Page 17 of A Simple Reminder

SOPHIE

The weekend flew past, leaving whatever happened on Friday in the rearview where it belongs and hopefully where it’ll stay. My focus is on the future,my future, and I’m actually quite excited to get this whole project started tomorrow, but today is Sunday. And Sundays mean one thing: I’m visiting my dad. Today is extra special—it’s his birthday.

Ever since my mother left us when I was a kid, it was just the two of us against the world. Dad taught me everything from changing a tier to baking his favorite dessert,Kladdkaka. I woke up to bake early this morning. It’s a Swedish treat that's like an elevated mud cake—dense, gooey, and intensely chocolatey. It’s delicious and the perfect snack to get over any kind of feeling.I actually baked two–one for Dad and one for later.

“Oh, that smells incredible,” Adeline sneaks up behind me and gives me a hug.

I chuckle. “No need to suck up. I made an extra one for you.”

She kisses my cheek and walks around the kitchen island, grinning. “I knew I had the best roommate in the world.”

Leaning over to smell the cake, her eyes roll back, and she says, “Ugh, I love that you’re Swedish.”

“Quarter Swedish.”

“Same-same, you got the good twenty-five percent.” She reaches for a piece, but I lightly smack her hand away, earning a playful glare. “Hey! This one is for Dad. Yours is in the oven.”

She tilts her head, a mischievous glint in her eyes before asking, “Did you send a photo to Leora? She’s going to be so jealous.”

“I almost did, but then I felt bad and didn’t. She loves it and it feels wrong teasing a pregnant woman.”

“Yeah. I can’t wait until they come and visit. I miss them.”

“Me too.”

She takes a breath, her gaze lingering on me for a moment longer. “I can come with you if you need me too.”

“I appreciate you so much. But today, I think it’s best if it’s just me.”

Adeline nods understandingly, her gaze softening with concern. “Alright, but call me if you need anything, okay? And don’t forget to give your dad a big hug from me.”

I smile gratefully at her. “I will. Thanks, Addie.”

“Okay, I have to leave and pick up the flowers. Please leave the cake in the oven for five more minutes and then take it out.”

She brings her hand up her eyebrow, saluting me. “Yes, Sir.”

“Five minutes, Addie.”

Then I head to the tiny flower shop around the corner from my apartment,Blooming Garden. It’s super cozy, and the interior bursts with colors and fragrances, but my eyes are drawn to the delicate pots of forget-me-nots, our favorite. When I was little, he planted the beautiful little blue flower in our yard. At first, I thought they were too small to matter, but Dad taught me that even the smallest things can hold great significance. Something I carry with me always.

“Listen, Sophie, It may be small, but it carries many special meanings. There are many old legends about this flower. The most well-known describes a proud German knight strolling with his love along a river. His love notices a beautiful blue flower just about to be pulled into the stream of the river. She found it so beautiful and wanted to save it, so the knight jumped into the cold water and tossed the flower to her. The current was too strong, and he couldn’t fight it, so he was carried out to sea. But as he was being swept away, he called out, “forget me not” and his love named the flower after that, wearing it every single day until she died. So you see, my little petal, it represents immortal love. Giving someone a forget-me-not is a big thing; it means you’ll never forget them in your thoughts.”

I smile at the memory, my whole body softening as a familiar warmth settles in, wrapping around me like a long-lost embrace.

“Do you need help with anything else?” the purple-haired shop clerk asks me, her lips curving into a brilliant smile.

Clutching the pot of forget-me-nots to my chest, I reply softly, “No, thank you, these are perfect.”

She nods knowingly. “They’re meaningful flowers, you know. Are they for someone special?” I nod. If she only knew.

I make my way to the subway station, the pot carefully cradled in the nook of my arm and the bag containing deliciousness in my other hand.

The train ride feels longer than usual today, each moment stretching as I count down the subway stations. Today feels like a good day; I just know it. He’s going to be so happy and surprised and I can’t wait to see the look on his face. Dad has always loved his birthday, and he made sure I loved mine just as much. No matter how he was feeling, he never missed a chance to celebrate me.

As I reach my stop, I practically skip into the large building and head straight to the reception desk.

“I’m here to see Lars Anderson,” I announce, my voice almost giddy, matching the heartbeat in my chest.

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