“Would you like anything else?” Emma asked Sam, who appeared more exhausted than usual as he arrived for his monthly medication.
The chemistry teacher, barely fifty, shook his head. After such an awful day, he didn’t even feel like speaking. Yet, he always felt pleased when Emma, with her bright smile, shiny hair, and the scent of powder, was the one to serve him.
“Let me tell you something, Sam,” the pharmacist began in a gentle voice. “For the past six months, every time you come in, you look downhearted. How about surprising yourself with something small on the way home today? You deserve it!”
Sam thoughtfully reached for the boxes.
“I don’t usually treat myself.”
“That’s the problem,” Emma continued enthusiastically. “Trust me, you’ll feel much better if you occasionally do something that soothes your soul.”
Lily was just about to close up when she noticed the man lingering in front of the shop window. She had seen the tired-looking Sam many times before, gazing at the floral arrangements behind the glass. At first, she thought she’d ignore him; she’d had a long day and was in a hurry to get home. But she changed her mind.
“Come on in!”
“I’m not sure; I was just looking.”
“There are plenty of beautiful bouquets inside as well. Who are they for?”
Sam shyly ducked his head.
“For myself,” he whispered, embarrassed.
For a moment, Lily looked at the blushing chemistry teacher in surprise, then a warm feeling spread through her.
“In that case, we need to find something truly special! Where will you put it?”
“Maybe in the living room. It’s so bright and light-filled.”
“I see,” Lily said, thinking.
Her eyes suddenly lit up.
“I have an idea!”
With that, she quickly got to work. She selected various flowers in shades of light blue and white and arranged them in a basket.
“It would have been nice to have something already made,” Sam apologized.
“None of the ready-made ones suited the occasion,” Lily replied, touched.
She couldn’t even tell what moved her more: the sad man surprising himself with something beautiful or the realization that everyone should do the same from time to time.
Ben could hardly believe his eyes when he saw who he would be making the avocado toast with a wist for. Every time he’d seen the florist, she was always in a hurry. Sometimes she sped past the tiny café in her van, going faster than the speed limit, or rushed into the nearby restaurant laden with bags and baskets. Even on weekends, he’d only spotted her with a phone in hand, hurrying somewhere.
But this afternoon, she was sitting in one of the cozy armchairs, quiet and relaxed, waiting for her snack. The chef felt honored that this rare moment would be made even more special by the plate he was preparing. He poured his heart and soul into that sandwich and its presentation.
“What’s gotten into you?” the waiter asked, stunned by the elaborate decoration. “It’s just a sandwich!”
“You’re wrong,” Ben shook his head. “This is the sandwich. And you know what? I’m serving it myself.”
Lily’s face lit up at the sight of the beautiful dish. She smiled gratefully at Ben, who subconsciously stood a little taller with pride. The florist wanted to savor every bite of the avocado toast. She ate slowly, pausing now and then to take in the café’s tasteful decor and the charming trinkets she had seen many times but never truly noticed.
When everything was done, Ben tossed his apron into the basket with the other linens waiting to be washed. As usual, he took one last look around the kitchen. Everything was in order. He nodded and reached for the door handle. But then, like a jolt of electricity, a sudden thought struck him. He stood at the door, stunned for a moment. The wild idea, however, kept him from heading home; it made him grab a clean apron and get back to work.
“I’m so scatterbrained today,” Emma laughed at herself.
For the second time, she had to go back to the pharmacy from her car. The first time, she’d forgotten her lunchbox, and now she realized she’d left in her work shoes. Just as she was about to open the store door again, Ben, the café’s chef and an old friend, suddenly appeared beside her.
“Well, well,” Emma’s face lit up. “I haven’t seen you in months! Are you feeling better?” she asked the recently divorced man.
“Yes, thank you.”
“It’s so nice that we ran into each other by chance! I think of you often.”
“Really?” Ben asked, blushing.
“You know I care about you, Ben.”
The moved chef was so flustered and happy that he couldn’t find the words. Silently, he handed over the box that held the special, heavenly sandwiches he’d prepared for the pharmacist.
“These are works of art,” Emma said, delighted.
“I hope you’ll like them,” Ben replied hoarsely.
The shiny-haired, powder-scented woman hesitated for a moment, then looked into the eyes of the man she cherished so much with determination.
“Would you like to sit in the park and share them together?”