Please help me out

Hi teachers. I have written this and have a few questions to it.

I told her that she could just call me if she needed someone to talk to. And she did. We met and talked several times. She sounded okay and was confident that she would get better soon, but you never know. Later I didn't hear anything for a long time, so I figured she was doing well. And then a few weeks ago she called me. I showed up at the restaurant where we used to meet, and then she appeared with a bucket of flowers. They were for me. She just wanted to thank me for helping her get through one of the most difficult times of her life.

- Is Later natural?

- Is And then the best way to connect the sentences?

- Is my use of then natural or does it sound like I'm not a native speaker?

- Is appeared fine or should I use something more natural?

- Does the whole piece read well?

Thank you.