Once UpOn a Time with Alex 🌸

Part-8

Thursday, June 29
Morning-10:45 am

🌸 "Orchid Paradise" 🌸

This flower shop remains engaged with people most of the time. Lilly works here half day, the rest of the day is handled by another worker named Kylie. Lilly haven't met her yet as she leave the shop by 1 and Kylie comes here around 2:00 O'clock.

Lilly is busy showing a customer some purple Dendrobium while the main gate opens.
A pair of boots steps inside slowly.
He calmly rests his hands one over another and stands behind Lilly.
Lilly was talking with her customer who was carrying a baby girl in her arms.
Lilly smiled at the baby, handing her the bouqet she said, " God bless her. She is so cute."

The customer leaves. A voice softly whispers behind her ear, " hello Miss Hazel Green."
Lilly flinches and turns to look at the figure standing behind her. A pair of blue smiling eyes are squinting at her. For once Lilly thought as if she were being stared by some ocean waves almost forgot that she was here standing too close to a guy she met only twice in her life.

Holding her breathe she said, "Hi". Half smiling.
"So you are new here in this shop?"
"Well,yeah. But how do you know? "
"I come here often. My grandma loves flowers. Specially orchids. I bring these orchids every week or every other week for her. She says orchids reminds her of my grandpa. He used to give her roses everyday when they were in school. So, orchid was the last thing he gave her before he left for the eternity."

"So sorry to hear that." said Lilly. Half heartily. She'd lost her granpa when she was in grade four. A very little do she remembered about him.
"It's okay." the guy winks. Letting his breathe out he said "So, how is your daughter?"
"She is fine. Thanks."
"It was very nice to meet you again though."
Lilly smiled. Completely unknown about what to say next.

"So..." the guy continued. Stepping little bit more closer to her, he placed his one hand on the purple Dendrobium she was showing earlier to her customer. "I'm familiar with almost every single breed of orchids of this shop. But never seen this one before."
Receding one step back, Lilly said " They arrived early this morning "
"Oh I see."
"Will you mind if I gift your granma some of these flowers?" hesitation in her voice.
"Relax" the guy laughed. "You don't have to feel any sort of hesitation. And my grandma will of course love to have these purple beauties." 

It's becoming a long conversation now. Thankfully Mrs.Smith isn't here today. Lately, her health condition has decreased a lot. So it isn't possible for her to come here everyday. Beside that, she owns this flower shop only because she want to spend the last few days of her life between flowers, and not humans. 'Humans are allergenic' she would say.

The guy moved his fingers through his hair. Lilly quickly handed a fresh bouqet of Dendrobium to him.
"Thank you so much" said the guy. Unwilling to leave the place.
"You're welcome."
"So,,,"
"So???"
"Nothing. Umm...okay. Bye then. Will see you again. And nice flowers. Thanks."
"Welcome again."
The guy turned to leave and bumped his head with one of the hanging flower pots.
Lilly looked at him. Smile lurking in the corner of her lips.
"Nice smile you've got" he said standing from a distant and her cheeks flushed red.

Right then, her phone rings.
Lilly picked it up. From the other end of the phone someone says something and Lilly's hand goes up on her mouth.
"Which hospital? I'm I'm coming. You please stay with her."
Lilly took off her apron fast and rushed toward the door.
The guy was still there when he saw her leaving like this. Horror scattering everywhere on her face.
He ran toward her and asked "Hey anything wrong? Can I help you with something?"
Lilly paused her walk. Tears streaming down her pale cheeks. "Would you drive me to the hospital? My baby..... She just met an accident."

"No. You have to wait outside" said a man in his operation gown.
"Please. My baby needs me. I need to see her!" Lilly screamed.

"Miss, please calm down. Let us just take sits. Your daughter will be absolutely fine. Let them do their work." said the guy situating both of his hands on Lilly's shoulder.
They sat outside the operation theatre. One of Katy's teacher told her over phone that Katy's leg slipped from the stairs and her head got badly injured by that. It happened during her break time.

"I've only one reason to live. Believe me." cried Lilly, resting her head on his chest.
"You heard that. I only have her." He hold her tight. Assuring everything will be alright.
But right now there's nothing in this world could stop her from weeping, he understands that too. No words can lessen the burden of the pain she is going through.

So he remain silent. Laying a hand on her arm they waited for four hours straight outside the O.T.