Chapter Text
The coffee was perfect, as always, not too sweet, but not too bitter either. It was just one of many reasons why Klein Moretti always preferred to go to Old Neil's café.
Even though the café had the quirky name Hermit Pathway, it was definitely worth the visit. The interior was rustic but beautiful.
The wall was painted in warm colors, and on the walls hung several cuckoo clocks that hadn't worked for years and served only as pretty decorations. On the brown wooden tables, covered with white tablecloths, stood glass vases filled with bouquets of orange and yellow marigolds. There was also always a pleasant scent of coffee and honey in the air. A truly beautiful place.
Klein's gaze kept gliding over the bouquet of flowers on the table.
The sight of the marigolds reminded him that he had to hurry, because his flower shop didn't open on its own. And yet, it was so hard to leave this café. Once you were here, you didn't want to leave.
"I hope you enjoy the coffee, Klein."
Neil approached the table.
Klein smiled at him.
"It's perfect as always. It makes you want to have another one." He sighed. "It's a shame I have to leave now." He placed the empty coffee cup on the saucer.
Neil nodded. "I understand, but you know you can always come back here."
Klein accepted the offer with a satisfied nod. He was about to pay for the coffee, but Neil shook his head. "You don't have to pay, the coffee is free for you," he said. Klein was surprised, but he didn't argue. "Okay. Then thank you for the coffee anyway. Goodbye, Neil."
Klein turned around and left the café. London came alive. He made his way to his flower shop, which was a bit out of the way, across from a cemetery. This was convenient, because Klein often gave flowers to the people who worked at the cemetery, sometimes they were floral arrangements for funerals, sometimes flowers to be planted on a grave.
Klein greeted people as he passed and was greeted in return. Some people knew him, so they occasionally said hello.
Arriving at the flower shop, Klein first unlocked the shop and entered. He looked around, examining the flowers and the surroundings. Yes, Klein felt at home here. Flowers gave him something in life that he hadn't had before his career as a florist. He didn't know exactly what they gave him, but it felt good, something positive.
Klein approached the lilies and gently touched their petals. "Good morning." Yes, the man went so far as to say good morning to a flower. That's just how he was. A bit introverted, but still gentle. To people, but also to the flowers he sold.
Klein mostly sold potted plants. He sold very few cut flowers, but he also sold potting soil, flowerpots, and pretty vases.
The young man set to work preparing the shop and officially opening it. He took care of the flowers that needed watering and did a few other things, only then did he turn the sign on the shop door around. Instead of "Closed," the sign now read "Open."
It wasn't long before an elderly lady entered the shop. "Good morning," she greeted, and Klein greeted her cheerfully.
Finally, the woman approached him, holding a pot of purple asters. "I'll take these asters. They're a birthday present for my daughter; she turns 27 today," the woman said.
Klein smiled. "Purple asters are truly a good choice. They represent dignity, admiration, and elegance. They also represent deep affection, trust, and spiritual insight," he said as the flowers were paid for. His customer nodded. "Yes. Sometimes asters also represent farewell. But I don't think that applies to the purple one."
The flowers were paid for, the customer said goodbye, and left the shop with her purchase.
Klein watched her for a while, then sank into thought as he turned to his selection of alstromerias, adjusting them slightly so customers could better see the pretty blooms. He'd been running this shop for five years and had never considered selling snapdragons. Maybe he should get some of those?
Klein was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't notice someone entering the flower shop. He was only jolted out of his thoughts when he heard a voice behind him.
"Do you have white chrysanthemums?"
Klein didn't catch the last word because he was startled. So startled that he briefly lost his balance and stumbled. He almost crashed into the vase shelf, but a hand grabbed his arm and gently held it, preventing him from falling.
“Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to scare you.”
Klein blinked, then turned his head.
Before him stood a man, taller than him. A good six feet tall. And maybe two or three years older than him, maybe four or five, Klein couldn't quite tell. The man had long black hair and piercing green eyes. They were... they were pretty eyes. Damn, this man was somehow attractive.
Klein shook his head. Man, what the hell was he thinking? He carefully freed his arm from the other man's grip and stepped back. Touching was uncomfortable, and he looked at the man. "It's okay, it can happen to anyone." He said. "Uhm... but.. yeah... "
The man smiled. "That's a relief. I don't like making enemies. I prefer new friends." He laughed softly. Klein didn't know what to say. This guy next to him was really strange. His customer continued. "My name is Leonard, Leonard Mitchell. And yours?"
"Klein Moretti," Klein said slowly, smiling cautiously. Very strange indeed. He had never behaved like this with a customer before. But there was something about Leonard that unsettled him. "Klein." Leonard spoke the name slowly, as if testing its sound. "I like that."
Klein didn't know whether to thank him or not. But then he remembered something else. "Well, before you stopped me from falling, you asked me something. You... you're looking for something white."
"White chrysanthemums. I've been working at the cemetery across the street since yesterday, and they've asked for white chrysanthemums for a funeral." Leonard explained with a smile. "O... okay." Klein said slowly. He turned away and picked up a bouquet of those white flowers. White chrysanthemums... a flower that symbolizes death, but also life. Truly an interesting choice for a funeral.
Klein walked with Leonard to the cash register, and Leonard paid for the flowers. But he didn't leave. Instead, he stood in the store, as if ordered and not picked up. His green eyes rested on Klein's brown eyes, then he began to speak again. "It's beautiful here. I can tell you take good care of the flowers."
"Um... thanks. Leonard." Klein said. He felt like he was finally getting the hang of how to deal with Leonard, and he walked around the cash register. Why did he suddenly feel so strongly to move around?
Leonard watched him. "You know, I have an idea, Klein. How about we meet tomorrow at a small restaurant? There's a restaurant called The Wolsley. We'll meet there. It's on Piccadilly Street in the City of Westminster."
"Hm I mean... okay," Klein said then. Somehow he felt it was pointless to turn down the invitation. Leonard smiled. "Great! Well, I'm looking forward to it." He patted Klein on the shoulder, then left the flower shop with the chrysanthemums in his hand.
And Klein stood there, totally perplexed. His hand absentmindedly stroked the spot Leonard had touched, and he involuntarily tensed. Well, that was a strange first meeting.