Blueprint for Romance

by Shannon M Harris

  After picking up a bucket of cornflowers, she saw a familiar someone standing with a young man by the tulips. The last time she saw Kat was a couple of weeks ago. Today Kat wore a pair of skinny jeans, Converse shoes, and a Garriety Science Center t-shirt. Her hair was spiked and as she watched, Kat raised her sunglasses and pushed them up and into her hair. Sexy didn’t even convey how Kat looked. What an attractive woman.

  The decision to help them was taken out of her hands when Kat looked up and locked eyes with her. Dylan pushed her cart over to them.

  “Hello again, Kat.” Dylan pushed a piece of hair behind her ear. The way Kat always made her nervous was quite the inconvenience.

  “It’s good to see you again, Dylan.”

  “Our third meeting.” Kat’s bout of shyness charmed Dylan.

  “Good.” Evan clapped his hands. “You two know each other.” He held out his hand. “I’m Evan, Kat’s nephew.”

  “Dylan. Nice to meet you, Evan.”

  “Ah…do you know anything about flowers?” Evan asked.

  “Evan, she’s obviously busy.” Kat flicked her hand at Dylan’s cart.

  “Not that busy.” She looked toward the flowers. “What are you looking for?” The words were out of her mouth before she dared to think about them. The last thing needed was to spend more time with Kat.

  “I want to plant a flower garden and Aunt Kat thought it would be a good project for the both of us, but…” He looked around them.

  “A bit daunting.” This she could do. “How big of a garden?”

  They both looked out of their element. “Nothing too big. Mom has her garden in the front yard and Briley has her vegetable garden in the backyard and they both made it clear I’m not to mess with either one of them. So, we’re doing it at her house.” He touched Kat’s arm.

  “I’ve marked off a two foot by ten-foot section in the front yard,” Kat said, slipping her hands in her front pockets.

  “Full sun?” Dylan asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Okay. What about colors? Are you looking for fragrance? Something to attract butterflies? Or something you could cut in a pinch for a date?”

  Evan grinned. “The date one would be awesome. Flowers are so expensive in the store.”

  “Follow me.” They walked two rows over. “You’re getting started and almost everyone grows daylily because they’re easy and require little maintenance. They’re personally one of my favorites and come in a variety of colors.” Dylan stopped and pointed out several types. “They are most associated with funerals because they symbolize the soul of the departed, but they also symbolize humility and devotion. That’s why they are considered the thirtieth anniversary flower.” The look of awe on both their faces was a welcome surprise. Evan grabbed two different colored daylily and added them to the cart.

  “What are these?” Evan tapped a display.

  “Ah.” Dylan picked up a container. “These are hydrangea. They’re gorgeous, but it’s a bush so you need to plant them away from your other flowers. They symbolize emotion and understanding.” Evan took the one out of her hand and put it in their cart.

  “So.” Kat tapped the side of her cart. “What symbolizes romance?”

  Dylan crooked her finger and they followed. “Peony. They come in a variety of colors, but I’ve always been partial to pink. They can also mean prosperity, good fortune, a happy marriage, riches, honor, and compassion, along with bashfulness.”

  Kat looked at Evan. “I don’t think your mom has any of these. Let’s get some for Briley and Leah.”

  “What would you give someone you liked?” Evan asked, a blush coloring his cheeks.

  “Well, that depends on what you want to convey. Aster is for patience, elegance, and daintiness. Calla lily for magnificence and beauty. Carnations have a few symbols. Pink is for the love of a woman or mother. White, innocence and pure love. Of course, you can’t go wrong with roses, but different colors have different meanings and roses need their own space as well.”

  “What about the roses?” Kat leaned against the wall and stared intently at Dylan.

  Dylan had to admit she enjoyed having all of Kat’s attention on her.

  “Yes,” Evan said, coming back and setting some asters in the cart.

  “You both should know that red is the lover’s rose and signifies enduring passion.” They both nodded. “White is for humility and innocence. Yellow expresses friendship and joy. Pink is for gratitude, appreciation, and admiration. Orange for enthusiasm and desire. White lilac and purple roses represent enchantment and love at first sight. The different number of stems in a bouquet can also express specific sentiments.”

  “That’s awesome,” Evan said. “Let’s get some red roses.” Kat nodded, and he sped off.

  “You’re not bored?” Dylan loved talking about flowers but knew people could get easily bored.

  “Not at all. It really is fascinating. I knew different flowers had different meanings, but I never gave it much thought. Now I’m wondering what I’ve been conveying to Leah all these months.” At Dylan’s confusion, she went on and explained about taking up so much of Briley’s time.

  Dylan’s voice sounded amused. “I’m sure she appreciated them, but when you put your heart into it, it does make a difference what you’re trying to say to someone. It’s special when someone takes the time to express themselves through flowers, but most people don’t take the time to dig deeper.”

  “Your love of flowers is evident,” Kat said. “Like my and Briley’s love of cosplaying. Everyone has something they’re proud of and interested in.”

  “You don’t think it’s silly?”

  “Of course not. The world would be a boring place if everyone liked and enjoyed the same things. Life’s too short. Enjoy what makes you happy.”

  “That’s a nice attitude to have. It’s refreshing.” Dylan leaned forward on her cart.

  “I’m not going to give my time to people who are purposely being an asshole. I don’t have time for that.”

  It was her third meeting with Kat, and she wondered if it was some type of sign. She was definitely attracted to Kat and would like to get to know her better. It was a thought that almost paralyzed her. She did not have time for these types of feelings. Not now.

  “I’m back.” Evan’s arms were laden down with several containers.

  “My, but you’re going all in.” Dylan kept her mouth shut at the cost adding up in their cart. She hoped one day she could enter a store like this and buy whatever she wanted. It was nice that they could, and they looked so happy doing it.

  “Why not,” Evan said and looked at Kat.

  “Why not.” Kat agreed. “Now, I’m sure this isn’t everything we need. Do you have the time to assist us with everything else or should we wave down an employee?”

  Dylan glanced at her watch. “I’ve got a bit of time.” She motioned for them to go in front of her and gave suggestions of what they might need. When they had three carts full, she glanced at them, then Kat glanced at Evan.

  “I hope you brought your debit card.” Kat smirked in Evan’s direction.

  Dylan held in a snicker when Evan’s eyes widened, then he grinned and whipped out a card from his back pocket. “I bet you thought I would make you pay for everything. I’ll have you know I’m responsible.” There was a moment of silence between them. Dylan wasn’t sure what was going on, but it looked intense.

  “If you’re sure?” Kat finally asked.

  The look that crossed his face was so fleeting, Dylan would have missed it if she hadn’t been looking. Then the look vanished in a flash.

  “I’m sure. We may not be able to beat Briley in the Christmas competition, but we’re so going to kick their asses when it comes to gardens.” He sounded confident.

  Dylan snickered at the expression on Kat’s face. “Not confident, Kat?”

  Kat took out her phone, unlocked it, brought up her photos then handed the phone to her. Dylan looked down and her eyes widen
ed. The vegetable garden could rival any magazine spread. Everything was so precise and flourishing. She swiped through and stopped on the flowers in the front yard. Though there was a limited variety, everything was done to precision also. The house was gorgeous as well.

  “Good luck.” Dylan looked at her watch. “I need to get going.” Kat looked like she wanted to say something but only nodded. Dylan left them looking at their phones and pointing out different varieties.

  Once she went through the checkout and was sitting in the truck, she gave herself a moment of pause to ponder the experience. There was no denying she felt a pull toward Kat, but she couldn’t gauge the other woman’s interest.

  With a groan, she rested her head back on the seat. Her attraction toward Kat didn’t change anything, though. There was no way she had time for a girlfriend. Friends would be pushing it. And she wasn’t sure Kat would be interested in her if she knew how they lived. She wasn’t ashamed of their house, but it was small and could use a lot of TLC. She shook her head and cleared her thoughts. The last thing she needed was to start putting words in Kat’s mouth. She didn’t know how Kat would react and she couldn’t hold what others thought about her against Kat, who had done nothing but be nice. She owed at least that much to Kat. Besides, there were more important things to worry about besides a fleeting crush on a woman she only ever saw in passing.

  Kat slipped the rag out of her back pocket and wiped her face and neck off before accepting the glass of iced tea Evan held out. She was surprised when Evan had agreed to pay for part of the flowers, but he had insisted. Leah had received the check for the sale of Kathy and Lilith’s house the previous week. All the furniture and knick-knacks were put into a temperature-controlled storage facility for when Evan got his own place and when Griffin was older. Evan and Griffin split the check received for the house and it was deposited into each of their bank accounts. It was a sizable profit, but she knew Evan was a responsible kid. Kat was glad this was something he decided to spend some of his money on. There could be worse things for him to settle his focus on instead of flowers.

  “This is going to be great,” Evan said, sitting down beside her.

  “You better believe it.” Besides the space they already designated to the flower garden, Evan had chosen a spot near the road for the hydrangea. They decided to plant the roses in the backyard. At one point they noticed Briley across the street staring at them, but after a text from Evan, Leah had come out and dragged Briley back inside.

  “Dylan was a big help,” Evan said.

  It was the first time he had brought her up and Kat was hoping he wouldn’t. The passion Dylan expressed when she was talking about flowers was a welcome surprise. Kat could have listened to her talk all day. Thankfully, Dylan didn’t seem bothered by helping them. She was warm and engaging.

  “Nice too.”

  Kat finished her tea. “Do you have a point, Evan?” She rested her arms on her knees. The urge to ask her out was on the tip of her tongue but at the last moment, she’d chickened out; she didn’t have time for dating. At least, that’s what she would keep telling herself.

  “You’re thinking about this too much. Just ask her out.”

  “It’s not that easy. I don’t know if she’s gay.”

  “Ask her out. If she says no, then you have an answer. She’s not gay, or she’s not interested. If she says yes, you can bet she’s gay and interested. You’re making it out to be hard.”

  Maybe she was. “I don’t have time to date.”

  “Bullshit.”

  “You sound like Briley. I wish it was that easy for everyone to find their Leah.”

  “I’ll give you that. They’re made for each other. I’m glad Mom’s happy and I love Briley, but Briley’s not the suavest one out there.”

  Kat laughed. “I don’t know about that.”

  “She’s not. She used baking to her advantage and never presented herself to Mom as anything other than herself.”

  “I can see it now. The next time I see her. Hey, Dylan, I could do your taxes for you.”

  Evan laughed so hard he fell on the ground. “I bet there is a lot of women who would appreciate that.”

  She got up, settled beside him, and placed her hands behind her head while Evan talked.

  “Mom and Lilith were like that. They fit together like pieces of a puzzle. I know Mom and Briley love Griff, but…I wonder. You know? What would Griff be like if they hadn’t died? I honestly…I love our life now, but Griff was their daughter. It’s just hard to think about sometimes. I don’t want to say it wrong. Do you understand?”

  “I do.”

  “They were so excited for Griffin. We had such a ball decorating Griff’s room and Lilith had been so surprised by the finished product. I’ve got video, but I can’t bring myself to watch it. I transferred all my videos and pictures of them to four separate flash drives and SD cards. Not including the Cloud. I don’t want to forget them.”

  “I still can’t bring myself to watch the videos I have of my dad. I know I would break down and I’m not sure I could handle that. I know Briley has watched some with Leah, but—”

  “Maybe.” Evan sat up and so did Kat. “Maybe we could watch some together. My videos and yours.”

  She stilled his hand that was picking at the grass. “I would really like that. You bring the tissue. I’ll supply the snacks.”

  “Sounds good.” He jumped up and wiped his eyes, then held his hand out for Kat, who latched onto it and stood. “Not going to get done sitting around.”

  “Let’s get to it.” He was a good kid, or young man. He would turn nineteen in a few weeks. Kat wasn’t sure what made him bond with her, but she was glad he did. She loved spending time with Griffin, but cherished the time spent with Evan. He hadn’t wanted to enroll in college full-time and the compromise he made with Leah was to take a few classes his first year and take up a hobby. So far, everything had worked out. He was getting into a groove and Kat knew next year, he would be ready for college full-time and they would see less and less of him. She would take these moments as they came.

  She lifted another bag of mulch and deposited it on his designated spot. She paused with another bag on her shoulder. Briley used her strengths to her advantage with Leah, but Kat could use someone else’s to hers. Tonight, after dinner, she’d sit down and research flower meanings. If she ever worked up the nerve to ask Dylan out, then she would play to Dylan’s strengths.

  Dylan entered the event center three hours before the gala was to start to help set up the tables. To her disappointment, most of the dishes were seafood based and not something Emma liked. There were a few meat dishes she hoped would provide some leftovers to take home. Emma always looked forward to the foods brought home from these events.

  “I’ll make sure if there is any of the beef dishes left that you get first dibs,” Haley said. “I know Emma doesn’t like seafood.”

  “Thanks.”

  “I’m hoping there are some of those miniature crab cakes and lobster puffs left. Gayle already promised I could have some.”

  The venue’s decorations were lovely. White garland and pink and yellow tulips graced every table. Expensive, but tasteful. It always amazed her how much money was spent on these events that could go directly to charity, but she understood you had to spend money to make it. This event wasn’t designated as a benefit for charity, but she knew they always collected donations at the end of the night. And one thing that could be said about the business people of Garriety was that they were generous with their money.

  She had a tiny bit of hope that Kat would be here, and she would have the chance to see her all dressed up. It was one thing to see her in jeans and a t-shirt, but she was almost positive Kat would kill formal wear. It was a tossup between whether she would look better in a dress or a suit. She’d seen Kat’s arms in a tank top, and now hoped to get a glimpse of her legs in a dress.

  “I would say from that grin on your face you’re thinking of a certain so
meone.” Haley popped another lobster puff into her mouth.

  Dylan rolled her eyes, but the grin remained. “I wouldn’t be opposed to seeing Kat in a dress.”

  “She looks good.”

  “You did say you saw her in one.” Dylan slid the platter of lobster puffs away from Haley’s eager hands.

  “Last year at the dance right before the Encampment. I do believe she’s the type of woman that could pull off any look.”

  “I believe you’re right.”

  “Ladies,” Gayle said, walking up to them. “The doors are going to open in ten minutes, so if you could get behind your stations that would be great.”

  “Sure thing, Sis,” Haley said, as she and Dylan made for their table and got in place. “I kind of had a feeling she wouldn’t put me on the crab cake table after I ate three of them in the kitchen.”

  “Common sense will get you far.”

  “I’m sure.” Haley lifted her tongs. “How about that dead guy at work today?”

  Dylan didn’t want to think about that. Thank God she wasn’t the housekeeper to find him or the one to clean his room. “Brenda was a tad bit dramatic.”

  “A tad bit? She was flipping out of her mind. For a moment, I had wished it was me because I would have kept my composure, then reality would hit and I’m glad I wasn’t the one to find him.”

  “Me and you both.” In the three years she’d worked at the Town Square, it was only the fourth time they’d found a dead body. One, an older man who had died in his sleep. His wife had blamed the front desk worker because the paramedics weren’t quicker getting there, but nothing they could have done would have saved him. Another one, a guy who had taken a pill that his doctor had refused to give him, but he got from his friend and his heart gave out. Another one, a man passing through town who hadn’t woken up, an empty pill bottle on the floor by the bed. The coroner had ruled it a suicide. It still creeped her out to clean those rooms, but there wasn’t another option.