Page 49 of Passions & Peonies

The bell rings, alerting us that Sophia and Sky are here. Jocelyn beats me to the door and lets them in. She hugs them and whispers something in their ears. They giggle, then stop when they see me.

“Hey, Lace. Is the bubbly ready?” Sky approaches me with a goofy grin on her face.

“You’re chipper today. I guess your boss got the space she wanted for the art studio?”

She looks at me like she has no idea what I’m talking about. “Huh? Oh! Yes.” She needs something to drink.

We all stand around in the sewing room talking for a few minutes while Sky makes a phone call. I pop open the champagne bottle and get ready to pour.

The bell rings again. I glance at Jocelyn. “Are you expecting anyone?”

“No, but maybe it’s a delivery. I’ll go check, then we can get this party started.”

A few minutes pass while Sophia chats about her family in Germany, and how happy her parents and sister are that the wedding will be held in the US.

What is taking Jocelyn so long?

I hear shuffling behind me and turn around. A woman stands there with a huge vase full of gorgeous pink peonies. “Are you Lacey Devlin?” she asks.

I nod because I think I’m about to swallow my tongue.

“Delivery for you.”

She extends her arms to hand me the vase, but I’m frozen. Sophia thanks her and takes it for me. Then, like I need another shock, one after another, several more people come in, each carrying a vase full of peonies. They place them on every empty space they can find in this room. The scent already permeates the air.

The ringer on my phone startles me. I glance at it quickly to see who it is, and I do a double take. “Will?” My hands begin to sweat, and my heart is in my throat. I’m going to pass out.He did this!I’m so nervous, I don’t know if I can answer. My hand hovers over the phone while yet another person comes in with another vase. There must be at least ten in here by now.

“No! No!” I shout at my phone when it stops ringing. I shake it and tap the screen. It starts ringing again, and I almost drop it. This is not the time to break it.

Tears prick my eyes because I’m so overwhelmed. Jocelyn and Sky stand in the doorway.

“What’s the matter?” Jocelyn asks.

“I think it’s Will.” Sophia points to the phone and steps away.

“It’s a video call,” I say. “I’m freaking out.”

“Well, answer it, dummy. This isn’t the time to play chicken shit,” Sky urges.

They’re all standing there, looking at me and nodding.

They’re right.I roll my shoulders, turn around, and lean my butt on the edge of the table. I tap the button. His face comes on the screen, and I cover my mouth. He’s so gorgeous.

“Will, I can’t believe it. It’s so good to see you. I’ve missed you so much. And I’m so glad you called.” I’m shaking and sweating profusely. “Did you do this?”

“Do what?” he says with a sexy smirk.

“You know what I mean. This.” I turn my phone toward one of the vases, then turn it back to me.

“Maybe.”

Huh?I look closer at the screen as he moves around. The walls in the background look familiar, and so does the painting on the wall. “W—wait a second. Will, where are you?”

“Right behind you.”

I gasp and cover my mouth again. Tears start to spill, and I whirl around. I drop the phone on the table.He’s here!In the flesh, and the only thing separating us is this damn table full of flowers.

“Hi, Red,” he says softly.

---