Chapter 117

Chapter 0117

I can’t believe I freaked out. Everything was fine and then it was like it all came flooding back. The fear, the pain, and I got lost in the memory. Rik was great, helping me get centered. But it makes me worry. What will happen when the time comes and I do find my mate? He will want to mark me. What if I freak out? What if can’t go through with it?

These thoughts kept me awake most of the night. When it’s time for training,

Dad goes light on me again, but it still pushes me. When we’re finally done, I’m sore and decide to take a long, hot bath to soothe my aching muscles and hopefully clear my head. I still have some of the muscle soak from Rik’s gift and I pour that into the tub. When I slide in, I lean my head back against the edge of the tub and just soak until the water goes cold.

I should pick up some flowers to take to my mother’s memorial. I have no idea what Luna Calista and Rik bring as far as flowers but we’re heading into spring, and some color would be nice, I think.

Rik said he would pick me up at 3pm. That gives me plenty of time to go get some flowers and get caught up on my missed work from school. Graduation is in 3 months and I need to make sure there is nothing that keeps me from getting out of high school.

I have lunch with dad and let him know my plans for the afternoon and evening.” Good, I’m glad you’re going to see your mother,” is all he said.

Around two, I head over to the florist. When I walk in, I don’t really know what to look for. There is an older woman behind the counter. “Can I help you?” She asks

“Yes ma’am. I want to take some flowers to my mother’s memorial, but I don’t really know what to get.”

“Do you know what kind of flowers your mother liked?” I shake my head no. She died when I was young.”

“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.” She looks around at the flowers. “Well, there are different ways to choose flowers, but no wrong way. You can choose by the color that speaks to you, the shape of the flower itself, the meaning of the flower or by the month.”

That reminded me. “Do you happen to know what tulips mean?” I ask her. I had forgotten to look up the meaning of my tulips this morning.

15 BOHOL

“Oh tulips. They are my favorite! They mean ‘perfect love‘. Isn’t that beautiful?”

She asks.

“Yes, it’s really beautiful!” Perfect love. And Rik knew exactly what they meant. It makes me smile. I can’t wait to see him today.

“What is the flower for May? That is when my mother was born.”

“Over here.” She takes me over to some white flowers. “These are Lily of the Valley. They are the flower for May.”

I slide my hand down the stem of one. “Lily of the Valley. I wonder if that’s where her name came from?” I say more to myself than the florist, but she heard me

anyway.

“Oh, was your mother’s name Lily?” She asks looking at me more closely.

“Yes. Lily Nelson was my mother.”

Her hand goes to her mouth. “You’re Cara Nelson?” She asks.

I have no idea why she would know who I am, but I respond tentatively. “Yes, that’s me.”

“Oh my goddess. I’m so happy to meet you. My name is Dorothy.” And she puts her hand out. I shake it.

“Did you know my mother?”

“Only on the periphery. I’ve known our Luna since she took her position, and your mother and Luna Calista were great friends, so I knew her that way.” She looks around again. “If you don’t mind, might I make a suggestion?”

“Of course!” I reply, happy for the help.

“If you like these, I think they will be great, but Luna Calista has been getting mostly red and white flowers through the winter. Since it’s March, we have the March flowers in as well, daffodils. Those are yellow and you could pair those with lily of the valley and have a nice bouquet for your mother.”

I agree and she takes what she needs to make up the bouquet for me. While I’m waiting, I hear the bell above the door ring with another visitor and a moment later, my nose is filled with the scent of brownies.