It had been a week since she left the city, and the peaceful surroundings of her mother’s hometown had begun to soothe her exhaustion, both physically and emotionally. Vanessa felt a sense of calm wash over her as she found solace in the simple routine of helping her mother at the bakery shop and watching the sunset in the flower field. Due to her half-sister’s presence, her stay had been eventful. It wasn’t the chaotic life she had imagined, but it was better than the toxic relationship she had left behind.
Mrs. Mara, her mother’s friend, had invited her again to join her in the flower field, and Vanessa had welcomed the invitation. Mrs. Mara was interested in Vanessa’s stories about her husband, and thanks to her mother, Clara, she had enough fabricated stories to share with all the old people in town. As she approached the field, the vibrant colors of the flowers came into view, contrasting with the feeling of guilt that had threatened to consume her.
The idea of talking about a fake husband was never part of her plan when she arrived, but fate had other plans. All she wanted was some time away from her fake husband and his dramatic family. But even when she was away from Darryl, thoughts about him followed her around like the sweet scent of blooming flowers that filled the air as she made her way to the flower field.
As she entered the field, she saw Mrs. Mara busy trimming flowers with a hat on her head and rubber gloves on her hands. Mrs. Mara looked up, a warm smile spreading across her face. “Vanessa, dear, I’m so glad you could make it,” she said, her eyes twinkling with eagerness to hear another story. Vanessa returned the smile. “I can’t miss it for anything else.” As she took the scissors from Mrs. Mara’s hands, Mrs. Mara said, “Wear the hand gloves before you begin; not all flowers are friendly.”
“Thank you,” Vanessa said as she took the hand gloves from Mrs. Mara. “It’s unbelievable that some flowers are not friendly despite being beautiful.” Vanessa said, willing to start a conversation that didn’t involve her or her fake husband.
“Everything in this world comes in pairs. There is good and bad, day and night, dawn and dusk… and so on. It’s just the same with flowers. Not all flowers are beautiful and gentle. Some flowers can be beautiful on the outside and deadly on the inside, while some flowers might look hideous but are very medicinal and useful.” Mrs. Mara said, giving Vanessa a lesson about flowers.
Vanessa couldn’t help but relate flowers to human beings. Some people look calm but are the most dangerous. But it wasn’t wise to judge anyone without proof of action, she told herself as she shook off the thought.
Vanessa continued to trim the weeds away from the flowers, dealing with roses this time, so she had to be careful because of the thorns. “Be careful with the rose,” a deep voice called out to Vanessa, interrupting her trimming session. She jolted at the sound of the man because she didn’t expect anyone else aside from Mrs. Mara.
She lifted her head to see the man with the deep and calm voice. Her eyes flickered as she examined the stranger from his long dark hair to his thick and dark eyebrows, doe eyes covered in long eyelashes, pointed nose, and full but rough lips. She couldn’t help but notice the details of his facial features as she glared at him longer than she had expected.
“Oh dear Nicholas, what took you so long?” Mrs. Mara’s voice interrupted Vanessa’s staring contest. Nicholas? The name rang in Vanessa’s head as she moved her gaze to Mrs. Mara.
“The work on the farm was more than you explained, mother,” Nicholas said, causing Vanessa to gasp in surprise. So Mrs. Mara had a son, she wondered as she tried to mask the surprise look on her face.
Nicholas, who had already noticed how Vanessa checked him out, walked towards her with the intention of getting a proper view of her face.
“This is Vanessa, Clara’s younger daughter who had been in the city,” Mrs. Mara introduced Vanessa to her son. “Ohhh,” Nicholas said as realization dawned on him. He remembered hearing his mother and her friends talk about someone named Vanessa, but he never expected her to be a beautiful young lady.
“Nice to meet you, Vanessa. I’m Nicholas, her son,” Nicholas said as he stretched out his hand towards Vanessa for a handshake. “Nice to meet you too, Nicholas,” she replied, mirroring his action by stretching out her hand to accept his handshake. Curiosity gnawed at Nicholas as he noticed the ring on her finger, and he couldn’t help but ask about the ring.
“A wedding band?” Nicholas asked, his eyes fixed on the ring.
“Yes, Vanessa is married to a wealthy man in the city,” Mrs. Mara answered before Vanessa could respond.
Embarrassment washed over Vanessa, and she wished the ground could open up and swallow her. Her gaze was glued to the ground as she avoided eye contact with Nicholas. Damn Darryl for putting this unremovable ring on her finger, she cursed.
“Congratulations on hitting the jackpot,” Nicholas said with a hint of sarcasm before walking away from her.
“Thank you,” Vanessa mustered the courage to reply, despite her embarrassment.
“You should take a break and continue tomorrow; it’s getting dark already,” Nicholas said as he took the scissors from his mother.
“Vanessa, you should join us for dinner tonight,” Mrs. Mara offered.
“I’m really sorry; I have to decline your offer. I didn’t tell my mom I would be staying, and you know how she can be,” Vanessa declined politely. She wouldn’t survive another minute under Nicholas’ gaze. Since he arrived, he had been watching her in a weird way.
“Clara is a lot,” Nicholas said, understanding Vanessa’s situation. “I’ll see you off; it’s not safe to walk back alone,” he added.
“There’s no need for that,” Vanessa quickly declined. “I can go back by myself.”
“Let me see you off; it’s the least I can do for keeping my mother’s company,” Nicholas insisted.
“You should be on your way before it gets darker,” Mrs. Mara said as she retrieved her tools from Vanessa, packing them into a bucket before exiting the field.
Can tonight be any less embarrassing for her? Vanessa thought as she followed Nicholas out of the field.