Flowers

Felicity gets a surprise. Chapter 4 of 5.

About a month after this conversation, Felicity woke to a bouquet of flowers on her bedside table. She looked around for Saxifrage but didn’t see her. She even went outside to check, but the other woman was completely missing. 

Felicity shrugged. As Saxifrage got better, she had taken to going on short morning walks down to the river. Saxifrage must have felt really good today and gone on a longer walk.

Felicity settled in to the routine of the day. Lucca stopped by, but Saxifrage still hadn’t turned up, so Felicity had to send him away with a promise to bring Saxifrage there later in the day. 

It was only after Felicity had decided to make lunch and hold a portion for whenever Saxifrage showed up that the other woman came around the corner of the house, sweat beading at her forehead.

“Saxifrage! Thank you for the flowers this morning.”

“Pretty like you.”

Felicity blushed. “I was just about to make lunch, are you hungry? Also, Lucca came by and I said I’d take you over to the clinic once you came back. Where were you anyways?”

“Walk. Very long walk.”

“Well, I’m glad to see you back. Go get washed up while I get lunch ready.”

Saxifrage walked off to do just that, while Felicity set about making lunch. The day was mostly spent quietly, in their usual routine. Saxifrage didn’t even look around when they made the walk in to the village to see Lucca. Instead, she gripped Felicity’s hand like a lifeline and practically pulled the other along while Felicity struggled to keep up and play navigator at the same time.

*****

Fridays became Felicity’s favorite day of the week after that. Every single Friday, without fail, Saxifrage left for a walk and came back holding a small bouquet of wildflowers. Soon, the cottage overflowed with flowers, and their sweet perfume lingered on the two women wherever they went.

That is, every Friday except for this one. Felicity was starting to think about making dinner, and Saxifrage hadn’t gotten up from whatever project she had been hunched over and hiding from Felicity. Felicity though Saxifrage’s posture couldn’t be good for her shoulder, but Lucca had removed the bandage for good 2 weeks ago, so maybe Felicity shouldn’t still be worrying.

This fact did not stop Felicity from worrying, though she made an effort not to show it to Saxifrage.

“Auntie Felicity!” called a voice from the door.

“The door’s open, darling!”

Penelope bounced in to the cottage, her smile threatening to burst at the seams.

“You look happier than a clam. What’s happening, Penelope?”

“Mommy’s holding a dinner and wants you to come.”

“What kind of dinner?”

“A good one!”

Felicity scrutinized Penelope’s face. Her sister wasn’t one to drop invites the night of, and Penelope was never this excited to deliver the news that she was invited. 

“Come on!” Penelope grabbed Felicity’s arm and started trying to drag her out of the cottage.

“Saxifrage?”

“Have fun.”

“Okay, feel free to use the kitchen if you get hungry by the time I get back. Otherwise I’m sure I’ll be leaving with leftovers if you prefer.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll see you this evening!”

With that, Felicity let Penelope drag her all the way out of the cottage and up the road to her sister’s house.

“Penelope, let go of Felicity,” Charlotte said as soon as she saw the pair.

“Sorry, mommy.”

“Don’t apologize to me, she’s the one you half-yanked the arm off of.”

“Sorry, Felicity.”

“It’s alright. Charlotte, how are you doing?” Felicity asked, hugging her sister.

“Oh, you know, all the magic of motherhood. How about you? How’s Saxifrage?”

“I’m good, she’s good. I heard there’s a dinner waiting for me?”

“First I’ve heard of it, but pull up a chair and there will be! 15 minutes alright?”

“Of course, and thank you.”

“Oh, none of that. I live to serve,” Charlotte said, turning back to the stove before Felicity could respond.

Felicity looked around for Penelope, who had disappeared in to the house. Charlotte’s husband, Noah, came around the corner, holding Benjamin, the youngest of their kids.

“Felicity! To what do we owe the pleasure?”

“Penelope invited me.”

Charlotte laughed. “More like half-dragged the poor woman.”

“That’s our pretty penny,” Noah laughed.

“She takes after you,” Charlotte said.

“Hm, maybe. But I wasn’t half as wild.”

“No, you were three times as wild.”

The pair laughed and looked like they were going to kiss until-

“Hungry!”

“15 minutes, Ben-Ben,” Charlotte replied.”

Benjamin grumbled and wiggled until Noah set him down, then ran off to find something better to do.

“Well, what have you been up to, Noah? Still working on that bowl project?” Felicity asked.

“No, just finished that actually. Here, I still have a couple I haven’t sold, I’ll show you.”

“Don’t forget you’re in charge of the kids until dinner’s ready!” Charlotte butted in.

“I know! Come on, Felicity, let’s be in charge together.”

Felicity followed Noah and listened as he talked about the bowls he had made and how he was now working on vases. She commented on the number of flowers Saxifrage had given her, which prompted some teasing until she was saved by Jane, Noah’s oldest daughter, asking for help with a book. Dinner was boisterous, loud, and delicious. When Felicity was finally released, it was with a full heart and stomach, plus arms loaded with more food than she had eaten all night.

Felicity made the trek back down to her cottage and nearly ran in to Saxifrage on the dark path.

“Saxifrage! What’s got you up so late.”

“Surprise you.”

“You did surprise me!”

“No. Surprise for you.”

“Oh, can it wait while I put this down and get a fire going?”

Saxifrage didn’t respond, so Felicity took it as a yes and set to getting some light in the cottage, along with some warmth to ward off the early fall chill. 

When Felicity turned away from the fire, Saxifrage was holding out one of Felicity’s sweaters, which before had been a plain brown and now had intricate thread flowers growing up the sleeves.

Felicity reached out to touch the new embroidery and felt her eyes starting to water.

“Don’t like? I take out.”

“No, no, it’s perfect. Thank you so much, Saxifrage.” She took the sweater and put it on, smiling at the way the plants curled around her elbows and wrists.