She smiled at that, picturing pastel eggs scattered across the grass, sunlight bathing the barnyard, laughter carrying on the spring air. It sounded perfect. She prayed that Jackson had meant what he said, about being ready for something real with her, and that their dreams for the future were aligned.
Because she’d never wanted anything as fiercely as this life in Maple Falls with him.
THIRTY-EIGHT
JACKSON
Thursday, March 27th
Throughout the next week, Zoe and Jackson had spent the better part of each morning getting the greenhouse and surrounding grounds at Winding Creek ready for Eleanor’s visit. Thankfully, Zoe’s ankle had healed quickly, though he could see she still felt it a little when she was tired.
“Can you imagine if I’d had to do the tour on crutches?” she said, hefting another planter to the front steps of the greenhouse.
Jackson steadied it for her, the wood creaking softly beneath his boots. “You’d have found a way,” he said. “You always do.”
The air was crisp and clean, carrying the faint sweetness of damp earth. Overhead, clouds stretched thin and white across the pale blue sky, sunlight pooling like honey across the fields. From the hedgerows, sparrows chattered noisily, darting from branch to branch.
Jackson wasn’t usually one for show, but he’d admit—even to himself—that he cared what Eleanor thought. Her decision could shape their future.
Zoe crouched by the walkway, patting the soil around a cluster of daffodils. The blooms caught the light, golden trumpets nodding gently in the breeze. “It still doesn’t feel real,” she said softly. “Finding the Moonlight Kiss flower…It was like finding proof that hope comes back, even when you think it’s gone.”
Jackson followed her gaze. He’d thought about that meadow every day since—the shimmer of the blooms under sunlight, the way Zoe’s face had lit up when she saw them.
He nodded toward the small row of pots beside the greenhouse. Inside, the Moonlight Kiss cuttings stood in fresh soil, their pale silver-green leaves catching the light like they still remembered that hidden meadow. “I went back up the ridge yesterday,” he added. “Brought down a few buckets of soil from near the hot spring. Figured it might have the perfect mix of minerals to help them take.”
Zoe’s expression softened. “You did that?”
He shrugged. “Couldn’t exactly leave them to chance. You said the magic was in the ground as much as the bloom itself.”
She smiled, brushing a delicate leaf with her fingertips. “If they root, we can start transplanting some to the Local Blooms garden before summer. Maybe even have enough for seeds by fall.”
Before they could talk more, the glossy black Rolls-Royce crested the drive. Eleanor stepped out in a tailored jacket and sensible shoes, her sharp eyes already scanning the fields.
“Showtime,” Zoe whispered.
Jackson set his shoulders. Whatever happened today, he was proud of what they’d built. “If she passes, she passes—we’ll find another way,” he said, trying to take the pressure off.
But Zoe only shook her head, worry pulling at her mouth. “If she says no, we might lose the whole year. You said it yourself—the grants are brutal. I don’t want to start from scratch.”
“Let’s not think about that now,” he said before Eleanor met them.
“Hello, you two. Lovely to see you.” She greeted them with a smile and a handshake.
Jackson caught the practical shoes on her feet. They were low-heeled leather, the kind that could handle a farm path. That eased him more than he expected.
They moved slowly along the path, the air cool and rich with the smell of damp soil. Inside the greenhouse, rows of seedlings pushed upward—tiny kale, spinach, zinnias, coneflowers. Sunlight spilled through the glass, gilding everything. Jackson hung back, letting Zoe talk through her plans.
“These are the magical flowers we told you about last time,” Zoe said, stopping in front of the Moonlight Kisses.
“You found them?” Eleanor’s voice lifted with genuine delight as she bent low to examine the silvery petals. “My word, these are spectacular. Look at that sheen. They almost look iridescent!” She straightened. “This discovery alone could put Maple Falls on the map. You should let me arrange a news feature. People would be enchanted by this.”
Jackson noticed the way Zoe’s smile faltered for just a moment before she recovered it. “That’s incredibly kind, Eleanor, and I’d love that. But I’d like to give them a little more time first. Make sure they’re thriving before everyone descends on the site where we found them. It’s…delicate up there.”
Eleanor regarded her for a thoughtful beat, then nodded. “Very wise. You’re protecting something special, and that tells me you’re the right person to lead this project.”
Eleanor flipped through Zoe’s binder next, pausing on a page describing the greenhouse curriculum. “So, you’ve designed modules for every age group?”
Zoe nodded. “I want the kids to see where their food comes from, to feel the joy of watching something grow. It teachespatience. Care. Responsibility. And it connects them to this land, to this community.”
