TJ started playing with the petals and rolled around lazily in them, while I kept staring at the little yellow flower blades in ever-growing disbelief. It simply could not be, it all sounded so very insane I could have only laughed at myself.
"Okay, let's not jump to conclusions," I said to myself, stretching my arms out before me. "There's a possibility these aren't sunflower petals at all. Though no harm can come from making sure."
I got to my feet and started searching for books on identifying flowers. It didn't take me long to find one, which was titled The World's Flower Key. It was a small yet a thick book, one of the older editions, dressed in dark green leather, the title embossed on the front cover in golden letters.
I returned back to TJ, my fingers already flipping the pages of the book. I crouched beside the cat again, letting out a little shout of triumph as I found the two-page long chapter on sunflowers. I picked up a petal, then skimmed through both pages, my eyes searching for the word 'petal'. I soon found it in the last paragraph on the second page of the description, beneath a close-up photo of a sunflower.
Yellow, tongue-like petals, 6-10 cm long and 2-4 cm wide. In bloom from July to September, it read.
I placed the petal on the page, next to the photo and compared them very carefully. To my astonishment, they matched. The petals on the carpet truly were those of a sunflower. But how in the world did they get here? The girl arrived to the bookstore empty handed, I reminded myself. She didn't have a bag or a rucksack, in which she could have carried the flowers, either. I had a few other theories but chased them all away with a wave of my hand, because they all seemed completely impossible and insanely ridiculous.
I arrived home a little after eight pm. TJ had fallen asleep in my bag and wasn't particularly pleased when I told him to hop out and find another place to rest.
Kata was sitting on the sofa in the living room, her feet up on the coffee table, with the laptop in front of her. She'd put her hair up in a messy bun. The light from the laptop screen was reflected in her big round glasses.
"Hey," I greeted, taking off my cardigan and hanging it on the hanger in the hallway. "What's up?"
"School stuff," Kata sighed and put the laptop aside. "I am so not in the mood for this."
I chuckled, sat down beside her and read the title on the screen. "Religious cults in ancient Rome. Neat."
Kata only grumbled in response.
"You okay?" I put a hand on her thigh, hoping it to be a reassuring gesture.
"Yeah. I've just been really stressed out lately."
"I thought you started working on this weeks ago." I nodded at the laptop.
"It's not the paper."
"What then?"
She sighed again, heavier this time. "It's Paul." She ran a hand over her tired face.
I raised my eyebrows, waiting patiently for her to continue.
"I think he's going to propose," she said finally, her voice filled with dread.
I burst out laughing.
"You can't be serious. What in the world makes you say that?"
"I caught him watching Say Yes to the Dress. Again. For the fourth time."
"Maybe he just really likes the show," I offered.
Kata shot me a nasty look which made me laugh again.
"When was this?"
"Three days ago."
"Here?"
"No, we were at his place. He's coming over later, so keep your mouth shut, okay?"
I pretended to lock my mouth and flick away the imaginary key.
"Would you two getting engaged really be so bad, though? I think it's super sweet of him to be so dedicated and thinking everything through."
Kata rolled her eyes.
"Marriage is scary and I don't think I'll ever want to go through with it. Sure, it's nice to think someone loves you to the point they'd consider spending their entire life with you. On the other hand, though, feelings change. How could he be perfectly certain he'll love me for the rest of his days? And worse, what if I fall out of love with him?"
I shrugged, not really sure what to say. "Perhaps that's what marriage really is. It's not some romantic fairy tale, but a pact full of compromises. You choose someone to share your life with, your ups and downs. You wake up every morning and decide each and every day anew to be with one person forever."
"That sounds exhausting."
"Don't worry about it, okay? You're not even sure he's truly planning on proposing to you. When you're ready, everything will fall into place."
"But that's just the thing, isn't it? I don't think I'll ever be ready. I still feel like a 16-year-old punk. What if I never get the hang of being an adult?"
I put a hand around her shoulders. "I'm pretty sure no adult is completely confident about what they're doing, either. Just take one day at a time."
"How is it you're so wise?" asked Kata, pretending to be shocked, and punched me softly in the shoulder.
"Well, I am three months older than you," I pointed out and Kata laughed and I was glad she felt a bit better.
"How was work?"
I pondered her question for a moment. "Weird," I admitted. It was the only fitting word I could think of.
Kata raised her eyebrows. "Weirder than usual?"
"You're going to have to be more specific."
"Weirder than last month when that kid tried to steal a book on erotic massage but his mum caught him and made him apologize in front of everyone?"
I looked at her, surprised. "Damn, you know about that?"
Kata rolled her eyes, but her mouth was stretched in a smile. "You called me right after they left, remember?"
I had to think back. "Oh, yeah," I said after a short pause, "I completely forgot."
"How can you forget something like that? It was the funniest thing ever."
"Don't know. I guess I get distracted too easily."
"Anything got you distracted this time?"
I smiled to myself, careful to not look at her. "What makes you think that?"
"Don't answer my question with another question, Am. You're my best friend. I know you to your very core."
"That sounds ominous," I said and Kata snorted.
"Come on, you can tell me."
I blushed and looked away, but out of the corner of my eye, I could see Kata nodding knowingly to herself, as though she already knew what I was going to say.
"A girl," I sighed, giving in. "A girl has distracted me. She came in earlier, bought some books. She was so lovely, and, as usual, I made a complete fool of myself." Kata chuckled. I frowned at the pillow in my lap. "Here's the weird part, though."
I told her all about the books changing their titles and the sunflower petals, but, Kata being Kata, remained sceptical.
"There must be a reasonable way to explain these things."
"I'm telling you," I countered, annoyance in my voice, "I know what I saw."
"Okay, okay, I believe you," she said, raising her hands as though surrendering. Then she sighed. "I think I should freshen up a bit. Paul will be here any second."
The dinner started on an awkward note as Kata kept shooting threatening glances at me across the wobbly table, the look in her eyes pleading me not to mention to Paul the incident from three days ago. I, in response to her attempts at telepathic communication, was snickering quietly to myself, leaving poor Paul, who kept glancing from Kata to me and back to her again, quite bewildered as he didn't have the slightest clue about what was going on.
"Is everything alright?" he asked uncertainly, and Kata started talking immediately, her mouth full of spaghetti, hurrying to reassure Paul all was in perfect order, while still looking daggers at me. I was worried she might choke on her food, so I decided to take the matter into my own hands.
"Actually, Paul," I said, and Kata stopped talking abruptly, dreading to hear what I had to say, "I was thinking about throwing a Halloween party but Kata here," I pointed my fork at her, "doesn't want to hear anything about it."
Paul dropped his own fork on the plate with a loud clank and looked at Kata as though he had just suffered the biggest betrayal of his life. "Babe."
"I will not have a bunch of drunk people messing this place up," grunted Kata and crossed her arms. "Besides, isn't it a little early to be talking about throwing a Halloween party? I mean, it's not even September yet."
Paul dramatically placed a hand over his heart, completely taken aback. "Never, and I mean absolutely never is too early for Halloween," he breathed. "Not to mention, I know of a simple solution for your 'problem'," he added, making air quotes with his fingers.
"Which is?" asked Kata, annoyed. She didn't want to look at him which made me want to burst out laughing.
"We can have the party at my place," offered Paul which made me roar victoriously.
"Yes! Go, Paul! See, Kata? Haven't I told you a million times he's a keeper? Despite his numerous little quirks?" I winked at Paul.
"My numerous little quirks?" repeated Paul, turning back to Kata with raised eyebrows.
She completely ignored him and suddenly exlaimed "Oh, I think dessert's ready! Who wants a lava cake?"
She jumped to her feet and rushed to the kitchen.
Paul looked at me questioningly, his mouth hanging open in confusion, but I only shrugged and laughed, immensely enjoying my plate of pasta.