“Ladies and gentlemen,” he boomed, his voice carrying over the square, “thank you for joining us for this year’s Spring Fling! Isn’t Maple Falls radiant this season? Full of color, full of life, full of love.”
Applause rippled through the crowd.
“Now, the moment we’ve all been waiting for.” He turned, beaming at Edith. “Envelope, please.”
She handed it over with a wink, and he held it aloft. “This year has been like no other,” the mayor continued. “Apparently, wagers were placed.” Laughter rolled across the square. “And you all turned out in record numbers to vote. Truly, this has been the most spirited Spring Fling we’ve ever seen.”
He broke the seal, drawing out the pause, eyes twinkling. “And the Couple of the Year is…”
The crowd held its breath.
“Jackson Hawthorne and Zoe Hart!”
The mayor grinned, raising his voice above the noise. “And I’d say it’s an excellent choice! After all, these two are the very pair who rediscovered the long-lost Moonlight Kiss bloom, a flower said to appear only where true love has taken root!”
A collective “aww” swept through the square.
He spread his arms wide, voice booming again. “Seems to me love is alive and well here in Maple Falls!”
The mayor’s words rang out clear as the bells that crowned the square, and then the cheers began. They were tentative at first, like the strike of a match, before catching and roaring to life. The sound swelled around Zoe until she felt it in her bones, every clap, every whistle, every shout of her name.
Her mom cried outright, camera shaking in her hands as she snapped photo after photo. “That’s my baby!” she wailed, voice cracked with joy. “That’s my baby!”
Zoe’s throat tightened. She might have laughed if the lump in her chest hadn’t been so thick.
Jackson’s hand found hers, steady and sure, and he leaned down just enough that only she could hear. “Told you they’d see it.”
Her lips trembled into a smile.
And then, in front of everyone, he pulled her into his arms. The world narrowed to the warmth of his body, the press of his palm against the small of her back, the slant of his mouth lowering to hers.
The crowd roared, the noise rolling over them like a wave, but Zoe barely heard it. The only sound was the rush of blood in her ears, the faint catch of his breath as his lips claimed hers. He kissed her slowly, deeply, as though this were the vow, the promise, the whole of their future sealed with one touch.
She sank against him, his arm strong at her waist, keeping her steady, keeping her safe. Her soldier. Always her soldier.
When he finally lifted his head, blossoms drifted on the spring breeze, caught in her hair, on his jacket. He laughed softly, brushing one from her cheek.
Mrs. Bishop fanned herself with her program, declaring loud enough for everyone to hear, “Woo-eee, that’s why they won, folks!”
The fiddlers, never ones to miss their cue, slipped into a lilting ballad. Couples paired off instinctively, but many eyes remained fixed on Zoe and Jackson.
“Dance with me?” he murmured, offering his hand.
Her chest swelled, her answer a whisper caught between a laugh and a sigh. “Always.”
He drew her close, and together they moved beneath the lanterns strung across the square. The glow painted everything gold, the blossoms falling like confetti, the music winding soft and sweet. Jackson’s hand splayed warm at her waist, guiding her gently, mindful of her ankle, every step protective and sure.
“I’m so glad this isn’t just for today.” His voice brushed her ear, low and certain. “Couple of the Year’s nothing compared to Couple of a Lifetime.”
Her heart stumbled, then soared. She tipped her face up, catching the look in his eyes. It was steady, devoted, lit with hope she never thought she’d see there again.
Somewhere above the square, the breeze shifted, carrying the faint, sweet scent of blossoms. Zoe thought of the hidden meadow and the shimmer of the Moonlight Kiss blooms glowing under sunlight. It felt like that same magic was here now, swirling through the air, settling around them, blessing this moment.
And in the center of Maple Falls, with the town cheering, blossoms drifting, and the future blooming bright before them, Zoe finally let herself believe that some kinds of love really were enchanted. And theirs had just begun to bloom.
EPILOGUE
Zoe tipped her face up, letting the filtered sunlight warm her. Spring had steadily given way to summer. Rows of seedlings stretched in every direction. The Local Blooms greenhouse was a landscape of color with pretty pinks, soft buttery yellows, deep purples, and, of course, the soft blue petals of the Moonlight Kisses.
