Page 7 of Flowers Near Me

She started running over every syllable that had passed her lips. She’d been careful. She knew she had. But with Hades, careful was never enough. Her stomach twisted, the rich chocolate cake turning bitter on her tongue.

CHAPTER FOUR

THE BETRAYAL

PERSEPHONE

Several slices of dark chocolate cake later, Persephone sank into the deep-seated couch beside Helena, the hum of the television lulling her into a rare sense of peace. Laura clattered in the kitchen, packing up leftovers, and for the first time all evening, Persephone let herself believe that tonight would end quietly.

A commercial for Demeter’s Bounty’s grocery delivery app played loudly on the screen. Lifting the remote, Persephone muted the TV then turned to look at her niece fiddling with a beaded bracelet.

“Where did you get that?” Persephone pointed at the accessory in Helena’s hands.

“I made it in school today.” Helena held out the bracelet like a precious relic.

“You made this?” Persephone ran a gentle finger over the beads, admiring her niece’s handiwork. “It looks like something from a boutique.”

“I did!”

“It’s very well crafted. And I love the blues and purples you picked.”

Helena beamed.

“What’s been your favorite part of first grade so far?”

Concentration etched Helena’s angelic face. “Um… I like my teacher. She’s nice. And she has two cats.”

Persephone chuckled. “Really? Did she show you a picture of them?”

“Yes! One’s named Pancake, and the other is Butter!” Helena’s big almond eyes and thick lashes stared expectantly at her aunt.

“I love those names. Do you know how old they are?”

“Uh… I think she said they’re six.”

“Just like you?”

“Yeah!”

Helena’s toothy grin stirred warmth in Persephone’s chest. If she had a child that was even a fraction as sweet as her niece, she’d be in heaven. A family of her own—someone to come home to, someone who loved her not for her last name, but for who she was—felt like an impossible dream. And if she let herself want it too much, it would only hurt more when it stayed out of reach.

Although envious, she wasn’t jealous of Laura’s life because she knew how hard her sister had worked for it. Both Laura and Persephone wanted to have thriving careers before building families of their own. For Laura, it meant becoming a trauma surgeon before having kids. For Persephone, it meant becoming president of Demeter’s Bounty before having a serious relationship.

Lowering her voice to a whisper, Persephone asked, “Do you want a cat?”

Helena nodded.

“What did Aunt Sephy say?” Laura’s voice startled Persephone as she and her husband, Peter, entered the room.

Giggling, Helena scooted forward on the couch.

“I asked Helena if she wants a cat.” Lips pressed in a devilish smile, Persephone kept a challenge in her eyes.

“Oh.” Laura sat and glared at Persephone. “Will Aunt Sephy be coming over to care for this cat?”

Peter’s muffled laugh sounded from behind his wife.

Persephone replied, “I can’t. You know the estate is too far from here.”

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