The wonderful Bella Osborne has written the first of our four stories this week. The Flower Thief is a great tale – we hope you like it!

A tussle over a bouquet, a no-show date… but Jasmine’s luck was about to turn for the better

Why was the train always delayed when you were in a rush? Jasmine dashed out of Sheffield station. She was late for her friend’s birthday meal and needed to grab some flowers on the way. Even she couldn’t stoop to the level of a scruffy garage forecourt bunch, so she dashed to the cute little florist’s near the station.

ABloomwithaView was a small shop, and with four people inside it felt crowded. The smell that hit her was divine. She wondered what it was like to work there surrounded by pretty flowers, being creative and making people happy – she imagined it was bliss. Jasmine had a quick look around while the other customers were being served. There were a few fancy plants on a stand, but she wasn’t sure Theresa was a plant sort of person. There were some lovely displays in the window, some containers of individual blooms, but only one pre-prepared bouquet in a nearby bucket. She’d rather have had a choice, so when it was her turn, she’d ask if there were any other bunches.

Jasmine was already late and could almost hear the minutes ticking by. The door opened making the bell tinkle happily and a suited man came in. The shop assistants became free at the same time and a pretty woman with long red hair stepped towards Jasmine.

“How can I help you?”

“I need a bouquet, but I’m in a hurry. Do you have anything other than that one,” she asked, pointing at the pink gerbera collection in the bucket.

“I’m afraid not, but if you give me five minutes I can make one up.” Jasmine hated being put on the spot. “Or you could just grab that one.” suggested the florist.

“I’ll have that one then,” said Jasmine. As she reached for the bouquet so did the man who had come in behind her and he got there a fraction before she did. He beamed a smile at her, took the bunch fully from the bucket and shook off the water droplets. She was expecting him to pass it to her and was mirroring his smile until he turned away and stepped towards the till. So, chivalry was dead!

“Hey! I was first in the queue,” she said.

“But you weren’t first to pick up the flowers,” he replied.

“But I’m in a hurry and have to have those.” Jasmine reached for the bouquet.

He held them out of reach. “And what constitutes a flower emergency?” he asked.

“It’s my friend’s birthday and my train was delayed.” She put her hands on her hips, but when his eyebrows twitched she returned them to her sides.

“London train? I was on that one too. Have you noticed how they’re always late on a Thursday? I think it’s the same freight train it has to follow.”

“Oh you could be right. I wonder if…” she started, and then she realised he was about to pay. “Hey! We’re still discussing whose flowers these are.”

“Were we? Sorry. I’m Matt by the way.” “Irrelevant.” She was trying hard not to show how cross she was.

“Unusual name.” He nodded sagely.

She ignored his attempt at humour. He would’ve looked quite sexy if he weren’t winding her up. “What’s your flower emergency then, Matt?” she asked.

“Sick relative,” he said with a smile. She couldn’t match that. “How do I know that’s true.”

“Are you a lawyer or something?” “Barrister,” she said and revelled in his shocked expression. He scanned her formal outfit. “Before you ask. Yes, I have the wig and gown, and no, I don’t wear them to do the ironing. But I can spot liars at forty paces.” She gave him a fake smile.

“I can prove it to you if you like.” Matt got out his phone and she leaned forward expecting to be shown a picture. “If you give me your number, I’ll send you a photo of my nan in her sickbed.”

“Seriously?” Her hands shot to her hips. “Here you go,” the red-haired florist interrupted waving a large bouquet of flowers in front of Jasmine like someone trying to distract a toddler with a toy. “I whipped these up while you were… anyway. Same price as the pre-made bunch. Cash or card?”

Jasmine tapped her card on the machine, took her flowers while profusely thanking the lovely florist. She left the shop before Matt, which felt like a small win.

The flower thief story became even more dramatic in the retelling and made for quite the anecdote at Theresa’s birthday meal. “The flowers are lovely,” concluded Theresa.

“There’s a present too, but it hadn’t arrived in time, which was why I grabbed these on the way.”

“So, did you get this Matt’s number.” “Goodness, no. He was the worst,” said Jasmine, helping to clear the table.

“I thought you said he was good looking and sexy.”

“Did I?” She didn’t recall that part of the story although he had been easy on the eye. “He had such bad manners.” Theresa gave her a look. They’d known each other long enough to know when the other one was holding back. “Out with it,” said Jasmine.

“Technically he did get to the flowers first. And his nan was ill.” Theresa winced a little as she spoke.

“That could have been a lie. You know what men are like.” Theresa went all starry-eyed and Jasmine had to correct the sentence. “OK, I know what those sorts of men are like. You are engaged to the only honest male in the whole of Sheffield.”

Theresa grinned and gave a little shrug. “Jed is gorgeous. I’m so lucky.”

“Did I hear my name?” Jed called from the kitchen where he was diligently doing the washing up.

“No, get back to work,” shouted Jasmine. But it was hard not to think that Theresa had nabbed the last decent man. Jasmine’s boyfriends had been shockers.

Jasmine scanned the bar… there was someone at the other end who looked rather familiar…