“But … you never fought. I don’t think I ever heard you raise your voice at each other.”
He chuckled. “That’s because by the time you showed up we’d had a very long time to get it all figured out. But we had our fair share of ups and downs, trust me. Did I screw up? Hell yes, and plenty! And I’d never speak a bad word about your grandmother but she had atemper. There was a time when she liked to throw saucepans at my noggin when she was feeling surly.”
He shook his head and stared off into the distance like he could see it all playing out again. “But we never stopped working on what we had. And no matter how frustrated we got with each other we never stopped loving each other. No threats of divorce, or name calling.Ever. Just a commitment to bumble our way through whatever life threw at us.”
I started to feel a little shaky as he spoke, like the solid ground beneath my feet was rumbling. It sounded like he had some sort ofinsider knowledge about what I’d been through with Drew, but I wasn’t about to open myself up to a conversation about what went wrong between us with my grandfather. I probably needed therapy.
“Good to know,” I answered. “I’ll keep your advice in mind if I ever find the time and inclination to date again. For now, I’m all about work, you, and Winston. You’re the only men I need in my life.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” he said, his rumbly voice softer than normal. “Take a look outside.”
He gestured to the double doors that led out to the community gardens.
“Why?”
“Because I said so,” Poppy huffed at me. “Now, get out there!”
I let out a sigh as I prepared for whatever unwanted surprise was waiting for me just beyond the doors. I pushed through them and froze once I was outside.
There were hydrangeaseverywhere, in every color. The gardens were stunning on their own but someone had turned the space into a wonderland, with the flowers blooming in every crevice. And then, a billion string lights flipped on and lit the space, making it look even more magical.
“But …” I glanced around then back to the door to discover that Poppy hadn’t followed me out.
I talked myself out of getting my hopes up about what it meant, even as my favorite Scarlet Rush song started playing from hidden speakers.
It couldn’t be him. Drew didn’t do things like this.
No, it had to be someone at the facility who decided to show off their green thumb. Maybe a local garden center had donated the display. Ora flower-loving resident had passed on and left the funds to create a memorial garden.
Because there was no way it could be …
“Emilia.”
I swirled around to find Drew standing behind me, holding a potted white hydrangea. My breath left my body at the raw emotion on his face. I could see everything written there.
Tension. Worry. Hope.
This wasn’t business-Drew in a suit who could handle anything and anyone. He’d shown up in the amazingly soft t-shirt and sweats he wore when we lounged at home.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
It was a stupid question, because by the looks of it he was trying to make my dreams come true. But I couldn’t allow myself to believe it until I heard what he had to say.
Drew placed the plant on a rock wall and strode closer to me, stopping a few feet away.
“I wanted to prove to you that I listened to what you’ve been telling me. Because even though this might look like me trying to impress you,” he gestured around the garden, “it’s more than that. I’m trying to show you that I heard what you were saying, and I understand now. I get it.”
I sniffled back the tears trying to spring free but didn’t say anything, because Icouldn’t. The words were stuck in the back of my throat, so Drew kept going.
“You never needed the showy stuff. You neededme,” he continued. “It took me a while to understand that, but now I do. That’s why we’re in a garden surrounded by your favorite flowers.”
“But how did you know that?” I asked him, allowing myself to take a step closer. “About hydrangeas?”
The corner of his mouth tilted up. “I listened. When we were at Longwood, you mentioned it to Kristen and Dorian included it inReel Life.”
I frowned at him. “I did? He did? Wait, you watched the show?”
“Of course I did. Several times, actually.”
