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I swallow. “How long do I have?”
35
Priscilla
Waiting for certainty is just fear in disguise.
-Cilla’s Post-it note
"He gave you a week to think things through?" Zoey picks up a bunch of daisies and pays for them before sliding them into her bag.
We’re at the Columbia Road flower market, which is open only on Sundays. Tucked away in a corner of the East End behind a row of bustling city cafés, this place is a gem. Florists, vendors, and artists set up shop under twinkling string lights, selling the most stunning flowers. It’s one of my favorite corners of the city to come to when I want to think. Something about being surrounded by flowers is so up-lifting.
"Yep." I pick up a peony and smell it. "Flowers improve mental clarity. I read it inThe Power of Presence.And right now, I can use all the thinking help I can get."
"Whoa, look at the size of that rock." Harper grabs hold of my wrist. Her gaze is trained on the ring I haven’t been able to take off.
"It’s nothing." I snatch my hand back, and she lets me.
"That’s not nothing. It’s a massive Tiger’s Eye engagement ring,"
"Hmm." Harper shoots me a strange look. "These are great inspiration for the edible flowers I need to bake into this new concept cake I’m planning. Though that’s not the only reason I’m here."
"I know." I send her a grateful look. When I sent Zoey an SOS message, she called up her best friends, whom I also know from university. I’ve kept in touch with all of them, Zoey more than the others. I’m grateful to have them here, though. In the five days since that conversation with Tyler, I’ve turned into a nervous wreck. Who knew that mulling over whether I should accept a wedding proposal from this hotter-than-Hades man I’ve never gotten over would be so agonizing?
Grace hands over a one-hundred-pounds note to a flower seller and picks up a bunch of roses.
"Those are gorgeous, honey, but don’t you think a hundred quid on a bunch is a tad too much?" Harper murmurs.
"It’s worth it." Grace buries her nose in the flowers—a mix of red, pink and yellow, and they are spectacular, I have to admit. But a hundred bucks for the lot? Blimey. I rub at my temple.
It’s not cheap living in this city. Not having access to my father’s money brought home how challenging it is to pay your bills, despite having a fairly decent job. Maybe Tyler has a point. I may not place that much importance on money, but not having it certainly made me appreciate how much it can cushion the effects of the cost of living.
We continue walking between the flower displays. The air itself is filled with the scent of myriad blooms. I keep drawing it into my lungs. Normally, it would help me calm down, but this time, it's not helping. I sigh and stop in front of a florist. This one specializes in wedding bouquets. It feels like a sign.No, it’s not. Stop reading meaning into random things.I'm about to move on when Zoey stops next to me. She glances at a particularly enticing bouquet made of lilies, tulips and eucalyptus. "This is gorgeous, hmm?"
When I don’t answer, she shoots me a sideways glance. "You okay?"
I manage a nod, unable to tear my eyes off the wedding bouquet, but also wanting to move on.
"These are gorgeous, right?" The woman selling them smiles. The sign above her pop-up stand says,The Tilting Tulip.
"That’s an interesting name,"I murmur.
"Can’t take credit for it. The owner came up with it," she says cheerfully.
"Inspired by Don Quixote?" I hazard a guess.
She laughs. "You’re right. We specialize in tulips." She nods at the assortment of flowers in front of her. "Are you looking for wedding bouquets?" She picks up one made with roses, tulips and baby’s breath, and holds it out. "It’s gorgeous, isn’t it?"
I stare at the flowers in fascination.
"Go on, you can hold it. Are you getting married? We specialize in flowers for weddings."
"Umm… What?" I shake my head. "No, I’m not. Uh, thank you, but I have to go."
I spin around and walk off like I’ve been stung.
"Priscilla, hold on." Zoey catches up. She tucks her arm though mine, "Are you okay? You seem perturbed."