Martin stands up from his chair and sits beside Jackie, he puts his hand on Jackie's shoulder and says "Jackie, I am really sorry about what I just said, I did not mean to hurt your feelings, please accept my sincere apology."
"Jackie, we all know how painful it is to lose someone, those were very unfortunate events that unleashed cruel times on lots of people, many families had been devastated during great riots, some lost their homes, and some lost their loved ones. Don't let those savage memories haunt you, remember good times you've had with your parents and Clara." Dr. Sean expresses his feelings to empathize with Jackie.
Kate holds her hand and states "I know you are a strong lady, Jackie, you had mended our wounds when I lost my mother, you taught us to move on with the flow of life, you supported us in dark days, and you gave us happiness in those uncertain times, now come on Jackie, cheer up."
As Kate pauses, Martin turns her attention to himself by saying "No more tears Jackie, now show us your smiling face, you show to your customers during checkout, okay!" and then he taps on her back.
The witty line by Martin filled her pale face with a passionate smile, and the formation of dimples around her cheeks is proof that Jackie has passed over her emotional state.
Jackie raised her head and speaks in a low voice "I am fine guys, I just could not resist the sentimental rush, we all have some soft spots, you know." She holds the glass of water and takes a sip, then she realizes that they have paused the dinner.
"Hey y'all, sorry you paused the dinner because of me, let's finish it, I cannot talk more without an empty belly."
Dr. Sean mutters "Jackie, your secret, what was it?"
"Oh! the secret I was about to tell you, now wait for a little, let's finish our meals first, I'll sure reveal it afterward.", Jackie replies affirmatively.
After finishing the dinner, everyone heads to the sitting room.
Kate asks them "Would you like to have a cup of coffee or tea?"
Dr. Sean replies "I guess everyone would love to have the coffee.", Martin and Jackie also respond in the affirmation.
Within a few minutes, Kate brings the coffee for everyone, and the room is filled with the aroma of brewed coffee, Dr. Sean who is an addictive coffee drinker cannot resist appreciating the coffee made by Kate, he says "If I hadn't come here today, I would have regretted my whole life." and then add further "Kate, I have never smelled such a heavenly aroma of coffee in my whole life, simply marvelous."
"Oh! Dr. Sean, this is the best compliment I have ever received. Thank you, Dr. Sean." Kate responds in a cheerful mood.
"Hey! Jackie, I think we are all set to listen to your secret." Martin asks anxiously."
Jackie responds hurriedly while tucking her legs up on the couch "Of course, I was about to tell you that secret during the dinner, but let me start it over."
Jackie starts telling the secret story:
Back then, Clara and her mother were living in the same building where I lived with my parents by Angels Street. First, we became very good neighbors, then we became best friends forever.
She has a flair for the roses, she told me that since childhood, roses had been her imaginary friends and one day she would buy farmland and become a rose farmer. She used to visit a rose farm in the countryside every weekend. She was also taking me with her after our friendship.
Whenever she stood between pink rose blooms, it was hard for me to recognize her because her skin color tone was so pinkish red, she looked like pink roses herself. We used to bring flowers back home from the rose farm, and I used to make wreaths, crosses, and garlands out of those lovely roses.
I was very fond of making beautiful crafts out of flowers and foliage, and I wanted to become a florist and own a small floral business. My family's condition was not that good because my parents were on invalidity pensions, and with that, we could only think of survival and paying the apartment's rent. I expressed my wish many times during our casual chats, and Clara always told me to stick to it, there would be a day when your wish had to come true.
One day Clara's mother died of a chronic disease during her final year of college, this caused a little issue for her family cheese business, since her mother was running a family-owned cheese shop situated in the main market, there was a big conundrum before her, she had to decide whether to shut it or leave her studies and join the business.
After a week passed away, at mid of the night, she came to my apartment and said "Jackie, it is time to fulfill your wish.",
I asked "WHAT!",
She replied with a lovely smile "You want to become a florist and I have decided to send you to a floristry school, and that's not all, I also entitle you as a partner in my family cheese business."
"I think you are sleep-walking, let me take you back to your apartment," I said in a perplexed manner.
She tapped my head and replied in a settled voice "I am damn serious about it, 7'o clock in the morning, be ready, we'll visit the shop, and then I'll take you to the floristry school to complete your admission process.", she further added, "And that's all, good night partner."
It was unbelievable for me that things were changing quite fast, my dream to become a florist happened to be true, but Clara also made me a partner in her family business. That night I tried to sleep many times, but I could not, the joy that I could not express in words.
What she was about to do for me only a true friend could do, I did not know when I went to sleep that night, but the morning sunshine woke me up early to prepare for the big day ahead.
I looked after the business in the daytime, while I attended the school in the evening. When the month ended, she split the profits equally between both of us and also paid for my school fees.
After 6 months, I had become a professional florist, and we went to the rose farm to celebrate our partnership and me becoming a professional florist, there she told me "Hmm, I could not bring your present here but I promise tomorrow you'll get it in the morning."
The next day, when I arrived at the cheese shop, I saw some people were altering some of the shop's space, upon asking they replied that Ms. O'Malley hired us to make a portion for a floral business. It was a big surprise for me, I never knew that the present she referred to yesterday could be that huge.
Jackie takes a deep breath and closes her eyes for a moment, then she says "Guys, this is my little secret, I tried to share it with Martin, but Clara always told me that we should keep our friendship matters in our hearts, that's why I always hold myself from telling you guys about it."
To be continued..
To read previous parts of the story, kindly visit the following links:
Wreath of Pink Roses - Unknown Part of a Sad Story
Clara's Old Office - Wreath of Pink Roses (Part 2)
The Anniversary Dinner - Wreath of Pink Roses (Part-3)
Image Credits:
Beautiful Woman with Pink Roses Pixabay
Signature Card is made with Canva.com
