“She’s a very determined woman. Strong. She has faced some struggles lately, but she’s pushing through. I’m not sure that she has a favorite flower, but she’s artistic. So something with lots of color, I think. Bright.”
“Let me see what I can put together.” The woman walked over to a large glass cooler and stood there for a moment before she opened the door and began to gather a variety of flowers.
Ben watched as she moved with practiced efficiency, selecting vibrant blossoms in shades of orange, yellow, and pink. Her hands worked quickly, gathering stems of different heights and textures.
"Gerbera daisies for cheerfulness," she explained as she added several bright, open-faced flowers. "Some sunflowers for strength and admiration. Then this ranunculus for charm and attractiveness." She selected a few more varieties, explaining each one's meaning as she worked.
Once she finished gathering the flowers, she moved to a workstation where she arranged them with sprigs of greenery and tiny white flowers, creating a bouquet that was simultaneously wild and elegant. She secured it all with a length of raffia, then wrapped the stems in brown paper.
"This will definitely make a statement," she said, handing it to Ben. "It says you admire her strength and find joy in her presence."
Ben couldn't help but smile at the accuracy of that sentiment. "It's perfect. Thank you."
After paying for the bouquet and a crystal vase, since he wasn’t sure if Amelia had one, they left the shop and made their way back to the SUV. Ben cradled the bouquet carefully, not wanting to damage any of the delicate blooms.
His pulse quickened as they neared the church. Luca found a parking spot close to the entrance, and Ben stepped out, carefully holding the bouquet.
The afternoon sun warmed his face as he surveyed the parking lot. Amelia’s car was still there, so even though they’d made a stop, they hadn’t missed her.
"Do you want me to wait here?" Luca asked, leaning against the SUV.
"Yeah. If you don’t mind.”
Ben walked toward the side entrance that led into the area by the church offices. The weight of the bouquet solid in his hands as he pulled open the door and stepped inside.
“Ben?”
He spotted Amelia coming toward him, the strap of her purse over her shoulder. It looked like he’d caught her just in time.
Her gaze fell immediately on the bouquet and then back to him. “Did I… Did I know you were coming?”
“Not unless you can read my mind or have someone following me.”
“No, to both.”
“Well, I’m here to see if you’d like to grab dinner.” He held out the flowers. “Oh. These are for you.”
“They’re beautiful,” she said as she took them with a smile, her blue eyes shining. “Thank you.”
“So, how about dinner?” he asked, then held up his hand. “Only say yes if you really feel up to it and want to. I didn’t bring the flowers to coerce you into going. I just thought you deserved something beautiful.”
She bent her head to take a sniff of them. “As long as we don’t go anywhere fancy, I’m up for dinner.”
“I’d rather not do fast food, but if you’re okay with the diner again, we could go there.”
“The diner is fine,” she said. “Never had a bad meal there.”
“Perfect. How about we go back to your place so you can put the flowers in the vase with some water?”
“Okay.”
They left the church and walked to the vehicles where Ben held out his hand. “Let me drive. You keep holding the flowers.”
After a moment’s hesitation, she handed her car keys to him. He opened the passenger door for her, then held the flowers while she settled into the seat and buckled up.
“Follow us to Amelia’s apartment,” Ben called to Luca. “Then we’ll just take one car from there.”
Luca lifted a hand in acknowledgement, then they left the church parking lot. Ben immediately felt the difference in driving her car versus the SUV. And even though he’d adjusted the seat, he still felt really cramped.
