𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐬 (𝐓𝐞𝐰𝐤𝐞𝐬𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐱 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫)

𝐓𝐞𝐧

               

You ran towards Daisy just as she turned the corner into the heart of town, sunlight catching the cream-colored folds of her dress as she walked with arms outstretched, her face lit with joy. It had been 2 months since you last saw her, and ten long days since you'd seen Tewkesbury. You missed them both, though in different ways.

"Daisy!" You called out, hurrying toward her.

She threw her arms around you, and you hugged tightly, the kind of embrace that seemed to stitch time back together.

She pulled away first, her smile beaming as you asked her, "When did you return from your honeymoon?"

"Just a few days ago," She replied, squeezing your hand. "It was everything I dreamed of."

"You could've come to visit," You teased gently. "I've so much to tell you."

      Leaning in, you lowered your voice. "Phillip's gone."

Her expression dimmed. "I heard. How are your parents?"

"My father's been wonderful. He told me not to worry about Phillip... But my mother's taken it harder. You know how she is. She barely speaks to me since he left."

Daisy shook her head in quiet disapproval, her lips pressing into a sympathetic line.

"But enough about that—tell me about you! How was Paris? How was everything?"

She smiled, but something in it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Lorenzo is... wonderful. He takes such good care of me. He paid for everything I bought while we were there."

You laughed softly, shaking your head in amazement. "That sounds lovely. But what I mean is—what's it like to be married? All those dreams you had, everything you told me before... did it come true?"

Daisy's smile lingered, but it faltered. "It's like what you imagined when you met Tewkesbury," she said playfully, reminding you of the night you confessed to her the stirrings of something real.

"Yes?" You asked, searching her expression.

She nodded again, but you could feel it, something held back. Something unsaid.

"You're not really answering me, Daisy."

She hesitated before replying, "Lorenzo's a good man. I love him." Her tone was firm, but her eyes slipped away.

Before you could press further, she shifted the conversation. "Come on, let's grab some tea. There's a shop just down the street. I want to hear all about Tewkesbury. Has he finally met your family?"

"No... not yet," You admitted. "But we're planning to introduce him soon."

You glanced at the clock tower and sighed. "I should go. I promised my mother and Aunt Josephine I'd meet them at the chapel. If I'm late, you know how my mother gets."