In Dreams She Came

Chapter 30: Engagement Ring

Matt paced nervously around the flower shop. "Gosh, there's so many options."

A young girl came up to him. "Can I help you, sir?" She asked in a half American, half French accent.

Matt gave her a critical look. "You're the girl from Mr. Steele's office?"

The girl nodded. "I had to find a new job for obvious reasons. It's such a shame, really. I'm going to miss being his secretary. He was a wonderful man."

"He was a hard worker and boss," Matt said in admiration. "Your job must have been hard."

"Not really," the former secretary shrugged. "Monsieur Steele was always very considerate and always let me home early to see my Maman. He would take me to lunch and...well, it's not important now. Can I assist you in picking out some flowers?"

"Roses," Matt nodded. "If you have any."

"Of course we have roses," the girl chuckled. "How many do you need?"

"Seven hundred thousand."

"Alright," the girl replied, filling out an order form. "We can have them ready as early as tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" Matt said weakly. "Wow...that's fast."

"We have a large staff," the girl chuckled. "However, we can have them ready for whenever you need them."

Matt bit his lip. "Do you have any daisies? Totally separate thing, but-"

The girl nodded. "How many would you like?"

"Just one...I'm planning on visiting some old friends," Matt chuckled. "Well, some old family...if they'll have me."

"Alright," the girl smiled, fidgeting with a small pendant around her neck. She looked at Matt carefully. "I'm sorry," she stammered. "You just...you remind me of someone...but he died a while ago."

Matt felt a funny feeling rush to his head. "I'm sorry. How old are you?"

"I turned eighteen last month," she slowly.

"Lexie!" Called a boy of about the same age from the cash register.

"Yeah?" The girl called back.

"When does your shift end?"

"In an hour, Babe," she replied after a moment. Turning her attention back to Matt, she said, "I'm sorry. What were we talking about?"

"Lexie...which is short for?" Matt said slowly.

"Alexandra," she replied. "It's my mother's middle name."

Matt felt faint. "Is there a chair I can sit in?"

Lexie pulled up a chair. "What's your name?"

"Christopher."

"Oh," Lexie sighed, shaking her head. "Um, when do you need the roses for?"

"Was that, um, your boyfriend?" Matt asked, putting a hand to his head and keeling over slightly.

"Yes," Lexie nodded.

"Eighteen. Wow," Matt stammered. "I was eighteen when I met my wife. We didn't get married until we were nineteen though."

Lexie's head shot up from the paper and she looked Matt directly in the eye. "My uncle...he was married when he was nineteen," she said with a hint of suspicion. "He suffered an accident and died after."

"Oh," Matt said weakly. He hadn't expected that much to betray him.

"I never got to say goodbye," Lexie said, sadness evident in her tone. "I suppose there's nothing to be done about that now."