New Beginnings
The first time I opened my front door to Matthew, he was holding a large bouquet of bi-colored daffodils. Their oversized, colorful flower heads leaned in one direction.
We had met once for coffee, a typical location for people who meet online. We bantered. We laughed. We clicked. A few days later, he texted to suggest dinner. My pulse raced. That sounds great, I typed, deeming it too soon for eggplant and taco emojis.
“Come in,” I said, and opened the door wide so he could pass.
“These are for you. I hope you like daffodils.”
I reached out to take them. “I do,” I said, and then realized it was weird to say I do on our first actual date.
“I’ll put them in water.” I walked into my kitchen, pulled a milk glass vase from the cabinet above the refrigerator, and filled it with water. “The yellows and oranges are pretty in this white vase.”
“Pretty indeed,” he said.
I smiled. “Thank you. They’re a sweet gift.”
“You’re welcome. I cut them from my yard.”
“That’s cool. Do you grow a lot of flowers?”
“Yes. Flowers intrigue me because of their hidden meanings. Did you know daffodils symbolize friendship?”
My heart sunk. Friendship? A few days ago, I had been thinking about eggplants and tacos. Had I misread the signals? I shook my head. “No, I didn’t.”
“Yep.” He grinned. “Friendship and new beginnings.”
My cheeks flushed. I didn’t know what we were beginning, but like the daffodils, I was leaning in one direction.