“You…you love me?” I ask, my voice shaky. A mixture of disbelief and overwhelming joy warring within me. The cafe sounds, the distant hum of traffic, the gentle clinking of plates – they all fade into the early evening.
Jason’s smile widens, the tension in his shoulders visibly melting away, replaced by a soft, radiant light that seems to emanate from him. He reaches across the table, his hand covering mine. His touch is warm. Grounding.
“I do,” he says, his thumb gently stroking the back of my hand. “Of course I do.”
A wave of happiness surges through me, so potent it makes my eyes prickle.
“I love you too, Jason,” I confess, my own voice thick with emotion, the words tumbling out like a long-held secret finally set free. “I love you so much. I have for a while.”
And in this moment, surrounded by the gentle murmur of the cafe, with his hand in mine and his eyes reflecting the lightfrom the pendants above, I know that the theoretical world has just become our vibrant, hopeful reality.
Epilogue
__________
Ben
The late afternoon sun streams through the front window of Peonies and Petals. Caleb has a few stained-glass creations by local artists on display that catch the light beautifully. Their colors paint the shop's interior in golden hues.
Barrett is back in his office, immersed in paperwork. It’s payday, and, being old-fashioned, he still cuts me a paper check every week. I have to deposit it myself. Meanwhile, Caleb sits at Barrett’s desk, coloring in his new Disney coloring book.
We're taking it easy after an exhausting, eventful weekend celebrating Kai and Shaun.
The air hums with the gentle whir of the mister mingling with the sweet, earthy perfume of hundreds of blossoms. I carefully rearrange a display of vibrant sunflowers. There’s quiet satisfaction in the ordered chaos all around me.
"Ben," Barrett startles me, his voice laced with enthusiasm, "can you come over here for a moment?"
I look up, a gentle smile on my face. "Of course, Barrett. Is everything okay?"
He grins, gesturing for me to join him by the main counter. "More than okay. In fact, things are absolutely fantastic. You know how I’ve been watching the shop's growth?"
I nod, wondering where this conversation is going. "I have. It feels like it’s getting busier, and I’m glad to be a part of it."
"And your talent, Ben," he continues, pride in his voice. "Your arrangements, your way with these living beauties...it’sexceptional. People come in specifically for your designs and leave practically glowing."
My cheeks flush a faint pink. "That's very kind of you to say.”
This is the first time I’m hearing about it.
"And I think it’s time we offer them to even more people," he says, smiling. Caleb comes from the back room, carrying a familiar crate. The glass clinks as he walks. He sets the crate on the counter.
What is going on?
“I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, Ben, and your work has sparked something really special. This summer, there’s a big farmers’ market happening downtown every Tuesday. It’s always buzzing, a real hub of activity and community."
He pauses, letting his words and the idea settle.
"And I was wondering…we were wondering…would you consider opening your own little booth there. Your own space, under our umbrella. You could even come up with your own name for it, something that reflects your unique style."
My jaw drops slightly, eyes wide with disbelief. For a moment, I can only blink, trying to process Barrett’s words. "A… a booth? At the farmers’ market?"
This has always been the dream. Seven years in the making.
"Exactly!" Caleb beams, clapping his hands together softly. "When I told Kai about it, he gave back all the containers from the wedding. Your mom’s containers. He said he couldn’t see them going to waste and wanted to donate them back to fulfill your dream.”
This is my chance—an opportunity to reach a whole new audience and showcase my artistry to hundreds of people every week. My heart flutters at the thought.
“We'd support you, of course, with sourcing and logistics. But the creativity, the vision—that would all be yours. We can build this together, a whole new avenue,” Barrett tells me. He’sthe business side of things. “But most important, you’re part of our family, Ben. This is just a new adventure. You still work for us here at P and P,” he teases.
