“Welcome,” Amanda says, coming to the front from the back and then smiling when she sees me. “Well, well, well, if it isn’t the stuffed animal lover,” she says, and I walk to the wooden counter and lean over it to kiss her on her cheek. “What can I do for you? I’m even afraid to ask.”

I laugh at her. “I was wondering if you could make me a bouquet quickly?” I ask her, looking around at some of her flowers. I point at the pink flowers by the door.

“Peonies, that is a good choice. I have them in pink, a light purple, and a burgundy wine. That is stunning,” she says, walking over to one of the containers and picking up the flower that looks exactly like red wine.

“That sounds good. I love that color,” I tell her, and she picks the bucket up and carries it into the back.

“I’m assuming you want a big bouquet?” She winks at me. “In a vase.”

“Yes.” I nod at her. “Do you know what France’s flower is?” I ask her.

“It’s the fleur de lys.” She points over at the blue flowers in one of the pots. “You want one with those also?”

“Yes, please,” I tell her, and in twenty minutes, I walk out of there with two vases of flowers, and I set them on the floor in my back seat, hoping to fuck they don’t fall over.

When I pull up to her apartment building, I get out and motion to the doorman. “Is it possible to leave these with you while I go park the car?” He looks at me weirdly. “I’m visiting Vivienne Paradis.”

“Oh, of course,” he says. “I can take your keys and have your car parked if you like.”

“That sounds great,” I tell him, and he grabs the keys while I take the flowers with me and head in.

“May I help you?” the security man asks me.

“I’m here for Vivienne Paradis,” I tell him, and he picks up his phone. I’m assuming he calls her, his voice going low, and I’m suddenly nervous and annoyed.

“Very well,” he says into the phone. “Let me help you,” he says, walking into the elevator with me and pressing the button to her floor. When the door opens on her floor, she is standing there waiting for me. Her black hair is piled on her head, and her blue eyes bright. I am always shocked by her beauty, but now that I see her in her space looking just as comfortable as she is at my house, she just pushes her beauty a touch more. She stands there in a one-piece pink button-down shirt, but it’s long to her mid-thigh, and the sleeves are rolled up to her elbows. She spots me and then the flowers and laughs.