Dani
“I swear, I saw it here, Dani, please!” Dani scoffs, letting herself be tugged along by two of her fingers clasped in the miniscule hand of the small blonde.
“One last shop, Flora, but after that we’re going back home, and you’re taking a long bath.” The seven year old’s hands are caked with dirt, and her pink dress is smudged with the dark soil. It rubs off on Dani’s hands, but she doesn’t mind it.
The door to the shop jingles when the au pair pushes it, and she’s immediately bombarded by the floral fragrance. The other florists had smelled stuffy, the stale stench of lilacs suffocating, but the windows of The Leafling, Dani read on the door, were open, and a small tin fan whirs in the corner, blowing the bottoms of the yellow curtains off the floor. The breeze lightens the scent, and Dani smiles at the sunlight streaming through the glass.
“-help you?” She startles, blinking, and finds a pair of dark green eyes trained on hers from behind the counter. The eyes crinkle, and Dani glances over the rest of the woman, a short, thin brunette, with a handful of wild curls held back by a banana clip at the base of her neck.
“A moonflower!” Flora’s voice chirps from beside her, and she’s relieved and disappointed at the same time when the eyes drift towards her companion.
“A- wha- really?” The owner of the shop, presumably, sputters, and Dani looks between the two.
“What, is that like, not a thing? I wouldn’t be surprised if it wasn’t, we’ve looked everywhere, and not one place has it. Was starting to think it was something from, like, My Little Pony.” Dani interjects, her cheeks reddening at the florist’s eyes on her once again.
“No, no, it is, just- nobody really asks for them. Pretty rare, y’know?” She smirks at the taller blonde.
“I didn’t,” Dani shrugs.
“I did! But I knew I saw them here, look!” She rushes towards a display in the back, a forest green pot with a few vines crawling out of it, stretching out over a lattice panel, the white petals twisted into buds.
“Hey, kid-”
“Flora!” Dani’s admonishes, her voice stern, but not angry. The small girl slows, and turns, a bashful smile on her face. “Just look, don’t touch. We don’t touch what isn’t ours, remember?”
“I remember,” She looks towards the brunette, who, halfway around the counter, nods her assent.
“Go ahead, kid, just be gentle, eh? Those flowers don’t just grow on trees.” She smirks, and her eyes flick back up to Dani’s, and she leans against the counter.
“Thank you!” Flora rushes forward, brushing her soil-laden hands on her skirt, and runs her hands over the vines wrapping around the latticework. The two women stand a shoulder-width apart, watching the girl silently.
“So, is it for sale? The um, moon-”
“The moonflower? Nah, not for now, I only have one. But I can have one ready to bloom in about six months. Maybe a bit sooner, or I could give you the seeds, but- well, it’s a tricky plant to grow. Finicky.” Dani watches the English woman’s lips wrap around the words, and she averts her eyes back up quickly.
“Yeah, um,” She laughs awkwardly, “I’m not the best with plants, besides my mom’s hydrangea bush. So maybe I won’t try to skip any levels for now.” The florist watches her for a moment, and Dani fiddles under the curious gaze.
“Well, hydrangeas aren’t the easiest plants either. So I’d say you’ve got the basics down. But I wouldn’t trust you with a moonflower yet, no offense.”
“Oh, none taken! So, would you do it? Grow one, that’d be ready in, um, six months, you said?”
“Yeah, sure, no problem, as long as you’re sure you can wait that long.” The brunette smirks, leaning slightly closer on the counter. Her pale bicep flexes, from underneath her cutoff band tee, and Dani’s eyelids droop for a moment before she catches herself.
“Of course, um, Flora?” Her gaze lingers on the shorter woman, before she turns her attention to the seven year old trotting over.
“Miss, uh-” She hesitates, looking at the florist.
“Jamie.”
“Miss Jamie says that the moonflower is not for sale today, but,” Flora frowns, and Dani senses the beginning of a meltdown, “-but! She says she can grow one for us, brand new, just for you! Isn’t that sweet?” She brushes a strand of hair back into Flora’s braid, and the small blonde nods, satisfied with the answer.
“Can we come see it? When it’s growing, so we know it’s okay?” Dani sighs, the girl directing her question towards Jamie, who pauses, before grinning.
“Well, of course, if you want it to grow extra beautiful, you have to give it extra love! How do you think all these grew?” She gestures to the surrounding flowers, and Dani giggles when Flora does.
“Dani, can we tomorrow? Please?” She grabs ahold of Dani’s fingers once again, and Dani shakes her head.
“No, Flora, we don’t want to rush Miss Jamie. We can come back on… Thursday?” She looks towards the brunette, who winks in approval. “Thursday.”
“Okay.” Flora smiles, and blinks heavily, worn out from the long day of shopping. Dani rolls her eyes fondly, lifting the seven year old under her armpits, to hold her on her hip. The small blonde rests her head against Dani’s shoulder, a little hand coming to grasp the other shoulder.
“So do I pay up front? What’s the damage?” She fumbles her wallet, but Jamie shakes her head.
“Nah, you can pay when it’s ready. See if it’s up to standard.” The brunette rocks forward in her chucks, smirking.
“Oh, I’m sure it’ll be great, I mean,” She flaps a hand at the blooming greenery. “I better get this one home. So, Thursday?” Flora’s breath puffs against her neck in small, even draws.
“See you Thursday, Dani.” The blonde turns, waving quickly over her shoulder, in order to hide her blush from the shorter woman.
Later, that night, after she puts Flora and Miles to bed, and says goodnight to Hannah and Owen, she whispers the name against her pillowcase, and allows herself to feel what she hasn’t, in so long, if ever.
Thursday comes quicker than Dani wishes, and she finds herself spending a bit more time in front of the mirror, swiping a bit of mascara over her lashes, scrutinizing her usual mauve sweater and jeans. She twists a little, then immediately blushes, catching herself checking herself out.
Cool it, Dani. It’s just a, she scoffs, rolling her eyes at the ridiculousness of the situation, flower visit. Check-in? She feels silly, and shakes her head a bit to lose the feeling, reassuring herself that it was for Flora, that it was Flora’s idea.
“God, okay- whatever.” She huffs, grabbing her wallet and sunglasses, before shutting the door behind her.