Allison Craft sighed, before flipping the small sign in the window of Allison's Floral Shop from open to close. It had been a busy day of work, filling orders for funerals, men who royally pissed off their wives judging by the amount of money they dropped on roses, as well as smaller, much simpler requests. The sign advertising the apartment for rent above the flower shop was still on display right below the missing dog notice.
For two months now, Allison had been trying to rent out the apartment above her floral shop. It had been her home a few years earlier, before she managed to buy the four bedroom split level house she lived in now. It was much to big of a place for a single woman of twenty-three to occupy by herself, and while it did get lonely sometimes, Allison loved the solitude, and the peacefulness that many families couldn't have. At times Allison considered moving back into the small apartment, but decided renting it out was a much better option.758Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFI93WmlkB
Allison didn't see herself as very strict with what she required for anyone who wanted to rent the apartment, as a matter of fact she had only one major rule:No children or pets. The apartment was to be well maintained, and the rent was to be no more than a week late, though she could be a bit flexible on those terms if the need arose.
Allison sighed once more, beginning to think that she would never get the apartment rented out.758Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKATCyb7Mk
"Excuse me, ma'am," a male's voice called out. Allison looked up into the deep blue eyes of the man standing in front of her.
"May I help you?" she asked, looking the stranger up and down. He had to be over six foot tall, with sandy blond hair and piercing, deep blue eyes. Allison hated to admit it, but he really was a looker. The top two buttons of his shirt was undone, and his jeans had faded a long time ago, but he certainly pulled off the cowboy look.
"Yes, I'm looking for Allison Craft, to ask about an apartment she had for rent.," he told her, his voice something out of a western movie, that slow southern draw. It was part of the reason that she fell in love with Tyler years ago, but she couldn't dwell on that, after all, the past was the past.
"You're speaking to her," Allison said. "And you would be?"
"Mark Lancaster. This is my daughter, Hope."
For the first time, Allison noticed the small child, hiding behind the Mark's legs. At the mention of her name, Hope peeked around her father, lifting one hand in a shy wave, before moving almost completely out of sight behind her father's legs.758Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZ9qgxoF9l
Allison opened her mouth to speak, when Mark spoke up again. "I'll also have my blue tick hound, Scooby with me, if that's not a problem. He doesn't like the kennel."
Allison knew that wouldn't work. To allow a man, especially one as handsome as Mark was a disaster to begin with, but to allow him to rent the apartment with his daughter and dog broke her biggest rule. She was about to tell the man that it wouldn't work out when she heard the little girl's small voice.
"Daddy, I'm thirsty."
Allison forced her best smile, the one she used when customers where being particularly annoying. "Why don't we discuss the terms down at the cafe? I was going to get me an iced coffee, and maybe Hope would like a milkshake."
"Daddy! Daddy! I want a milkshake!" Hope said, bouncing up and down, her ponytail bouncing with every movement that she made.
Mark laughed, turning and scooping up his daughter, who couldn't have been older than six, causing her to giggle. "Alright, baby girl. Lets get you a milkshake. Then Daddy and Ms. Craft can discuss getting us moved into a new home. Is the cafe far ma'am?"
"No, it's less than a five minute walk," Allison said, watching the father and daughter interact. "I'll lead the way."
She didn't wait for Mark to say anything, instead she just started to walk. Behind her, she could hear Hope's lively chatter as she pointed out every bird, cat, dog, and flower along the way.
"Daddy, what's that flower?"
"Um...I'm not sure," Mark admitted. For the first time, Allison looked at Hope, then followed the direction her finger was pointing.
"That's a rose of sharon," Allison said, causing the little girls face to light up."They pretty," she said.
Allison couldn't help but smile a bit;the rose of sharon was her personal favorite. Maybe having a kid around wouldn't be that bad, she thought.758Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpt3TB4sTev
Little else was said until they entered the small cafe. Allison ordered an iced coffee, while Mark ordered an iced tea for himself and a chocolate milkshake for Hope. Within seconds of the drinks being set down, Hope was sipping away at her milkshake.
"So," Mark said, taking a sip of his drink, "shall we talk business, ma'am."
"Allison," she corrected. She didn't want to admit it, but being called ma'am made her feel old. "Call me Allison. The apartment is two bedroom, one bathroom, and a small living room/kitchen combo. It isn't much to look at, but its warm in the winter and cool in the summer. The rent will cover your share of the utilities, general repairs in the apartment, as well as the rent in general. I ask that you use the side steps running along the outside of the store so as not to disturb the business within. The back yard is fenced in and contains my garden and I ask that no one goes back there without my permission. The side yard is accessible, though it's actually sort of small."
They continued talking like this for an hour, discussing terms of service, rules, and other important things, until the only thing left was for Mark to see the apartment. About this time, Hope had finished her milkshake and once more was tugging at her father's arm.
"What is it,Hope?" he asked. The girl tugged at her father's arm again, until he leaned down so that she could whisper in his ear.
"Allison, may I ask a favor," he asked, turning his attention back to the woman sitting across the table from him. "Could you take Hope to the little girl's room. I guess I'd feel she was safer if someone was there with her, not that anything will happen but-"
Allison raised her hand, cutting Mark off. She slid out of the booth, turning her attention to the young girl. "Come with me, sweetheart."758Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gnl8eGuuK
Hope slid out of her seat, slipping her hand into Allison's. Allison said nothing, simply leading the young girl toward the restrooms. Meanwhile, Mark took another sip from his glass of tea, watching the woman and his daughter walking. They could pass as mother and daughter, he thought ignoring the familiar pain in his chest. He sighed, wishing he had ordered alcohol instead.758Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnK5DqPL12a
Meanwhile, Hope had taken care of business and was washing her hands as she tried to strike up a conversation with the older woman. "Ms. Cra-"
"Allison, sweetheart."
"Ms. Allison, do you know lots about flowers?"
"Yes, I own a floral shop, so I have to know a lot about flowers."758Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6ER6vW5vU
"Do you think you can teach me about flowers?"
"Maybe."
"Do you have any kids?"758Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrN7gKtV4w
"No."
"Oh."
Hope dried her hands, before slipping one of her small hands back into Allison's. The two walked back to the table. Mark stood up, picking Hope up and placing her onto her shoulders. The girl giggled as she looked around. Allison assumed the world at that height must look so much different than the world she was so used to seeing.758Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6juSvN72VU
"Ready to see the apartment?" Allison asked. When Mark confirmed that they were, they begin the walk back to the apartment, as Hope filled them in with all things she saw beautiful, but this time she had a new games, asking Allison the name of every flower they passed. For such a small thing, she had a bit vocabulary, and Allison had the feeling she was the type of child who while shy never stopped talking, not even in her sleep.
"What have you gotten yourself into," she asked herself out loud. And that was the question, for what had she just gotten herself into.
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