Chapter Four
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Jason
The bell jingling over the door as I walk into Peonies and Petals has me smiling at the familiar sound, as the fragrance of roses and something earthy fills the air around me.
I've always loved the smell of nature.
Caleb's apron is dusted with soil as he meticulously fusses over one of the arrangements filled with roses and sunflowers, as he hums a familiar Disney tune.
The morning sun filters through the shop's front windows.
"Hey, Caleb," I call out while making my way over to him.
"Jason. Hi. What brings you by on this fine Saturday morning?" He beams at me. If he sang it, I would swear we were in our own Disney movie. "And judging by that conspiratorial grin, it's not just about snagging a few stray flowers from my discard pile."
I swear, this guy is the sweetest, and I hate that he's taken because he would be a boy I would have loved to claim.
Unlike some of my friends, I'm not into bratty littles.
I like them sweet and playful. But there is no chemistry between me and Caleb.
Just friendship. Besides, he's totally in love with his daddy, Barrett, one of my closest friends.
Caleb gestures towards the counter. When I turn, I see Barrett stepping out from the back room.
"Hey, man. I thought I heard you out here. How's it going?" Barrett asks, stepping up beside Caleb.
"Good. I came to offer a mission for our floral magician." I tease.
"Spill it. Valentine's Day deadline is looming, and I'm guessing this isn't for a delivery to your parents." Barrett's face-breaking smile has the corners of his eyes crinkling and me laughing.
"Calm down, big guy. I'm still single. And no, not my parents.
They are for…um…Grayson," I admit with a slight blush warming my cheeks.
"Valentine's Day is next week, and I… well, I wanted to get him some friendship flowers.
Something that says, 'You're great, and I appreciate you,' you know?
Nothing too… romantic, but definitely meaningful.
I was even thinking about a unique plant of some sort, but the dude has a notoriously black thumb. He can't even keep a succulent alive."
Caleb starts to giggle. "That's because he overwaters them. I've sold him at least six in the past year."
Barrett just shakes his head. "That guy needs a daddy to take care of him…and his plants."
We all share a laugh over our friend.
"Why don't I show you around the shop?" Barrett tells me before turning his attention to Caleb. "Why don't you check on Ben? See if he needs anything."
Caleb nods and starts moving toward the back.
"Friendship flowers for Grayson, huh? Solid move, man. And don't you worry about his thumb, we've got plenty of sturdy, low-maintenance options that practically thrive on neglect. Come on."
Barrett guides me around the shop and leads me past a riot of crimson roses and delicate lilies, stopping beside a display of vibrant succulents and hardy snake plants.
"See these guys?" Barrett directs my attention to another section of plants.
"They're practically indestructible. Tough as nails.
A little water now and then, some sun–that's it.
And they come in all sorts of cool shapes and colors.
Another benefit is that they help purify the air around them. "
"That might actually be beneficial during allergy season coming up," I say more to myself.
Then we move on to some of the simpler designs and Barrett assures me that there will be more flowers on display next week.
"You know we can always do something custom, too."
I peer at the plants, nodding thoughtfully. "Yeah, those look pretty good. They don't scream 'I'm secretly in love with you,' do they?"
Barrett laughs. "Definitely not. More like, 'Hey, you're a cool dude, and I'm glad we're friends.
' Plus," Barrett continues, his eyes twinkling as he gestures toward the back where I know they have a workbench laden with tools and ribbons, "we can always jazz it up a bit.
Maybe wrap the pot in some cool, textured paper and tie it with rugged twine instead of satin.
We can even add a little charm, something subtle that hints at your shared interests.
I'm thinking we can definitely whip up something custom next week, tailored perfectly for Grayson. No pressure, just good vibes."
A wave of relief hits me. This is precisely what I wanted. Barrett's expertise, combined with his understanding of my slightly awkward intentions, made the whole process feel manageable and even, dare I think it, fun.
I imagine Grayson's reaction, a genuine smile, not a confused or embarrassed one.
"Okay, I'm liking the snake plant idea. And the custom touches sound good. Let's go with that."
Barrett picks up the plant that I liked and takes it to the counter, and lets me know that payment isn't due until pickup.
"How's the employee search going?" I ask, trying to make small talk as he writes up my ticket for the plant and customizations. I remember Caleb being overwhelmed the other night at dinner.
Barrett nods, a grin returning to his face. "I'll have something really special ready for you. And as for help," he pauses, glancing around the shop, "we may have found someone, but it's–" Barrett gets cut off with a worried voice coming from the entryway to the backroom.
"Daddy, come quick," Caleb cries out. "Help. It's Ben."
Barrett exchanges a worried glance with me, and I don't have time to ask him who Ben is. Without a word, he turns and follows Caleb down the hall, and I trail after them.
The scene that greets me is not what I was expecting. I expected shattered glass, a severed finger, a tangled mess of vines, not… this.
Instead, there is a small boy with blonde curly hair, similar to mine, sitting on the floor amidst a scattering of petals and stems. He's sobbing. His face buried in his knees, the picture of utter dejection.
Caleb, usually the picture of calm beside Barrett, is utterly undone. Caleb, his small face etched with worry, looks between Barrett and Ben, his plea hanging in the air.
"Daddy, help him," Caleb instructs.
A knot forms in my stomach. Not wanting to intrude, but also deeply concerned for the boy, I place my hand on Barrett's shoulder. The gesture seems to anchor Barrett in place, then he turns to me with a mixture of gratitude and understanding.
"Thanks, man," Barrett murmurs, his voice thick with emotion as he wraps his arms around Caleb.
I slowly approach Ben so I don't startle him. Kneeling beside his small frame among the petals, my own plant forgotten. I gently pull this stranger closer, stroking his hair. He smells of baby powder. "Hey, hey, what's going on?" I ask softly.
Ben, still sobbing, gestures weakly at the flowers around us…I think. "Sh-sh-she's gone," he chokes out. "I-it's m-my fault." I'm not sure what he's talking about, and now isn't the time to question him since despair radiates from him.
I glance over at Barrett, and he just motions with his chin to keep going. To comfort Ben the way he's comforting Caleb, who hates to see anyone cry or upset. This wasn't the casual flower-ordering trip I envisioned, but it's becoming something more.
I take a seat on the floor, back against the workbench.
I wrap an arm around Ben and haul him into my lap, caught off guard by the unexpected intimacy.
My teacher instincts kick in automatically, a well-worn response to a child in distress, but Ben isn't a child.
Still, the sheer, raw grief radiating from him is almost childlike in its intensity.
My arms instinctively wrap around the sobbing man as he unfolds himself and buries his face in my chest. After a minute, surprisingly, the boy leans into the unexpected embrace, the tension slowly draining from his shoulders.
"I'm Jason," I manage, voice quiet. "I'm a friend of Barrett and Caleb."
Ben's sobs subside into shaky breaths against my chest. He shifts slightly, lifts his head, and peers up at me with tear-streaked cheeks.
"Jason," he repeats my name in a soft murmur.
"I'm Ben." After a few more deep breaths, he looks around and the moment he realizes he's sitting on my lap, panic crosses his face and he tries to get up.
"It's okay, Ben. Just sit for a minute. You just went through something emotional. Give yourself some time to adjust." I encourage. Besides, I like having him on my lap, in my arms. It's strange since I don't even know this boy. But he feels good. Feels right.
"Can you tell me what happened, Ben?" I ask, stroking the hair on his nape.
"I'm s-so sorry. I was making an arrangement and got lost in my head, remembering my mother. I guess…I was trying to tell a story, her story, and it was just…too much." He sniffles.
Remembering? Fuck. I squeeze him to me just because I feel like he needs it.
"I'm sorry, Ben." I try to soothe some of his pain.
I look over where Barrett is holding a tear-filled Caleb before I gently release Ben, helping him to his feet. The quiet intimacy of the moment hangs in the air. Ben, looks down at his feet with a tinge of pink on his cheeks. Is he embarrassed by what happened?
"Can I give you a hug?" Caleb asks, stepping out of Barrett's arms. Ben's lips quirk up a bit, and he nods before stepping into Caleb's outstretched arms. No words are exchanged about what happened. Caleb just holds Ben close.
A feeling of quiet awe settles over me as I realize today is much bigger than just ordering friendship flowers for Grayson. It's about the unexpected beauty found in vulnerability.
I take my eyes off the two small boys in front of me and look over at a wide-eyed Barrett. He's looking past Ben and Caleb. My eyes track his, and behind them sits a flower arrangement that is…stunning.
"Ben, that is… beautiful", Barrett tells him, pulling Caleb's attention to the flowers sitting on the workbench.
Ben blushes.
It's clear he poured his heart, his memories, and his very essence into this arrangement. I must agree with Barrett. It's beautiful.
The spiral twigs, twisting like memories seeking form, the soft cloud of baby's breath, a reminder of gentleness, and the vibrant, varied blooms–each a note in a silent melody. This isn't just a job interview; it's an offering, a piece of his soul laid bare. To truly be seen and understood.
Barrett steps forward, running his fingers over the tin pot. His voice comes out thick with emotion. "Ben," he says, turning to look at him. "Kai wasn't exaggerating. This is…it's like a poem. The way you've captured a story, the life in these stems. It's breathtaking."
Caleb wipes his eyes with the back of his hand and nods enthusiastically. "It speaks of nostalgia, of growth, of the quiet strength found in nature. It's exactly what we do here at Peonies and Petals. The ability to connect, to evoke feelings through our arrangements."
"Thank you." Ben looks down at his hands that are wringing together.
"It's also what I love about creating arrangements.
It's what I've always loved about it. It…
.t's easy to have skills in putting together beautiful pieces.
But when a flower arrangement can evoke emotion, that's when you know you have something special," Ben says shyly.
Well, this arrangement wasn't just arranged.
It was felt. Each bloom tells part of the story, a quiet testament to a love that transcended grief.
I don't know much about flowers except that they're pretty and I enjoy looking at them.
Still, here, in this arrangement, I can see the raw emotion woven into the petals, the careful, deliberate placement of each leaf and stick.
It isn't just talent; it's a deep feeling poured into something tangible.
"You know, Ben," Caleb starts before looking over at Barrett, who is nodding at him, offering gentle encouragement.
A secret conversation between the two of them, "There's…
there's something really special about how you see things.
" He pauses, looking at the arrangement on the workbench, letting the words settle.
"I've been looking for someone to work with me at the shop.
Someone with that…spark." Caleb looks directly at Ben, his gaze steady. "I want you to work with me, Ben."
A hesitant, almost hopeful smile tugs at the corners of Caleb's lips. "And don't worry," he adds, a playful glint in his eyes. "This whole flower-induced existential crisis doesn't mean we're skipping lunch."
My mouth begins talking before my brain can catch up, breaking the silence with a soft voice, "Ben, do you have plans for lunch?"
Before Ben could even formulate an answer, Caleb, his small face beaming with newfound purpose, pipes up. "Why…yes, he does!"
Caleb throws his arm around Ben's shoulder–a proud protector–before widening his understanding eyes at me.
I give a little shrug and return the smile. A simple nonverbal way of saying, maybe, to his unasked question regarding my interest in Ben.
Barrett startles all of us by clapping his hands together. "Then lunch is on me. We can celebrate Ben joining our team, that is, if he takes the position, and we can finalize Grayson's friendship-plant over some good food at Kate's."
I nod, a faint smile lifting my lips. Lunch with everyone. It was a simple offer, yet it feels like a lifeline.
The nameless ache in my chest seems to soften just a fraction.