shanniiine

“Violet,” her father smiled. “You’re going to do amazing things with this little shop–for this, I pray.”

“Thank you, father, I couldn’t have gotten here without you” the young woman beamed, grabbing her father, and bringing him into a hug. “I just hope that the locals will accept me despite who I am.”

“This town is lucky to have you,” he said into her shoulder. “Never forget that.”

~ ✿ ✿ ✿ ~

Violet’s Violets opened its doors well over fifty years ago and in that time, it had cemented itself as one of the societal foundations of Hoccosin, the small town that was fortunate enough to be the home of such a cozy little flower shop. Over the years, as new people moved to town and became acquainted with all the intricacies of the small town that seemed like it was in a world separate unto its own, it became a commonplace rite of passage that in order to become a true Hoccosin citizen–native or not, one must purchase a bouquet of flowers from the double-V and gift it to another resident. Then, the gifter would be quietly welcomed as a genuine Hoccosinian, and they would be permitted to call this quaint, little town their true home. 

The humble shop was practically smack dab in the center of Verona Avenue, the town’s main street, and was known to be welcoming and homey beyond what words could describe. All sorts of hydrangeas, orchids, roses, daffodils, daisies, and a dozen other types of flowers spilled out the door and lined the shopfront, all in pristine shape and in the most admirable sorts of pots. Anytime an unsuspecting pedestrian would pass by, they would feel themself beckoned inside by the sweet aromas and beautiful blossoms, unable to resist the temptation to enter the cozy shop. Some might joke that it was witchcraft or sorcery, but any long-time resident could tell you that it was all-natural and that Violet really was just that good at tending to her flowers. She cared for them as if they were her children–which she had none of her own unless you counted the fluffy white cat that lazed around her shop or the local teens from the nearby boarding school who took such a liking to her quiet and kind demeanor, that they effectively made the double-V their after-school hangout spot.

There was a large, square wooden table in front of the front windows, which she used as a workbench to pot and re-pot flowers, but when it wasn’t coated in soil and plant trimmings, those teens could sit around it and do homework, or just chat–which happened to be what they ended up doing most of the time. Ivy, sword ferns, and other vined plants resided in hanging pots that lined the sides of the shop, while the walls were fitted with wooden shelves that proudly displayed plants for sale. Violet’s register was in the back of the shop, from there she could overlook her works of art, customers coming in to browse or find a quiet spot to relax, and she relished in all of it–for this, owning a successful business, had been her childhood dream, and she was pulling it off–extremely well, in fact.

“Hello?” an older woman feigned, peeking her head through the glass front door. “Could I ask for some help if it wouldn’t be too much of a bother?”

The woman had a curly grey bob haircut and wore browline oval-shaped glasses. Her face was covered in wrinkles, especially around the corners of her mouth and eyes–smile lines. Her eyes were a soft shade of green and her nose was as small as a button. She wore a cream blouse beneath a sage green trenchcoat and a long, pastel pink skirt that cut off just before her black loafers.

Violet jumped at the sound of the bell ringing and made her way to meet the woman who looked to be somewhat near her in age. “‘Course!” she declared with a smile, meeting her by the doorway. “And what would be the occasion?”

“For a loss...”

“Oh,” Violet’s smile dropped. “I’m terribly sorry that this has become of you, may I offer you a hug?”

The woman didn’t even respond, instead, she took the shopkeeper into an embrace. “This has been a long time coming,” she muttered into Violet’s shoulder. “But I’d be a damned fool if I turned down a hug.”

“Oh-ho-ho,” Violet laughed a little, draping her arms around the stranger and completing the hug. “A woman who knows what she wants, I love it.”

“Thank you for your kindness, stranger,” she croaked, pulling away, a tiny tear forming the corner of her eye. “Now,” she collected herself. “Where might I have to go off to in this delightful shop to get my hands on a bouquet of chamomile flowers?”

“Chamomile…” an interesting flower choice for mourning, she thought to herself, but who am I to judge!

“Well, that will be just right this way!” Violet chirped, heading to the far wall that was practically overflowing with all the different types of flowers on display.

“Oh,” the lady’s voice dropped. “Well, those are them, I–I suppose I’ll be ready to go in no time.”

Violet’s heart sank at the sight of this woman, she wanted to hug her again, to soothe her worries and remind her that whoever she lost lived a long life–well she couldn’t guarantee that, then a life full of love–or that either, drats! Well then, she could always count on ol’ reliable: this woman loved her late friend, spouse, child, second cousin, whomever it was that she so tragically lost–and that was enough in itself.

As Violet opened her mouth to offer some more words of condolences, the woman piped up.

“I know we just met, but I don’t have any friends or family in town so I’m going to the resting place all by my lonesome, but if it’s no skin off your back, would you consider accompanying me as I say goodbye?”

“Why–”

“Oh, what am I saying–I haven't even introduced myself; my name is Theodosia, my friends call me Theo–although I suppose no one’s really called me that in years, at any rate, if it’s not an intrusion–”

“Of course, I’ll accompany you, I’d be honored to. Anyone who gives a hug as good as that deserves some compassion,” Violet laughed. “I’m Violet, by the way, as the store’s name implies.”

“Oh, wondrous day, wondrous day! Thank you, Violet, you've made a friend in me today!”

Any sight of tears in Theo’s eyes was long gone, instead, the sadness had been replaced by a jubilant radiance–it was almost blinding.

“I can close up shop early today and we can make our journey to the final resting place in a jiffy,” Violet declared.

The teens gathered around the wooden table had been eavesdropping on the conversation–it was a rare sight to see Violet so invested in a customer. The oldest of the kids nodded to their friends after Violet’s declaration, signaling that it was time for them to scram. Books were closed and papers shoved into backpacks, and just like that, Violet and Theo were left standing all by themselves in the colorful store. “Well that was much easier to get those teens out than I thought it was going to be,” Theo said in genuine surprise.

“Oh them? They love me!” Violet half-joked. “But yes, they’re a good bunch, it’s always a treat to have them in here…” her voice trailed off. “At any rate!” Violet perked back up to attention. “Let’s get this show on the road! Let me just grab my coat.” “Oh but, I need to pay for the flowers–”

“No, you don’t! The manager says they’re on the house, and what she says goes, so I wouldn’t want to argue with her,” Violet smiled as she returned with her black, fluffy coat in hand.

“Oh no, I insist, please let me pay–” “Oh no, I insist. C’mon! Let’s skedaddle before someone else comes in with another story about a lost loved one and tries to steal me away from you.”

Theo shuffled her feet back and forth, fiddling with a single, white petal of the flowers she was now the declared owner of, “Well, I–”

Violet turned to face her new friend and met her gaze with a cockeyed smile. Just say okay, she mouthed. “Hmm, okay. Okay! Let’s go!” “That’s the spirit!” Violet cheered. “Lily, we’ll be back in a bit, you’re in charge!”

A white cat emerged from underneath the register in the back of the store, stretched her front legs, let out a massive yawn, and flopped on her side on the stone floor.

“Thank you for the flowers, Lily!” Theo said.

Violet cocked an eyebrow at Theo.

“Well, you said she’s in charge, I assume she must be the manager.”

Violet smiled at the humorous notion, “We should get out of her hair before she demands her bi-hourly cuddles.”

Violet reached for Theo’s empty hand as the pair chuckled, Theo accepted her grasp, and they were off to the races like two horses bred to run, Violet’s shoulder-length white hair bobbing up and down. Violet rushed out the front door with Theo in tow, both laughing from the sudden rush of adrenaline. Violet flowed through the sequence of motions to lock the front door as soon as they stepped outside into the chilly, late-winter air. Violet brushed her hands down her denim overalls and turned to her new friend. “Alright,” Violet turned to grab Theo’s hand again. “This time, you’re leading; where to?”

~ ✿ ✿ ✿ ~

Violet followed Theo along the sidewalks of Hoccosin, heading toward the western outskirts of town–the way Theo double-guessed every turn, constantly performing double-takes at every street sign, she definitely wasn’t a native, that much Violet could clearly tell.

“If my asking isn’t an intrusion,” Violet spoke up. “Why is it that you’re performing the burial here?”

“I grew up in Drexwood City, but ever since I was but a young girl, I’ve yearned to live in a small town. Then, after the loss, I decided that it was time for a fresh start and that this would be the perfect place to achieve just that.”

“I’m from Drexwood, too,” Violet smiled.

“How did you end up here?” Theo asked.

“Well, I was a boarding student at The Hoccosin Academy for Young Emerging Scholars–but everyone around here calls it THAYES, just on the outskirts of town,” Violet said, pointing toward a castle-esque building on the north side of town. “Anyhow, I was a boarding student there from the time I was eleven to seventeen, and I fell in love with the cozy little town, so once I had saved up enough money to support myself, I moved back here when I was just a few years over twenty and opened up the flower shop.”

“Oh, what a beautiful little story,” Theo mused.

Violet smiled to herself, thinking back to her younger years. In the time that Violet had lived in Hoccosin, she had familiarized herself with newcomers, the long-time residents, and every type in between. When someone would first move here, they tended to follow one of two types: the bluff, which faked exuberant confidence; and the tentative, the type that embodied the likes of a young child, lost in a grocery store, searching for a parent to no avail. Both types of newcomers would eventually fall into a sort of groove, eventually becoming comfortable enough to declare ignorance or to ask for help. It was always a pleasant sight to witness someone grow comfortable with the uncomfortableness that comes with moving somewhere new. When Violet moved back to Hoccosin during her early adult years, she wasn’t so lucky as to receive a helping hand from a local. The spirit of Hoccosin had greatly shifted in recent decades; when Violet first opened her shop, she was viewed as a spinster–shameful that she wasn’t married and instead opening a business on her own. But, as the social tides shifted, her single-ness came to be viewed in more of a positive light, eventually even being admired by some of the townsfolk.

Violet was lost in thought, thinking back on all the people she had had the pleasure of meeting during her life, as the pair strolled up to a poplar tree that looked as if it could tell stories of days long forgotten if one took the time to sit and listen. She snapped back to attention, and with a quick glance over her shoulder, noticed that they had just taken a turn off Huckleberry Lane and had found themselves in the Avon Cemetery.

“Here we are…he’s buried just over yonder,” Theo croaked.

‘He,’ Violet promptly noted the gender of the deceased, nodding to herself.

Violet took note of how Theo’s brisk pace slowed as they neared the gravesite. Violet hastened her speed for just a moment to catch up to her walking partner, she met her gaze and offered a supporting smile. Theo smiled back and reached for Violet’s hand, taking it into her own soft grasp.

“Here,” Theo pointed to a small tombstone on the outskirts of the cemetery that was only a few steps in front of them.

Violet released her grip on Theo’s hand to move closer to the headstone.

Chamomile, it read, “to my longest-standing companion; Je ta’aime”

“And who was Chamomile to you-?” Violet started to ask.

“He was my cat. The little bugger held on to life for some twenty-odd years, I hardly know what it’s like to live without putting someone else’s needs before my own anymore.”

Theo crouched down, her long, pastel pink skirt brushing against the grass and dirt. She mumbled something of a prayer to herself and then neatly placed the flowers by the gravestone.

“Thank you for being here with me,” a few tears streamed down her petite, wrinkled face.

“No, thank you for allowing me to be here,” Violet grabbed her new friend into another hug. “Thank you.”

“You’re–you’re welcome,” she sniffled.

~ ✿ ✿ ✿ ~

The following days were something of a blur.

Theo was in the process of securing an apartment in town, in the meanwhile, she was lodging at the Poshley Inn and spending the vast majority of her days in the double-V, assisting Vy–she had come to call her that, with whatever duties Vy asked of her. Sweeping, mopping, trimming, vacuuming, watering plants–although Vy quickly came to realize that Theo was a culprit of over-watering, so she found herself peeking over her shoulder, directing her as to when to start and stop.

“I’ll pay you a generous wage,” Violet offered the first night. “With all that you’re doing, you deserve a sizable one.” “Oh, pish,” Theo retorted. “I’ve long retired; this is an extracurricular and I wouldn’t be putting in the effort if I didn’t want to.”

That came to be a normal conversation between them for the first couple of evenings until Vy rolled over and chose to take Theo’s remarks at face value–something she did not tend to do.

Vy found herself mesmerized by the energy that Theo created by being in the shop with her. Her welcoming nature matched that of Vy’s, and her captivating presence brought a new type of intimacy to the shop; they quickly discovered that they were a wonderfully well-suited pair–in the work environment.

After Violet unlocked the front doors every day, Theo wasn’t long after her. She followed the same sequence of actions each time she entered the shop; skipping toward Vy’s cat, Lily, and rubbing her belly, cooing over her, decreeing that she must be the best cat in the whole wide world!

“Today’s the day, right?” Violet asked.

“Oh, well I suppose it is!” Theo said, popping her head up to look away from the cat and into Violet’s blue eyes.

“Alright, the first appointment is at noon, so we can close up for an extra-long lunch a little before then,” Violet said.

“Sounds perfect! Just perfect! I can’t wait to be able to call myself a Hoccosinian!”

“Well, to be able to really do that–” Violet was cut off by a young man, probably somewhere in his early twenties, sweating profusely, wearing a tweed suit and brown loafers, bursting through the door.

“I need– I need a bouquet,” he panted.

Theo’s eyes lit up at the sight of the customer. Violet was much more accustomed to helping the slow, thoughtful patrons–the customers who came in, demanding flowers in a hurry and rushing Violet’s process were never her cup of tea, but a necessary evil as part of being a business owner. Theo on the other hand was most welcoming to these hectic customers, she just had a magic touch–she knew exactly what to say and when to say it, something that Violet was never the best at herself.

“What’s the occasion, sweetie?” Theo asked, walking toward the young gentleman.

His hair was gelled, and he emanated an aura of suaveness–but not if you were to look into his eyes. His facial expression was that of someone in immense pain–not physical pain, but emotional pain, Violet had seen many people wear that same expression over the years.

“Anni–Anniversary,” he said.

“Oh, how wonderful!” Theo said, gently placing her hand on his shoulder. “Are you interested in an assortment of flowers or a mono-bouquet?”

“Whatever’s quickest, I’m supposed to meet her–oh no, now,” the man said, his face dropping.

“This calls for roses!” Theo declared, marching toward the back of the shop that contained shelves upon shelves of pre-prepared bouquets, the man’s head hanging low as he followed her.

“Here you are!” Theo said, handing him a bouquet of a dozen roses, varying in shades, a few pink, a couple white, but the majority red.

The distraught man handed Theo a twenty-dollar bill, nodded, and sprinted back the way he came.

“Oh shoot, does the twenty cover a rose bouquet?” Theo asked.

Violet smiled, nodding in response, “You know just how to work with ‘em.”

“Well, what can I say? I speak hopeless romantic.”

The two women laughed as they carried on with their usual morning duties.

As noontime drew near, Violet closed the register and grabbed her coat and clipboard that had all her notes, while Theo patted Lily and told her to not burn the place down while they were out.

With the brisk wind blowing through their grey and white hairdos, Violet locked the glass doors and smiled at Theo.

“If we cut across that way,” Violet said, pointing at the through-street right in front of the shop.

“Wait, don’t tell me, that’s Rush Street?” Theo asked hopefully.

“Very good! You’re memorizing the street names rather quickly.”

Theo smiled victoriously, “Sorry, you were saying?”

“Yes, well, we can head directly to the first apartment complex if we go across this way, then you can get a feel for the building, and see how you feel about the complex.”

“Well then, let’s hop right to it!”

The first few apartments were a bust, Theo wanted something larger, something smaller, something with a better view, something more private. Violet couldn’t blame her for being picky, in all likelihood, this was to be the last place Theo would ever live, she might as well get everything she wanted in her new home.

“Okay, this next one is pretty expensive,” Violet said.

“I make enough money, I sell flowers at a little shop in town, Violet’s Violets, ever heard of it?” Theo said.

“I thought that was an extracurricular?” Violet asked, cocking her head.

Theo’s eyes squinched as she grabbed onto Violet’s shoulders, “Oh, you.” She laughed.

As the pair approached the monochromatically colored townhouses, Violet pointed to the left.

“And there is that aforementioned flower shop,” Violet said.

“Oh, how wonderful! I could live right here, next to the shop?” Theo asked.

The townhouses at Landing Creek were the cream of the crop in Hoccosin. Forty townhouses with a decadent Victorian facade, each colored a different shade of wine red, beige, forest green, and a dozen other colors. The back row was the most coveted, as they came with a beautiful view of the Hoccosin River. Given the close proximity to the double-V, Violet had always dreamt of one day calling Landing Creek her home.

“The unit available is…” Violet paused, glancing at the notes on her clipboard. “Ooo, lucky you! It’s got a great view.”

Theo’s eyes lit up at the notion of a view, “You know exactly what a woman wants to hear.”

“It’s time to reacquaint yourself with nature and slow living,” Violet said.

“Lead the way!” Theo said.

Standing on the fourth-floor balcony, overlooking the river, Theo took a deep breath, “This is it,” she said. “I’m going to put in an offer.”

Vy stepped out next to her, taking in the view. “It isn’t too spacious? There aren’t too many stories?”

“No, it’s perfect,” Theo said. “I suppose, I could benefit from a housemate?”

Vy blinked, taken aback by the proposition. The two had become quite the duo as of late, but they still hadn’t even known each other for an entire calendar month.

Vy stood there in shock for a moment before Theo reached out to her new friend. “Oh no, I don’t mean that– or well, I suppose I don’t not mean that, but– I meant a pet. I could very much benefit from having a furry companion around.”

“Oh–oh of course!” Violet laughed. “Oh, of course, you meant a pet. The closest cat shelter is in Drexwood, I’m sure we could take a bus over there sometime this weekend and pick out another perfect little bugger for you.”

“Sounds perfect! It’s a date,” Theo said.

Violet blinked a few times and then smiled.

“I can’t believe we were able to find you an apartment, I thought we were going to have to resort to building one from scratch in the forests of Hickory Grove!” Violet laughed as she unlocked the front door to the double-V.

“I can’t believe you had that diamond at your disposal and waited until the end of our hunt to show it to me!” Theo said.

“You never want to reveal that you have a winning hand too early,” Violet said as she opened the door, motioning for Theo to enter.

“Oh, where’s the little precious gremlin,” Theo said, making her way through the front of the store.

“Mrooow,” Lily moaned, having been woken up from her afternoon nap.

“There she is!” Theo said, skipping towards the white fluff who had plopped in front of the register. “You didn’t set the store ablaze! I’m so proud of you.”

Violet exhaled a little laugh to herself and moved behind the counter, grabbing a loaf of bread, a butter knife, and jars of peanut butter and strawberry jam from under the counter.

“Tonight,” Violet began, “we feast like kings!” She said as she triumphantly placed the items on the counter.

“Oh?” Theo said, standing up. “Oh! Oh, PB and J’s–”

“This is always my go-to meal after an exhilarating activity like today’s.”

Theo slowly rubbed her fingers together and looked down at her shoes.

“But, if you’d prefer another option, we could always go to the Fresh from Scratch Bakery just down the street–” Violet said, unsure if she had done something wrong.

“No, no. I love peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, they remind me of a different time in my life, before I had come into my own. I haven’t had one since then.”

Violet, unsure of how to proceed, walked around to meet Theo and took her into a hug. While she wanted to ask her what time in her life she was referencing, Violet thought back to all the times when her curiosity, instead of connecting her with others, actually ended up pushing those closest to her away.

“When–” Theo stammered, her head draped over Violet’s shoulder, “whenever we would have a hard day, we would make PB and J’s. If he had a hard time at work or if I had a hard time in the classroom, that was our tradition.”

‘He,’ Violet promptly noted the gender of the presumed deceased.

“Thank you for sharing this with me,” Violet said, stepping back from the embrace. Violet noted how flushed Theo’s face had become, her eyes now pinkish red.

“Thank you for listening,” Theo smiled. “Now let’s make some PB and J’s and make a new tradition, hm?”

“Yes, yes indeed,” Violet said.

~ ✿ ✿ ✿ ~

That weekend, Vy and Theo took the hour-long bus from Hoccosin to Drexwood City.

“It’s been so long since I was last here,” Vy said as the pair stepped off the bus and onto the sidewalk outside a high-rise building. “You’ll be the navigator today!”

A few other people got off at the same stop, joining the herd of people on the sidewalk being shepherded toward their varying destinations.

“Well, lucky for you,” Theo smiled. “The Cat Cove is just across the street.”

The cat shelter was surprisingly small for being in a bustling city. The kittens were separated in one room, running around and playing with each other, and the adult cats were secluded in another room. About a dozen or so kittens bounded towards Theo as soon as she sat on the bench in front of them, while Vy stood off to the side, just taking in the moment.

“Oh, look at this one!” Theo said as a tabby kitten crawled up her dusty pink shawl and nuzzled into her face.

“That’s Dom,” the young cat shelter volunteer said. “He loves being as close to you as possible at all times.”

Dom curled up on Theo’s shoulder and nuzzled into her ear which made Theo laugh. Vy’s nose crinkled at the sight of Theo enjoying herself so much, Vy admired how much of herself Theo was willing to let others see without restraint. Vy had always felt such a strong need to be careful and calculating, so to see Theo so unafraid to be herself all the time, regardless of who was watching, was something of a wonder to Vy.

“Oh, I love him, but let’s go check out the adult cats,” Theo said, putting Dom back down on the bench beside her.

The volunteer led them into the next room where well over a dozen adult cats were lounging in cat trees, on the floor, and by windowsills.

Upon entering, a small tortoiseshell cat pranced up to Theo and rubbed against her legs.

“That’s Minerva, all of her litter was adopted recently but she’s still a kitten herself,” the volunteer said.

“So young and precious,” Vy said.

“And what’s that one’s name?” Theo asked, pointing to a grey and white cat with a stubby tail laying on a bench by the door.

“That’s Remy, he’s a real sweetie. I don’t know what it is about our grey cats right now, but they all love laps.”

Vy watched as Theo slowly reached out her hand to Remy to let him sniff her, and then as she sat down beside him and began petting him.

“What happened to his tail?” Vy asked as Remy got into her lap.

“When the trap-neuter-release team found him, his tail was cck,” the volunteer motioned a harsh curve with her pointer finger. “So, they had to amputate it, but he’s as happy as a clam now. Aren’t you buddy?”

Minerva strolled towards Violet, making eye contact with her, and then rubbing up against her legs.

“I’ll leave you guys to it, if you have any more questions or need any help just give me a holler!” The volunteer said as they walked back through the door to the kitten room.

“Are you leaning towards any cat?” Vy asked.

“I don’t know what it was,” Theo said as the pair crossed the street back towards the bus stop. “They were all so sweet but none of them were it–if that makes any sense?”

“It does,” Vy said, the wind rushing through her hair.

“None of them were Lily…none of them were Chamomile,” Theo said.

“We’ll find you the perfect companion, we will,” Vy said.

Despite their unsuccessful pilgrimage into Drexwood, the pair hopped off the bus back in Hoccosin with wide smiles.

“So you were in Skógur house, is that how it’s pronounced? Theo asked, stepping onto the sidewalk.

“Yep, you got it! Aside from the Himinnur house, we were the most prestigious house one could hope to get into at THAYES,” Vy explained, following closely behind her.

“Oh, and why is that?”

“Just the…nature of the house. Anyone could get into Sólgulur, but to get into Skógur or Himinnur one had to either possess certain abilities or pass a grueling set of exams.”

“And what kind of abilities would one have to possess–” Theo began to ask, but Vy cut her off.

“May’s Diner is right over there if you’d like to stop there for lunch.”

“Oh! Is this the place with the famous cucumber soup that you mentioned on the bus ride?” Theo asked.

“That’s the one! C’mon, this way.”

“Howdy, Violet!” A woman around the same age as Violet and Theo said as the pair entered the homey diner.

May’s Diner had opened just a couple of years before Violet’s Violets and being just a few storefronts down, May and Violet had always had an amicable friendship. Just like May, the diner was incredibly warm and welcoming. May’s always smelled of freshly brewed coffee, no matter the time of day, and just like the double-V, was another common hangout spot for teens attending the academy. It was a Mom and Pop style restaurant, so there were only about twenty wooden tabletops around the diner. The restaurant was at about half capacity, with a few couples, young families, and groups of teens spread out throughout the establishment. A loud ding emanated from the back where an older man wearing an all-white outfit that was covered in grease stains stuck his head out through a window from the kitchen as he placed a platter of fries and a hamburger onto a ledge. A young Asian woman with long black hair wearing a pink apron who had been talking to a customer at a nearby table perked up at the sound of the bell, stopped her conversation, and strolled over to pick up the order.

“And who is this with you?” May asked, smiling coyly.

“This is Theodosia,” Violet said.

“Hello, I’m Theo,” she said, reaching out to shake May’s hand

May was wearing a white button-down with short sleeves, black slacks, and a half-length pink apron covered in brown stains of varying shades. She had tightly knit grey curls that reached just above her chin and elegant facial features.

Vy watched as May took Theo’s hand in her own and shook it gingerly. “Where have you been hiding this one?”

“I only just recently moved to Hoccosin from Drexwood,” Theo said. “It’s lovely to make your acquaintance.”

“Well, I’m overjoyed that you decided to stop by my diner today! Let me sit you at a booth and then I’ll get your orders.”

After perusing the menus for a few minutes, Violet ordered a small seafood platter and Theo ordered cucumber soup.

“So what was your time at THAYES like?” Theo asked, leaning toward Vy from across the booth. “What were you like as a student then?”

Vy blushed as Theo closed some of the distance between them. “Well, I was quite…rowdy…in my younger years.”

“You? Rowdy? I simply find that hard to believe.” Theo said.

“It’s the truth. I had a hard time going a week without causing some kind of a ruckus in class–there was one time during ch–” She paused, “During chemistry class, that I accidentally set a classmate’s hair on fire because she was flipping her head around near a lit bunsen burner.”

“Oh! Well, that hardly sounds like your fault. She shouldn’t have been acting so recklessly near a lit flame.”

“I suppose…I was still reprimanded by the teacher and my housemaster that day. That was just one instance out of many, so they always seemed to assume the worst in me.”

Vy saw Theo’s eyes turn sorrowful for a moment, a small, sympathetic smirk forming on her face.

“My time in high school was very different I suppose,” Theo said. “I was something of a homebody until I attended college.”

“Oh?” Vy asked. “What changed?”

“A good friend. She and I met during our first weeks there and did everything together. She was much more adventurous than I ever could’ve hoped to be.”

‘She,’ Violet promptly noted the gender.

“There was one night during midterms when we spent hours on a midnight stroll. Eventually, we found ourselves by train tracks, we followed them until we realized we had walked to the next town over.”

“Whatever happened to her?” Vy asked.

“We drifted apart, I couldn’t tell you why, but not a single day goes by that I don’t think of her and reminisce on how much our friendship meant to me.”

Vy thought back on her own life. How many of her friendships had seemingly ended out of the blue for reasons unapparent to her? She had the urge to reach out, to take Theo’s hand and commiserate, but just as she was about to do so, their waitress came over with their lunches.

“Oh, thank you Rai, darling,” Theo said, making space on the table for her to set their food down.

“Of course, and if there’s anything else that I can do for you, just raise a hand,” Rai, the waitress, said as she did a small curtsy and walked away.

“This smells divine! Let’s dig in before it gets cold,” Theo said.

~ ✿ ✿ ✿ ~

The following Friday, Theo only came to the shop for just a few hours. She stepped out early as there were to be a few furniture deliveries arriving at her new townhouse. As the evening drew near, Violet closed up shop a few minutes early.

“I’ll see you later tonight, Lily, love you!” Violet said as she stepped outside.

She headed straight to Netta Grocery which was just a few storefronts down on Verona Avenue.

Upon entering the local grocery store, Violet was met with the scents of freshly baked bread and aromatic fruits.

“Hey, Violet!” A gentleman in his forties wearing a sage green apron said over his shoulder while bagging a young woman’s groceries.

“Hi there, Nate, nice to see you,” Violet said, walking towards the bakery section at the front of the store and perusing the different loaves of bread.

After dancing her fingers over the various different types of loaves–white, pumpernickel, sourdough, rye, multigrain, gluten-free, she settled on the old faithful: whole wheat. Violet placed the loaf of bread into her baby blue knitted bag and turned away from the bread. She had never asked Theo what her favorite type of bread was, but she didn’t seem to have any complaints over the type of bread when they had been eating the PB and J’s the other day, so she brushed the worry aside.

Next, Violet moved towards the various fruits and vegetables, her eyes glazing over each crate until she reached the tomatoes. She picked out a vine of six plump tomatoes, each that were as big as the palm of her hand. Next, she eyed the onions that were in a nearby crate and picked out three yellow onions, and carefully placed them into her bag beside the tomatoes.

Then, she headed for the deli section on the side of the grocery store, eyeing each of the different types of freshly sliced cheeses. Violet selected a dozen slices of Monterey Jack wrapped in cellophane paper and smiled to herself.

The final items on her grocery list were butter and heavy cream, which she found nestled in the back left-hand corner of the store, next to the milk and other dairy products.

Standing in line, she eyed the various items resting in her bag and hoped that this surprise would be welcomed.

“Whatcha got for me tonight, Violet?” Nate asked as she moved to the front of the line.

“Just a few items,” she said, placing the bag onto the conveyor belt.

“Ooo, making your world-famous tomato soup?” Nate asked, scanning each item.

“How’d you guess?” Violet said, reaching for her coin purse.

“Well,” Nate said, accepting the cash from Violet. “I hope that whoever the lucky person is, they know that they’re gonna be eating liquid gold tonight!”

Knocking on the door to Theo’s townhouse, Violet heard a small crash and a distant “coming!” Moments later, Theo opened the door, her hair tied up in a bun, wearing a white blouse and a long flowing mint green skirt.

“Vy! What a lovely surprise, come in, come in! What do I owe the pleasure?”

“Well, I thought that you might be in need of a fresh home-cooked meal?” Vy asked.

“You know the way to a woman’s heart,” Theo smiled.

The living room was full of life; a burgundy couch in the center of the room facing the cobblestone fireplace, boxes strewn here and there, and paintings and portraits in decadent frames lining the walls where they will eventually be hung.

“You don’t stop what you’re doing,” Vy said, heading straight for the kitchen. “Dinner will be ready in half an hour!”

After eating the liquid gold tomato soup and grilled cheeses atop a cardboard box coffee table, Vy and Theo leaned back against the couch.

“I haven’t had a meal that good in ages!” Theo said. “Thank you.”

“Of course,” Vy said.

Theo yawned, reaching her arms out in front of her, and then nestled into Vy’s chest.

Vy’s eyes shot wide open, not having expected Theo to have moved so close to her. She wasn't uncomfortable with the sudden closeness, rather, she just hadn’t expected Theo to have initiated it.

“I haven’t had a night like this since he–my late husband, Nygel, passed on,” Theo said.

‘Nygel,’ Vy promptly noted the name to herself.

“He was a lovely man and a wonderful husband, the marriage was full of mutual respect and love just not–love-love, if that means anything,” Theo said, gesturing her hand upwards.

“I was never lucky enough to find a partner suitable enough for marriage,” Vy began, before taking a deep breath and continuing. “I had a lovely girlfriend during my time in the Academy, but our lives were on two different paths, and I refused to let my guard down.” Vy’s voice trailed off. “But ultimately, I’m okay with that, I’ve filled my life with plants and Lily and other types of love instead.”

“Love is such a fickle thing, I hope that one day we can both find it again,” Theo said, craning her neck up to look into Vy’s eyes.

“I hope so, too,” Vy said, maintaining eye contact.

~ ✿ ✿ ✿ ~

That night, as Violet lay down in bed, she thought about the last few weeks that she had spent with her new friend. Staring up at the popcorn ceiling, she considered all the years she had spent living alone in the small town. Yes, she had her faithful cat who went with her from home to work every day, but as far as human companionship, Violet had all but overlooked that department. Maybe it was time to reconsider her current arrangement. Maybe it was time to give love another try.

The following day, Violet arrived at the shop extra early, Lily right at her ankles. She wanted to prepare the store for Theo’s arrival–a homecoming, as it may. Opening the glass doors, Lily bounded inside, heading straight to her favorite morning nap spot under the counter. Violet dusted the shelves, wiped the soil off the sides of pots, and tinkered with the mechanics of the grow lights. Glancing down at her watch, Violet realized that Theo should have arrived a few minutes ago. In their short time knowing each other, Theo was certainly known to be punctual. Violet cocked her head, looking toward Lily as she yawned and slinked her way out of her nook.

“Sorry, she isn’t here yet, Lily,” Violet said.

Lily meowed hoarsely in response.

Violet chuckled to herself; a cat freshly woken from a nap was one of her favorite sights to behold–for it was one of the most vulnerable and precious sights.

“I suppose I can brew some tea for her,” Violet thought aloud.

Violet snipped a few sprigs of fresh mint from the windowsill, nabbed some spare chamomile blossoms off the shelf, and moved to the counter. She pulled a tea kettle out of the lower cabinet, filled it with water from the farmhouse-style sink, and plugged it into the socket at the countertop. She then retrieved two teacups from the top drawer and placed a few chamomile petals and some mint in each glass. Admiring her work, Violet continued to wonder what her friend must be off doing.

Half an hour later, one teacup now empty and the other room temperature, Violet was sat at the workbench, biting her nails. Lily meowed at her feet, brushing her fluffy tail against her legs.

Then, the door jingled open as Theodosia stepped inside, carrying the grandest bouquet of violets.

“I’m so sorry for my tardiness,” Theo said, sitting across from Vy at the workbench.

“Well, you’re clearly excused, you obviously were out on a very important errand,” Vy laughed.

“Oh, yes! These are for you,” Theo said, handing her the bouquet. “I’ve heard through the grapevine that in order to be a ‘true Hoccosinian’ one must gift a bouquet of flowers to a current resident, and I also learned that to date, no one has ever given you, the bouquet queen, a bouquet, so, I wanted to change that.”

With tears filling the corners of Vy’s eyes, she placed the bouquet on the table and maneuvered around the other side of the table to take Theo into a hug.

“Thank you for thinking of me,” Vy said.

“It was the least I could do, after everything you’ve done for me, helping me get accustomed to a new town, for being my first friend here,” Theo said, hugging Vy back.

“I’ve done some thinking,” Vy said, pulling away from the hug but remaining closely beside Theo, their knees brushing. “And I know you said that you want a furry companion, and I think Lily would be the perfect fit for you.”

“Oh–I could never take her from you, that’s preposterous!”

“Don’t be dismayed, Lily would stay with me, I am insinuating that instead of gaining solely a pet as a housemate, I would move in with you as well. I know it may be brash, but we’re not young anymore, we don’t have the need to mince words anymore.”

A smile spread across Theo’s face as she took Violet back into another hug. “Oh, wondrous day! I would be honored!”

Vy pulled back from the hug, staring into Theo’s eyes, admiring her beautiful face, and felt herself soften as her heart begged for her to fall into her emotions fully, deeply, and without restraint. Just as Theo would do.

Vy opened her mouth to speak but was caught off guard by Theo gently grasping her face with both hands.

“May we not mince words? Theo asked.

Violet nodded her head slowly, a small part of herself still unsure.