“This is Lisa at Silver Hill Ranch. I was hoping you had availability for a client. We booked three weddings, and they all need florists. I know you’ve been waiting for a phone call on our final decision, but I’ve been so busy I haven’t had the chance, so we’ll consider this the call to tell you we would love to work with you. So, do you have availability this year?”
My jaw drops and I stare out over the fair, but I’m not seeing anything. I’m in total shock.
“Baby, what’s wrong?” Cooper asks, squeezing my shoulder gently.
“Hello?” Lisa says.
“I—” I rasp.
Cooper takes the phone and talks to Lisa. “Sorry, I think the reception is bad. Yes, you can put her down for all of those. Sure, you can email the times thatwork for the brides. She’ll schedule it from there.” He pauses. “Not a problem. Thank you for calling. You have a good one,” he says, and hangs up.
“You did it, Mae,” he says.
I blink and look at him, and Naomi grinning wildly.
“Baby, you've got your first clients.”
“I did?” I knew it was a toss-up if they’d agree to work with me, but I didn’t expect to get three clients at the same time. I barely expectedone,if they even agreed to the partnership.
“Yay!” Naomi yells and hugs my arm.
I hug her back, still in shock.
The Ferris wheel comes to a stop, and it’s our turn to get off. Cooper helps Naomi onto the platform before hopping off and helping me down. He pulls me into a hug and kisses my cheek. “I’m so proud of you, stubborn.”
I huff into his neck and hold him tightly.
“Y’all gotta get off,” a young man working the ride says, tossing his thumb to the exit.
I start down the stairs and Cooper chuckles, holding fast to my hand.
“See Mae? It’s all falling into place.”
I grab Cooper’s face and slam my mouth onto his. He grunts in surprise and then wraps his arms around my waist, lifting me off the ground.
“Ew, Daddy, stop kissing Mae, it’s gross,” Naomi says.
We pull away chuckling, and he sets me on my feet.
“Sorry, princess, I just really love her.”
“What about me?” Naomi pouts.
I squat down and pull her into a hug and kiss her cheek. “We love you too, Naomi. "
She beams and catches something over my shoulder. “Can we do bumper cars? We haven’t done those yet.”
“Princess, you’re out of tickets.”
“Please!” Naomi whines.
“Please?” I ask Cooper.
He beams, looking between us. “How can I say no to that?”
We stay at the fair, celebrating, staying up way past Naomi’s bedtime, but making memories that we’ll forever have together. Yet I can feel that clock ticking in the back of my mind.
Cooper points to another ride, drawing Naomi’s attention to it, while we wait in line to play the duck fishing game.
