Author's note: Some of these chapters (this one specifically) will seem a little out of place but I PROMISE by the end it will all make sense. Just bare with me. Also my updates may sometimes come slow but I wont abandon this. I will either finish this story or die trying.
Chapter Three:
February 11 1964
"Whatcha got there Audrey?"
Seymour had walked into the back room of the shop to find his blonde coworker sitting at the table with her back to him. Her elbows were rested on the table and her chin placed on her palms. Open in front of her was a book as opposed to her usual "Better homes and gardens" magazine. Upon hearing his voice she looked over her shoulder and smiled.
"Oh, well I was havin' a little trouble with the valentine's arrangements this year, and Mr. Mushnik brought this…"
She trailed off as Seymour moved himself onto the stool next to her. She grinned. She liked the feeling of having him so close.
"This is Mr. Mushnik's?" he asked.
She closed the cover and slid it over to him. It resembled an old encyclopedia with it's thick greenish cover and yellowing pages.
"Uh huh."
He opened the book in the middle to a page with different black and white sketches of roses surrounded by words and definitions.
"What is this?" he asked not looking up.
She smiled, "Just a little somethin' about different types of flowers and colors and their meanings."
He met her eyes with a look of both confusion and disbelief. "Meanings?"
"Yeah, they all mean somethin'."
He turned back to the open page. "I didn't know that," he nearly whispered, fascinated.
"It's true! Look!"
Her ruby nail tapped on a paragraph under a particularly large rose sketch.
Red Roses: A red rose is an unmistakable expression of love. Red roses convey deep emotions - be it love, longing or desire. Red Roses can also be used to convey respect, admiration or devotion.
"Every plant?" he asked showing interest.
She shrugged, "Well at least every flower, they all mean something different. Something significant. Since I'm building the bouquets, Mr. Mushnik thought it would be a good idea to… Oh!"
She stopped speaking as his hands quickly flipped the book to the index. His fingers trailed down the page looking for something specific. Upon finding it he flipped back to the front of the book which made a thud on the table. With shaking fast hands he flipped several short pages until settling on one, and began reading with his fingers. Audrey leaned over to see if she could make out what he was looking at. Carnations?
Pink Carnations: carry the greatest significance, beginning with the belief that they first appeared on earth from the Virgin Mary's tears – making them the symbol of a mother's undying love.
Upon reading this he released a sigh that could've been mistaken for a laugh and covered his mouth with his palm. Audrey stared back in confusion.
"What's that all about, Seymour?"
He looked back but didn't respond, just smiled knowingly.
Credit to theflowerexpert and teleflora for these definitions.
