“You must have an awful lot of money,” I add softly. “If you could take care of hospital and medical bills without blinking.”
He reaches over, lacing his fingers with mine. Then he lifts my hand, brushing feather-light kisses along the inside of my wrist. “No, baby,” he murmurs. “Wehave a lot of it. It’sourmoney. And you more than make up for the financial part of our relationship in emotional stability.”
I give him a questioning look.
“Honest. I never dreamed I could be this happy,” he adds quietly. “And it’s all you.”
The love swelling in my chest feels almost unreal. Like any day, I could wake up from this dream.
I always thought this kind of love only happened in fairy tales. But here we are. And for the first time in my life… I believe in happily ever after.
We passa sign that says welcome to North Carolina, and my heart rate speeds up. “Oh, I have a dear friend who lives here. I wonder how far her town is from where we’re going?”
“Why don’t we check once we get there? Maybe we can leave a little early and make a detour to pay her a visit on the way back.”
“Really?” I squeal. The delight I’m feeling with everything this man does should be starting to feel commonplace. I guess it will take a while. Heck, I’m not sure I ever want things with him to feelnormal.
The sign for Sycamore Mountain comes into view, and I start shaking, my finger pointed at the exit but the words are stuck in my throat.
“What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
“This is it.”
“What’s it?”
“Where my friend lives. Oh my god. Ben, are we going to Sycamore Mountain for the weekend?”
His bright smile is worthy of a Colgate commercial. “Yes! I’ve met some great new friends here. And fell in love with this small town. Is it your first time here?”
“Yes.” I can’t stop the tears. “I’ve missed her so much. We talk on the phone almost every day.”
“What’s her name? We’ll have to call her once we check in to the little Bed and Breakfast.”
“It’s Tuesday. Tuesday Palmer. Oh, duh. I mean, Tuesday Bell now.” I giggle. More at the realization both of us are married women now. I shake my head. This still doesn’t feel real.
The car starts to slow. Looking through the windshield, I realize there’s no light, yet he’s pulled over by the side of the road. Oh no, maybe wedoneed to look at replacing this thing sooner than mine.
“Tuesday is your best friend?”
“Yes.”
“Ha!” Ben throws his head back in an uncontrollable fit of laughter. “Of course she is. My god, can this world get any smaller?”
“What? How do you know Tuesday?”
“I’ll explain it all once we get there. Suffice it to say, she’s my favorite florist.”
Yes. It is a small world.
Small, but wonderful.
Ben pulls upin front of Cygnature Blooms, and for a second I stare at the storefront like it might disappear if I blink too hard. The painted flower boxes under the windows, the little brass bell on the door, and the chalkboard sign that leans slightly to the left. It all feels like stepping back into an easier time in my life. Where I’d show up inHanover at Tuesday’s part time job and share silly girl talk. No stress about my mother’s illness or our financial troubles. Just gossip, giggles, and warm hugs.
As soon as we walk inside, the scent of eucalyptus and roses wraps around me. I hold my breath in nervous anticipation. Can this be really?—
“Grace!” Tuesday’s voice rings out from behind the counter, and before I can even say her name she’s already launching herself across the shop. She collides with me in a hug so tight my feet nearly leave the floor. “Oh my gosh, you’re here, you’re actually here.”
“I know. I can’t believe it. When Ben said he was taking me away for the weekend, never in a million years would I have imagined this would be where. Oh, Tuesday.” I clutch her so tight I bet she can barely take a breath. Tears tumble down my cheeks. “I’ve missed you so much,” I cry into her hair.
