by Zee Irwin
Flower65: I’ll be home tonight. Don’t hold it against me if I get a ticket because of speeding back to you, Jace. I love you with my whole heart and soul. Those nine words shouldn’t hurt at all.
I was ready to leave, anxious and jittery. I hardly slept, and two large coffees were rolling through my veins. Where was Simon? I wanted to get on the road, get this drive over with, and get to Jace as soon as possible.
“I’m here.” He wheeled up behind me and yawned. “We can’t get on the road yet, though. I need some OJ and a hot breakfast.”
“We’ll stop at a drive through, now come on.” I threw his duffel bag and gear into the trunk. Once he got himself into the car, I folded and packed away his wheelchair. We got on the road but he kept complaining about starvation and how his poor stomach really needed a good home cooked breakfast and how the staff at the ice rink raved about this little diner and their breakfast menu.
I caved, hoping this wouldn’t take long, but everyone in the town must have had the same idea. Simon wouldn’t leave when I refused to wait thirty minutes for a table. When we finally got our seats, I had to admit the meal was good, with the fluffiest blueberry pancakes and syrup, and yes, with my stomach full, I was less cranky. By the time we finished, the traffic heading through New Jersey and New York was atrocious.
We were at least on our way back to Boston, but it didn’t last long because Simon had to stop at least once an hour to hit a restroom. Or get a snack. Or make a phone call. Or get a soda. It was like he tried every trick in the book to delay our arrival back home. And he was texting someone like crazy, dawdling each time to get back into the car. My suspicions grew.
“All right. What gives? Are you delaying our trip on purpose?”
He finished up a text before he looked up at me and was about to speak. I prevented him from getting that far by yanking the phone out of his hands. I didn’t know what I expected, but seeing Daniel’s name on his screen wasn’t it. His message read “Stall her.”
I squinted at Simon. “What’s going on?”
“I told them this wasn’t a good idea, but they wouldn’t listen to me.”
“Who? What wasn’t?”
“I’m sworn to secrecy and was told they needed more time. Now will you hurry? I’d like to get home.” He snickered on his way back to the car. He clammed up and refused to answer any of my questions the rest of the way.
We hit more traffic coming into Boston, and I sped when I could until we finally pulled up outside The Cat’s Cradle. I ran through the door with our bags, sensing something was different.
My mouth dropped to the floor with almost the same thudding sound as our bags did. I nearly fainted taking in the sight in front of me.
My beautiful old bookstore had undergone some magical transformation. I toured around, stunned. The coffee and tea area expanded into the cutest cafe decorated to look like a Parisienne street bistro. The rows of bookshelves moved into a new pattern, allowing for four more sets of shelves to be added.
Someone turned my office into a kitty playroom complete with climbing trees and cozy cat hiding spaces and windows for people to watch them play. The formerly unused loft was now a cozy reading nook with bean bags, rugs, pillows, and ambient lighting.
I finally found my voice “Who? What?” was all I could say.
Simon took my hand, pulling me along beside him. “I’m pretty sure if you like what you see here, then you’re going to want to see the apartment upstairs.”
I gasped and flew up the stairs, taking the steps two at a time. Somehow, I expected Jace to be at the door waiting for me, but he wasn’t. Hopeful he was inside, I launched in but stopped at the sight. My apartment was finished, furnished, and decorated. Whoever did this really captured the heart of me, with enough antiques mixed with industrial touches to match my quirky style.
My eyes caught an envelope with my name on it propped up against the flower vase. They replaced the beautiful white roses that Jace had given me with fresh red roses. But they collected the dried petals from the white roses in a small crystal dish. I opened the card, and I saw Jace’s handwriting.
“Dear Flower. Would you meet me for that famous cup of coffee we always said we’d get?
You know the place. I’ll be the one in the black leather jacket.
You’ll be the one wearing the red flower in your hair. See you soon. Jace.”
My hand shot up to my mouth. Could this really be happening? All of this? I flew to the room where all my clothes were, knowing the exact outfit to wear. A red dress, black Mary Janes, and a red flower in my hair, if I could only find a red floral barrette. I tried to envision where I might have last seen it when I opened the door to my closet room. I almost died on the spot.
Someone decked the room out wall to wall in vintage paper and featured beautiful dark wood hanging rods and shelves. All my things lovingly displayed, my vintage dresses, hats, bags, and shoes each held a place of honor in organized fashion on shelves and hangers.
My boudoir items neatly folded away in a dresser taking up the middle of the room. On the farthest wall sat the vanity table Jace had built me with lights added all the way around the mirror. The converted held a desk and a sewing center. It was the most gorgeous closet and surpassed any I’d seen in photos online.
There was no doubt in my mind who did this. I didn’t know how Jace pulled all of this off, and I didn’t need to know. He had made a grand gesture for my love. Everything I needed was right there in his heart, and it had been mine to claim all this time.
I had to get to him as soon as possible and tell him how I felt about him. I gave up my search for the barrette and grabbed a fresh red rose for my hair instead, forgetting all about changing my clothes. Right now, I only wanted him to see me. I didn’t need to hide behind my armor anymore.
When I returned downstairs, Maddie and Cassidy were there. I ran into their waiting arms and we screamed together.
“Oh, isn’t this so exciting?”
“How beautiful is this shop now?”
“Are you happy?”
Their barrage of questions wouldn’t let me get a word in at first. “Yes! I love it all. I can’t believe he did this. How did he pull it off in such a short time?”
They exchanged looks, then Cassidy filled me in. “We all helped. When Jace told us his plan, each of us worked alongside him to create your dream closet upstairs. When he told me the theme of what he wanted for the rest of the apartment, your vintage style mixed with his preference for an industrial look, I went a little crazy trying to source just the right pieces for you both. I think the apartment ended up with the perfect blend of an eclectic style. Do you like it?”
We exchanged more embraces between us. “I love it, are you kidding?”
Maddie motioned around the bookstore. “As for everything here in the shop, well, Jace and his brother own a major construction company. They had a crew here working around the clock.”
“I’m- I just- there are no words. Or maybe I’m saving them all for Jace.”
“Oh!” Cassidy started texting on her phone. “I’ll tell him you’re on the way.”
Maddie linked her arm with mine and walked out of the shop with me. My eyes grew wide, and I rubbed them to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. A buggy drawn by two large black horses stood out front, waiting for us.
“Isn’t this romantic?” Her smile couldn’t hide the gleam in her eyes. “Now, Lily Young, go get your man.”
For the entire ride to the diner, I was smiling. I was crying. I was in awe of Jace and everything he did for me. I wanted to pinch myself, like I needed to wake up from some fairy tale. But this wasn’t make believe. It was our life.
My heart brimmed with hopes now. We’d move forward together and co-author our own story.
The horses came to a stop before the diner and I put the red rose in my hair. I thought out the exact words I wanted to say, took a deep breath, and pulled open the door.
The diner sat empty. The sound of f
ifties music played from the jukebox, and the smell of Jace’s woodsy cologne was unmistakable. My eyes scanned for him, finally landing on him near the center. A red-checked tablecloth and a tapered candle were the only decor for the night.
There he was, dressed in his leather jacket, a white t-shirt, and jeans with his hair slicked back as if this was some cosplay from the past. My sexy ass man showed up for me.
Our eyes met across the room. I ran to him and he caught me in his arms. “My flower.”
He held me there, and I was completely safe in his arms, protected from everything. Only with him would I ever feel this way. “I know how you long for all the romantic stuff. I hope this was perfect for you.”
“It was. Very romantic. I love every bit of what you’ve done. I can’t believe you’d do all this for me.”
“I love you, Lily. If it takes me doing something romantic every damn day for you to feel loved, then I’m all in. I’ll do whatever I have to.”
I put my hands on both sides of his face and stared into his eyes. His eyes with the love for me, the windows to his soul, the place where I belonged. “You know what? I didn’t need all of this. After all this time, I know exactly what I need. It’s you.”
He lowered his lips to mine and landed the sweetest, softest kisses. My heart jumped out of my skin, like the first time he kissed me and every time since.
“And I need you, Flower. Now, how about that cup of coffee?”
My hands still around his face prevented him from sitting down. “Actually, as romantic as this is, what I really want is to go home, back to our apartment, back to our cats, and books, and back to us. Because that’s the world we’ve created together and it’s our happy place.” I kissed him again, lingering over the taste of him, then sucking on his bottom lip until we parted. “And if you don’t take me home soon, and make love to me, then I might have to jump you right here.”
His smile spread ear to ear, then he swept me up in his arms and carried me back out to the buggy. Even though it was a hot night in Boston, I snuggled into his arms, into his warmth, and we kissed all the way home. Only when the buggy stopped, it was in front of a tattoo parlor.
“A tattoo parlor?” My eyebrows shot up.
Jace produced a card from his jacket pocket. “Open it.”
I did and read aloud:
My Dearest Flower:
These nine words you wrote completed me:
I love you with my whole heart and soul.
Forever yours,
Jace
“I want to get a flower with nine petals tattooed on my shoulder. Because your words meant everything to me.”
My face melted. “Aww. Me too! Let’s match! Only mine will go on my bikini line.”
“The number nine will be our lucky number. For us, for always.”
It wasn’t easy keeping still for the pain of the tattoo needle, but Jace called me brave for doing it, anyway. Back home later, he had one more surprise for me.
“But you have to find it.” His eyes twinkled with mischief.
I hunted around the apartment, but because everything was new from the makeover, it was all a surprise. So we played a game of hot and cold.
“Getting warmer, warmer, nope colder, yep warmer. . . Hot! Hotter! Oh, you’re boiling right on top of it.”
“Where? What is it?” Finally my eyes caught something, a new addition to my Pyrex dishes. “Oh, the butter dish I’ve been looking for? Where did you find this?” I rubbed my fingertip across the lid.
“I have my sources. I am a good detective, you know.”
I kissed him. “You are. And I know exactly where it’s going to go, although we may need more shelves if you’re going to keep adding to my collection over the years.”
“Years? I like the sound of that.” He winked at me. “Hm. Why don’t you take the lid off and see if there’s butter under there.”
I gave him a funny smile, but lifted the lid anyway. When I saw the little red velvet ring box inside, I almost dropped and broke the lid of the rare Pyrex item. “Is that what I think it is?”
“A ring that I hope you’ll wear for the rest of your life because you want to marry me? Yes, it is. Speaking of which,” he saved the lid from my shaking hand and set it carefully aside. With the ring box, he got down on one knee and took my hands.
“Lily, I’d been searching for someone, wanting someone to share life with, and how surprised I was that love came to me in the form of a flower. A beautiful, rare flower who planted seeds of love in my heart and soul. And after all this time, those seeds between us have bloomed, even through a storm or two. I still question your sanity for loving me, but I’m happy you do, and I’ll work hard to make you happy for the rest of our lives. If you’ll marry me?”
“Yes, yes!” I was already in tears by the time he opened the box to reveal a beautiful diamond in an antique setting. He placed it on my finger. “It’s beautiful.”
“It’s a five carat circa 1900 Rockford engagement ring that I had an antique dealer scour shops for. Yeah, I did my homework and knew the type of ring to please you because anything modern wouldn’t have been right for my quirky, vintage-loving woman.”
My arms wrapped around him and didn’t let go. This was all I needed, together with him, in our own little world of happiness. And I knew after all this time, we were meant to be.
The End . . .
All My Love
Bella Masters
I made my way up the flight of stairs to the apartment above The Cat’s Cradle Bookstore. Luggage in tow, squeaking across the floor, I opened the door and looked around. This was my home for the summer. Well, I’d share it with my sister, Emily. Even so, it was the change I needed.
A break from working with Dad at the grocery store, a break from Cape Cod, where I’d already spent twenty-five years of my life, and a marvelous opportunity for me to spread my wings. I’d make art, read books, and manage Lily’s shop while she was away. I was already dreading when the summer would end.
On the kitchen island, two letters were waiting for me. I chose the first one in Lily’s handwriting.
Bella:
I can’t believe today is the day! I’m finally flying off to Paris, my lifelong dream, with the man of my dreams. Pinch me! Jace’s surprising me with a summer in Paris was more than I asked for, but I’ll take it. I can’t wait to float down the Seine, take the elevator to the top of the Eiffel Tower, and drive through the French countryside with this gorgeous hunk of man beside me. Again, pinch me!
Thank you so much for agreeing to watch the store. I know you’ll love it like I do. Read all the books you want, go ahead, I give you my permission. ;)
Don’t fight too much with Emily. I know how rooming with your sister was a worry for you, but I think if you approach the time with her with a positive attitude, you’ll get through it. Who knows? Maybe rooming together will bring you two closer.
In summary, just enjoy yourself, Bella. You deserve to have fun, but don’t go overboard.
Love you lots,
Lily
P.S. I stocked you up on all the makings for chocolate chip cookies.
P.P.S. Give the cats hugs for me. I already miss them.
Lily was so sweet, almost a better older sister figure than my real older sister, Cassidy.
The other letter was from Emily. My eyes darted around the apartment, finding no signs of her anywhere. She was supposed to move out of the college dorms yesterday and arrive here by last night. I opened and read her note. She must still be asleep.
Bella:
You’ll never believe what happened. Remember Karl from Germany, who I met last semester? He just sent me a plane ticket to join his family in Switzerland for a month. Can you believe it? Off I go! No worries about my share of the rent. I’ll find a friend to stay in my place.
See you,
Emily
P.S. Don’t tell mom and dad, don’t want them to worry.
For fuck’s sake. Why was I not surprised?
Emily’s behavior had always been exactly this, running off doing as she pleases, wherever and with whomever. I swear my younger sister had never heard of the word adulting.
An exasperated sigh escaped me. Maybe I could afford to rent the place myself and not have to deal with one of Emily’s friends. I’d email later to Lily and ask if she would give me a break on the price.
I dragged my squeaky wheeled luggage across the wood floors. I kicked open the door and stopped short at the surprise I found waiting for me. Now this was the sort of surprise I didn’t exactly mind.
Hank, in all his glory, nothing covering him, with a full serving of morning wood standing at stiff attention, slept in the bed. And he must be a heavy sleeper if he could sleep through all the noise my suitcase made.
Fucking hell, what was he doing here? And more importantly, what I’d do to Hank’s body if he was mine. I couldn’t stop staring. Look at the size of him. I shouldn’t be gawking at him like this. He had a thing for Emily, although she was off in Switzerland with Karl, not a care in the world for this hunk of meat she left behind. Damn, his torso was perfect, although I’d expect nothing less from a baller.
Baseball was his life, played in college, and now, as a busy architect for Jace and Luc’s construction firm in Boston, he played in amateur leagues. He was the man of my dreams.
Cassidy once had advised me to make a list of everything I wanted in a man, like manifesting reality, and my list was Hank. Period. But I can’t have him. There was some kind of sister code that advised against taking a man away from your younger sister, even if your younger sister was a brat.
You could say I was a connoisseur of Hank and knew just about everything about him. Except how exquisite he was naked. Oh, I should take a photo so I could sketch him later.
