A Flower that Blossomed in the Winter

Chapter IV

What was left of the sun's rays that late afternoon wasn't enough to warm the city. Even by the standards of the highlands where Thea lives, it is cold and even though she wanted to wear an elegant dress for what she considered her first date with Lola, it was too cold for any part of her body to be exposed. Thea opted to leave an hour earlier. She was supposed to arrive at seven p.m. but the weather forecast said it was going to rain. On the way out, she looked at herself in the mirror, wearing fuzzy pants with both black leggings, a gray sweatshirt with hood and a beige overcoat, plus a gray scarf as well as gloves and cap. She didn't feel good with this outfit and sometimes she thought about giving up going, calling Lola and canceling everything, but she wanted to see Lola, she wanted her company, she needed to sort it out, she like deceiving Lola and playing with her feelings and that needed a stop.

Thea picks up her bag, with some clothes and personal hygiene items like toothbrush, soap, deodorant and so on. She tucks the wallet into her pockets, grabs her keys, tightens the scarf, which covered up to her mouth, and opens the door.

The strong wind comes in through the door and makes her eyes and cheeks instantly cold. She heads outside, the breeze whistles loudly and she locks the door and hurries off to the flower shop, there is not much to see, a fog covers most of the landscape. Thea sees a few raindrops on the sidewalk and starts running.

When Thea arrives at the flower shop, Lola was about to close place, but when she sees her running, she waits for a moment until Thea enters the shop.

After recovering from the short run of just over three blocks, Thea smiles like a naughty child and asks:

- What a coincidence, meet you here – despite the playfully seductive tone and the laughter that accompanies the speech, her breathing is heavy and she looks down with her hands on her hips.

- Only when I work and I work from Monday to Saturday from eight in the morning to six in the afternoon - Lola replies with a formal air. Just then, Thea finds a breath to lift her head, after taking a deep breath she looks at Lola who is wearing a long, loose-fitting blouse and a thick fabric overcoat, both in shades of grey, as well as navy blue jeans and a pair of brown velvet boots, no gloves or accessories – How are you? - asks Lola happy to see Thea

- I'm fine, although wet, but not wet the way I wanted, if you know what I mean - says she relaxed and feels ashamed of herself for teasing her in less than a minute of conversation - sorry, by the way I wanted to apologize for my behavior that night, but where are my manners? How are you? How was your day? - asks Thea speaking faster than usual, clearly nervous.

Lola giggles with her hand over her mouth in a restrained way trying to avoid look like she is mocking and at the same time puts her hand on Thea's arm.

- First, let's go in, you take off your coat and scarf, it's warm inside, then we'll talk straight about it, okay? - says Lola guiding her into her house

Thea just nods and lets Lola guide her inside.

They enters through the door behind the counter in a huge greenhouse, the ceiling is made of glass and there are some incandescent lights scattered along the wall as well as dozens of species of flowers planted in clay pots, the floor is wooden and the atmosphere is warm and perfumed. There is an inebriating scent coming from all the flowers, something Thea had not felt in a long time.

They enter through a door on the right and Thea sees Lola's home for the first time, the environment is completely homogeneous, the floor and walls in walnut, while the furniture is built in ebony with details in marble. The lights from the chandelier in that tall room made the room slightly lighter, but it feels like the light did not reach the furniture. Ahead of Thea's eyes, there is a table with two chairs and to the left of the table the kitchen. What attracts the most of the attention is an overhead cabinet positioned above a two meters wide countertop, surrounded by the sink and stove. Beside the stove a tall two-door refrigerator, parallel to the countertop a half wall with another countertop with some utensils on display such as knives, cutlery, dehydrated spices, among other things. In this one place, the floor is not mahogany it is a black marble floor. On the other side of that room there is a small open cubicle decorated by two sofas, a circular coffee table and a television, in front of this small living room a hallway that led to both sides, there are no decorations other than some flower vases on the floor and hanging from the ceiling, on the walls there were some scenting candles with a sweet cinnamon smell.