April couldn’t stop her eyebrows shooting up in a question as she took in the pair of them, and she didn’tmiss the fact that there was a definite blush creeping up Izzy’s cheeks.
“As much as I want to say that this is gross and I’ll never forgive you guys for whatever this is …” She gestured between the two of them. “I won’t. It’s actually sort of cute in a weird way. It’s still going to take a lot of getting used to, though, so maybe don’t rub it in my face too much.”
“The least you can do is accept it, given how gracious I’ve been about you and Luke,” Noah retorted, and April rolled her eyes.
“Gracious? You’ve had about as much grace as an elephant doing ballet, Noah,” she shot back.
“OK, you two, that’s enough,” Kathy said, emerging from the back room at the perfect moment to break up the siblings’ argument. “April, are you OK with me heading home for a bit now things have quieted down? I’ve got a support group session later so I want to clean up first.”
“Yeah, Mom, of course. Thanks for all your help today—you were a lifesaver,” April said, pressing a quick kiss to her mom’s cheek as she headed out.
“How’s business been?” Izzy asked as the door swung closed behind Kathy.
“Really good, actually,” April said. “I’m totally exhausted, but it’s gone better than I ever could have hoped.”
She looked around the store as she spoke, loving how the sunlight streaming through the windows lit upthe flowers and the sun-catchers, casting tiny rainbows across the walls. There was something trulymagicalabout seeing it, now, how perfectly everything had come together.
“I knew it would be,” Izzy said, the certainty in her words making April’s heart swell. “Now, I’ve got a business proposition for you.”
Five minutes later, Izzy was inserting her company card into the card machine. “Perfect. It’ll be so lovely to have fresh flowers every week in the council offices. You’re a gem, April.”
April laughed. “I’m pretty sureyou’rethe one I should be thanking.”
As Izzy left the store, Noah hung back, saying he’d catch her up. “Right, April, quickly,” he said in a hushed voice. “Can you make me a bouquet for her before she realizes what I’m doing? Her favorite flowers are peonies.”
“I can’t believe I’m being made complicit in this relationship,” April said, “but yes, anything for Iz. I’m charging you double for it, though!”
She rushed to build the bunch of flowers, pale-pink and white peonies complemented by sprigs of eucalyptus and baby’s breath. She wrapped it quickly in brown paper, tying it off with a piece of string before handing it to Noah, whose eyes were wide.
“That’s seriously impressive,” he said, taking the bouquet from her and admiring it. “I think she’s going to love this.” He gave April a quick kiss on theforehead, before rushing out the door to catch up with Izzy, shouting over his shoulder, “I’m proud of you, Bug!”
April flipped the sign on the door toClosedas Noah hurried down the street. She couldn’t quite figure out if she was happy with the development of her best friend and her brother dating each other, and she mulled it over as she went to retrieve the broom to sweep up the stray leaves and petals that were scattered across the floor. She supposed that there were definitely worse people for them both to be seeing, and wasn’t it kind of cute that this way Izzy would actually be an official part of her family, after unofficially being a member for years?
As she turned the thoughts over, she basked in the brief moment of peace now that the store was empty. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so loved and supported by her friends and family.
The community had come out for her after all and she knew this wasn’t a dream that she ever could have fulfilled in the city. The connection she had with this town and these people … she wouldn’t find that any other place but here.
She heard the door open behind her.
“Oh, sorry, we’ve actually just closed for the da—” she said as she turned, her voice catching as she caught sight of the lean figure stood in the doorway, backlit by the late-afternoon sun.
“I’m looking for the perfect bouquet,” Luke’sfamiliar, deep voice sent a shiver skittering down April’s spine as he stepped into the room, the door swinging closed behind him. April couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across her face. “What do you get for the florist who has everything?” Luke teased, and when she pretended to think about it, he walked over to her, leaning down to press a firm kiss to her smiling lips. “How about dinner?”
“So then Mrs. Ashley comes in, she walks round the entire store, touches, like, half the flowers, and then leaves again! Didn’t even say hi to me or my mom!” April chuckled at the look on Luke’s face across the table as she finished recounting the story from earlier that day.
“She always was a weird one, that Mrs. Ashley,” Luke said, shaking his head with a smile. “She was probably just interested to see what you’d done with the store. I’ve barely been able to move all day without hearing people talk about it.”
“Seriously?” April couldn’t quite believe that was true. “Are you just making that up?”
“No, I would never!” Luke said, holding his hands up innocently. “I swear, April Blooms is the talk of the town!”
“That’s so crazy,” April said, more to herself than to Luke. She glanced out the window of The Garden Table, looking across Main Street to her storefront. The drapes were drawn but the evening sky wasreflected beautifully in the windows, turning them a pale orange that complemented the pink window frames beautifully.
Luke reached over and squeezed her hand but said nothing, letting her savor the moment of reflection as she took it all in.
“So,” April said, shaking herself from her reverie. “Is this a re-do of our first not-date?” she mused as she looked over the menu.
“Exactly. I’d like to prove to you that you can, in fact, make it through a whole meal with me in public.” He smirked and she couldn’t help her laugh.