Angustifolium

CH-17

"Win, meet Orm. Orm this is Win, my best friend since childhood, and my voice of reason" Lingling said with a chuckle

"Hi Win, it's nice to finally meet you" Orm said

"Likewise." Win said and came in for a hug instead of a handshake

It surprised Orm but it also felt comfortable, like they could be friends quite easily.

They sat down at their allotted table, a round table with their 3 chairs around it, and when Lingling realized she was too far from Orm, she shifted her chair closer and reached out to hold Orm's hand in hers. Orm smiled and squeezed her hand three times.

Once they placed their orders for dinner, Win was the one who pointed at the bouquet and asked "Awww Lingling did you buy me flowers again? I thought we went through that exercise once with enough misunderstanding for you to learn a good lesson" Win poked at her

"Shut up" Lingling said and Orm laughed

"No these.. These are actually mine. Orm got them for me" Lingling said sweetly, then looking at Orm lovingly.

"That's so adorable!" Win said looking at Orm "You know, you don't have to do much to woo this one. She was sold pretty early on" Win said.

"Win!" Linglingwhined.

"What? I'm telling the truth" Win said

Orm laughed and then said "No, I uhhh got these for her, to apologize. I heard your voice on the phone this morning and thought Lingling was sleeping around again and I kind of overreacted and I wanted to tell her I'm sorry... for assuming the worst of her.. for saying awful thing to her when she's been nothing but a sweetheart to me"

Win looked at Lingling and smiled. She wanted to say something but decided to tell Lingling later.

Lingling was oblivious. She was too busy staring at Orm with love eyes. And Win wished she could click a pic of Lingling's face just to show her later how whipped she looked.

"That is really sweet." Wn said. "So Orm, tell me about the Moonflower"

"Yea, you never did tell me the story of how you ended up owning a flower store" Lingling said

"Well the name actually originated from an old story my Nana told me once. She said her grandma was a northern english woman, who had a secret love life that not too many in the family knew about until she passed away. Owing to its taboo nature at the time."

"Nah. Don't tell me! She was queer?" Win asked. Lingling was so intrigued.

"She was. And she loved gardening. And worked at a manor in London and there she met and fell in love with the au pair who'd traveled from America for the job."

"Sounds like a lovely romance" Win said

"They had a short secret love affair, and apparently, moonflowers meant something to them. At some point in their life they owned a flower store and named it Moonflower. My Nana said not too many in the family like to retell the story even now because there was more to it that was pretty unbelievable... some supernatural stuff, but because she knew I was queer, she thought I would like to know"

"Did she say if you were anything like her? The queer ancestor?" Lingling asked.

"Not really. I wish I knew them. But it was so many many decades ago. Her name was Jamie."