Times had been hard on Elli. Her grandmother, Ellen, had started to get sick recently, and though Doctor Trent was very helpful and kind, there was only so much that could be done. Currently, Ellen was occupying the one bed the clinic had. Despite living so close by, Trent wanted to be completely aware of every turn in Ellen's health.
Elli peaked into the sanctioned off room and saw Ellen asleep, her knitting still on her lap. She smiled softly, but sadly, and gently moved her needles and yarn to the end table. It was difficult to see the woman who practically raised her in such a way, but knew that lives weren't infinite.
Elli shook her head, determined not to feel down about the situation. She had to still have hope. She went back to her desk and started to brainstorm on ways she could help improve the depressed atmosphere of late. She leaned onto her elbow, and it slid on a piece of paper. Curious, Elli examined the sheet. It was an advertisement for a flower delivery service out of Bluebell, a town a ferry ride away.
Ellen had always had a soft spot for daffodils, and if Elli could recall correctly, those bright yellow flowers were in season. A bright bouquet would make a cheery addition to the entirely white clinic, and might improve Ellen's mood- and health.
After checking to see that her grandmother was still sleeping, Elli dialed the number on the flyer for Cam's Flowers. Ever nervous about using the phone, Elli meekly waited as it rang... and rang... and continued to ring. She was wondering if she had dialed the right number when it suddenly picked up. There was a moment of shuffling before a curt voice snapped at her.
"What is it?" the rude man over the phone brusquely asked, and Elli froze for a second, suddenly becoming mouse-like with nerves.
"O-oh... Isn't this Cam's Flowers...? I was wanting to place an order, if that was okay..." she asked, internally chastising herself for letting herself be so nervous when she's the customer.
"... hold on a moment," Cam replied, and Elli heard him set down the phone. She played with her short hair, a habit from when it was much longer. He picked back up the phone, and she heard an exasperated sigh.
"What do you want?" he snapped again, and Elli was getting fed up with his rudeness. She huffed, her nervousness replaced by irritation.
"What I WANT is for you to be a bit more polite to your customers! I DID want an order of daffodils... but maybe I should find a florist who wants my business!" Elli snapped right back at Cam. A stunned silence filled the phone.
"... So daffodils. Alright. Where am I delivering? And to whom?" Cam asked, ignoring Elli's comments about his rudeness. Elli huffed, very peeved but unsure if there were any other florists willing to deliver as far out as Mineral Town.
"The flowers are for Ellen in Mineral Town. From Elli and Stu," she said, trying to mimic his curtness. There was a moment of silence, and she assumed he was writing it down.
"Okay. I'll be there tomorrow," Cam said, and ended the conversation by hanging up. Elli stared at the phone, exasperated and not looking forward to meeting the rude florist in person, but happy at the thought of cheering up her grandmother with flowers.
With her surprise planned, Elli was able to whistle while she worked. Her cheer wasn't unnoticed. Trent had noticed that his normally cheerful nurse had grown depressed since Ellen had to be admitted for full-time care, but was glad to see her smile had returned.
"Not that I don't appreciate it, but why the change in mood?" he asked when going over medical journals at the end of the day. Elli smiled at him, raising a finger to her lips in a sign of secrecy.
"I can't tell you, you'll spoil the surprise. Something good is going to happen tomorrow. That's all I can tell you," she explained, and no matter how he tried, Trent couldn't get her to spill any more about it.
That night, Elli went to sleep with a smile on her face for the first time in weeks.