Now...
The sun filtered through penthouse windows, catching on the edges of an unwrapped bouquet lying across the kitchen counter. Half-cut stems and a tangle of floral wires marked the return of something long paused. Evie sat cross-legged on the floor, hands dusty with pollen, scissors clutched in one hand while she stared blankly at the list Tara had drawn up.
Tara was already on her second pot of coffee, moving between their makeshift workstation and the kitchen island, sorting orders.
"You good to handle the Eden Lilies? You've always had a magic touch with those," Tara offered gently, not looking up.
Evie blinked. "I'll try."
It wasn't a full return. Not yet. But it was the first time since everything collapsed that Evie had agreed to lift a petal. And Tara was smart enough not to celebrate it. She let the silence remain sacred, broken only by the sound of ribbon scissors slicing and the muted hum of the TV playing news highlights on low volume.
