one little rose“Millie?” Xander called out, the door to the Emerald Eye creaking shut behind him.
“Hmm? Yes, one second.” Millie stumbled to her feet – she must have dozed off in the rocking chair, and her legs were heavy with sleep. She rubbed her eyes as she plodded toward the front of the store.
Xander was standing in the doorway leading to the back, a wide grin on his face. He held something behind his back. “I have something for you, mousey.”
He held his hand out, and there was a single rose – perfect and beautiful, a deep and vivid shade of ruby red. It almost looked unreal, as if Xander had plucked it from a storybook. “Oh… it’s beautiful,” Millie whispered, taking the flower from the doctor. The sweet scent wafted toward her. “Where did you find this?”
“I found an abandoned florist’s shop,” he explained, leaning against the doorframe. “I thought I’d try and look for something pretty for you.”
“Oh,” she murmured, her face flushing. Millie couldn’t help the smile that blossomed on her lips. “I’ve never been given flowers before…”
“A single rose is hardly the bouquet you deserve.”
Millie barely heard him, too enthralled by the thought that a man had given her of all people a beautiful red rose. “It’s perfect. Thank you, Xander.” She turned and hurried to the kitchen. “Here, help me find a vase – I want it to last as long as possible.”
Xander chuckled as he followed her. “Silly mouse…”