Page 127 of His Greatest Treasure

He moves, coming closer to me. “I’d spend my last dollar buying flowers for you, Avery.”

The declaration is spoken without hesitation, another promise that buries itself deep in my soul.

A sniffle comes from beside me, and I turn my head to look at Gracie. Her tear-streaked cheeks are alarming to me, but Oliver only shakes his head at her, humour lining his expression.

“Need a moment, Ma?” he asks her.

She rolls her eyes at him and pats at her cheeks with the back of her hand. “I’ll be in the backroom to give you some time alone.”

“There are tissues by the sink,” Oliver teases before she steps into the other room with a light punch to his shoulder.

I watch her leave and then finally allow myself the time to look around the shop. Each new addition makes me feel one breath away from following after Gracie and bursting into tears.

It’s far from what it was the last time I was here. A real flower shop is what it is now. One with life and colour and love embedded in the painted walls.

“Wow,” I breathe.

“Do you like it?” Oliver asks softly.

“I love it. It’s . . . beautiful. Perfect.”

Everything from the new countertop installed, floor-to-ceiling shelving units built along the wall, and soft yellow curtains hung on the window was purchased with thought and care. I turn in a slow circle, taking in all of the new changes, when I see one that has me sucking in a breath.

Nova’s Cornerhas been painted in colourful cursive on the wall above a small table and chairs decorated with matching doodles. Frogs, ballet slippers, tutus, flowers, and a plate of red Jell-O have been painted on the tabletop. The two chairs have small pink pillows on the seats to match the armchairs on the other side of the shop.

“Did you do this yourself?” I ask, dragging my palm over the back of a chair.

“I had help. Rebecca painted the table and helped pick out the furniture. All I wanted was for Nova to have someplace for herself here. I know that you’ll want her here with you as much as possible, and this way, you can both have your own space. You can work, and she can draw or read or anything she wants to do. I hope I didn’t overstep,” he says, reaching up to rub at the back of his neck.

Emotion clogs my throat as I nod and give a weak smile. Happiness overflows inside of me to the point I’m struggling not to choke on it.

“It’s perfect, Oliver. Honestly. So perfect.”

His grin is beaming, as if maybe his happiness is as striking as mine.

The pile of large Styrofoam plates and handful of paint bottles on the table have me turning to where Oliver’s watching me with Nova at his side.

“What are these for?”

The two of them come my way, and then Oliver’s taking my hand and bringing it to his lips. I hold my breath, watching him kiss each of my knuckles before releasing my hand in exchange for my waist. He holds it with a steady, sure grip, each one of his fingertips searing through my shirt and into my skin.

“While I made some changes and fixes to this place, it’s still yours. I tried to keep that clear throughout every change I made or item I brought in. But this is for you and Nova. I thought you could finish the walls off with your handprints. To mark it as yours.”

There’s no stopping my tears now. They spill out with a vengeance, and the second a sob slips up my throat, he’s frowning, hands holding my cheeks.

A smaller body pushes between us, and two arms wind around my chest before Nova’s pressing her face to my stomach. I watch through a blurry gaze as Oliver curls his other arm around her and tucks us both into him.

“It’s okay, Mom. I want to do it. Do you?” Nova asks.

Oliver holds my gaze and swipes his thumb over my flushed skin. I lean into the touch and close my eyes for a breath, more tears dripping.

When I open them again, he’s still watching, waiting for me to tell him I don’t like his idea. But that’s not why I’m crying.

“It’s a perfect idea, Oliver,” I say on a shaky exhale, stillgathering my bearings and confidence. “But I don’t only want two handprints on these walls.”

“What?”

Nova tips her head back to look at me, appearing just as confused as him.

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