The morning sun had just begun to pierce the gaps in the awning outside Paw-sitive Care. The air was still cool with dew, carrying the scent of wet earth and leaves from the small garden beside the shop. Wanda was kneeling near the entrance, cleaning the water bowl for the stray cats that stopped by every morning, when the shadow of a tall, lanky figure blocked the sunlight behind her.
"Good morning, Wanda," greeted a voice with an Australian accent that was beginning to feel familiar.
Wanda looked up and smiled. Peter stood there wearing a light blue cotton shirt rolled up to his elbows and relaxed brown chinos. In his hand, he carried not only his usual canvas shopping bag but also a small bouquet of wild tulips in pink and white.
"Good morning, Peter," Wanda replied as she stood and wiped her hands on her work apron. "You're early today. Did the kittens eat well last night?"
Peter chuckled, his laugh deep and warm. "They ate like kings! The mother cat is looking much healthier too." He then held out the little bouquet to Wanda with a somewhat awkward but utterly sincere gesture. "This is for you. I saw them near the villa's garden and thought... well, they reminded me of your shop. Bright and peaceful."
Wanda froze for a moment. Her eyes shifted between the lovely flowers and Peter's face, where a faint blush had spread across his cheeks. It had been more than a decade since Wanda had received flowers from a man. Back when she was with Krisna, romance like this had evaporated beneath the mounting demands of life and betrayal.
"Oh... Peter, this is so sweet of you. Thank you," Wanda said softly, accepting the flowers with both hands. The fresh scent of their blooming petals immediately warmed her chest.
From the cash register came an extremely loud, deliberate throat-clearing.
"Ahem! A fresh bouquet showed up first thing this morning. Making the shop smell even sweeter, huh, Ms. Wanda?" Adi teased, suddenly appearing with a feather duster. He gave Wanda a mischievous wink.
Wanda shot Adi a warning look, but she couldn't suppress the faint smile tugging at her lips. "Adi, please get the small glass vase from the top shelf, okay? I want to fill it with water."
"You got it, boss! There's nothing I won't do for this visitor all the way from Aussie," Adi replied with a quiet laugh before heading to the back.
Although Peter didn't fully understand what Adi had said in Indonesian, he could pick up on the teasing tone. His smile grew wider as he scratched the back of his neck, looking flustered.
"Your friend... he's joking about me, right?" Peter asked gently.
Wanda shook her head with a giggle. "Don't mind him. Adi is like a younger brother to me. He likes to joke."
"I like him. He cares about you," Peter said sincerely. He then walked toward the cash register, where Wanda had placed the new vase. "Wanda, actually... I was wondering if you're free this afternoon. Maybe after the shop closes? I'd love to invite you for coffee at the little café across the street."
Wanda's hands paused as she arranged the flower stems in the vase. That simple question sent strange ripples through her heart. An unfamiliar feeling sparked inside her—the feeling of being attracted to someone as a woman, something she had buried deep beneath the weight of being a single mother and the struggle to raise her children.
But in an instant, thoughts of her responsibilities swept back through Wanda's mind. Noni, working so hard at her internship; Nana, growing more sensitive at the start of college; and the pile of burdens she had carried alone all these years. Was it really appropriate for a forty-seven-year-old woman like her to think about her own feelings?
Peter seemed able to read the deep uncertainty in Wanda's brown eyes. He quickly continued in a calm, pressure-free tone.
"No pressure, Wanda. Just two friends having coffee and talking about cats. That's all," Peter said with a reassuring smile.
Wanda looked into Peter's eyes. She found no lies, manipulation, or demanding aura like the one she had once felt from Krisna. There was only respect and pure sincerity.
Wanda let out a soft breath, releasing the invisible weight from her shoulders, and smiled sweetly.
"Coffee sounds nice, Peter. After five p.m., okay?"
The Australian man's eyes lit up at once. "Awesome! I'll be here at five."
As Peter left the shop with a light step, Wanda gazed at the vase of flowers on the cash register. The little blossoms bloomed beautifully in the middle of the modest pet shop. For the first time in years, Wanda felt that maybe... just maybe, her heart still had a little room to let her own happiness grow again.