With her.
“I’m not leaving, Grace,” he said to the apartment. “I’m just getting started.”
When the real estate agent confirmed she had time to meet today, Cal headed out. His new plan didn’t involve a spreadsheet, but it would need a lot of hydrangeas, a public venue, and a willingness to commit to everything the future might hold.
His first stop was Island Bloomers.
Walking through the open door, he smiled at the woman behind the counter. Molly, according to the embroidery on her apron.
“Can I help you, sir?” She eyed him with friendly curiosity. “You’re Mr. Lynwood, right?”
He didn’t bother asking how she knew. “Call me Cal.”
The woman nodded. “Molly. Pleased to meet you.”
She spoke as if she meant it and Cal’s shoulders relaxed. “I need a bouquet,” he began. “Not roses. No lilies either. She prefers pink hydrangeas and purple delphinium.”
Molly’s eyebrows shot up. “Grace’s favorites. Please don’t tell me there’s a problem in the apartment over the Belle.”
“No.” Calvin didn’t even flinch at the highly-efficient gossip grapevine. “The apartment’s fine, but I need to make up for lost time with the landlady.”
Molly grinned. “We’re happy to help with that. What’s the budget?”
He tossed out a number and she nodded with confidence. “For pick up or delivery?”
He hesitated. Which method made the biggest impact? “Umm.” Maybe he needed that spreadsheet after all.
“We’ll deliver,” Molly decided for him. “She’s hosting a Galentine’s event at the boutique this evening for her book club.”
He’d forgotten it was almost Valentine’s Day. “Is there a calendar app for town events I should know about?” he asked.
She laughed as she rang him up. “There’s a reason we leave the door open. That way all the news just floats in,” she teased. “Your flowers will be delivered by mid-afternoon.” She pointed to a rack of note cards. “I’ll take the card whenever you’re ready.”
He chose a card with a border of hearts and after a moment, he wrote out a short message and tucked it into the envelope. He sealed it before handing it to Molly. “Thanks.”
With that task complete, he crossed the street to the Palmetto Perk where the real estate agent would join him. He had a house to find. One he could turn into a home filled with Grace’s style and warmth.
After hours of house hunting,he tiptoed up the stairs to the apartment to clean up, change clothes, and finalize one more surprise before crashing the party downstairs.
Searching for property had worn him out and he’d nearly given up when they found the exact right place. He’d made an unusually urgent offer, despite the Realtor’s warning that Grace should see it first.
But that wasn’t the point.
He would make the house his actual permanent home if she turned him away again tonight. And he could afford to rent it out, or sell it for a loss if she didn’t see the same value in it that he did.
Though he had to keep believing it would work out.
That hope buoyed him as he set a timer for an hour and crafted the best gift he could in that time frame with the limited resources he had available. Fortunately, the drug store on the island not only had a photo print service, but delivery too.
Once he was ready, the small scrapbook in his hands, he headed down the stairs. He was ready to go the distance to break down those protective walls around Grace’s heart. He wanted the honor of protecting her from today forward.
That kiss assured him the physical chemistry was as strong as ever. She said she loved him enough to let him go. He had to believe she loved him enough to let him stay.
He paused before walking around to the front door, hearing music and voices though he couldn’t pick out any words. Grace would be surrounded by her friends—the women who had held her together through some of the most challenging days of her life.
That was fine. He figured he’d have to convince them of his forever-intentions as well.
At the door, his courage almost faltered. Through the glass, he saw the women gathered in a loose circle around Grace. She looked pale, her shoulders slumped in a way that made his heart heavy. Willow was whispering something to her, and Charity was leaning in, resting a hand on Grace’s knee.
