The Angel of Paris

❀。• *₊°。 ❀°。Chapter 3 ❀。• *₊°。 ❀°。

Esme's eyes widened as they walked into the vibrant flower shop that she had been calling home for all 20 years of life she had the pleasure of living. It was a medium sized shop nestled in the corner of a street which was always bursting with life, being it was located right next to the river that connected upper and lower Paris. Two extra stories stacked on top of the floral shop which served as the family's home. The windows were wide open pouring with music, the chatter of customers and of course, flowers. A bell chimed as the pair entered the crowed store.

"Reine is that you?" Camille yelled from behind a bucket of peonies.

"Yes mother!" Reine called in response, dodging customers who stared as she walked arm in arm with Esme.

"Girl when I said to be back at 1:00 I meant it." Her mother grunted as she placed the peonies on the table dedicated to flowers that were already sold.

"I'm sorry mother, I got caught up helping an acquaintance." She said gesturing to the tan man whose head brushed the hanging baskets of flowers.

"Why didn't you tell me we had a visitor, you're welcome to stay with us as long as you like." Camille stated with a motherly warmth while wrapped Esme in a warm embrace. Her willingness to take in surprised Esme, but little did her know the family were famous for taking in travelers in need.

"Reine dear it better not be a man staying with us." Augustine said emerging from the storage closet, clad in an apron and armed with garden shears. Augustine was a bear of a man standing above six feet, with forearms thick as tree trucks. An old scar that ran from his cheekbone to his jaw only made him all the more intimidating. Esme took a small step back which did not go unnoticed by the florist's wife.

"Don't scare to boy like that." Camille scolded. Making her way over to her husband.

"I was only joking mon amour." The man apologized to his wife in an attempt to avoid a scolding.

"I'll help Esme get settled then?" Reine gushed as she excitedly dragged Esme to the stairwell.

"You missing something kiddo?" The father questioned as he crossed his arms in an attempt to look intimidating. Reine raced back to her parents and kissed both their cheeks before racing back up the stairs dragging a bewildered Esme with her.

"She has a crush on him, doesn't she?" The mother questioned once they were out of sight.

"I think so." Augustine replied gruffly.

The couple looked at each other for a moment before silently high fiving.

"I'll go collect some spare linens; you make yourself at home." Reine buzzed. She dumped Esme into her room and quickly ran off to find all the items she needed. The goat quickly made himself at home on the sun seat readying himself for a nap. Esme took the time to explore the small room. In the corner sat a desk filled to the brim with paint and other artistic materials, flowers both dried and painted decorated the walls leaving almost none of the walls plain. A woven chandelier of flowers and small trinkets dangled daintily from the ceiling. Seeing the bookcase, the young male curiously fingered the spines of the books, each well-loved and annotated spoke of various breeds of flowers and their meanings. Settling on one, Esme's bare feet travelled across the small well tufted carpet that sat in the middle of the room as he walked to take a seat on the corner of the bed. He began leafing through the book, reading through all of Reine's writings that marked the pages.

"I see you've found my books." Reine teased as she walked into the room with what seemed to be a thin roll out mattress and linen sheets.

"I'm sorry," Esme apologized bashfully, " I shouldn't have touched your belongings."