Evelyn Isley locked the shop door and turned the sign to 'Closed' with a smile on her face. It was the day before Valentine's Day and business had been booming; last-minute bouquets being hastily ordered, others being picked up by those a bit more prepared, and still more being wrapped and packed ready for delivery. Early the next day, she would load them into the van and drive around town dropping them off, before returning for breakfast with Ivy.
The idea for their little shop had been born the day after they'd got married, almost six years ago now. They'd been enjoying a breakfast of pastries and fruit while lying together in that wonderful bed, and Eve had asked her new wife if she would consider going into business with her. She wanted to move away from science, but Ivy and everything that came with her were such a huge part of her life now that she hadn't thought she could abandon plants altogether. She'd so many years studying them, getting her degree, then her PhD, progressing quickly through her field; she knew as much as a florist needed to know about plants and much more besides.
They had discussed it at length, wondering if they could somehow find a property with the potential for a garden behind it, big enough to actually grow the flowers they sold and guarantee they were always fresh. The shop was to be Eve's domain, the garden Ivy's, and they would work together as two halves of a whole, like they always did.
So it had been decided. They had, however, put these plans on hold and taken some time to travel first, seeing a bit more of the world like they'd always planned; Napa Valley, the Tuscan Peninsula, the Cotswolds, the Cornish coast, Angel Falls, the Far East, Australia and New Zealand...they'd gone wherever they'd felt like to make their memories.
It was in one of the numerous hotel rooms they'd stayed in that they'd chosen a name for their shop, and now the two of them were proud owners of 'Eden', selling flowers for all seasons and occasions. It had taken them a little while to find somewhere to settle down and start a business, but they'd decided on San Francisco, where Ivy liked the sunshine and Eve liked the atmosphere. With money Ivy had 'saved' over time, they'd had enough to buy property outright and convert it however they liked, as well as plenty left over for travelling and treating themselves.
Now, after almost four years of increasing business, they lived happily. A large but cosy apartment above their very own shop, with a beautiful garden that was both Ivy's refuge and their resource, where she tended the flowers that Eve arranged and sold. Once a year, sometimes twice, they closed the shop for a fortnight and went somewhere together for a break. Ivy got to live surrounded by plants, and Eve got to live with everyday amenities within walking distance, which she had to admit was preferable and definitely more practical.
As she opened the till drawer and pulled out the cash box from under the counter, Eve wondered what she and Ivy would be doing the next day. They hadn't done much to celebrate Valentine's for the last few years as the holiday had always been on a weekday, but tomorrow was a Sunday, and once the morning deliveries were done they would have the whole day to themselves. She locked the takings securely in the safe, and thought that perhaps she'd make pancakes for breakfast.
At the back of the shop was a door covered by a deep green curtain, which Eve pushed aside before unlocking the door and stepping through, closing it quietly behind her. Silence reigned, and she took a long breath of sweet-scented air, feeling her shoulders relax.
She loved their garden; Ivy had spent so long planning it out, designing the layout of what would grow where, working hard to maintain a level of harmony, and the end result was absolutely beautiful. They had a small circular lawn surrounded by flowers on all sides, arranged in huge sloped beds like the seats in a stadium. Running through the beds were a series of narrow paths and stone steps, which allowed a person to move around without disturbing the flowers. The walls that surrounded the garden were wreathed in hydrangeas, clematis, roses, and other climbing plants. It was a lovely place to work or even just to sit in for a little while; Ivy and Eve had spent many quiet afternoons there together.
Ivy now sat cross-legged on the lawn, eyes closed, her hands resting on the grass. As soon as Eve had stepped outside, Ivy opened her eyes and smiled, having sensed her there. She liked seeing Eve fresh from a day in the shop, still wearing her embroidered apron, hair coiled into a messy bun, blue eyes tired but satisfied; she always looked so happy. "Hello, my Evelyn. How was the shop today?"
"Busy, but Sam gave me a hand when things got crazy. We may have saved Valentine's Day for half of San Francisco." Eve knelt down on the lawn and rested her head on Ivy's shoulder.
"My hero," Ivy said, dropping a kiss onto Eve's forehead. "I knew there was a reason I married you."
Eve sat up straight and stretched her arms above her head. "Ha ha. I should hope, Pamela dear, you married me for something other than my skills as a businesswoman."
In response, Ivy wrapped her arms around Eve's body and pulled her down onto the lawn, where they lay together face to face, kissing occasionally. "There are many, many reasons I married you, Dr Isley," Ivy purred between kisses, "entrepreneurial skills aside." The next kiss was a long one, with clenching hands and rumpled clothes, and they were both breathless when they broke apart again. "I found out something interesting the other day," Ivy said conversationally.
"Oh yeah?" Eve was slightly dazed.
"After six years of marriage, you celebrate your 'wood' anniversary."
Eve raised an eyebrow and shifted closer. "Okay...but our anniversary isn't til April."
"I know." Suddenly, Ivy got to her feet, pulling Eve up with her. "Regardless, I was inspired, and I made something for you. Think of it as a Valentine's gift, or an early anniversary present, whatever you like. I just want you to have it." She took Eve's hand and led her through the gap in the hedge that divided the garden in half. When she saw what was there, Eve gasped, and tears sprung to her eyes.
It was a tree, an appropriate 'wood' gift for six years, but sculpted and manipulated by Ivy into the shape of two women entwined in an everlasting embrace. The roots emerging from the ground became the trunk which shaped their legs, their bodies pressed together, their arms holding each other close, then on to where their foreheads touched as they looked deep into each other's eyes. From their shoulders and the tops of their heads emerged the tree's branches, still young and narrow, but just starting to blossom with the promise of spring.
"It will grow," Ivy said, hugging Eve from behind, "in time, and it will always be here. Do you like it?"
"Pamela, I…" Eve could feel tears running down her cheeks, and she turned around to smile at her wife. "I love it. I love you. Thank you so much."
Ivy smiled back, her soft green lips stretched into a wide grin. "I just wanted something that...that represented us. You, and me, always together." Together they were, and they would be; strong and resilient, taking whatever life threw at them. They had been through so much and emerged on the other side thankfully united, and Ivy never wanted to risk losing her love again. She wrapped her arms around Eve and held her close, subconsciously mimicking the pose of the tree-women, then gently pulled Eve's hair free of its bun so it tumbled down her back and she could twirl it between her fingers. With a tiny moan, almost a mew, Eve relaxed further into Ivy's arms - having her hair played with was still one of her weaknesses.
They stayed wrapped up in each other for a little while longer, then broke apart and returned to the house. Ivy took Eve's hand and looked at her with an expression that could only be described as 'bedroom eyes', enough to make Eve feel weak at the knees, before silently leading her upstairs. As she followed eagerly, it occurred to her that she loved this woman so much she would follow her anywhere.
A/N: And that's the end. Thank you so much for reading and reviewing, especially seeing as I repeatedly went for ages without writing anything. This story has taken me five-and-a-half years to complete, interspersed with university courses, getting married, hospital visits, driving lessons, jobhunting/losing/gaining, and so many other things besides. I'm so grateful to those of you that stuck with me from the very beginning and managed to forgive my flakiness. I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed putting Ivy and Eve through hell and having them come out smelling of roses!
Lots of love
Abby Well x