Free All the World by Rachel L. Vaughan

Usually, work ended at 5:00, but when Lexie stepped outside it was 6:30. She dearly hoped the rest of the week would not be a repeat of today.
    Lexie was in a daze on her drive home. She almost forgot to buy dinner and had to turn around because she left the subs on counter.
    Vernon Hills had never looked so inviting than when she pulled into the parking lot. Flora wouldn’t be home, so Lexie planned to have a nice, long shower with no interruptions. Maybe she could even wait until tomorrow to grill Flora about Nickolas. That man had some serious issues.
                  The overwhelming scent of flowers caused Lexie to gag when she entered the apartment. She coughed and sputtered as she struggled to close the door. More than twenty vases of flowers were sitting around the living room and kitchen. Their scents mingled together to create a sickly sweet perfume. Lexie tossed the sandwiches on the kitchen table and hurried to open a window.
                  Did Flora buy all these?
                  Digging through her purse, she found her phone. She didn’t care that Flora was at work. She wanted to know what had possessed her to buy an entire flower shop. The phone rang and rang. Lexie rolled her eyes when she was instructed to leave a voicemail.
                  “Hey, Flora, I know you like flowers and all, but I think you over did it this time. The apartment smells like a funeral home!” Lexie said. “I bought your sub, and I’m leaving it the fridge. I can’t stand the smell, so I’m going to eat in the café. I hope you had a good day. See you later.”
                  The flowers had given Lexie such a bad headache that the smell of coffee made it worse. She took her sub and ate in the courtyard of a Greek and Mediterranean restaurant. She chewed slowly, taking as much time as possible. What was she supposed to do with the flowers? She thought for a moment.
                  Would they fit on the balcony?
                  The balcony looked over Avon Road. People might wonder what she was doing with all the flowers, but at least they would be out of the apartment. The idea was appealing, so Lexie finished her dinner and headed back.
                  The apartment door was open, and Lexie wondered if Flora had come home early. It was quiet and the flowers were still sitting everywhere. Lexie softly called out for Flora. There was no response, and Flora’s purse was not resting in its usual place on the coffee table.
    A giggle startled Lexie, and she slowly edged along the wall.
                  “Oh, Theo, what have I always said? What’s in a name? Last names mean little to me when it comes to love. Terrace and Rose—they are just words, not deadly weapons or evil curses. Sadly, that is not the opinion of my family or yours. I fear my parents would kill you if they saw us now.”
                  Giulia Terrace was leaning over the balcony, her braided hair hanging over her shoulder like a frayed rope. She was illuminated by a triangular patch of silver moonlight. Her eyes were fixed on Theodore Rose standing in Avon Road. She didn’t notice when Lexie said her name.
                  Theodore’s voice was thick with emotion. “Kill me? Sweet Giulia, losing your love is the only thing that can kill me.”
                  “Sheriff Cato is my cousin,” replied Giulia. “The law is on his side, and he could make your death look like an accident. If he were to see you now, I am certain he would kill you.”
                  “I have night’s cloak to hide me from their sight.”
                  “Not even the darkest night could dim the beauty of a Rose.”
                  Lovesick teenagers were universal, but Lexie never would have guessed that Giulia had such a soft, romantic side. There was nothing of her usual temperament that night.