Chapter Text
Tina was taking in the fresh air outside in her garden. The smell of newly-cut grass and the tingling feeling of a warm breeze made her hopeful about the coming summer. She and her husband, Henry had just moved to a new house in the same town, Granbury. They had just recently gotten settled and had all their furniture placed, and it was finally starting to feel like a home. A fresh start with more space that would allow them to start their family together. The garden was huge, and she saw so much potential in what it could look like with just a few changes. Right now, it was mostly empty with a few old trees that had to be cut, but she decided that this could be her project. Something she could fill her days with while her husband was at work, besides going to church.
The community in Granbury was a relatively conservative one, and she must admit that she didn't technically feel like she could relate to most of them. She had one close friend, Alice Pieszecki, and she was far from conservative, which made them get along very well. Even though Tina looked like your typical conservative housewife, she was a very liberal and open-minded person. She was very determined when it came to taking her own place in her marriage, and would not let herself be too mushy.
Tina went back into the house and saw that the clock was half past 4. She decided that she would start working on the supper, as her husband would be home in not too long. She opened the fridge and started loading out ingredients for the vegetable soup she had decided to make. Fuck. We are out of carrots, Tina thought to herself. Carrots were one of the main ingredients for a good vegetable soup. She couldn't make it without it. They also didn't have much else, as she planned on doing full grocery shopping the following day.
Just as she was looking over the cabinets to find something she could make out of dinner with no luck, the landline telephone started to ring. Tina turned her attention toward the phone and walked over and picked up the receiver.
"Kennard Young residence," Tina answered in a polite voice.
"God, Tina, you are always so polite," The woman on the other end responded.
"You know, Alice, if I had the ability to see who was calling, I wouldn't even pick up the phone right now," Tina said playfully.
"Very funny, Tina. Now, I was actually calling about your housewarming party tomorrow. Is it okay if I bring a friend over? And please don't tell me you're going to invite all your dull church friends."
"First of all, it is not a party but a barbecue sort of gathering. Second of all; the people from the church aren't dull. And of course, you can bring a friend."
"Tina, come on. They are the dullest of the dull. Ever since I divorced Tom they have acted as if I have a contagious disease. And they can't stop talking about God. D-U-L-L."
"You know what they are like, but they don't mean it like that. Besides you haven't been to church in ages, maybe that's why. I am not judging, I'm just saying."
"You're right because I have more concerning things happening than chatting about our almighty God. My job applications are just being trashed by the companies I am applying for, so I'm stuck working at a fucking nail salon. And that does not pay well," Alice responded with a hint of sarcasm, but also there was this stress in her voice that was eating her alive. She had been trying to get into a journalism career for a long time, but it is highly been dominated by men. It was surely not the lack of curiosity and intrusiveness that held her back from becoming an excellent journalist.
"I'm sorry Al. I'm sure it's just a matter of time before you get hired. Besides you've done some great freelance projects on your own which should get you on the path in no time. It will work out." Tina said with an encouraging voice. She was always rooting for her friend, even though she could be intense at times. She did a lot of things 'her own way', and many of the citizens would see that as arrogance and something negative, but not Tina. She did in fact look up to her friend and how she was so passionate about having her own career and being completely independent.
"Yeah, I guess... I'm so awesome, right? They are stupid for not wanting to hire me." Alice said with confidence.
"Yeah, you are pretty awesome, Al," Tina replied with a chuckle.
"Hey, I'm sorry I really need to run out to grab some things for dinner. Henry will be home soon, so I gotta go." Tina said.
"Okaydokaye. See you tomorrow, Tina."
"Bye!"
Tina put the receiver back on the wall and went back to the kitchen to grab a note. She decided to leave a quick note in case Henry would be home before she was back from getting the missing ingredients.
If you're reading this I'm down at the grocery store to grab some things for dinner
I'll be back soon
-Tina
She quickly went by the mirror to make sure her hairclip was sitting correctly and did a few strokes down her yellow summer dress. She enjoyed the vibrant colors that reflected her friendly personality.
The stores were all very close together and they were just a few blocks downtown from their new house. Tina really enjoyed the fact that she could do a 10-minute walk down instead of relying on a car, or for her husband to pick things up after work. He would always forget something, so she preferred to just do it herself at this point.
As Tina strolled down the street she took a good look around the neighbourhood. She knew this place very well, despite just moving in. The town wasn't too big, so it was sort of an everybody-knows-everybody type of society. For better or for worse, of course.
As she started to enter the area where the community buildings and the different types of shops became visible, she noticed something new. There was a building tucked between a vintage store and the tailor shop that had been empty for a long time due to the previous barber shop becoming bankrupt about half a year ago. She had been so used to seeing blocked windows in that spot, that she almost didn't recognize it. It had been renovated and there was a light turquoise layer of paint on the outside walls that really attracted the blonde. It stood out against the other buildings on that street.
As she came closer she could get a good look at the exterior of the shop. It gave a welcoming aura with potted plants surrounding the entrance and big beautiful bouquets with colorful and carefully chosen flowers. A low sound of jazz music making its way out of the store put a smile on Tina's face. She was carefully caught up studying the bouquets at this point when a warm presence approached her, making her jump a little when she heard someone speak to her.
"Don't you just love the smell of fresh lavender and lilies together?" Her voice was calm and had a rich depth to it that resonated with quiet confidence. Tina turned herself to face the woman and felt her body pang with an unfamiliar sensation. The brunette standing in front of her was simply beautiful. She had long brown curls that matched the color of her big brown eyes. Based on her outfit, she didn't seem to be from here. She wore loose linen trousers and a white tank top that showed off strong arms.
"It smells very nice, yeah." Tina eventually replied after breaking eye contact with the woman. They held each other's gaze just long enough for Tina to blush and she immediately turned her eyes back to the bouquet.
"I'm Bette Porter, owner of this flower shop," the brunette had not stopped looking at Tina, even though the blonde had turned her gaze away from her. She shook out her hand with confidence.
Tina looked back at Bette and gave her a warm smile whilst shaking her hand.
"Tina Kennard Young. Are you new in Granbury?" Tina asked with curiosity.
"I am. I actually live right here in this building. Well, technically on the second floor, but. I have a friend who has been helping me renovate the place, both the shop and my apartment upstairs."
"Wow, that's very nice. I like what you've done to it. It feels so... alive," Tina spoke with interest and intrigue in her voice, as she looked at Bette. Another moment of silence was placed between them, but not an awkward one. The brunette couldn't seem to get her eyes off the woman in front of her.
"Thank you. You should take a look inside too. I am still awaiting a couple of deliveries, so it's not much yet, but enough to start the season." Bette spoke as she walked over to the open door with a big 'welcome' sign over it. Tina hesitated a little since she knew she had to be home soon to start on the supper, but she couldn't help but follow the brunette to see the interior.
As she stepped across the threshold, she was even more impressed. It was really different from what it once was, and obviously, since it was a barber shop things had to be changed, but this was really good work. They had changed out the tiles with wooden walls in a light caramel-toned color and a lot of shelves covered in pots and all kinds of plants on display. Tina had always been very drawn to flowers and plants, as she enjoyed gardening and experiencing the feeling of nurturing something in her own hands.
"Thank you. It's a relief to finally have a flower shop downtown, not having to travel to the neighboring town to get some decent flowers."
"You really enjoy flowers, don't you," Bette had a playful, yet friendly smile on her lips as she watched the blonde take a good look around the shop. Tina chuckled a little.
"I do. Maybe my husband will actually bother to get me some flowers now and then. He has no excuse now, right?" Tina said in a lightly sarcastic manner, some could say she held some resentment as well.
I would get you flowers every day. Not even from a shop, but I would search in a field, specifically for your favorites, and collect a big bouquet of them. Bette felt a tiny sting as she heard the word "husband". She didn't expect anything else, as most women past the age of 20 were married, and as gorgeous as she was, that would definitely not make her an exception.
"You should tell him about this new shop, maybe he'll take the hint," Bette said and gave the blonde a wink. Tina felt her cheeks flush by the look she was receiving from the brunette.
"Speaking of, I really need to get going. Have to grab some groceries before I head home," Tina turned around and looked at the brunette.
"Of course, no problem. You are welcome back at any time, Tina."
"You too-... no fuck, I meant thank you and yes. Yes, I'll come back." Tina stuttered. She blushed once she failed to place her words in the correct order. For some reason, she got a little nervous at the brunette's gaze. This made Bette chuckle. Tina started to make her way to the exit door after giving an awkward smile at the brunette.
"That's cute. Have a nice day," Bette said and gave the blonde another wink before turning around to the cash register.
"Have a nice day," Tine replied before making her way out. Wait, what? Cute? Was she flirting with her? Tina honestly couldn't set words on what she was feeling, because she had never felt this exact way before. She felt a wave of confusion, but also excitement as she talked to the florist. She decided to brush off her thoughts and focus on the rest of the day. Carrots, home.
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5.30 PM the same day
"So, how was your day at work, dear?" Tina asked with a hopeful smile, her eyes searching Henry's face for any sign of engagement.
Henry's gaze was fixed on his plate, his brow furrowed with an unspoken weight. He took a deep breath before responding, "It was... hectic, to say the least."
She nodded, hoping for more, "Any interesting projects or encounters?"
His eyes briefly met hers, a hint of resignation flickering in them,
"Just the usual stress and deadlines. Nothing out of the ordinary."
Tina felt her heart sink slightly. Her efforts to kindle a connection were met with a wall of detachment. She had planned this dinner meticulously, and added small details to make it special, hoping it would evoke a spark they seemed to have lost. She gently traced the rim of her wine glass, her voice softer, "I thought you might like the dessert I made tonight. Your favorite."
He glanced at the dessert, a fleeting hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his lips, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I appreciate it," he replied, his voice laden with a hint of gratitude, but the passion that once characterized their exchanges was absent. Tina was aware that the diminishing passion could be attributed to their prolonged struggle to conceive a child. Tina had experienced a pregnancy last year, but it had ended in a heartbreaking miscarriage during the first trimester. This painful loss had put their marriage on ice, especially since Henry struggled to express his emotions and often withdrew into silence.
She was about to tell him about her day and the new flower shop downtown but changed her mind. He didn't even bother to hear about what she had been up to, probably guessing it was the usual for her as well. Instead of dwelling more on it, she went back to eat from her plate and their dinner went on in silence.
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The following day
Bette was loading out sacks of soil from her pick-up truck along with a few other plants that she had been picking up from her delivery station. She put them in place inside the shop, and she felt satisfied with how her shop had turned out at this point. Almost everything was in order now, and she had already gotten a few orders scheduled from local customers. She had to admit that even though most people were friendly, she could tell that this town was a bit more traditional and conservative. Almost everyone would flinch when she told them she was a single 30-year-old whose only ambition was to invest all her energy into this shop, doing what she loved the most. She had never been married and thought in fact that marriage was a waste of time. Why would she settle to be in a traditional household where she would be somebody's Mrs? She wanted to be her own being and decided that it worked best for her this way. It could also have something to do with the fact that she never felt an attraction towards men, so to find a decent guy just to satisfy her family and everyone except herself was just not an option. That's also why she wasn't very close with her family. They wanted her to have all the things she didn't care for, and they were certainly not impressed when she told them she was gonna use all her savings to buy worn-out premises for the purpose of starting her own business. This meant that she had to choose her own happiness instead of her family for now. She still had hope for them to eventually come around, but she decided to focus on this store for now.
As she took out the last cardboard box with some decorative jars, she noticed the same blonde who had come to her shop yesterday. Tina Kennard Young.
"Hello, Mrs. Young," the shop owner greeted with a sly grin as the woman approached.
"If you have to use my surname, please call me Kennard, but I'd much prefer Tina. It makes me feel less ancient," the blonde responded with a chuckle.
"You're not as bound by tradition as the other women in this town, are you?" Bette winked as she secured the back of her pickup truck.
"Oh no, I hope not. I mean most people in this community are nice, but I see what you mean." Tina replied with a sheepish smile.
"So, what brings you here this sunny Friday noon?" Bette asked as she turned back to look at the chirpy blonde she had been thinking about since yesterday.
"Actually, I thought I would buy some flowers. We have just settled into our new home, but it could really use some extra life, you know?" Tina was scanning the counter on the outside of the shop. It was piled up with different buckets of bouquets and even singular flowers where you could mix and match the ones you liked.
"You came to the right place then. What do you have in mind?" Bette had a suggestive smirk across her face, and as she had said that, Tina was looking curiously into the brunette's eyes, and the question kind of faded out until the brunette creased her eyebrows, waiting for a reply.
"What type of flowers I might specify," Bette chuckled.
"Oh, right. I really like lavender and lilies. One bouquet of each maybe, then I can combine them."
Bette's eyes shot right into Tina's as she recalled their quick encounter from yesterday. She couldn't tell if she remembered it herself, or if lavenders or lilies were some of her favorites as well. Bette had to stop herself from giving it too much thought as it was pretty basic flowers that most people liked.
"Excellent taste. I can combine them for you if you'd like and make it a bouquet for you?" Bette suggested as she grabbed the basket of lavender that was standing on one of the counters outside.
"You would? That would be perfect." Tina smiled.
"Of course, just follow me," Bette brought the basket inside and went to get some of the lilies that were standing inside the shop. As she started to gently put them all together, Tina stepped closer and looked up at Bette.
"I meant to ask you something," She started,
"Sure, go ahead. By the way, do you have a vase to put it in, or would you like one of those as well? I have a selection over here if you wanna have a look." Bette nodded her head toward the case beside the counter.
"Just a wrapping would be fine for now, thank you," Tina smiled.
"Anyway, I have - or I and my husband are having a housewarming party this evening. It's a short notice, but feel welcome to come over. There will be a few people from the town there. Unless you are busy of course." Tina didn't want to seem weird asking this, and she was slightly nervous, but she knew Bette was new to this town and that maybe she would appreciate getting to know more of the people around here.
Bette turned her attention to the blonde and gave her a warming smile.
"Thank you, I will definitely think about it." She replied and reached out the beautifully wrapped bouquet over to Tina.
"Wow, these look gorgeous. Thank you so much," Tina said as she accepted the bouquet. Their hands slightly brushed against each other, and there was an unfamiliar spark that elicited between them. Tina felt a rush through her body, and her cheeks turned slightly red.
"Uhm, let's see," She said as she went through her purse and handed over some cash to the brunette.
"Here, keep the change,"
"Uh, oh no this is way too much, Tina," Bette said as she looked over the amount of cash she had received.
"Don't be silly, these are perfect and I can't wait to put them up," Tina smiled as she made her way to the door.
"Well, thank you," Bette said as she kept staring at the blonde.
"You too. Well, I hope you stop by tonight. Have a wonderful day, Bette Porter," Tina said, giving a warm smile at the shop owner before heading out of the shop with her fresh bouquet in her hands.
"You too, Kennard. You too," Bette said quietly as she admired the woman walking out of her shop.
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