Chapter 7 - The Little Botanist
Phoebe adapted to the new routine with the resilient elasticity unique to four-year-olds. She loved the new shop. She had her own little corner behind the counter filled with colored pencils, sketchpads, and leftover ribbon scraps where she could create her own "masterpieces."
Every afternoon after daycare, Phoebe would run through the glass doors of Vance & Stem, her pink backpack bouncing against her shoulders.
"Mommy! Mommy! Look what I found in the park today!"
Nora would wipe her hands on her burlap apron, kneel down, and accept whatever treasure Phoebe was holding—a strangely shaped acorn, a bright yellow maple leaf, or a smooth river stone.
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"That is a magnificent leaf, sweetheart," Nora would say, kissing the top of Phoebe's head. "We're going to press this one into our new notebook."
Nora’s old, cracked leather notebook now sat on the high shelf behind the counter, filled with new pages—designs for corporate galas, high-end hotel lobbies, and intimate winter weddings. Next to it sat a brand-new ledger, one that Nora bought herself, containing financial statements, client contracts, and bank accounts that bore only one name: Nora Vance.
