Florecer

Fixed

     Over the course of a week Tracy called to both make sure Lily was okay and to tease Lily about what had happened at June's. Though she wasn't entirely sure what had happened, Tracy wasn't going to let that stop her from dragging the teasing out. Lily ignored the silly jabs, mostly because she wasn't sure what had happened at June's either. She guessed it was pretty funny.

     After the playing, Tracy told Lily she'd be coming over with Danny, for a visit. Or better yet, perhaps Lily could come over to watch Danny while Tracy worked some overtime. Lily sighed and wondered why she had ever gone home in the first place. It would be easier for everyone if she moved in with Tracy. But Lily wanted her own space, so she agreed to come over to Tracy's later on.

     When Tracy hung up Lily looked around her home and wondered what to do until she was needed. Her work schedule was on fairly track so she didn't absolutely need to do that, but she wanted to get busy doing something. In the end she noticed that she was missing a few groceries and decided to head to the store since she knew herself well enough to know that she'd probably forget to do it in the future. She made a list of the things she needed, scribbling down some snacks for Danny, then headed down to a nearby grocery store. It was less than a five minute drive.

     The store was a bit grungy, the lights yellow rather than white, the floors scuffed from thousand upon thousands of footsteps, but the prices were great and the produce fresh. Lily found the atmosphere pleasing. She took out the list she had made earlier and started inside, her shoes squeaking against the floors. First she got all of Danny's snacks because if she didn't she'd save that until last and probably leave it be since it wasn't entirely important. Not that Danny wasn't important. But his little snacks weren't absolutely essential.

     Next Lily got everything that wasn't dairy or frozen so she wouldn't have to rush. Chips, canned goods, breads, rice. All of it she gathered slowly but surely, occasionally eyeing something that looked delicious from the box cover. Some of those things she put into her cart, too, not having tried them before but willing. She did have disposable income, after all.

     When she was finished with all that she headed down to the dairy section to get some milk and butter. As she passed she noticed the ice cream, and seriously contemplated getting a tub for herself. The flavors company's these days made were so inventive and delicious. First, though, she grabbed a gallon of milk, otherwise her mind would zone in on the ice cream.

     "Lily?"

     In the middle of switching the two percent gallon she had accidentally grabbed and exchanging it for a one percent, Lily turned her head, surprised to hear her name. She gently placed the new milk gallon in her cart and said, "Yes?" without actually knowing her had called her.

     June walked forward and into Lily's line of sight. "How are you?" she asked conversationally.

     Lily blinked, still surprised, and held to her cart. "What are you doing here? You shop here?"

     "No, not usually. I was just on my way home and stopped to get a few things..." June's face twitched in an awkward display of a quick smile. "I haven't seen you in a while. Tracy's been taking Danny to school and picking him up."

     "Well, yeah. She is his mom. She always does that."

     June looked down. "Of course, I know, but..." She chuckled breathily and tucked her hair behind an ear. "I don't know. For some reason I feel like you've been avoiding me."

     Lily gripped her cart harder. "Why would you say that?"

     "I just... the day you were at my house... I don't know if I offended you or said something I shouldn't have. You left in a hurry so I thought... I'm sorry. I apologize, truly."