The winner of our current Short Story Competition is published in the July|August issue of Irish Country Magazine, on shelves now. ‘Say it with Flowers’ by Christina Hession came in second place.
Read Christina’s story below:
Lara tried to remember the last time she received flowers.
An ex’s idea of an apology for crying off a supposedly romantic weekend, with a huge bouquet of red roses. Lara was never a fan of red roses. Even more so, after that. Another ex who forgot her birthday and thought it’d be hilarious if he sent an extravagant bouquet to Trim Courthouse. Luckily, she intercepted the florist before he entered the courtroom, where she was defending some hapless boy racer. Men and their big gestures, she smiled.
Lara was currently single. It was all consuming trying to build her criminal law practice. When her doorbell chimed on a pewter grey Wednesday morning and the Petals by Chloe delivery driver stood on her doorstep, holding a stunning bouquet of cream freesias, white lilies and baby’s breath, Lara was convinced it was some sort of Candid Camera prank.
“Delivery for Lara Lally,” she said, smiling.
“There must be some mistake.”
The driver checked her docket. “Number 46?”
“Yes, but …”
For someone who spent her professional life arguing, Lara was unusually dumbstruck. She was cradling the bouquet while the Petals by Chloe driver smiled and waved, as she drove out of the driveway and estate. Lara returned inside and inhaled the perfume of the flowers. She noticed a tiny card nestled amongst them.
“To my gorgeous Lara, I should have sent these years ago.”
There was no name.
Lara read the card again.
Gorgeous Lara? She racked her brain looking for likely suspects. The handyman who had shyly slipped his number through her letterbox? Maybe the guy two doors up who came to her assistance when she foolishly locked herself out of her Audi that time? Lara hoped the bouquet was from that barrister she met in the Criminal Courts of Justice a few years back. They met a few times socially since then, but it didn’t look like they would ever move out of the friend zone sadly.
This was ridiculous, Lara thought. She should ring the florist. Instead, she found the Galway Crystal cut glass vase in the dining room and arranged the bouquet on the island in her sun-filled kitchen.
In the consultation room at the courthouse, Claire from Larkin & Co. Solicitors greeted her.
“You’ve a pep in your step this morning. New man on the scene?”
Lara laughed. “I wish. Chance would be a fine thing, the hours I work.”
Throughout the day, Lara thought about the card and found herself smiling.
“I should have sent these years ago.”
It was crazy, but somehow she felt lighter for the first time in ages.
On her way home from work, Lara popped into the supermarket. She decided to forego her usual sourdough loaf and treated herself to a chocolate-topped, cream-filled doughnut instead. After she had cleaned up after dinner, she found Tenpole Tudor on her Spotify list and danced to Swords of a Thousand Men. When was the last time she had done that?
On Saturday morning, Lara phoned Petals by Chloe.
“I think a bouquet was delivered to me by mistake yesterday,” she said.
“Oh yes, I’m so sorry. That bouquet was for Laura Richards in 46 De Lancey Court, not Crescent. We’ll collect them this afternoon.”
Lara looked at the bouquet on her kitchen island as she spoke.
“No worries,” she said.
However, when the florist arrived later and carried the flowers away, the light seemed to depart from the kitchen. For one day Lara had felt so special.
Don’t be silly, they’re only flowers, she chided herself.
On Monday morning she stopped outside Blooms, admiring the buckets of chrysanthemums and carnations. Lara went inside.
The assistant looked up from her order book. “Can I help you?”
Lara hesitated.
“Yes.” I’d like some cream freesias, white lilies and baby’s breath please.”
“No problem. For someone special?”
“For me.”
The florist nodded and smiled as if women bought themselves flowers every day.
Lara felt a tiny thrill of anticipation as the florist wrapped her bouquet.
The bucket of colourful tulips near the till caught her eye.
“And a bunch of tulips please,” Lara said. “For Claire O’Malley.”
In the consultation room, Lara handed the tulips to Claire, the solicitor.
“What’s the occasion?” Claire O’Malley enquired.
“No occasion, I just thought they’d brighten your day.”
“Lara Lally, you’re one in a million. You know that?”
Later, Lara realised that for years she had waited for life to bring her romance, flowers, excitement. Yet one mistaken bouquet had shown her that she should never have waited for joy. Joy was something she could choose and she would, from now on.
She looked at her bouquet of flowers.
“Gorgeous Lara,” she said softly.
And for the first time in years, she actually believed it.
Click here for details on how to enter our September competition.
