Saturday morning unfolded with a hushed stillness that clung to the air like fog. Katherine stood in front of the mirror, her fingers hesitating as she adjusted the collar of her black blouse. The fabric felt unfamiliar on her skin, not because she hadn’t worn black before, but because of what it ant today.
"Do you think the Grandpa would like my bowtie?" Nathan asked, standing proudly in his matching black shirt and slacks. He had insisted on the bowtie, saying it made him look ’extra respectful.’
"I think he’d be very proud of you," Katherine said softly, reaching out to fix the slightly crooked knot under his chin.
Beside them, Maya twirled in her dark dress, the hem flaring just a bit above her knees. "Is it okay to bring flowers even if you never t the person?"
Katherine’s gaze t her daughter’s in the mirror. "It’s more than okay, sweetheart. Flowers are a way of showing you care, even without words."
Maya nodded, seemingly satisfied, and skipped off to grab her shoes.
There was a strange tension in Katherine’s chest as she continued to get ready. A knot of anticipation, of nerves maybe, and sothing heavier, sothing she hadn’t put a na to. Her hands smoothed over her skirt, then she took a deep breath, trying to keep her thoughts in check. Today wasn’t about her. It was about the twins... and Leonard.
A doorbell rang on the door snapped her attention back to the present.
"Coming," she called, her voice steadier than she felt.
When she opened the door, Leonard stood there dressed in a dark button-down shirt and tailored trousers. He looked solemn, but the quiet softness in his expression gave her pause. He offered a gentle smile.
"You all ready?"
Nathan darted past her. "We’re dressed and everything! I have a bowtie!"
"I can see that," Leonard chuckled, crouching briefly to fix Nathan’s cufflink. "You look sharp."
Maya followed, slipping her small hand into Leonard’s. "Are we taking your car?"
Leonard glanced at Katherine, silently asking.
She gave a small nod. "That’s fine. We’re all set."
As they made their way downstairs, the air between Leonard and Katherine remained quiet, but not strained. There was a comfort in the silence, a mutual understanding that didn’t need to be spoken aloud.
She watched him for a mont, his hand instinctively resting on Maya’s shoulder as he made sure Nathan didn’t run too far ahead.
We’re just riding in his car, she told herself. That’s all this is.
She could’ve easily driven them herself. The truth was, it was easier. Less hassle, fewer moving parts. And the kids had clearly lit up at the idea of going with him.
It doesn’t have to an anything.
Leonard’s car was parked in front of the building, gleaming despite the cloudy skies overhead. The twins eagerly climbed into the backseat, their chatter muffled by the soundproof glass.
Katherine slid into the passenger seat, glancing at Leonard as he started the engine. "Do you mind if we stop at the florist first?"
He shook his head. "Not at all."
The drive was peaceful, the city still waking up around them. At the florist, Katherine let the twins take the lead.
"You can each pick sothing. Sothing nice," she said.
The mont Katherine spoke, both twins turned to her with bright, eager smiles. Nathan’s eyes lit up like he’d just been handed a mission of great importance, while Maya clapped her hands once, excited.
The shop slled of petals and damp earth. Nathan wandered through the aisles, his eyes scanning the vibrant rows of lilies, carnations, roses, and chrysanthemums. Maya moved with more certainty, her fingers trailing lightly over the flowers until she stopped in front of a bunch of pale yellow tulips.
"These ones," she said. "They look pretty."
Nathan joined her, frowning thoughtfully before picking the sa bouquet. "Yeah. The Grandpa would like these."
Katherine froze, her breath caught.
Yellow tulips.
The sa kind Winston had once brought ho every spring, claiming they reminded him of sunlight.
Leonard must’ve noticed the flicker in her expression because his hand gently touched the small of her back.
"You okay?" he asked under his breath.
Katherine blinked the mory away and nodded. "Yeah... Just a little surprised."
He said nothing more, and she was grateful.
Katherine’s fingers tightened slightly on the bouquet she held.
Peach roses with sprigs of eucalyptus. Subtle. Muted. A bit more reserved.
The kind of flowers soone would bring when they didn’t know if they had the right to mourn.
Leonard had chosen lilies.
She saw them tucked into the crook of his arm, white and sharp-edged against his dark coat. Traditional. Clean.
She’d stood there staring at too many choices, trying to rember what Winston would have wanted from her.
But the truth was, she didn’t know anymore.
Once back in the car, the mood had shifted slightly, more thoughtful. The clouds above had thickened as they neared the cetery on the edge of town. The silence stretched, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. It was quiet in the way things are before a storm, not one of weather, but emotion.
As the iron gates of the cetery ca into view, Katherine found herself staring ahead, her gaze fixed on nothing in particular.
Leonard noticed. He slowed the car and pulled into a shaded spot near the main path, killing the engine with a soft click. The only sounds were the ticking of the cooling engine and the quiet rustle of trees swaying in the breeze.
"You ready?" he asked.
She didn’t answer right away. Her hands were clasped in her lap, fingers twisting around one another. The twins had already unbuckled themselves, eager and unaware of the heaviness their mother carried.
Katherine turned her head slowly, catching Leonard’s eyes. She saw no pressure in his gaze, only patience.
She smiled faintly.
Then, turning to the twins, she opened her door. "Let’s go."
And with that, they stepped out into the soft gray morning, the tulips in the twins’ hands brightening the muted world around them.
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