Brooklyn, New York, 1942. Lily's Flower shop was just a small hole in the wall located on 3rd and 2nd. It was Friday morning and the little shop keeper had just opened. She was a small petite women with dark brown hair that was neatly pinned to the top of head. She wore a light blue dress with a white apron over the the front of it. As the city started to wake, the women was placing pots of flowers outside and tending to them. Is was a slow day for the women as she mostly tended to the flora of the shop. She was standing behind the counter when the shop bell rang, signaling that someone had come in. She looked up and greeted the customer.
"Hello, welcome to Lily's Flowers." She said kindly to the stranger. She eyed the man before her, he was on the shorter side and little lanky. His height put him eye to eye with her. His blond hair was swept to the side and his blue eyes were dull and down. It broke her heart, she knew that look, she herself had looked in the mirror to see those same eyes staring back. "How can I help you?" She asked in her same soft voice. The man looked up at her.
"I was looking for flowers." He started. "For my mom." The women nodded her head and walked around the counter to stand in front of him.
"What kind of flowers does she like?" Her voice was soft and her tone was understanding.
"Uhh, she likes irises." He answered. A bright smile graced the woman's face. A soft giggle left her lips.
"I just happen to have the last irises of the season in back." She mentioned. "I'll be right back." With a turn of her heel the women walked into the back room where it was a lot cooler and the already cut flowers sat. Within a minute she was back with six irises bunched together. "Here, let me make them pretty real fast."She took the flowers over to the counter and laid them out on some colored paper.
"Oh, you don't have to do that." The man protested.
"Nonsense, every woman deserves beautiful flowers." She stated. The women wrapped the purple flowers in a light blue paper and tied it with a yellow ribbon. "Here you go." She handed the flowers to the man and gave him a smile.
"How much do I owe you." He said as he reached into his pockets and pulled out some money. The women shook her head and pushed the man's hand away.
"Every woman deserves beautiful flowers." She said again. The man stared at her, his heart lifted and a smile graced his lips.
"Thank you." He said gratefully.
"It was my pleasure." The man nodded his head and turned to leave but stopped.
"Can I ask your name?" His face was slightly flushed and he didn't meet her eyes all the way. The women smiled and answered.
"My names Iris, Iris Rey." The man looked up at her and smiled as he took a glance at the flowers in his hand.
"Steve Rogers." He said in return.
"Have a good day, Steve Rogers." Said Iris.
"You too, Iris Rey. And thank you again." With that Steve Rogers left the little flower shop located on 3rd and 2nd, but it wasn't the last.
Two weeks passed since Steve had walked into that small flower shop. It was morning and Iris was once again opening the shop and placing flowers outside to attract customers. The weather was starting to heat up as spring let go and summer took hold. Iris was tending to some of the potted plants when the store bell once again rang. While still facing the plants Iris greeted the unknown customer. "Welcome to Lily's Flowers." As she finished watering the plant she turned around to find a familiar face. "Steve." Iris smiled at the man. Steve gave the small shop owner a smile and a wave. " What can I help you with?" She asked him with a smile.
"I was, uhhh, hoping I could get another bunch of irises." Steve answered. Irises smile faltered slightly and she gave Steve a sad look.
"I'm sorry, I gave you the last of them last week." She stated. "Irises only bloom in the springtime and with summer coming up they don't last long." Her heart squeezed at Steve's smile fell.
"Oh, that's okay." He said.
"Are they for your mother?" Iris asked. She noticed a flicker of hurt cross Steves eyes for a moment.
"Yeah, but I can bring her something else." Steve said. Iris frowned at that and thought for a moment before she nodded to herself.
"Wait here, I'll be right back." Her blue dress fluttered as she hurried out of the storefront and then out the back door. Iris raced up the stairs behind the shop and opened the door to her apartment. Then she quickly went to her room and opened her window. There a plant box sat with three flowers growing in it. She was gentle as she picked them, then she hurried back down to the shop. When Iris reentered the shop she was slightly out of breath and gently clutched in her hand were three irises. She walked behind the counter and placed the flowers on blue paper and tied it with a yellow ribbon. "Here, I grew these ones myself." Iris proclaimed happily. Steve stared at her and the three flowers.
"I. I don't." Steve was at a loss for words. "You didn't have to do that." Iris smiled and walked around the counter to stand in front of Steve.
"Every woman deserves beautiful flowers." She stated. Steve could have cried at those words. Here was this stranger, doing everything in her power to give his mother flowers. He could feel his heart swell, and then he felt guilty.
"I can't take these." He started. "They'll only go to waste." Irises eyes softened and she took Steve's hand into her own, putting the flowers between them.
"Her grave deserves a bit of color, don't you think?" She asked. Steve was shocked for a moment. "I've seen that look before. The look you had when you first came into the shop. I know what you're feeling. So take these flowers to her." Iris let go of Steve's hand. She could see his eyes glisten,
"Thank you." He went to reach for his wallet, anything to pay her back for such a kindness, but he was stopped.
"It's on the house. Besides, these are my personal flowers, so they're not part of inventory." She stated. For the first time since his mother's death, Steve felt warm and happy.
"Thank you, Iris." Steve left the tiny flower shop feeling lighter. Iris smiled at the door as Steve left, she felt warm and happy. She couldn't help but hope that he would return next week, and she was looking forward to it.