Lavender and Lace.

"Late again, not that it matters much!" Lina told herself. But she could not resist racing along, eager to open her Antique Lace and Fabric shop. The fact that it was pouring rain hindered her vision. The ride in the bus had been delayed, slow, making her too impatient. She tried not to splash through the large puddles in the old roads in that heritage suburb. A row of terraced, old style shops finished in her own business venture.

Lina was only a 100 yards from her destination, hoping that the ceiling was not leaking again. She totally did not see the rather fetching hunk of spunk who was running just as fast as she was. Until these two collided, spilling his armful of lovely fragrant lavender blooms.

The stalks scattered everywhere, so Lina muttered something vague about never looking ahead. She stooped to help him pick up all his blooms. The dampness seemed to make this chance meeting more poignant, if not significant. The guy was saturated, as she was by now.

"I was dashing along in the rain, ever in a hurry. Haste not, waste not, as my big sister always says. These are for an urgent job. Better than showering you with turnip greens." He reached a hand to steady her, and said, "Leopold's my name. You are enchanting, slightly soaking. Come and meet my sister in our florist shop here. "

Lina was more than ready to meet any local trader nearby. This might lead to a network, where everyone had each other's back. Inside the florist, Leopold and his sister welcomed her, and offered a heater and a coffee. Lina was still breathless, but rapt to inhale the ready fragrances from beautiful displays of bouquets. Leopold was very personable and outgoing, he did seem interested in checking Lina and her lace shop for notions and inspirations.

Leopold did bring her a coffee at 2pm. Her non-existent lunchtime retail fever had dwindled away after one specialist customer, who restored antique dolls and their frilly dresses. She, too, was a lovely and friendly person. Lina was deciding to close up for the day, head home and find some more effective waterproof shoes. There appeared handsome Leopold. He seemed fascinated by Lina and her stock of unique, delicate fabrics.

Lina could not help herself from doing some fishing, wondering silently if a male florist was gender fluid, in the queer club perhaps. "Will this harm my good reputation?" she flirted, batting her eyelashes, as in the Victorian, romantic tradition.

"I should swoon at such a thought," Leopold hammed things up easily, fluttering his enviable long, dark lashes at her. The ice was broken. Then he suggested a new opportunity for Lina. He showed her a flyer for a Pride Festival in an Avenue two streets away.

"Have you ever been to a Pride Convention?"

"No, I would need a passport to walk past the bus stop...." Lina's heart sank a bit. He was gay after all. He certainly did not go short of admirers. Not only was Leopold attractive, he was very friendly and approachable. She put her stray thoughts of his kissable lips to one side, and wondered where this conversation was leading.

"I had a brainwave. We could use some vintage lace here to wrap around small bouquets and individual blooms, then sell them at the pop up stall. I am having there. Are you in?"

Lina agreed, even if it was not really her cup of tea. But it was a great way to introduce herself to a potential market for really feminine fabrics and trims. She did sell notions after all.

"We'll both need business cards, do you have any?"

Lina did not think any more about giving Leopold her business card, it did have her mobile phone number. He sailed off in a cloud of floral scents and heady aftershave. Lina's day wound down. But she was surprised when her phone rang at 7:30 pm that same night. Hesitantly, she responded to the strange number, thinking it was only a scammer. No, it was Leopold.

"I'm sitting here with my evening tea, and biscuits, it was so lovely to meet you today. We can do great things for each other. Make yourself, a cup of tea, and I shall keep you company for a while. We can get to know each other, away from the workplace."

Lina made a cuppa, then curled up on the couch, tucking a rug over herself. Gay friends were fun, so she had been told.

"How long have you been a florist?"

"Long enough. It is our genomes. My family come from a long line of flower gardeners and scent makers, originally from Europe. Tell me your heritage, Little Miss Lipgloss."

One evening chat and morning coffee soon led to a firm friendship. One evening, Leopold arrived at the lace shop, slightly excited and flushed.

"You're coming home with me, to my home lab. I have invented a new fragrance."

Lina had nothing else to do, so she agreed. Leopold was excellent company. She duly admired the original and enchanting aroma of his perfume. Then he said,

"I have the most brilliant news. I have just been announced as the winner of an all expenses paid scholarship to study fragrance manufacturing in France. This is a total surprise. I am leaving tomorrow, catching the early flight to Paris. Be happy for me."

Then, amazingly, Leopold kissed Lina. Deeply, warmly, sensually. It was a kiss like no other. Lina was confused. Leopold told her, "Wait right where you are. We have some unfinished emotions to explore when I arrive home. Here, I made this for you, tuck it under your pillow. I hope you dream of me."

It was late by now. Lina looked at his gift, it was a beautifully made lace sachet, fragranced with his signature lavender scent. Then there was honking of a car horn, the big yellow taxi had arrived. Lina caught her own cab home, and went to bed, sleeping and wondering, on a pillow of lace and lavender. Who knows what goes on in any man's brain?Lina did not know if she would ever see him again. Leopold had gone, for now, or for always. Like love, lavender and lace.

The sun rose the next day anyway. Lina inhaled her sachet, whispering, "He's pulled the rug from under my heart. I should have known better."