"I'd start with daisies. Those mean new beginnings."
His eyes widened a little. "They have meanings?"
She shrugged. "I learned a lot from doing weddings. The coordinators like to explain the meaning of the flowers and I think it's amazing. Like carnations. Not many people like them all that much, but they smell like spice... almost like cloves?"
Sam frowned. "I can't say that I've ever smelled one."
"Dark pink carnations say gratitude. And sunflowers have a bunch of lovely meanings. Bringing hope. But it also means loyalty. Oh, and silent love."
She let her words fall between them and he saw the way she was watching him.
"Ah... Okay. I think I'll look for daisies. Or dark pink carnations." He nodded. "Thanks."
She reached up and touched the side of his face in a tender gesture. "Let me know if we can help."
She walked away and Chief Blaise met her halfway.
The Chief took her into his arms and placed a kiss on her cheek. He said something into her ear and Sam saw Viviana sigh and lean into her husband.
Yeah, he wanted that someday.
CHAPTER 3
SEATON
Seaton didn't know what to expect when she heard her doorbell ring.
She was an inch from the end of a seam so she stayed at the sewing machine a moment longer.
So close.
Almost there... and-
Done!
She left the foot down on the bag in the sewing machine and got up from her seat.
Moving around the table, she made her way to the front door, taking a quick look at herself in the hall mirror.
She was working in her PJs, but she wasn't expecting anyone.
Then she caught sight of her purse on the hall table and smiled.
Was it too much to hope for some out-of-season Girl Scouts with Thin Mints?
Or maybe those kids with the boxes of chocolates for a fundraiser.
Either one would be an easy win at the moment.
She'd worked right through lunch and all she had in the kitchen was a mismatch of random ingredients that evenChoppedwouldn't give its contestants to work with.
Seaton unlocked the front door and opened it only to see her neighbor on her porch.
Sam Wister.
"Uh, hi."
"Seaton?"
