“Can we build a fairy house?” Adara looked up at Leo as she put the finishing touches on her fairy ring.
“Of course,” Leo replied as he finished his tea and went to join her.
“Can we make it in a tree?” she asked, looking around at the trees encircling the house. “So it would be like a treehouse, but for fairies.”
She is adorable,Leo’s bear said.
“A fairy treehouse,” Leo said with a serious nod. “That’s a brilliant idea. We can make a plan and then build it.”
He glanced up to see Estelle watching them, her mug cradled in her hands. The morning light caught in her hair, turning the edges copper. The sight of her took his breath away. He suspected it always would.
She looks more relaxed,his bear observed.Less braced for impact.
I wish she could always feel that way,Leo said.I wish we could stay here like this forever. Just hold on to this moment a little longer.
But he lived in the real world. That was the thing about running his own business. He had commitments to keep and deliveries to make.
Ask them to come along,his bear suggested.
Do you think Estelle will agree to that?Leo asked.She said she wanted to keep a low profile. And if she’s seen with me, that won’t happen. Everyone will know she matters to me.
You won’t know unless you ask,his bear replied.
No, I won’t,Leo said, getting to his feet and brushing the dirt off his hands.
“I should get going on deliveries soon,” he said as he closed the distance between them. “Would you two like to come along?”
Estelle tilted her head, considering. “Deliveries?”
“Tomatoes and herbs for the restaurant, plus a few other stops. Nothing exciting. Just my regular rounds.”
His bear perked up.Show them your world. Let them see this part of you.
Estelle hesitated only briefly before nodding. “That sounds... nice.”
Leo wasn’t entirely convinced nice was the word she meant, but he’d take it.
It’s up to you to make it more than nice,his bear said.
No pressure there, then,Leo replied dryly.
No pressure at all,his bear said with a chuckle.
Twenty minutes later, they were loading crates of produce into Leo’s truck. He lifted Adara into the middle seat, where she sat clutching Fizz and peering eagerly through the windshield.
“Is this all from your greenhouse?” Estelle asked, running her fingers over glossy tomatoes nestled in their crates.
“Yes, it is,” he answered, unable to keep the pride from his voice.
She’s impressed,his bear noted with satisfaction.
Leo smiled as he closed the tailgate. “Ready?”
Their first stop was Thornberg Restaurant, where Matt greeted them with a quick wave as he directed a delivery truck at the back entrance. Leo introduced Estelle and Adara to the staff as he unloaded crates of tomatoes and fresh basil.
Rachel came through from the dining room carrying a stack of menus and paused when she saw the produce. “Those look incredible,” she said. “Honestly, I’m not even a tomato person, and they’re some of the best I’ve ever tasted. Even Aria will eat them, and she always says she doesn’t like tomatoes.”
Leo felt a surge of pride as Estelle listened to the exchange. “Matt’s the real genius. I just grow what he tells me to.”
