Page 16 of Pocket Full Of Posies

Stepping up to the front door I use a soft shoe cleaner to brush off the dirt and debris from my feet before stepping over the threshold. Calliope does the same without question.

I quickly procure the tea jars and help arrange them within the canvas tote Calliope brought. She’s short like me but with curves I’ve always envied. Where I’m lanky like a stick-bug with breasts smaller than a peach, Calliope is soft curves with an hourglass figure and breasts that actually create cleavage. She hefts the bag onto her shoulder, and I grab a bundle of dried cinnamon sticks to add to her haul.

When we reach the front porch again, I offer Calliope a seat and to make her a cup of tea before she goes back into town. I may be socially inept, but I have manners. Plus I’d like to spend a little time with my friend. As Sage so painfully pointed out, I have very few.

Calliope sits in one of the many chairs cluttering the porch. We like to sit out here throughout the day and have a wide variety of comfortable chairs to choose from. Calliope chooses a wooden rocking chair, while I go inside to get the tea kettle and cups. I return minutes later with a small tray laden with tea making instruments.

“How have you been?” Calliope asks as we prepare the tea.

“Fine.”

“Nothing unusual happen lately?” Calliope’s tone changes and I hear a very clear and distinct curiosity in it.

Looking up from my steeping tea, I inspect my friend closely. She’s holding her teacup in both hands, rocking her chair idly. But there’s something in her shifting gaze that says this is more than her average inquiry into my boring life.

Leaning back in my rocking chair, I tuck my feet underneath me, rearranging the long flowing skirt I chose to wear today. Tucking it neatly around me to cover my legs and tail. The temperature dropped today from yesterday and I even put on a thin cropped sweater to keep out the growing chill.

“Why? Is there something specific you are referring to?” I ask with narrowed eyes watching her closely.

“Well, I heard you had a special customer yesterday. A rather handsome and flirty male customer.” She doesn’t outright say his name, but I know she’s referring to Kai.

“How did you hear that? It was literally less than twenty-four hours ago.”

“If you ventured into town more often, you would know how quickly gossip spreads. I heard it this morning from Jimmy, our delivery boy, who heard it from his sister, who heard it from Larken, who said she was told by Donna, who saw you two canoodling over flower arrangements in the greenhouse.”

“Wow. People really need to find better things to fill their time with.”

“So, it’s true? You were canoodling with Kai Kingsley, the infamous playboy?” Her eyes go wide, and she leans forward in her chair expectantly, hoping for gossip confirmation.

The last thing I want to do is be a part of the town gossip, but Calliope looks so excited I can’t lie to her.

“We weren’tcanoodling, we were just talking. He was helping me with some bouquet orders, that’s all. Nothing scandalous or worthy of gossip, so everyone can just cut that out right now.”

Calliope looks absolutely thrilled at the partial confirmation. I have a feeling this isn’t going to stop her curiosity.

“And what do you meanplayboy?” I ask, trying to redirect the conversation to get a few answers of my own. She seems to know more about Kai than I do, and I can’t deny I’m curious about him.

“He’s a player. A relentless flirt and philanderer. He’s already gotten a reputation in town, and he’s only been here for like, what, two weeks, maybe a month? From what I’ve heard he goes toBlue Moonalmost every night and hits on any female who will give him attention. Gone home with a few too.”

This information sours the tea in my stomach. I already knew he was a flirt, but this blunt explanation of his activities so close to home, is far less tactful than Sage’s was yesterday.I’m not special.The thought surprises me with how much I wanted to be special to Kai. A realization I’m just now having, and it seems like a rather inappropriate time for my heart to give a heavy kick in my chest.

Calliope notices the change in my demeanor, including my lack of reciprocated enthusiasm about Kai’s playboy status.

“Oh, I mean…he seems like a nice guy. Very friendly. Everyone who speaks about him doesn’t have a negative word to say. Maybe people are just overexaggerating to make better gossip. You know how people can be. Making things greater than they are.”

She’s trying to assuage my discomfort, I can tell by her tone; it’s filled with regret. Although I know she’s probably just saying it to make me feel better, she does have a point. You can’t always believe everything you hear from others. Kai may indeed be a flirt, that I can vouch for, but that doesn’t mean he’s a womanizer who sleeps with every female he meets. After all, people were saying we were canoodling or making out, when in reality we were just talking.

“Right. Can’t always trust those gossip chains. Too many interpretations of the truth.”

“Exactly. I haven’t met him personally yet, only seen him around a few times, so I can’t say what kind of guy he is. You’ve spoken to him, spent time with him. You would have a better idea than anyone what kind of person he is.”

The more we talk the less dejected I feel. Because she’s right. I spent time with him, not them. They’re just making up extravagant stories that make good gossip, none of which has been confirmed. The Kai I met was open, friendly, nice, and yes there was flirting, but he didn’t act like a womanizing sex fiend.

There’s nothing wrong with having an active sex life. He’s an adult and the women are adults. They can make their own choices, and their choices are no one else’s business.

Feeling more confident in my original presumption of Kai’s character, I relax into my rocking chair and sip at my now cooled tea. The warm bitterness of the black tea soothes the unease in my chest. As if on cue, knowing we were talking about him, the male himself rounds the greenhouse and heads straight for us.

I sit up straight in my seat and watch as Kai casually and unhurriedly makes his way towards us.

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