Fatal Wounds

32

Theo

"Valentina?" My voice rumbles as I open one eye. Her hair seems so beautifully done as is her makeup but she's still in her pajamas.

"Go back to sleep Theo," she smiles coming to my side. She runs her fingers through my hair and kisses my cheek, "I have an appointment to get to, I shouldn't take long."

I groan and pull on her arm making her tumble onto me. I had forgot she had an appointment, for some reason she likes making her appointments as soon as the sun rise. "Couldn't you have scheduled for later?" Her arms wrapped around my neck and she smiles up at me, "No, I want to get it out of the way so I don't have to go later."

"Okay," I sigh pressing a closed lip kiss to her mouth. "When will you get back? I can make you some breakfast."

"That would be lovely," she hums, "I'll be back in two hours tops."

My eyes drift to the clock reading 5:37 pm, "Alright baby, go get dressed before you're late." She hops off of me with a squeal when I land a smack on her ass. I watch as she gets ready, slipping on a cream colored blouse with small pearly buttons and some washed out jeans.

I get ready for my own day, changing into a presentable outfit and washing my face and brushing my teeth before sending her off with a kiss.

My eyes are drawn to the bouquet of flowers on the counter in the kitchen. They're beginning to wilt, the leaves are dried and crispy at the edges, their stems are bending at the necks, almost dropping from their vase.

Valentina never has the heart to throw them out so I do it for her when I replace them.

I bunch up the flowers and dispose of them in her nature waste bin. I throw the water from the vase and make sure to clean it with soap before heading over to the flower shop.

Bettie's Beautiful Flowers.

It's small shop that's located away from the main business district. Burt- the owner- and I have become fairly aquatinted since I've been picking up Valentina's flowers almost every two weeks for a few months now. I always call in a day before to have them ready, Burt keeps them stored in the refrigerator to keep them preserved.

I push open the small glass door, Burt's quick to greet me. "Theo! Just on time, I just wrapped them."

I smile at the older man and follow him to the back room where his flower fridges are. "She's one special lady, ain't she?"

"She's very special," I smile, "the least she deserves is for me to replace her flowers when they begin to dry."

Burt chuckles with a small head shake, "Flowers are expensive Theo, you'd be surprised how little people receive them regularly. Does this special lady appreciate them?"

"She does," a soft smile tugs at my lips, "she cherishes them with everything in her."

"Well then, I'd say it's more than worth it." Burt nods. He grabs a pink curling ribbon and wraps it around the stems, tying it into a bow. "Here ya go," he grins, "have a good rest of your day."

"You too, Burt." I thank him before making my way across the street to where they sale the brownies she loves. I grab her a half dozen and place the light blue box that has a blue ribbon around it in the car along with her flowers.

We had just went grocery shopping so I should be able to make her a good breakfast before she gets back home.

As soon as I get home I place her brownies on the counter and place her flowers into the vase with water. I place in the preservative flower food before centering them on the counter.