Page 18 of Estranged Heart
“I’m sure he’d love anything you chose.”
“How do you know?” He lifts his hand tilting his head.
“Because most people do when it comes from the heart.”
He looks down at the picture and back at me. “I’ll go with lilacs then. Maybe a mixture of lighter purple and white flowers too.”
“Any specific kind?”
His lips twist and he thinks for a few minutes before answering me. “I’ll let you pick, since I’m sure you know what you’re doing.”
“I at least like to pretend I do.”
“If you put together any of these in the photos you’ve shown me today, then you pretend pretty well.”
I’m feeling flushed all over again. I need to get a damn grip. “I actually did the one your finger was just on.”
“Then I have no doubt you’ll take very good care of me.”
“I’ll sure try, Mr. . . .”
“Pena,” he blurts out. “My name is Elijah Pena.”
“When would you like to pick these up, Mr. Pena, or do you want them delivered?”
“Delivered, if it’s not too much trouble. Next Saturday at two p.m. at this location.” He hands me a card providing the address of a funeral home. “You can keep the card. I have everything memorized already.”
“I’ll write it down and you can always give us a call if there are any changes.”
He hands me a wad of cash after I tell him his total. After ringing him up, he grabs a business card from the front, and lifting it up, he says, “Taking one of these, since I don’t even know the name of the place I just walked into.”
I smile. “Reese’s Flowers.”
“Thanks, and thank you again for all your help.”
“It was no problem. I’m glad I was able to.”
“Me too.” He offers me a gentle smile before exiting the shop and I already know I don’t have to wait until delivery before I see him again.
Eight
Silas
“You’re up early. I didn’t think you would be after texting me late last night,” Stacey says from the laundry room, stripping out of her scrubs to wash them for her next shift.
“I couldn’t sleep anymore.” My everyday problem lately. Today I decided not to fake sleep and deal with her questions instead. I’m regretting it. I don’t need her to have another reason to worry about me. I’m not struggling to sleep due to not being tired. I force myself awake to keep the dreams away. There’s a huge difference between all the new ones I have. They aren’t all nightmares like I thought they were at first. They don’t all leave me with a bad feeling when I wake up.
The men in masks have me shaking with fear, while being aroundhimmakes me experience a happiness that hasn’t been there in a long time. I hate how good seeing him feels when I close my eyes—how much I look forward to it. Mainly because I can’t make sense of why.
“Close your eyes, I have a surprise for you, mi amor.”
As if the dreams are happening all over again, I close my eyes and open them again when the washer starts. Walking past me in only her bra and underwear, Stacey opens the fridge to grab a bottle of water. “Are you having brunch with your mom like last Thursday, or do you have other plans?” She sips on her water, resting her hand on the counter.
“My mom’s volunteering at a nursing home today and I don’t have any set plans.”
“You can always read the new book I got you.” She’s trying to keep me home. If I stay with her, she’ll ask me to lie down and I’ll close my eyes. If I close my eyes, I’ll hear his voice again and have more words to replay in my head whenever I’m awake. “I think I’m going for a drive.” I can say it’s because I miss doing things on my own, but it’s more than that.
Turning away from her, I walk to the stove and glance out the window. Up until a few days ago, I was going for short afternoon walks when not at work, and after I started driving again, I wandered down random roads I’ve never been on before. I’ve ended up at the same lake three times and a bookstore twice, never brave enough to get out and go inside. Curiosity has me wanting to venture out again. Curiosity and a nagging sensation inside my chest. A loud whistle replaces the overstretched silence between us and she looks down, brushing her hair from her face. “Well, I’m going to go take a nap. I have to be at the hospital again tonight, and you know how these back-to-back night shifts kill me.”
