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"Does she realize she looks like a sunflower, ready to rain sunlight on all who look down upon her?"
– Simone Elkeles, 'Perfect Chemistry' –
It was an ordinary Tuesday morning. There was nothing particularly noteworthy or special about it. It was winter in New York City, there were patches of snow around, and everyone walked the streets huddled over trying to keep warm in their thick coats and scarves. Traffic moved slowly, as per usual, and the sounds of car horns punctuated the air.
And in the back-seat of one of those cars, a black town car in fact, sat a young man. Tall, broad shoulders, chestnut brown hair, with the bluest eyes. Daniel Meade's usual lopsided grin was nowhere to be found on this particular ordinary Tuesday morning, as he was unusually frustrated and very aware that he was running late for work, and stuck in traffic that moved at a snails pace.
There was no real reason as to why Daniel should have been running late for work that day, and in fact he had been late on more than his fair share of mornings, but recently he had been trying to get to work on time, or as near to it as possible. He was trying to do better. To be better. There was someone he needed to be better for.
So, although he couldn't tell anyone later what on earth possessed him to do it, Daniel leaned forward to his driver, gave him a pat on the shoulder and told him he would walk the rest of the way, and he opened the car door beside him and stepped out onto the busy sidewalk. He figured it was only a couple of blocks from the Meade Publications building, and whether he walked or stayed in the car the time difference would be negligible. But also, maybe the cold air and a brisk walk would do him some good, wake him up. Although he desperately needed coffee too.
Daniel knew Betty would have a coffee waiting for him on his desk when he arrived, but as he walked along he could smell freshly ground coffee wafting from one of the cafe's he passed. Figuring it wouldn't hurt to stop, Daniel opened the glass door, and was almost bowled over by the warm air escaping from inside, mixed with the smells of coffee and freshly baked goods. It was almost like a warm hug, only slightly cinnamon flavoured.
After ordering and waiting the requisite time for his hot coffee (and a blueberry danish to go), Daniel found himself once more outside walking towards the office. He briefly glanced at his watch, and noticing that he probably had another twenty minutes before he knew Betty would call looking for him, he slowed his pace just a little. Ever since that night a week or so beforehand when he and Betty had stood on the Brooklyn Bridge in the early hours of the morning, watching the city lights sparkle across the East River; Daniel had made a silent vow with himself to take a few moments every day to slow down, and look at the world around him and really absorb it and take in the everyday magic of it all.
He wanted to learn to see the world the way Betty did.
Daniel was all too aware that he had never really had that childlike wonder that she seemed to have, and although he often teased her for it, over the previous few months since he had met her (and her family), he had begun to notice more around him. It was such a foreign concept to the spoilt and entitled upbringing and life he had led so far. Daniel hadn't told anyone of this promise he made to himself, not even Betty for fear she would roll her eyes and give him a look of pity, but he knew he had to try. He knew there had to be more to life than what he knew. And if Betty and her family had an unwavering sense of peace deep down that seemed to hold them together in the storms of life, then he wanted some of that too. Heavens knew he needed it.
As Daniel walked, he watched the people around him. He noticed those who had their heads down and just seemed to want to get to where they were going quickly. Daniel didn't blame them at all, it was cold outside. He also noticed the little looks and affectionate gestures couples gave each other, mothers with their children... His heart twisted and ached a little at those. He knew now that Sofia had fooled him, but in being with her he had realised that maybe one day he did want more than just a one night stand or meaningless flings. He still hoped one day someone might take a chance on him and he would fall in love and have all those dreams fulfilled.
One day.
As Daniel sipped his coffee and waited at a corner to cross the street, he noticed a florist shop beside where he stood. Daniel was no stranger at all to florist's or purchasing flowers, and over the years had likely spent thousands on flowers for women he had slept with, or wanted to sleep with. Or for his Mother. But as he glanced in the window of the florist shop, a flash of yellow caught his eye. And in that instant, Daniel realised that there was one girl he had never bought flowers for. And she probably deserved them far more than all the others. Glancing at his watch once more, Daniel quickly drank the last of his coffee, tossed the cup in a trashcan, and turned to walk into the flower shop.
On opening the door, Daniel's senses were inundated by a sea of colour and such a sweet fragrance hailing from all the cut blossoms and plants inside. Just being in the shop itself, surrounded by every colour of the rainbow made him think of Betty even more. This was the kind of place that she belonged, in his mind. Encircled by all the natural beauty. The small almost musical jingle of the bell above the door brought an older woman from the rear of the shop to the florist's table, although Daniel didn't notice she was there until she had spoken.
"Hello! How can I help you?"
Daniel spun on his heels at the sound of the woman's voice.
"Uh, hi, I want to buy some flowers. For a friend of mine." Daniel said bashfully as he shoved his free hand in the pocket of his coat (his other hand holding his briefcase), and smiled at her.
The woman seeming to take pity on the man in front of her, smiled gently in return.
"Do you know what flowers you'd like to buy, sir?" She asked him kindly.
"Yeah, I do actually." He placed his briefcase on the florist table, then turned and walked towards the front window. Smiling brightly, he pointed out the flowers he had seen from outside. "I'd like a bunch of the sunflowers please."
Truthfully, Daniel had always thought that sunflowers were a summer flower, they reminded him of sunshine and laughter and happiness. It being winter in New York he honestly had no idea how they even existed in that moment, but he knew they were the perfect choice for Betty.
He had seen the nerdy accountant giving her pink daisies, Daniel had no idea if that was because they were her favourite flower or if it was just a girly choice. But the bright yellow flowers matched Betty's personality and spirit perfectly in Daniel's opinion.
To him, Betty was like pure, radiant sunshine.
"Of course sir, would you like to pick which of the bunches you like best?" The lady came to stand beside him at the window, gesturing at the several bunches of the bright flowers.
"Uh, sure... These ones." Daniel pointed at the bunch with the biggest blooms, which included a couple that hadn't yet opened.
"Ah, very nice choice sir. And these ones will open over the next few days as well, so the flowers will last longer." She smiled at him as she plucked the chosen bunch out of the water bucket they sat in.
Taking them back to the table at the rear of the store, the woman set about wrapping the flowers with a layer of green paper and a piece of stiff brown hessian fabric on the outside. She then proceeded to tie a thick white ribbon around the stems to hold the bouquet all together.
"Would you like to write a message on a gift card to go with the flowers, sir?"
Daniel blushed a little as he answered. "Sure."
The woman gestured to the pile of little white cards on the end of the table, and Daniel picked up a pen to write.
'Betty, you make the world a brighter place, just by being you. - Daniel.'
Daniel smiled to himself and handed over the card to the woman, who then attached it to the bunch. Taking Daniel's credit card from him, she processed the payment, before she smiled and handed the flowers to Daniel.
"I'm sure she will love the flowers, sir. She must be a pretty special lady." The woman said.
Daniel smiled as he replied. "Yeah, she is. One of the best I know."
Daniel paused for a moment and looked at the woman. He noticed she had a lovely smile and kind eyes.
"Thank you very much for the flowers." He said to her, picking up his briefcase as well.
The woman smiled. "You're welcome sir, have a lovely day!"
Daniel nodded, turned and left the store. Stepping back onto the busy sidewalk, he took one final look at his watch, straightened his scarf, and began to walk briskly to the office building across the park. He knew he was now running extremely late, but more so, he wanted to see the look on Betty's face when he handed her the sunflowers. Daniel knew his life was a bit (a lot) of a mess, but he couldn't help it, just being around Betty made him happier. Lifted his spirits. He wanted her to know that she was important to him. They were an unlikely pair, but Daniel honestly couldn't imagine his life without her in it any more. She had already done so much for him, and been by his side when he needed her. It was almost like she was always meant to be there, he'd had a Betty shaped hole in his heart until she came along.
As Daniel stepped inside the warmth of the Meade building and headed towards the elevators, he greeted the security guards. One of them noticed the flowers in Daniel's hand and winked at him.
"Morning Mr Meade, where did you find sunflowers in the middle of winter?" Tommy, the guard, asked him.
"Was a lucky discovery," Daniel grinned as he replied.
Daniel couldn't wipe the smile off of his face all the way up to the 28th floor. Stepping out of the elevator onto the Mode floor, he walked past the round orange reception desk, and Amanda.
"Hey Daniel, who are the flowers for?" Amanda stood up and leaned over the top of the desk towards him.
Without stopping, Daniel simply winked at Amanda and kept walking towards his office. He could hear Amanda calling his name behind him, but he refused to stop and have Amanda draw attention to the fact that the flowers were for Betty. He wasn't sure the two of them were completely over the whole argument as to who Daniel's assistant was. He knew Betty's friendship with Amanda was tenuous at the best of times, and the last thing either he or Betty needed was Amanda's petty jealousy to come into play.
As Daniel approached Betty's desk, he noticed that she wasn't there. Coming to an abrupt stop beside her desk, he wondered where she was, and whether he should leave the flowers on her desk or take them into his office with him to give to her whenever she reappeared. After a few moments, he ended up laying them on her desk, beside the computer keyboard, and hoped that Amanda wouldn't come stalking by to find them before Betty did.
He felt a little out of sorts, he had been hoping to hand them to Betty, but maybe it was best afterall to just leave them for her to discover in her own time. He hoped she wouldn't be too long.
Daniel walked into his own office, put his briefcase down and shrugged off his coat and scarf, hanging them on the hat stand in the corner of the room. He took off his suit jacket, hanging it over the back of his office chair, loosened his tie a little, and sat down. As he knew there would be, there was a cup of coffee sitting on his desk, surprisingly still warm, which he picked up and sipped at gratefully. He remembered the blueberry danish he had stashed in his coat pocket and stood back up to retrieve it.
As Daniel turned back to his desk and placed the danish there, before he sat down, he saw Betty walking down the corridor towards her desk and his office. Betty was fussing with some files in her arms and hadn't yet seen him. He could see that she looked a little flustered, and sure enough as she looked up and saw him their eyes locked.
Crystal blue met chocolate brown.
Daniel paused where he stood, waiting. He gave her a small smile, but in return was met with a slight roll of the eyes. He couldn't say he didn't deserve it. He had been late, without any real excuse. He tried not to chuckle though, knowing that would only irritate her more. Instead he shoved his hands in his pockets once again and simply watched as she approached her desk.
As Betty went to put down the files on her desk, she broke eye contact with Daniel, noticing the flowers sitting there. Daniel, from his vantage point, watched as Betty's face showed her reaction of surprise, to slight confusion, before a look of joy enveloped her features after she had read the little card with his message on the flowers. Daniel saw her lift the flowers to her nose to smell their fragrance, then Betty looked up at Daniel through the glass window between them, and smiled at him.
In that moment, Daniel wished that he could capture the way Betty looked and remember it forever, as he thought she had never looked more beautiful. Betty's whole face was lit up with happiness, her eyes sparkled, and her smile was the most luminous he had ever seen. She then placed a hand over her heart, and mouthed the words, 'thank you' to Daniel, which caused him to give her a cheerful smile in return.
A few moments later, Daniel found himself with Betty's arms wrapped around him in one of her life-giving and loving hugs.
"Awww, thank you so much for the flowers, Daniel! I love them!" Betty said joyfully, her eyes a little moist with unshed tears.
Daniel squeezed her a little tighter for a moment and whispered in her ear.
"You're welcome, Betty. I saw them and I knew they were meant for you."
Daniel held Betty in his arms, ever thankful that she was in his life. Her hugs were special, and he never wanted to take them or Betty for granted.
"Thank you for the beautiful message on the card too, Daniel." Betty said as she pulled back a little so they were facing each other.
Daniel removed his arms from around her waist, but continued to hold onto one of her hands a few moments longer, not yet willing to break the physical connection between them.
"I meant every word. You're special to me Betty. I wanted you to know that." He replied and gave her his lopsided smile he knew she loved.
"You're special to me too, Daniel." Betty blushed a little. Daniel adored it when she blushed.
He gave her hand a final brief squeeze, then let go. Turning back to his desk, he picked up the danish.
"I also got us a danish to share, you interested?" He winked at her as he sat down.
Betty giggled and nodded. "Sure."
Taking it out of his hands, she unwrapped it, and sat down on the chair at the other side of Daniel's desk. She broke off a piece of the danish, then handed the rest of it to him. He chuckled as he took it from her.
"Sorry I was late." He told her.
Betty rolled her eyes. "The flowers helped."
He laughed as he passed the danish back to her, having broken off a piece for himself. "I'll remember that."
Betty giggled. "Does that mean I'll get flowers next time too?"
"Maybe."
"They were a lovely surprise." Betty locked eyes with him, and in her soft gaze he could see she was touched by the gesture.
"Good to know." He said quietly.
As they sat together, sharing the danish in the relative silence of his office, the sounds of the bustle outside the glass window, Daniel was thankful for the quiet moments he shared with Betty, and for her friendship. A friendship and bond more genuine than he had ever shared with anyone, except maybe his own Mother. Daniel made a mental note to surprise Betty with flowers more often. She deserved them, and so much more.
And while he was at it, he'd send a bouquet to his Mom too.