“I would expect someone who proposed to me with flowers would have gotten this,” Avian added.
“You want to let us in on what we’re missing, then?” Marco asked.
“Daisy, my birth flower. Daffodil, yours,” Eri responded.
“Violet, yours. Rose, mine,” Avian supplied.
“Yeah, I don’t think we would have ever gotten that,” Elias admitted. “But it’s cute, Amate.” He kissed her temple.
“I recall you saying something to me about whether I thought getting our wedding date tattooed was a good idea, and you went and got birth flowers,” Marco picked at his wife.
“Mm, I don’t recall doing that,” Avian responded. “But these will wear off in a week or two, anyway.”
“I’m sure you don’t,” Marco said, shaking his head.
“Baby?” Eri stated.
“Yeah, Amate?”
“There are games over there.”
“You want to go play?” he asked. She nodded, and he allowed her to lead him to a balloon-pop game. Avian pulled Marco along behind them.
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
Eri sank down into one of the smaller hot springs. The water felt perfect against her skin in the cool evening weather. There were a few people out, enjoying the other one she could see, and she assumed the two she couldn’t were occupied since they were closer to the main cabins. She’d chosen the one closest to their private cabin which also happened to be empty. Elias joined her a few seconds later after putting their towels on one of the lounge chairs nearby.
They had an hour before they needed to vacate the springs for the night, but that was more than enough time for them to relax. She’d enjoyed the day. Eri had always been one who wanted to know and experience what the people she cared about enjoyed doing; today, she’d gotten a glimpse into something else that her boyfriend enjoyed.
“What time is your consultation on Monday?” Eri asked softly. Afraid that speaking any louder would ruin the serenity of the night.
“It’s at two, but it’s gone from a consultation for one motorcycle to three.”
“That’s great, baby. Are they all for the same person or…”
“His siblings decided they wanted one, too. So they’re coming in together.”
“That means you won’t be taking on new motorcycle commissions until those are finished?”
“Right. Normally, I don’t work on more than two at a time when relatives order. Since they’re coming in together, they’ll know the overall time frame. I think it’ll be fine.”
“You’ll do amazing, baby.” She moved to sit on his lap. “Since you’ll be busy soon, why don’t we lounge in bed until we have to check out, and then have a movie marathon when we get back? I promise not to make you watchThe Powerpuff Girls.”
Elias chuckled. “If you want to watch it, Amate, I don’t mind. But I am curious now as to why you enjoy it so much.”
“My mom and I used to watch it together all the time. It’s a fond memory. I even almost convinced her to paint the Rowdyruff Boys in my little brother’s nursery.”
“Wait. What?” Elias asked, turning her to face him.
“Right. I didn’t tell you that.”
“No, you didn’t, and I remember asking you if you were an only child.”
“Technically, I am. You know my mom passed, but she and my brother died in childbirth five years ago. I never got to meet him.”
Elias wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her in closer, and Eri rested her chin on his shoulder. “I’m sorry, Eri.”
He’d known about her mother’s passing from a conversation from before they were dating, but Eri seldom spoke about losing her little brother too. There were only a few people who knew. Not because it was something she was ashamed of, but because it was a reminder of a life he’d never get to live. A bond she never had the chance to build.
