Chapter 11 - Red Rose

The scent of red roses, usually a heady, intoxicating declaration, hung in the air with a peculiar, unsettling sweetness. Lillian had been tending to the new bush at the edge of her property, its velvety petals unfurling with an almost audacious vibrancy. It was a gift, left anonymously on her doorstep a week ago, a stark contrast to the delicate, thoughtful offerings Adrian usually brought. She’d placed it in a pot near the workshop entrance, its bold presence a silent question mark in her quiet life.

Today, the question mark seemed to have found an answer, albeit one she hadn’t been expecting. A car, sleek and dark, pulled into her gravel driveway, the crunch of tires a jarring sound against the gentle hum of bees in the lavender. Lillian straightened, wiping her hands on her apron, a flicker of unease coiling in her stomach. She didn’t recognize the vehicle.