Page 2 of Finding Her Strength

“How’s everything going with you? The shop doing okay?” Denny asks when he’s finally done with the last box. He’s standing next to his truck with his hands on his hips, seeming perfectly content to chat the day away.

“The shop is doing great. I couldn’t be happier.”

“Good, good. You know, if you’re lonely, I’ve got a cousin who’s single. I’m sure he’d love to take out a pretty girl like you.” Denny winks.

Mortification fills my face as I self-consciously laugh. “I’mnot lonely, Denny, but I appreciate the offer. I should probably get these flowers put away before I have to open.” Talk about a leading question, that was just bold.

Chuckling, Denny waves a hand in response before jumping into his truck to finish his deliveries. Shaking my head, I walk back inside to start putting the flowers in the large walk-in cooler.

Despite their meddling, the people here do genuinely care about me and my store. Even when I’m being cagey about my background, they still say hello or ask how I’m doing. What’s more, they truly want to hear my answer. It’s refreshing when I’m so used to no one paying any attention to me at all.

When I first arrived in Sonoma, I didn’t want to be noticed. I wanted to blend into the background, hiding behind the flowers I created. I thought it would be an easier way to live, a simpler way. Instead, these people took me in and showed me I didn’t have to hide away anymore. I could finally live my life exactly how I wanted without having to hold back who I truly was on the inside.

It’s been a liberating experience, allowing me to slowly uncover the person I was always supposed to be instead of who I was forced to be.

The alarm on my phone blares, telling me it’s time to open, so I step toward the front doors, twist the deadbolt, and flip over theOpensign. Turning, I take in my shop as the morning sun shines through the windows.

Around the outside edges of the store are dozens of leafy plants, creating a secret garden vibe. Interspersed are pre-potted plants people are encouraged to buy. I have a couple of tables in the middle of the room with multi-tiered displays holding an array of succulents, garden-themed trinkets, as well as items to help your garden thrive.

A long counter lines the back wall, where the cash register sits on one end, while the other is used for my worktop. Four glass refrigerators are lined up behind the counterholding several options for flower arrangements that people can either buy or use as inspiration for their own arrangements.

My obsession with flowers started when I was a little girl, creating arrangements for my grandmother using flowers from her garden. Even though I was little, I knew I wanted to do it as my career. Then I worked in a flower shop in high school. Working long hours every day, I learned a lot about the business in the hopes I could keep my job after I graduated. Then my life turned upside down, and I was never able to follow my dreams.

Memories from my past start to creep into my mind, and I shake my head, focusing on my to-do list for the day instead. I don’t need or want the negative energy from my past in my shop, so I make sure to never bring those memories here.

Standing behind my counter, feeling like I’m back in charge of my life, I look at my list of customer orders. It’s going to be a busy day if I’m to get everything done. When the door chimes, ushering in one of my regulars, any lingering negativity from my past is quickly replaced with flowers, greenery, and beautiful arrangements for the rest of the day.

Exactly how I prefer it to go.

2

LEVI

Iswing for the fences, the vibrations moving through my arms as the drywall smashes into pieces. God, that feels good. I take another swing at the wall in front of me, working to open the space of the house we’re renovating.

Some of my guys hate demolition day, and I can understand why. It’s a shit ton of work to tear out countertops and take down walls. For me, it’s the best therapy I could ever get. Plus, I’ve gotten ripped from wielding a sledgehammer, which makes every ounce of effort worth it.

It also helps to ease the constant energy buzzing through my system. Ever since I can remember, I’ve been on the move. Which means I wreaked a lot of havoc growing up. My mom still gives me shit about being a terror. Sitting still has always been a struggle for me, so having a job where I can expend a lot of energy has been a saving grace.

Max Miller and I started JM Construction almost five years ago. His wife, Lucy, and I have been friends since we were little. When they moved back to Sonoma after college, Max and I grew close, realizing we had many of the same interests. He has an architectural degree, and I’ve been doing construction since I was legally able to be on a site. Betweenmy contacts and Max’s talent at design, our business has taken off.

A whistle grabs my attention from tearing out the wall in front of me, and I glance over my shoulder as Harley nods her head toward the front yard. The new guy, Michael, is parking his truck, getting ready to come back inside from lunch.

I grin at Harley as I set down my sledgehammer. Moving quickly, I squeeze into a small alcove in the main living room. Michael comes striding back into the room, completely oblivious to me being there. I jump out of the alcove, scaring the shit out of him.

“Fuck, man!”

Harley’s laugh echoes through the room, along with mine, as Michael rubs his chest.

“I’d say sorry, but I wouldn’t mean it.” I grin at him.

“I hate you all,” Michael says, shaking his head.

“Yo, Levi, can you come look at this?” Jared calls down from the second floor.

I slap Michael on the shoulder, then head to the stairs, my boots thumping on each step. Even though I’m the general contractor, I have a hard time being super professional on-site. Around the homeowners, you’d never know I enjoy pranking my guys, but when they’re not around, I gotta do something to make the long workdays fun. Especially when something major goes wrong. Based on Jared’s tone, I have a feeling I’m not going to like what he found.

I walk into the room and immediately know my hunch was right. Random electrical cords are coming out of the wall we were planning on tearing down.

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