The few crabapple trees in the backyard were thriving. Year after year, their petals bloomed and fell; she'd lost count of how many seasons had passed.
Mia Grant left the lab and checked her phone for the message Kian Keller had sent her that afternoon.
He said the crabapple blossoms in the backyard had opened and asked if she could come home a little earlier tonight.
Admiring the flowers was his usual go-to excuse.
Mia Grant smiled as she tapped open the photo, zooming in for a closer look. Finally, she replied with a simple "Okay."
She hadn't been back in the country and at the research institute for long. Work was busy, so she really hadn't had the energy for any flower-viewing dates with him lately.
"Oh, Grant! Not working overtime today?"
When it was time to leave, Mia Grant packed her things, grabbed her bag, and headed out.
As she passed the entrance, the old security guard looked at her in surprise.
