50| Caring and Confessions

The next couple of days for Sophie were spent almost entirely at the hospital.

All she really cared about was her mom getting better.

Martha was improving, but she still required constant attention and support. Sophie made sure she was comfortable, helping her with meals, medications, and anything else she needed. But it was exhausting—physically and emotionally.

Thankfully, she wasn't alone.

Lily, Mia, and Ethan were there for her.

She hadn't realized just how much she needed Ethan in her life until now.

Somehow, they still managed to keep the flower shop running. Sophie and Lily took shifts between managing the shop, caring for their mom, and finding time to rest—though they worked hard to make sure Martha didn't notice just how overwhelmed they really were.

In the mornings, Lily stayed at the shop while Sophie was at the hospital.

At night, Lily stayed with their mom. Thankfully, the private room was spacious and had an extra bed, so she could sleep comfortably. The next day, they switched.

Through it all, Ethan—despite his busy schedule—made time to visit. Every evening, he stopped by, spending time with her mother and making sure Sophie was taken care of too. On the nights she didn't stay at the hospital, he drove her home.

And when she did stay overnight, they still talked. They texted throughout the day and FaceTimed whenever they could. She always let him know she was thinking of him.

She loved Ethan's visits the most.

They brought her comfort and a sense of normalcy—making her love him even more.

Today was one of Lily's shifts at the shop, and she arrived around lunchtime, just like always.

Sophie looked up as her sister walked in, concern evident on her face. "How's everything at the shop?"

Lily set down the basket she was carrying and offered a reassuring smile. "Everything is fine," she replied. "I managed to finish the last orders—Marianne helped a lot. I also put up an announcement that we're not taking new orders for a while. Thankfully, there weren't any large ones pending."

Sophie sighed, rubbing her temples.

"Hopefully, our customers will understand."

"Don't worry," Lily said confidently.

"They love us. They'll support us. Even Lucas asked about Mom today."

Sophie let out a soft chuckle, shaking her head.

"Yeah, he came to visit Mom yesterday."

She smirked slightly. "Talked a whole lot about himself, but at least Mom was entertained."

Lily snorted. "Self-obsessed much?"

"You have no idea." Sophie rolled her eyes playfully.

Lily suddenly perked up. "Oh! Mia made us lunch."

She lifted the basket, beginning to unpack its contents onto the small table.

Sophie's heart warmed at the gesture. Mia always made sure they had good meals, even when she couldn't be there in person.

Together, the sisters arranged the food neatly, setting everything up.

Sophie turned toward the hospital bed, speaking gently—

"Mom, come eat something."

Martha, who had been resting with her eyes closed, smiled warmly.

Though her steps were slow, they were steady as she approached the table.

She took a seat with a tired but grateful sigh.

"You girls spoil me," she murmured, shaking her head with amusement.

Lily poured her a glass of juice and set it in front of her with a caring smile. "You deserve it, Mom. You need to build your strength back up."

Martha took a sip, then glanced at the carefully packed meal. "Thank Mia for me when you go back to the shop."

"I will, Mom. She feels bad that she can't visit as often as she'd like."

As they ate, Lily kept the conversation light, telling funny stories from the shop.

She talked about a customer who tried to bargain down a bouquet by flirting, and how Marianne nearly kicked him out.

For a while, they could pretend they were back at home, sitting around the dinner table, without a hospital bed in sight.

After lunch, Lily left for the shop, and Sophie spent the afternoon tending to her mother, making sure she was comfortable.

By evening, she had drifted off into a peaceful sleep, and Sophie tucked her in, sitting beside her for a while—just watching her breathe, watching the steady rise and fall of her chest.

With nothing else to do, Sophie moved to the window, staring out at the twinkling city lights in the distance. She didn't know how long she had been staring when her phone buzzed with a text from Ethan.

"I'm outside. Can I see you for a minute?"

Her heart skipped a beat.

She quickly replied, "Of course," before slipping quietly out of the room.

The evening air was crisp, the hospital parking lot eerily quiet save for the occasional passing car.

Sophie spotted Ethan near the entrance, by his car, and the moment he saw her, his expression softened.

"Hey," he murmured, pulling her into a warm, tight hug the second she reached him.

Sophie let herself melt into his embrace, breathing in his familiar scent, feeling the tension in her body ease just from being wrapped in his arms.

"How's your mom?"

Ethan's voice was gentle, filled with genuine concern.

Sophie rested her cheek against his chest, feeling the steady thump of his heart.

"She's doing better," she replied softly. "She's asleep now."

Ethan pulled back just enough to look into her eyes, his gaze searching.

"And you?"

His fingers brushed against her cheek, his thumb tracing lightly over her skin.

"How are you holding up?"

Sophie let out a deep breath, her emotions suddenly bubbling to the surface.

"It's been hard," she admitted, her voice quieter now.

"But I'm handling it."

Ethan reached up, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I spoke to the doctors. They said she'll be ready to go home soon, so don't worry about anything."

Sophie's eyes widened with relief.

Her shoulders sagged, a weight she hadn't even realized she was carrying suddenly lifted.

"That's... that's really great news, Ethan."

She exhaled, a genuine smile breaking through the exhaustion on her face.

"Thank you."

He smiled, brushing his knuckles gently against her cheek. "You don't have to thank me. I'll always be here for you."

A cold breeze swept through the parking lot, making Sophie shiver slightly.

Ethan noticed immediately.

"You didn't bring a jacket, did you?" His voice was teasing, but fond.

Before she could answer, he pulled her closer, wrapping his jacket around her shoulders and tugging her into his warmth.

Sophie nestled into him, letting the heat of his body seep into her, feeling safe and cherished in a way she never had before.

For a few moments, they just stood there, wrapped up in each other's warmth, neither of them rushing to let go.

The city lights glowed around them, but in that moment, all Sophie could focus on was him.

Ethan pressed a kiss to her temple. "Let's get you back inside before you catch a cold."

Sophie nodded, but her feet didn't move.

She didn't want to say goodbye just yet.

Didn't want to let go.

So instead, she lifted herself onto her tiptoes and pressed a gentle kiss to his lips.

Ethan smiled against her mouth, chuckling lightly.

Then, he showed her what a real kiss was—

His lips moved against hers, deepening the kiss just enough to leave her breathless, just enough to make her heart race.

When he finally pulled back, he pressed one last lingering kiss to her forehead.

"I'll see you tomorrow," he promised. His voice was soft, but sure.

Sophie stepped back, watching as he got into his car. As he drove away, she realized she was smiling like a fool.

But she just couldn't help it.

*******

That afternoon, Sophie had just come back from the flower shop to take her shift at the hospital.

Lily had left after lunch, and now it was just her and their mom again.

Martha reached for Sophie's hand, her touch gentle yet firm, filled with love and warmth.

Sophie immediately sensed something different.

Something important.

"Mom?" she murmured, squeezing her fingers slightly.

Martha gave her a soft smile, her expression tender yet knowing.

"Sophie, my precious girl," she began, her voice steady, though there was a softness to it.

"I've been wanting to talk to you about Ethan."

At the mention of his name, Sophie felt a rush of warmth creep up her neck.

She had never held back from talking to her mom about her relationships, no matter how few they were.

They were the kind of family that didn't keep secrets—

Well, except financial ones, but that was different.

Her love life, on the other hand, had always been an open book.

Though, before Ethan, it had been a pretty dry book.

Still, something about her mother bringing it up first made her heart thump a little louder.

"Ethan?" Sophie whispered.

Martha nodded knowingly, squeezing her hand.

"Yes, Ethan."

Her mother let out a soft chuckle, her voice gentle but teasing.

"I see what you see in him. He's wonderful. And I see the way he cares for you."

Sophie felt her stomach flip, her eyes dropping to their joined hands.

A rush of emotion filled her chest.

"He has been amazing, Mom," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I don't know what I'd do without him."

Martha's eyes sparkled with something fond and nostalgic.

"Sweetie, I can see the way he looks at you."

Her voice softened even more, as if she were holding onto a cherished memory.

"It reminds me of how your father used to look at me."

Sophie's breath caught in her throat.

Her father.

The love of her mother's life.

The man who had given her the blueprint of what love should look like.

"Really?" she whispered, her heart swelling at the thought.

Because if there was a relationship she wanted to model her own after, it was her parents' love.

Her father had loved her mother so openly, so obviously.

She had grown up seeing it every day.

Martha's smile turned wistful, her gaze distant.

"Oh yes, sweetie."

Her expression softened, her voice taking on a fond, faraway tone.

"Your father... he had this way of making me feel like I was the only person in the world."

Sophie's heart ached with longing.

"He was gentle, caring, but also strong when I needed him to be," her mother continued.

"And when I see Ethan with you, I can't help but think that he feels the same way about you."

Her eyes twinkled knowingly, as if she had seen this love before—

Because she had.

Sophie swallowed thickly, her emotions suddenly overwhelming.

And before she could stop herself, she whispered—

"I love him, Mom."

Saying it out loud felt different.

It held weight, like a truth she could no longer ignore.

Martha squeezed Sophie's hand, a bright, knowing smile spreading across her face.

"I'm so happy to hear that, sweetheart."

Her eyes gleamed with pride.

"Love is a beautiful thing, and you deserve every bit of it."

She tilted her head slightly, studying her daughter.

"Have you told him how you feel?"

Sophie shook her head, her fingers fidgeting slightly.

A small, vulnerable smile played on her lips.

"Not yet," she admitted.

"I've been scared... Ethan didn't grow up in a family like ours. I just wonder if I'll scare him away if I come on too strong."

Martha's face softened, and she reached out, stroking Sophie's cheek gently.

"Sweetie, love can be overwhelming when someone isn't used to it."

Her voice was patient, knowing.

"But you know what? It's also the most wonderful gift you can give."

She sighed, glancing at the ceiling, as if retracing old memories.

"Your father wasn't used to a big, loving family either. He had his doubts at first."

She smiled.

"But love is what brought us closer, not pushed us apart."

Sophie let out a shaky breath, as relief and clarity washed over her.

"Do you think Ethan will come to accept my love like Dad did yours?"

Martha's lips twitched, as if she were holding back a secret.

Then she chuckled softly.

"No, Sophie. It was the other way around."

Sophie blinked in confusion.

"What do you mean?"

She had always thought it was her dad who had struggled at first—

That he had been the one to learn how to accept love.

Martha let out a tired sigh, gently patting the bed beside her.

Sophie took the silent invitation, lying down next to her mother.

"I was the one who had a tough time accepting your dad's love, Sophie," she confessed.

"I didn't know how to be loved. I was afraid of it."

Sophie listened intently, fascinated.

She had always loved hearing about her parents' story. She had never known this part before.

She turned onto her side, watching her mother's serene expression.

"I want to tell him, Mom. My feelings for him. But I think I need more time."

Martha nodded in understanding, brushing a strand of hair from Sophie's face.

"Take all the time you need, my precious girl. But don't hold back forever."

She smiled warmly.

"Let him see what it feels like to be loved the way only you can love him."

The thought alone made Sophie feel overwhelmed.

Telling Ethan those words...

It wasn't just about saying them.

It was about what they meant.

She meant every bit of it, but what if she ruined what they had now?

"I don't want to lose him."

The words came out small, almost scared.

Martha kissed Sophie's forehead, whispering,

"You won't lose him, sweetie."

Her voice was so sure, so full of love.

"Love has a way of bringing people in, not driving them away."

She smiled.

"Trust in what you two share. And when the time feels right—tell him."

Sophie hugged her mother tightly, her heart so full.

"I will, Mom. I promise."

Martha beamed, pride shining in her gentle eyes.

"He'll love you even more when you do."

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