The kitchen smelled like warm vanilla and cinnamon, the kind of scent that wrapped itself around you like a familiar hug. Eileen leaned against the counter, watching her mom expertly scoop dollops of cookie dough onto a baking sheet. Outside the window, the late afternoon sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting soft, golden patterns on the walls.

On the windowsill, a small sunflower in a clay pot stood proudly, its bright yellow petals facing the light. Eileen's mom had placed it there weeks ago, saying it made the kitchen feel cheerier. Now, Eileen couldn't imagine the room without it.

It reminded her of how Benjamin called her sunflower. A small smile, unbidden, worked its way onto her face. The last few weeks with him had been...amazing. Secret rendezvous at local bakeries, lazy strolls down the boardwalk.

It was all very reminiscent of the shows her mother liked to watch.

The very thought was almost enough to make Eileen gag. Oh, word. She was living out her mother's shows!

"Okay," her mom said, glancing at her with a knowing smile. "What's on your mind?"

Eileen blinked, startled. "What do you mean?"

Her mom arched an eyebrow, setting the cookie sheet aside. "You've been hovering for ten minutes, Eileen. You only hover when you're overthinking something."

"I don't hover," Eileen muttered, though she moved to sit at the kitchen table to prove her point. She picked at the edge of the sunflower-patterned tablecloth, trying to gather her thoughts. "I was just... curious about something."

Her mom joined her at the table, sliding a glass of milk her way. "Curious, huh? About what?"

Eileen hesitated, unsure how to phrase the question without sounding like she was fishing for advice. Finally, she took a sip of milk and blurted out, "How did you know Dad was 'the one'?"

Her mom blinked, surprised, but then a slow smile spread across her face. A knowing glint twinkled in her eyes, and she slowly set aside the baking sheet. "I guess it is time for us to have that conversation...this isn't about Noah, is it? I know you've had a long-standing crush on that young man."

"What? No!" Eileen said quickly, though her cheeks flushed. "I mean... maybe. I just... It's hard to know what's real and what's just me overthinking things, you know?"

"Good, because I never knew what you saw in him. True airhead, that one."

"Mom!"

Her mom chuckled, reaching out to pat her hand. "Oh, honey. I think every woman has felt that way at some point. You're not alone."

Eileen relaxed slightly, grateful for the reassurance. "So? How did you know?"

Her mom leaned back in her chair, a faraway look in her eyes. "Well, your dad and I didn't start out like most couples. We met at a sunflower festival—did I ever tell you that?"

"No," Eileen said, leaning forward. "You left that part out."

Her mom smiled. "I was there with a group of friends, and so was he. It was one of those cliché moments where we ended up at the same sunflower field at the same time. He made some cheesy comment about how the sunflowers weren't as bright as my smile."

Eileen groaned. "Please tell me you didn't fall for that."

"I didn't," her mom said with a laugh. There was wistful look in her eyes, hazing over as she thought back to the moment. "But I did think he was cute. We ended up talking for hours that day, and by the end of it, I couldn't stop thinking about him."

"Okay, but that's just meeting him," Eileen said, tapping her fingers on the table. "When did you know?"

Her mom tilted her head thoughtfully. "It wasn't just one moment. It was a lot of little things. The way he made me laugh when I was having a bad day. How he remembered the smallest details about me, like how I take my coffee or my favorite flower. How he always made me feel like I was the most important person in the room, even when we were surrounded by other people."

Eileen smiled softly, imagining her dad doing all those things. "That sounds nice."

"It was," her mom said, her voice warm. "But you know what really sealed the deal for me? One night, I was upset about something—I don't even remember what it was now—and I told him I needed some space. Instead of getting offended or trying to fix it, he just said, 'Okay. I'll be here when you're ready.' And he was. No questions, no pressure. Just... there."

Eileen felt a pang of recognition, thinking about how Benjamin had been her constant in so many ways. "That's... really sweet."

"It was," her mom said, reaching for her hand again. "Love isn't about grand gestures or perfect moments, Eileen. It's about the quiet, everyday things—the way someone shows up for you, time and time again. That's how you know it's real."

They sat in silence for a moment, the only sound the ticking of the clock on the wall. The cookies in the oven filled the room with their comforting aroma, and Eileen felt a sense of peace settle over her.

"Thanks, Mom," she said softly.

Her mom smiled, squeezing her hand. "Anytime, sweetheart. Now, how about we check on those cookies before they burn?"

Eileen laughed, following her mom to the oven. As they pulled the tray out, the scent of freshly baked cookies filled the air, warm and inviting. Her mom placed a plateful on the table, and they both sat down to enjoy them, the sunflower in the window watching over them like a silent witness to their moment.

As Eileen bit into a cookie, she couldn't help but feel like something had shifted—like a small, golden light had settled in her chest, ready to guide her wherever the path might lead.