Page 34 of The Prospect

“Need some help?” Mum appears by my side, relieving my worry as I tuck my phone into my back pocket and nod.

She smiles, guiding me over to the other side of the shop where a fresh bundle of flowers has recently been delivered. “I’ll tell you what.” Mum individually picks the stems one by one. “I’ll make you a custom bouquet if you tell me what they’re for.”

Mum’s always been a little sneaky, aka nosy, but deep down I know she’s got good intentions. She only wants what’s best for me, just like any Mum should.

“I’m going on a date.” I join her at her workstation as she cuts the flowers length, arranging them in a pattern on the table.

“A date?” She might not lift her head up from the task at hand, but that doesn’t mean her voice doesn’t inflate with interest. “That’s fun. And who's the lucky lady, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“Hazel’s roommate,” I reveal point-blank, only this time my revelation is enough to stop Mum in place and force her to jolt her head up.

“‘Hazel’s roommate?’” she repeats back to me with narrowed almost judgemental eyes. “You’re seriously going on a date with Hazel’s roommate?”

“Who’s going on a date with Hazel’s roommate?” Dad steps into the shop, prompting the bells to chime thereafter as he carries in another box of today’s shipment.

“Daniel is.” Mum gestures toward me whilst holding a pair of pruning shears.

It’s only slightly terrifying.

“And how exactly did that happen?” Dad wonders, now seemingly inserting himself into the conversation. “Did Hazel introduce the two of you? Oh, how is she by the way?” he digresses. “Last I saw her, she was telling me she had a big art project coming up, did she get it done?”

Without needing to hook both of my parents up to a lie detector to find out, I know for a fact that they love Hazel more than they love me. I’m not offended—okay, maybe a little…

“It’s coming along nicely,” I tell him. “Only a few more details she needs to add and then?—”

“Excuse me?” Mum interrupts, frustrated by the fact that Dad just gave me an easy escape away from his question. “Can we get back on track here, please?Daniel, do you really think it’s a good idea that you’re dating Hazel’s roommate? What if things don’t work out? Won’t that make things uncomfortable for our Hazel?”

Our Hazel.

“Mum, relax.” I hate the look of worry ridden all over her face. “Things will be fine. This is all just a part of the plan.”

“I’m sorry? ‘The plan?’” Now it’s Dad who’s repeating my words back to me. “What plan are you on about?”

I lean back against the spine of the chair and stretch myself out. “It’s no big deal, really,” I tell them. “It’s just, Hazel and I decided that we’d both had enough of being single andIsuggested that maybe we could set one another up with someone of our choosing.”

“And you chose Hazel’s roommate?” Mum looks me dead in the eyes. “Of all of the people, Daniel, you chose the person Hazel has to live with. Every. Single. Day.”

“She chose Hart!” I retaliate, feeling attacked by their mutually unamused looks. “What’s the big deal anyway?” I argue. “We’re just trying to look out for one another.”

“Oh, Daniel.” Mum places her head into her hands before shaking it off and refocusing her attention back down on the bouquet.

“There’s nothing to be upset about.” I can’t stop fighting this. “Both Hazel and I decided to do this together, and so far, it’s working! We’re already both on step two.”

“There’s steps?” Dad asks. I refuse to respond. Instead, a silence passes between the three of us, and now, all I can hear is the sound of Mum continuing to cut the ends off the flowers, the bouquet slowly coming together.

“Son.” Dad places a fatherly hand on my shoulder. “I think your mum and I are just worried because Hazel is your best friend. We don’t want anything to come in between that.”

“Why would it?” I protest, rising to my feet. “Hazel isn’t going anywhere, ever. I don’t know why you both are being so unreasonable about this. You know what? Just forget I ever mentioned anything.”

I gather my things, about ready to storm out of the shop as a result of their interrogation, only Mum’s voice stops me before I do.

“Daniel, wait!” she calls out.

With my jacket in my hand I stop in place, only don't turn around.

“Come back, please,” she pleads. “We’re sorry. We didn’t mean to overstep and be the antagonizing parents. Just…” I hear her sigh. “At least let me finish this bouquet for you. Will you?”

My shoulders drop as I release a breath, turn around, and make my way back over, sinking into my chair in defeat as I reach for my phone.

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