Page 45 of (Un)Spoken

Maybe it was too soon to classify them as such, especially Emilia. She already had a dad, but I still wanted some kind of role in her life. From that first scowl, she’d made me laugh with her spunky personality. She was smart and hilarious, pretty much a miniature version of her mother. And considering how much I already cared about Victoria, it was no surprise her daughter had also marked a part of my heart.

I pushed open the door to the flower shop, smiling when I saw the owner, Mags, hiding behind the counter. Her wife, Stephanie, was probably in the greenhouse, checking on all the blooms for the weekend.

Mags smiled when she spotted me. “Mr. Rice, nice to see your whole face. To what do I owe this pleasure?”

I looked over her samplings, but I wasn’t quite sure what I was looking for. “I’m taking someone out today, and I wanted to make it special for her.”

“Oooh,” she called out. “Is this any person or someone special?”

“Someone very special. Actually, two special someones.”

Mags scrunched her face, her gray hair sloshing around her shoulders as she shook her head. “I don’t want to know. You crazy kids these days. One is never enough for you?”

“It’s not like that,” I chuckled, holding my hands up. “No offense to those who prefer that type of relationship, but I’ve only got one girl on my mind. But she also has a daughter, and I want to make the day special for her too.”

“Oh, a daughter?” Mags smirked. “Does this have to do with the pretty brunette who’s been coming in with Calla all week?”

I shook my head. “I don’t kiss and tell, Mags.”

“Well, if that is the girl, you’re gonna need some help. She’s got a good eye for flowers and will know if you cheap out on her.”

I leaned forward on the counter. “Good thing I’ve got the owner here to help, then.”

Mags muttered under her breath, something about love-sick fools, as she made her way into the backroom where her wife always tucked some special plants. I could hear bits of their conversation, so I busied myself, looking at all theblooms filling the bins around their tiny space. Under the window, there was an array of rainbow-colored roses, surrounded by bright daisies and every other color you could possibly think of.

“Hey, Mags?” I called out. “Change of plans. I’m actually going to need two bouquets.”

An hourafter leaving the flower shop, I climbed the stairs at the back of the lodge, trying to keep my nerves under control. It had been years since I was nervous for a date, even longer since I’d gone out of my way to plan something like today. The orchard was a little over an hour away, so I’d stocked the backseat with all of Emilia’s favorite things and snacks.

As I knocked on the door to their apartment, I waited, second-guessing my decision to get flowers. Victoria’s bouquet was a masterpiece, filled with flowers I couldn’t even name. The pale pink and orange blooms looked great, especially against the pale green eucalyptus leaves. However, the true magnum opus was Emilia’s bouquet. It looked like a painted canvas, but only with pinks, purples, and a few blues tucked in between. Hopefully, they’d both like them.

Did it seem too desperate? Shit, the last girl I bought flowers for was my high school prom date, and that was only because my mom made me.

As my inner panic started to rise, the door swung open, Tori’s bright smile waiting on the other side. “Hey, you,” she said, pulling me inside. “What do you have there?”

“Oh…” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “Stopped by the flower shop and grabbed some bouquets for you girls.” I passed her the bigger one. “Hope you like them.”

“They’re gorgeous,” Victoria cooed, pressing up on her toes to kiss my cheek. “You didn’t have to do that.”

“I wanted to. Wanted to make today special for all three of us.” I played with the other bunch of flowers in my hand as I looked around the room. “Where’s Emilia?”

“In the bathroom,” Tori chuckled. “She can’t decide which headband looks best with her outfit.”

“Good,” I muttered as I leaned down to kiss her. “Been wanting to do that for days.”

“Tell me about it,” she grumbled. “It’s so rude that you live 100 feet away, and I’ve barely seen you all week.”

“Agree,” I said, pressing another stolen kiss to her lips. “We’ll figure something out. Could pull a Rapunzel and climb into your window after Emilia’s bedtime.”

“She’d probably love that,” Tori chuckled. “But pretty sure someone might call the cops if they see you trying to break into our apartment. Besides, the front door works just as well.”

“How cliché,” I chuckled, taking a sizable step back when the bathroom door pulled open.

“Adam! Adam!” Emilia’s dark eyes lit up as she took me in, rushing over to join us. They were almost the size of saucers when she spotted the flowers in my arms. “Are those for Mommy?”

“Nope,” I said, leaning down on my knee, “they’re for you. I heard a certain little girl loves bright-colored flowers, so I thought I’d bring you some.”

“Thank you,” she said, smiling brightly up at me. She smelled the blooms then looked up at her mother. “Can I put them in my room?”

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