Say it with Flowers

By Susie Ray

This book takes its title from the first love story featured, where Lindsay and Mary are drawn instinctively to each other. Neither of them is looking for love, maybe friendship or companionship, and love takes them both by surprise, but with glorious benefits. A flower-shop girl and a paralegal – can they find common ground and make an ideal match?

Three additional short, Women loving Women, romances follow;

 

Barkeep follows the development of Charlie as she takes over the running of a bar, where she meets Bea, seemingly out of her league, but very desirable and very forthright. How on earth did they end up in bed together after just a few snatched conversations?

 

Starlet is almost a second chance story where Angie has a schoolgirl crush on a soon to become, starlet, Margot who has a promising career ahead of her as a ballerina, but their lives go in opposite directions, until a chance meeting. Their story follows the impact of their re-union and how their future develops.

 

Red Bus is a short-short story in which Isobel has already clicked with Charlie and the immediate future is about to be set over drinks on a girls' night out. Enter Chloe, who appears to be Isobel's ideal woman, with all the qualities she yearns for, and the spark is just as keen as with Charlie. Chloe is shy, however and is quick to leave the field of play, giving Charlie free-rein, but Isobel has her own ideas.

• Language: English
• Publisher: S-Ray Press
• Release date: Apr 27, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201095178

Susie Ray

Susie Ray Author bio I love to read and lose myself in stories conjured up by the written word – I am a mature individual, but I can still recall love’s first sweet kiss and the sting of rejection; the elation of being brought alive, by another’s caress, or tender words. I write sapphic stories for my own pleasure as well as hopefully that of the reader, and my head is full of ideas and storylines that are desperate to be shared. Admittedly, it was a freebie, but the first sapphic tale I read, left me feeling wanting and empty. I thought ‘I could do better than that’, and I did! My stories draw on a lifetime of experiences and places I have visited, so there is always a piece of ‘me’ in them. My preference is for short stories; tales, in bite-size portions, although some topics, simply require a novella to do them justice. I feel my writing skill has improved and grown with me over time and I am pleased to offer some of my work for your pleasure. Come lose yourself for a while, like I do when I’m writing…

Book preview

Say it with Flowers

Chapter 1

Jenny, my Mum, has been more like a best friend than a parent ever since we lost Dad. Why did he have to die on Mum’s birthday? It was as if he was holding on for her sake, until the pain and god-awful disease was too much to bear – I’m sure he would have waited until the day after, if he possibly could, but often we have no say in events that shape our lives, or death.

That was eight years ago – really – that long? It has become a new tradition that I visit Mum on her birthday, for obvious reasons, and to check-up that she is still coping. Thankfully she does seem to be able to put it into perspective these days – the last couple of years anyway. Mum and I aren’t strangers by any means, but we both pay homage on her birthday and remember all the good times we had as a complete family. She has everything she could need and I have come to accept that a beautiful bunch of flowers pleases her as much as anything else. I am on my way to try the new florist in my hometown – I like to support local trade if I can, but even so, if it’s not up to scratch, I won’t be going back.

Whoever took the shop on has made the transition from a green-grocer’s to a florist really well and given the old premises a new lick of paint, fresh with a new professional sign. It’s a big decision taking on a failing business and starting over. Especially as there is still no positive news as to whether the by-pass will ever be built. Some say it will make shopping a whole new, better experience, not having to dodge heavy lorries, trucks and tractors, thundering through our already too narrow main-street, but others fear that without passing- through trade, it is just a question of time before the place becomes a ghost-town.

As it is, in the holiday season, there are alternative route signs to divert traffic around the back of town, but it is still a nightmare at certain times of the day, particularly if any of the only apparently flourishing businesses, pubs, have a delivery that obstructs the narrow streets even further, There are four pubs / clubs all within about 200 metres of each other, so you can imagine the chaos.

Being raised in one of the outlying small hamlets, I have become accustomed to the foibles of living near the coast, where the local town is the hub of everything, with shops, doctors, schools and banks located there, although the last of the three banks closed two years ago – maybe that’s why the Post -office changed hands about that time, as all banking has to be done through them, or on-line. Passing-through tourists are a godsend, bringing income into the area, but, hell, they do cause pandemonium, parking willy-nilly at times. I don’t detest the incomers, as some of the older inhabitants do, but I can see both sides and I simply accept that they are just there, weather permitting.

The florist has been open about two months and I can still detect the lingering smell of paint that even pretty blooms and their scents, cannot override. A new bell as well, judging by the sound of it still resonating in my ear, as I wait for someone to emerge from the back and serve me. I can’t possibly know everyone in town, but the assistant that approaches me with a warming smile is a stranger to me – she’s pretty too, about my age, or maybe a touch younger. She dresses well for a local shop-girl, which doesn’t escape me.

How can I help? She is pleasant and polite, another first.

Hello... I look for a name badge, but don’t see one.

Mary, my name is Mary. It’s as if she realised why I was scrutinising her blouse.

Hello, Mary – I’m Lindsay, by the way. I need a bouquet of flowers for my Mum – it’s her birthday today!

Well, you have certainly come to the right place. Had you anything particular in mind? Her response is light-hearted, not cheeky, so she probably isn’t a local girl.

I try to describe my usual offering from the nearest decent sized supermarket in Bude, as they usually last well over a week, but not knowing the names of all the flowers doesn’t help. I decide to put myself at her mercy.

Something colourful that will last well and if you could include some flowers with a scent that would be great – not roses – they don’t do well hereabouts. Maybe it’s the water – how about some freesias they usually have a good bouquet?

I think I know what you want and we have a new variety of freesias that still have their signature scent – most others have been bred for appearance rather than the perfume. Will you call back, or do you want to wait?

Can I wait, if you are not too busy?

Sure – why don’t you come through to the back and you can help me choose the flowers and watch me assemble them?

With that new door-bell, there is no danger of missing any additional customers, so I follow her out back. The workroom has a window overlooking the river Camel, which at this point, is little more than a stream. I try not to block out all her light, but I am intrigued as I have never seen the river from this perspective before.

So, it’s your mother’s birthday, you are a thoughtful daughter. Now how do you want the flowers arranged? Like a traditional bouquet, or a self-standing bouquet that has its own water reserve – like this one. Mary pointed another earlier prepared arrangement.

That looks amazing and it saves having to destroy the display to appreciate them, well for a while anyway.

I watched as she selected only the best blooms and arranged them beautifully – she offered the freesias for me to smell, as if to verify her earlier statement.

So, how long have you been arranging flowers? An innocuous question, but I hoped to find out why I haven’t seen her about before. She is too pretty for me to have forgotten a previous encounter.

Just since the shop opened. It’s my Aunt’s shop and I help her out. I felt sure there was more to tell, but she didn’t fill me in.

You must be a natural – I would never have known. I was being sincere – the bouquet was beginning to look amazing.

Aunt is a great teacher, and I have always loved flowers, so maybe you are right. Mary was self-effacing and too modest to recognise her talent, and I was all ears as she offered more, There is about £25 worth here, is that enough or do you want to spend more?

As beautiful as it is, how about another £10 worth? For some strange reason, I simply wanted to spend more time in her company, just so I could continue to talk to her. Your Aunt was lucky that you were available to help her out.

Actually, she helped me out. I thought she might be more forth-coming, but here words seemed to trigger a memory or something and her conversation fizzled out.

To enquire further would have been too obvious, so I had to let it ride and watch as her pretty hands made short-work of finishing the arrangement and hand tying a pretty bow around them to sustain her craft, that had created this beautiful ensemble.

I hope your Mother likes the flowers, they are certainly as fresh as it is possible to get them, short of picking them direct from the flower beds.

I’m not normally one to make instant decisions about people, but I could make an exception for Mary...

Chapter 2

Mum adored the flowers, even more than usual, a testament to Mary’s skill and there was no need to spoil the display as the reservoir of water sustained them as well as making a base upon which they stood. We had a lovely family day together re-living some of the wonderful times when we were still a three-some. I can hear my Dad’s words, even now,

‘Celebrate my life and don’t mourn my passing!’

It may have taken eight years, but finally we can appreciate his meaning, but I know we would give anything just to be able to tell him in person.

Why don’t you stay over – just tonight.? It would mean a lot to me and your old room is ready as ever?

At times like this, my reason for leaving the nest and trying to build my own life, is stretched to the limit, so the least I can do is give Mum what she wants, just for tonight. In truth, I simply felt awkward about displaying my sexuality in front of my parents, let alone exploring where it might lead. I think Mum always knew that boys were never going to figure in my future – I’m not sure about Dad, and I regret not coming out to him, but he was struggling with his health issues, even then and I didn’t want to add to his burden.

Small communities can be very narrow-minded here in the South-west and I simply wasn’t brave enough to be brazen about my preferences. It seemed the best way, all around, not to draw unnecessary attention to my family, as well as giving me more scope. Living in Bude, a much larger community has its privileges, as well as a much larger population to draw upon. For some reason, Mary springs into my thoughts – I wasn’t sure if I read her right, but I think she may be a lesbian too – I wonder where she lives?

My old room is like a time-machine and I am surprised just how comforting it feels indulging myself in memories of happier times, just this once. I almost sensed a welcoming spirit, wrapping me up in the warmth of nostalgia and I slept better than I have in a long time. Mum, being Mum, awakened me with a lovely cup of tea in my old favourite mug and told me that breakfast would be ready in ten minutes.

You really shouldn’t have gone to any trouble, Mum.

Trouble, what trouble? If I can’t spoil my favourite daughter once in a while then what is the world coming to? She has an answer for everything, just as she always has.

It is reassuring in the grand scheme of things and lets me forget that I am normally alone, for the most part, anyway. I haven’t yet found Ms Right, with most of my encounters being casual at best. Not that I am lonely, normally – it must simply be the after effects of yesterday, but I do wish I had my own someone to share with.

Almost on a whim, and seeing a car-parking space available in town, which is unusual in itself, I decide to call in the florists on my way home and thank Mary once again, and report back on how well her art was appreciated by Mum. Nothing more, just that. I met Mary’s Aunt – she looks familiar, but I can’t put a name to her face. Sadly, Mary wasn’t there, but I relayed the message anyway.

I’ll pass on your message unless you particularly wanted to tell her yourself? I can give you her mobile number if you like – I am sure she will be glad to hear it in person.

I want to call Mary and thank her as planned, but is it just too weird, having her number and all? I can explain – yes that’s it and she would understand, I just know she would.

Mary? Hi it’s Lindsay from yesterday – you made up a bouquet for my Mum for me.

Oh yes, I remember. Did she like the flowers?

She absolutely adored them and that’s the reason for my call, just to thank-you one more time.

We aim to please!

I called in at the shop and your Aunt gave me your number – I hope that’s okay? She didn’t exhibit any signs of annoyance at me or her Aunt, but if she is as genuine as I thought, then why would she?

I will let you off, seeing as it’s you.

Thank-you, and thanks again for the sterling job you made of the flowers. I better let you get on with whatever it is you are doing. I didn’t want to make myself a nuisance.

Actually, I am just shopping in Morrisons.

In Bude? I was surprised.

Yes, why?

I have just parked in the carpark outside – I don’t suppose you fancy a coffee or something?

Great idea – I’ll see you in the café, in a few minutes.

We had just found a table and placed our purchases down – coffee and Danish, for each of us, although I would have preferred to be the one to pay. Still, does that leave the way open for another meeting? Anyway, a smile just wouldn’t let my face relax, evoking her question,

What?

I was just thinking, we almost might have bumped into each other in the store whilst still talking on the phone.

Now that would have been weird! Contrary to her words her face erupted into a beautiful smile all its own.

What a coincidence – I live not far away, not walking distance, well not with shopping, but what are you doing here? Not that I am not happy to see you.

Same here – I live with my Aunt, well for the last three months I have – it’s a wonder we haven’t met before.

I noticed that neither of us were giving away specifics, but that’s normal so early on in a friendship – might this become a friendship, we certainly get on together?

Perhaps we might bump into one another again?

I would really like that, I haven’t made any friends yet, since moving in with Aunt Gwen.

Let me be the first to welcome you to Cornwall, although we aren’t far from the Devon border, right here. Don’t you work Saturdays?

My schedule is quite flexible, and Aunt can always call on me if she gets a lot of flower orders. Mary was beginning to open-up a little. And what do you do for a job?

Nothing exciting. I am a paralegal – see I told you it wasn’t exciting.

You look too young to be a paralegal – don’t they have to study for years?

Yes, and I’ll take that as a compliment. I am actually 27, almost – I’m told that I have a baby face that I always regretted until now.

I wouldn’t have put you at a day over twenty-three and that’s being conservative.

Why, Thank-you, Mary! I can’t believe I just batted my lashes at her.

Chapter 3

We chatted a while and then got on with our shopping, together, and I can’t believe I have just become one of those shoppers who ambles around the store chatting to a friend when the rest of us want to just get on and done. They do annoy me usually, but perhaps I have just gotten a new perspective on things. She waited while I went