Whether habit or neuroticism, Wanda Kelley always left a workspace unkempt to the untrained eye, but she knew Stacy Harewood’s fourth visit note was in the middle stack exactly five folders down. It was not a pretty system, but it was her system, and it worked well despite its appearance.
So unlocking her office, already tabulating her time for notes in between morning sessions and during lunch with her colleagues, she missed the new addition to her desk completely. It wasn’t until she unhooked her purse from her shoulder and tried to place it in its singular tidy corner that she realized something else filled that space entirely.
A big, beautiful bouquet of golden daisies stuck out amongst the stacks of dreary paperwork, cluttered coffee mugs, and the sporadic lines of pens. The blooms were a lively yellow, full of life and without a sign of any wilting. In the center, the gift-giver had tucked a note amidst the blooms.
Wanda sighed happily, picking up the note to read it and holding the bouquet to her chest.
In dark, thick-lined cursive, it read:
I finally found a bouquet as joyful as you. Thankful to see you shine bright for another year (you’re putting solar flares to shame).
Happy birthday Wandapalooza,
All my love,
Scott
What a lovable nerd, she mused to herself, breathing in the fresh, earthy scent of the flowers. She still wasn’t used to how sneakily sweet he was with these little surprises, and she hoped she’d never take them for granted in the future.
The day’s little stresses seemed to melt into the background as she took a moment to look forward to their planned dinner date to celebrate her birthday after work. Scott always made her feel special and that was something she wanted to make sure she remembered to toast to later.
"Cheers to another year wiser and one more year in love with the best man in Hawkins," she’d say with sincerity in her heart as they clinked glasses.
