The merchant nodded.
“Wow! You really have an eye for it. I can’t get over how pretty it is.”
Cal stood beside her and asked, “Would you like to look at it a little longer?” She turned to him, unsure what he meant, and he decided not to leave her wondering. He picked up the bouquet and handed it to her. “It’s yours.”
She took it with wide eyes. “What?”
“You can have it. I bought it for you.”
“Oh, no.” She tried to hand the bouquet back. “I don’t need this. You should save your money.”
“Too late, really.” He shrugged. “I already bought it, and I doubt it’s returnable, right?” He turned to the merchant and winked.
The merchant grinned, understanding immediately. “No returns, ma’am.”
April gave Cal a suspicious look. She no doubt knew what he was up to, but she was pleased all the same. Cal could tell. When she looked down at the bouquet in her arms, her cheeks reddened. And Cal knew he’d made the right choice if charming her was the goal. He still wasn’t sure whether that was what he was aiming for. It wouldn’t be kind to toy with her feelings. But right now,her smile was beautiful, and he had zero regrets about bringing it out in her.
When they were finished at the farmer’s market, they walked back to the library together, Cal loaded up with bags of produce, Owen’s pockets full of seeds, and April’s arms full of flowers.
“Did you have a good time?” April asked Owen.
Owen grinned and nodded. “And we’re going to plant the seeds later. You have to help us plant them.” He turned to Cal. “Doesn’t she, Dad? She has to help us, doesn’t she?”
“Nurse April is welcome to visit us any time she wants,” Cal answered. “But she doesn’t have to if she doesn’t want to.”
Owen pouted. Cal figured a conversation about people’s right to agency was in order later. It would be a good lesson. He made a mental note to include it in one of the early lessons he was already planning. But April seemed more pleased than anything.
“I’ll absolutely help you plant those seeds,” she said. “It sounds like a lot of fun.”
And Cal began to realize that there was no way April wasn’t going to be a big part of their lives. She was more than a passing acquaintance. Owen loved her way too much to let her slip away now. At least, that was what Cal told himself.Owenloved her too much. And that was why she was going to be a regular person in their lives. It had nothing to do with how Cal felt about her, even though she was hugging his kid goodbye while holding a bouquet of flowers Cal had bought for her.
CHAPTER 11
APRIL
All morning long, April kept seeing her bouquet of flowers out of the corner of her eye. She had put them in her favorite vase, and they kept catching her attention. Every time she noticed them, she smiled. They put her in an automatic good mood. She had an evening shift tonight, so she had the day to relax. Her plan was to hole up with some popcorn and watch a movie she hadn’t seen.
Though she was a social person, April valued her alone time every once in a while. But when her phone rang, she had to answer it. Curiosity always got the better of her. April was one of those people who answered all the spam calls, too, just in case. Sure, that meant she got way more spam calls, but at least she didn’t have to wonder.
Fortunately, this time, it was not a spam call. It was Cal. “Good morning, April,” he said in a cheerier voice than he usually used. April was immediately suspicious.
“Cal,” she said in greeting. “How have you been?”
“Wonderful, thank you,” he said. “And you?”
“I’m enjoying my flowers this morning.” She meant that probably more than he realized.
“I thought you might,” he said. “I wanted to thank you for inviting us to the farmer’s market the other day.”
“Oh, it was absolutely my pleasure.”
“And I was wondering whether I could impose upon you again.” He was so formal.
April laughed. “You are never an imposition, Cal.”
He sighed in a way that made her think she had improved his mood just by saying that. “I have to go into town today to run a few errands. Usually, Owen comes with me, but he’s getting pretty tired of the hardware store.”
“Oh, I find it tough to believe that kid would ever get tired of anything,” April said.
