-worker, had been a new interest in her life, and she’d been excited about their date. The blush on her cheeks was all the confirmation I needed.She smiled, looking down shyly. “It was pretty amazing. Dean’s so easy to talk to, and he comes from a wealthy family.” She turned to the TV, flipping through channels, but suddenly her eyes widened, nearly popping out of her head. “Oh my gosh!”Curious, I followed her gaze to the screen. My stomach dropped. There, on the screen, was a video of Ivan Carlos, my Ivan, an