20 TPN STORIES IN 20 DAYS CHALLENGE

Day 3 - A Friendship Defined by Flowers

[Submitted by @RividaRoses]

Well, it wasn't a very sophisticated activity, nor was it the most romantic of all, but the attention Don had planned was more than enough for Gilda. Don often said that he didn't have as good ideas about dating as Ray or Norman did, but Gilda didn't care and kept telling him that it didn't matter because the main thing for her was that they spent time together. Today they headed to a distant meadow to pick flowers, it was a place that Don had noticed on one of his long solo walks and the idea of taking Gilda there had instantly crossed his mind. He hadn't hesitated to suggest it to her and that's what Gilda really appreciated: his outspokenness was a quality he had kept over the years... Acting without thinking too much, letting his heart speak before his reason and never giving too much importance to his doubts...

Don had very little doubt, Conny was the reason for his biggest doubt, and it was at the time when Emma and Norman had decided to involve them without telling them the whole truth. This decision had upset them from the depths of their being, shaking all their self-confidence, the confidence they had in Norman, the confidence they also had in Emma, but above all this decision had completely shattered their certainties and their way of thinking, it was only in the course of time that everything came back, the confidence came back when all their family really needed it and Emma had told them many times: The role they played in the escape was at least as important as Emma's.

Don still thought about Conny a lot, he would recall the good memories he had with one of his most beloved little sisters, and all the ways that could have led to a possible rescue, but no matter how many times he thought about it, he would always come to the same cruel conclusion: Nothing could ever have been done for Conny, her destiny was an inescapable fatality... And it was always on the verge of tears that he added that the life they all had today was due to the loss of Conny, and that she would forever be their guardian angel who would watch over her whole family like the mother she thrived to become.

Don: Gilda?!

Gil: Huh?

Don: I've asked you three times if this flower suits you, and you stare at it without saying anything.

Gil: Oh sorry, I was lost in one of my thoughts...

Don: Is everything okay at least?

Gil: Yes, don't worry, and yes it's a very pretty flower, let's take some for our bouquet.

They had developed a common passion for flowers and making bouquets. For Alicia's birthday they had made a floral composition that brought together more than thirty species of plants and flowers, it was their favourite pastime and each discovery of a new place made them want to spend whole days finding the perfect specimens of flowers. They liked to give some to all their brothers and sisters, many reasons for this, like Dominic, Rossi and Norman had white roses because of their hair colour, Emma had sunflowers because she was always radiant and full of vitality.

But today Don had different intentions, this flower picking was a good reason to stay close to Gilda, he really cherished these moments and he wanted to offer her to take some time just for them, to travel, to discover new things, but without everyone else... Just the two of them, their family was still very important to them of course, but they couldn't make the detachment as Norman, Ray, Emma and Anna could... So it was time.

It's funny, me who always advocates straight talk and act with instinct, I doubt to death about my decision and how I should ask for it... Shit, I think too much I'm going to ruin everything...

Gil: D-Don?

Huh?

Don : Yes?

Gil: Can I ask you about something?

Don: Anything you want Gilda!

Gil: I wanted to ask you to go away for a while, away from everyone... I discussed it with Anna and she told me that it allowed her to get closer to Ray than before, she showed me the pictures of their last outing with each other, they seemed to have a lot of fun... Don, taking care of all our brothers and sisters is important for sure, but I think we should take some time for ourselves.

Don was speechless, he had seen his friend take the initiative, so it didn't really bother him so he could leave his doubts far behind.

Don: You know, I was going to propose exactly the same thing to you, so I guess that settles it, doesn't it?

Gilda's face lit up with this sentence.

Gil: Of course!

And they had sat down in the green grass of this sunny meadow, a weight had just been lifted from their shoulders and they could enter this new stage of their relationship totally calmed down now.

Don passed his hand for a long time in the grass before unearthing a small treasure.

Don: Oh well, I found a little something for you... for us.

He had found a four-leaf clover hidden in the vegetation.

Don: There you go, with that the future will be good for our family... And also for you and me.

Gil: Yes.

And she had kissed his forehead as a thank you before Don took her in his arms as well... A new chapter is beginning for both of them and it promises to be a joyful one.

The end?