It Ends with Us

Chapter Three
Six months later
“Oh.”
That’s all she says.
My mother turns and assesses the building, running a finger over the
windowsill next to her. She picks up a layer of dust and wipes it between
her fingers. “It’s . . .”
“It needs a lot of work, I know,” I interrupt. I point at the windows
behind her. “But look at the storefront. It has potential.”
She scrolls over the windows, nodding. There’s this sound she makes in
the back of her throat sometimes, where she agrees with a little hum but
her lips remain tight. It means she doesn’t 
actually
agree. And she makes
that sound. 
Twice.
I drop my arms in defeat. “You think this was stupid?”
She gives her head a slight shake. “That all depends on how it turns out,
Lily,” she says. The building used to house a restaurant and it’s still full of
old tables and chairs. My mother walks over to a nearby table and pulls out
one of the chairs, taking a seat. “If things work out, and your floral shop is
successful, then people will say it was a brave, bold, 
smart
business decision.
But if it fails and you lose your entire inheritance . . .”
“Then people will say it was a 
stupid
business decision.”
She shrugs. “That’s just how it works. You majored in business, you
know that.” She glances around the room, slowly, as if she’s seeing it the
way it will look a month from now. “Just make sure it’s brave and bold,
Lily.”
I smile. 
I can accept that.
“I can’t believe I bought it without asking you
first,” I say, taking a seat at the table.
“You’re an adult. It’s your right,” she says, but I can hear a trace of
disappointment. I think she feels even lonelier now that I need her less

---

and less. It’s been six months since my father died, and even though he
wasn’t good company, it has to be weird for her, being alone. She got a job
at one of the elementary schools, so she did end up moving here. She
chose a small suburb on the outskirts of Boston. She bought a cute two-
bedroom house on a cul-de-sac, with a huge backyard. I dream of planting
a garden there, but that would require daily care. My limit is once-a-week
visits. Sometimes twice.
“What are you going to do with all this junk?” she asks.
She’s right. There’s so much junk. It’ll take forever to clear this place
out. “I have no idea. I guess I’ll be busting my ass for a while before I can
even think about decorating.”
“When’s your last day at the marketing firm?”
I smile. “Yesterday.”
She releases a sigh, and then shakes her head. “Oh, Lily. I certainly
hope this works out in your favor.”
We both begin to stand when the front door opens. There are shelves
in the way of the door, so I careen my head around them and see a woman
walk in. Her eyes briefly scan the room until she sees me.
“Hi,” she says with a wave. She’s cute. She’s dressed well, but she’s
wearing white capris. A disaster waiting to happen in this dust bowl.
“Can I help you?”
She tucks her purse beneath her arm and walks toward me, holding out
her hand. “I’m Allysa,” she says. I shake her hand.
“Lily.”
She tosses a thumb over her shoulder. “There’s a help wanted sign out
front?”
I look over her shoulder and raise an eyebrow. “There is?” 
I didn’t put up
a help wanted sign.
She nods, and then shrugs. “It looks old, though,” she says. “It’s
probably been there a while. I was just out for a walk and saw the sign. Was
curious, is all.”
I like her almost immediately. Her voice is pleasant and her smile seems
genuine.
My mother’s hand falls down on my shoulder and she leans in and
kisses me on the cheek. “I have to go,” she says. “Open house tonight.” I
tell her goodbye and watch her walk outside, then turn my attention back
to Allysa.

---

“I’m not really hiring yet,” I say. I wave my hand around the room. “I’m
opening up a floral shop, but it’ll be a couple of months, at least.” I should
know better than to hold preconceived judgments, but she doesn’t look
like she’d be satisfied with a minimum wage job. Her purse probably cost
more than this building.
Her eyes light up. “Really? I love flowers!” She spins around in a circle
and says, “This place has a ton of potential. What color are you painting
it?”
I cross my arm over my chest and grab my elbow. Rocking back on my
heels, I say, “I’m not sure. I just got the keys to the building an hour ago,
so I haven’t really come up with a design plan yet.”
“Lily, right?”
I nod.
“I’m not going to pretend I have a degree in design, but it’s my
absolute favorite thing. If you need any help, I’d do it for free.”
I tilt my head. “You’d work for free?”
She nods. “I don’t really need a job, I just saw the sign and thought,
‘