The Flower Shop

Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

Piter. Pater. Piter. Pater. Piter. Pater.

I had always loved the rain, especially when I was inside. There was a sense of comfort in the sound of the raindrops hitting against the glass screen of the shop, with the occasional stray droplet sliding  down onto the concrete sidewalk. The umbrella over the flower beds dripped rhythmically, each drop guided outward and away from the delicate plants.

If I listened carefully enough, I could even make out the low rumbles of distant thunder clashes every now and then. It reminded me of flowing streams-the sound of gentle water rushing against pebbles and gravel, drowning out the silence I so dreaded at times. Today was one of those days and  I thanked the heavens for sending these rain clouds at such convenient timing.

Ring. Ring. Ring. Ring. Ring. Ring.

Spoke too soon. There it was again. The sound I'd been grimacing at since I had opened the doors of the shop this morning. Four hours later and that pesky phone was still ringing every half hour. I knew who was calling, and they knew it too. Which was why they kept calling with such persistence. I couldn't be annoyed though, I had practically set myself up for this.

Perhaps I should simply unplug the damn thing, I considered. Alas customers contacted the shop on the very same line, I'd lose potential business if I acted  so irrationally. If this continued for even another minute, I was going to lose my mind.

"Daily Blooms Flower Shop. How can I help you?" Unnecessary, I thought. He definitely wasn't calling to buy any flowers.

The line was silent though, unlike last time. Only the sound of static reverberating into my right ear, confirming that the call was connected.

Then he spoke, stuttering with what sounded almost like disbelief. "Dahlia? I-is that really you?"

From his tone, I assumed he hadn't actually expected me to answer his call again. Not after I had abruptly hung up on the first one a few days ago. I had been shocked to say the least. Never had I thought my father would manage to find me after so long. I had been so careful not to leave behind any trails. It had been three years since I had left, uprooted myself from there and vanished from what I had called home. Although, I supposed I had underestimated his abilities to take advantage of his 'connections' or so he called them.

"What do you want, dad?" I knew what he wanted.

His composure seemed to change upon receiving the confirmation he was seeking. "Dahlia, this has gone on long enough. It's time you came back and settle the promises you made."

If blood could boil, mine would have been bubbling over at that moment. "The promises I made? And just what promises were those, father?  Enlighten me-please. Because from what I recall, you did all the speaking on my behalf back then." 

A scoff escaped my lips before I could stop myself, my anger rising at his audacious remark. Memories of the day I had left began flooding my mind-the argument that had erupted before I'd slammed my car door and headed toward the airport without a second thought. It was almost as if we were picking up this fight right where we had left it. My frustration had been carefully folded away all these years and now my father was back ready to unravel it all and cause chaos in my life once again.

Before he had the chance to answer, I spoke up firmly "I left for a reason, dad. Don't contact me again unless it's to amend what you've done, and don't bother trying to find me because I'm not coming back."

There was no room for any further argument after what I had said, my intention out there and made clear before I hung up. A loud sound erupted as I slammed the phone back onto the counter and I let out a defeated sigh. Despite what I had said, I had no doubt that my father wasn't going to listen. He'd spent this long just trying to speak to me and a huge part of me knew he wasn't going to give up just because I had told him to. He was set in his ways and my words alone weren't going to change that, not in the slightest.

Reminded of how things had suddenly taken a wrong turn, I slouched over the counter in deep thought. The chances of my father showing up at my shop were as high as could possibly be in that moment, and to make things worse I was sure he wouldn't waste any time at all before tracking me down. He had managed to find a phone number connected to me, which meant he already had an idea of where I was.

A wave of panic washed over me when I realised what this could mean. I might have to leave here if I wanted to escape him again. My eyes wondered around the dimly lit store, taking in all the work I had put into this place. Even from an entire continent away, my father still had a way of making my life unbearably torturous.

"Damn it.." I dropped my head into my hands, muttering in disbelief.

Jingle. Jingle.

Pushed by a gentle force, the bell I had hung up just a few months ago rattled as the door swung open. I jolted myself upright instinctively, adjusting the frame of my glasses on my nose bridge and following with a pat down of my skirt.

"Daily Blooms Flower Shop. How can I help-" My words suddenly froze and completely vanished from my mind as I laid eyes on the man that had walked in, although he didn't seem to even notice.

He was drenched. His hair dripping and clothes completely soaked from the ongoing rain, but that wasn't what had had me so astounded. The weather was dull, the rain clouds blocking out any ray of sun that attempted to peak out. Yet somehow, this man was greyer than the dark mist trying to roll in from outside. His eyes never looked up from the ground, an ability that seemed to elude him even as he spoke.

"Violets. Any will do." Low but agonising was his voice, dripping with what I could only recognise as grief perhaps.

Despite that, I couldn't help but linger my gaze onto his captivating features. Steel grey almond eyes accompanied by admiringly long lashes and a chiseled jaw that complimented his semi-full lips. He was quite tall, just a ways bit towering over me with a lean frame. His wet shirt clung to his torso, outlining what seemed to have once been a well defined chest.

I coughed briefly, trying to snap myself out of such haze. "Of course."

Although he hadn't noticed, I silently scolded myself for having momentarily gawked. He didn't move even the slightest as I strode across the store, wrapping a bouquet of the fresh violets I had received just a few hours ago. Holding all the flowers into place, I skilfully tied a white ribbon around their stems and snipped off the protruding ends.

"That'll be five pounds, please" I almost asked if he needed anything else, but something told me that would have been pointless. It seemed that he knew exactly what he wanted before he even walked inside.

He scuffled around for a moment, before pulling out his wallet from his back pocket and placing a five pound note onto the counter. The note was damp, droplets from his fingertips clinging onto the dry sheet. I heard a muffled 'thank you' as I placed the money into the cash machine and printed out the receipt.

"Here's you rece-"

Jingle. Jingle.

He was out the door by the time I looked up,  his figure disappearing into the heavy rain.