#nelychee

“Hayden.”

“Yes?”

“What is this.”

Hayden’s big eyes look down at the bouquet of flowers he’s holding out to you. He chuckles, holding them steady. “Well, if I had to hazard, they’re a bunch of sunflowers!”

Your own eyes blink, then squint suspiciously. “What are they for.”

He shrugs. “For gift givin’, or makin’ a quick snack, or —”

You sigh, and it shuts him up. He watches, curious, as you dig around in your pockets. When you bring out a drawstring bag that clinks with coins, Hayden blinks. You look up at him with deeply tired eyes. “How much?”

“Pardon?”

“How much do I owe you for them?”

Now it’s his turn to look baffled. “Pardon?” He says again, but smiles quickly. “Ain’t no price on these pretties! They’re a gift!”

The concept of ‘gift’ seems to stop you in your tracks — much more than Hayden’s horse did when he first galloped onto your farm. The hard edge in your eyes softens a bit, but you still don’t take the flowers. “Do you…need something?”

Hayden’s getting the picture now. Maybe not the full one, but it’s obvious you’ve been taken advantage of for kindness in the past. Straightening, he shakes his head. “Not a thing, ‘sides for you to take these here flowers.”

You jerk as if on puppet strings and take the bouquet. Your fingers brush his (small, not as calloused as his own), and bring the bundle into your arms. The yellow and gold reflects off your skin. It’s…pretty. Blinking at your ‘gift,’ you look up at him. “You…don’t want anything for them?”

Hayden shakes his head.

“You sure? I could — I’ve got sugar, do you need sugar?”

“Gya ha ha!” He places his hands on his hips and winks. “I’ve got more sugar than I know what to do with! Sunflowers, too!” He leans down and touches one of them. Your eyes track his fingers carefully. “Figured since you’ve been such a good neighbor, I could thank you with some of them.”

A beat or two of silence. You look…not baffled. ‘Startled,’ perhaps. Then, slowly, a small, quiet smile graces your lips. “Thank you,” you say. 

He pretends to tip a hat at you. “S’my pleasure, neighbor!” He turns and goes to mount his horse again, then turns. “Hey, March and Balor and Terithia are coming over later for game night. Henrietta would love to see you. Me too!”

You think it over. Look at the sunflowers in your arms. Then, you nod. “I’ll be there.”

“Great!” He mounts, turns toward his farm, and gives you one last wave before taking off at a trot. “See you then!”

And he looks forward to it. He hopes you do, too.

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