"Move aside, you big oaf!" cried aunt Gillian, as she barely manages to squeeze past Morris and all the spectators who have huddled to see me bring in the purple flowers with bell shaped petals marked by inner rings of electric yellow.

Gill takes my hand, equally surprised as I am that the delivery is made at another house but with a quick glance at Beth, we both know that whoever sent them knew I was coming to the meeting or took a gamble that I'd show up.

Meaning that whoever it was, is here in the Morris house.

And maybe, just maybe. They took a chance because it would be the one place where he and I are in the same place, at the same time.

Beth draws me to a corner where she points at her phone, the screen reading, "hope, courage, and admiration."

I remain impassive as most of the eyes in the house are drawn to me, watching with hushed whispers being passed from each mouth or a shake of the head because some think I'm an attention seeking Everheart who doesn't know when to call it quits. Yeah, that's right. I can make out the accusations in which I'm the instigator of all this, sending myself flowers to make some kind of point. To bide my time in Malamute because I'm bored to death.

Little do they know that young Rachel doesn't have the funds nor the time to create a false romantic dream on such a huge scale. I have bigger worries, like the balance in my bank account and my college assignments. And most of the guys I know from school or even the few that still exist in Malamute, think a date night movie is the standard for romance. None of them would ever think about gifting so many flowers and the last time anyone ever gave me flowers, was during my high school graduation and from family no less, specifically my Mom.

"Why'd you get flowers? Special occasion?" Honey coloured eyes asked, walking up to us which sends Beth into panic mode once more as she physically latches onto my arm and squeezes it.

"Umm..." I began dumbly, not sure what to say since I'd never imagine he'd want to be anywhere near a clumsy and wide-eyed girl like me...my education is wasted on me as I stand there trying to remember basic language skills.

"Are you the other grandson Deloris was talking about?" Beth said, intervening and saving me from further humiliation.

"Yeah, I'm Constantine," he said, tilting his head and furrowing his brow in hidden amusement.

"It is soo nice to meet you," Beth returned, a playful smile tugging at her mouth and it's now my turn to bring her down to earth instead of whatever heavenly delusional cloud she's riding on.

"To answer your question, no there's no special occasion," I said, clearing my throat and giving Beth a hardened look.

"She has a secret admirer," Beth added lightly, but immediately smacks a hand over her mouth from having said too much.

Despite the strangeness of it all (because secret admirers are essentially of aunt Gill's generation) he doesn't seem as surprised which raises my inner suspicions but they immediately die by the contemplative nod and dismissive shrug. "That's nice then, right?"

"Sure," I replied cooly, not sure what to make of his over familiarity and warm smile.

"We should probably attend the meeting now," hurried Beth, taking my arm and wheeling me around to avoid him catching a glimpse of my obviously perplexed expression.

He follows us closely into a room packed with people, and takes a seat alongside his brother and the meeting commences with the neighbours going over plans for a spring party and charity event. Yet no matter how much I try to focus, I only catch snippets of the conversation as I look down at the flowers in my lap that seem out of place amidst talks of lemonade stands, bouncy castles, and backyard games.

Through it all, I can feel Constantine looking directly at me with a knowing smile which sends my skin ablaze with unease. Luckily, the discomfort soon ends as the meeting comes to a close and I find aunt Gill amongst the crowd on the way out.

"Ready to go home?" she offered, stepping next to me and we head towards the front door as everyone begins to file out of the Morris home.

"Yes, please," I whispered, noticing Nora frown at the flowers in my hand as each member clambers on the porch and front steps. Aunt Gill also catches the disapproval and whirls around to give her a piece of advice which shocks us all.

"Do you have anything to say, you bitter bat? If you have an issue with my great-niece, you take it up with me. Understand? Come on Rachel, let's go home," with a quick sniff of the air and her nose turned upward, aunt Gill marches down the steps and Beth and I run after her.

"Listen darlings, don't ever let someone give you a look uncalled for," our aunt instructed halfway across the Morris' front lawn, giving me new found confidence as I think about a pair of eyes that caused me to squirm under their heated intensity.

Halting in my tracks, I release a sigh and square my shoulders. "You know what? You're right. I'll be right back," I said, pivoting back to where I know the two brothers are standing and tap Constantine on the shoulder as his back is turned to me, facing Deloris.

"Rachel!" Deloris cried happily, seeing me first and her two grandson's immediately turn around at the mention of my name.

"Sorry to interrupt you, Del. But could I have a word with your grandson?" I asked, my eyes flashing directly at Constantine.

She smiles, and walks off with a bemused Silas who can't believe I addressed his grandma with a nickname. "Of course, by all means. He's yours," Deloris added over her shoulder with a wave goodbye.

Tapping a foot nervously with my arms crossed, I stare at Constantine's smirking face. "Okay, I don't know what your deal is but you keep acting as if there's some inside joke between us but let me clear things up, I don't have a clue."

"You really don't remember, huh?" he said, leaning in closer as I uncross my arms and clutch today's flowers closer to my frame.

"Err, sorry what do I not remember?" I returned, deflating slightly.

"We know each other. We used to spend our summers together."

"Nope, doesn't ring a bell," I replied nonchalantly, my brows and eyes shooting upward in an unsuccessful attempt to recall memories lodged somewhere in the back of my brain.

His mouth forms a grim line but he shakes it off with a tip of his head. "Ouch, that hurts. Well when you remember, you'll know where to find me."

"You two know each other?" The question comes over my shoulder from Beth's mouth and Constantine gives her a nod accompanied by a small grin.

"I'd like to know the answer to that too," came another voice but this time, directly behind Constantine who steps aside to let the newcomer forward.

"Rowan?" Beth asked in disbelief.

"Bethany?" he returned, just as baffled.

After a momentary pause, I raise my hand to get their attention. "Rachel."

Laughing, Constantine mirrors my actions and announces his name as well. "Constantine."

"Very funny," Beth declared with narrowed eyes, straying away from the stranger she knows to give me and my supposed childhood friend a deathly glare.

"What are you doing here, Bethany?"

Harrumphing, Beth takes a step closer. "I live here and go to school here. What are you doing here?"

"You just walked out of my grandfather's house," Rowan said, signalling to the Morris house with a hand.

"Wait, Mr. Morris is your grandfather?" Beth demanded icily.

"Yeah, and I'll be attending the college nearby for the spring. I took most classes online but I figured I could come back and spend the rest of it at the old ancestral home."

Sighing heavily, Beth frowns in frustration and turns to me suddenly. "Come on cousin, it's time we go home. Best not to socialise with someone with the personality of a dead stick on the ground."

Gasping, my jaw hangs open and eyes widen at her fatal attack. "Bethany!" I yelped in horror but she just stomps off, causing Rowan to chuckle while Constantine looks as lost as I feel.

"Um, bye?" I hastily wail, running after Beth who's nearly home. Once inside, I open my mouth but only suck in air when she spins to send me an imploring look that begs not to ask any questions.

*****************

Monday brings a tension unknown to the Everheart home, yet the only ones who feel its burden are aunt Gill and I. Every furtive glance taken to peek at Beth is met with a scowl or her shaking her leg as if she's been scalded by hot water.

And for once, I thank the existence of my monotone Professor who normally bores me to death in my Politics course. Every muscle is rigid and on alert in Beth's presence, one eye glued to the laptop screen while the other watches her every move.

Sadly, my fate is one destined for death by the wrathful expression on her face when the delivery person rings the doorbell and loudly remarks, "flowers for Rachel!"

Winching, I rise from my protective chair at the dining table and answer the door to an assortment of crackling bright red tulips.

Taking them inside, I almost fall flat on my ass when Beth eyes them narrowly. "Can I have one?" she asked thinly.

"Um..sure, yes," I returned in a wobbly frail voice, handing her one of the tulips.

She snatches it up with a quick thanks and begins plucking each petal, one at a time and then it finally clicks in for me.

I'm not the only one with man problems.