Page 67 of Wandering Closer

“I’m still sticking with purple. Can you add this bunch, too?” I pluck a pretty wildflower mix from the fridge next to me.

Michele has been my savior these last few weeks. The least I can do is buy some flowers for her office. I know I could use a lawyer, but Michele knows contracts, and she knows what I want. She’s been combing through all the paperwork with me for the sale of some of my land. I decided to sell just one of my plotsto Mike. The lawyer fees are pretty astounding, and the profit from the sale will pay off my mortgage and give me a nice little nest egg.

I pay for the flowers, and head to Marge, shaking my head at the fact that I am calling her car that name. She took my truck to pick up the tiles we ordered, and Jake is going to meet her at the house later to help her unload them. My friends and family have quickly accepted her into the fold and are just as captivated by her. My mom told me earlier this week that she and dad are keeping Lily no matter what, so I better not mess up. I’m not even mad at it because I hope they do.

Opening the passenger seat, I carefully set the flowers down when I hear the worst sound.

“Thoren, dear, is that you?” Sherry’s annoying voice says from too close behind me.

Standing up, I grip the door tightly, willing myself not to slam it shut as I turn to face her. “Hey Sherry.”

She runs a hand through her long blond hair, trying to subtly pull down her shirt on the way. Surprise; it’s as subtle as a hammer to the head. “I’m so glad I ran into you. I heard you were signing the papers today. You made the right choice. We should go get drinks after to celebrate.”

“No thanks,” I step away from her and walk toward the driver’s side door. “I have plans with my girlfriend.” In the car, I don’t even bother waving.

The drive to Michele’s office is quick, and I see the notary is already here and waiting. Grabbing the wildflowers, I make my way into the office and slip them on her desk. Her eyes go wide, then soft as she takes them in before looking away. “The notary arrived right before you. All you need to do is sign,” she says, leading me to the couch where the lady is waiting.

“Thank you for doing this all for me. Is everything finalized and ready to go?”

“Yeah, they signed off on the new additions. They sent them back within three hours, so I don’t know if they fully read through the changes. But it is in there and signed by Mike that you will get 1.5 million dollars for the land, and if he does anything with the land but build the agreed upon condos, you can negate the deal and keep half the amount.”

“Michele, you are a damn genius.” I kiss the top of her head before we sit down. The only way I was comfortable enough to sell was with the guarantee that he wouldn’t build something stupid on the land. Mike makes smart business decisions; it’s how he has made such a successful company. If he were to change his mind and build a resort, or the luxury homes he talked about previously, I fear it will fall flat and in a few years we will have abandoned buildings where there once was a beautiful forest. I think the condos have the potential to do well and bring in revenue for the town, so that’s all I will allow to be built there.

“Thanks, but no more compliments until you tell Lily. About this and the lawyer.”

I politely ignore her as I sign all the papers and get them stamped before sending the notary on her way. It’s painful to let the land go for something so superficial. It’s a great location, and could be used for better things, or just preserved for the forest it is, but it will be worth it. It feels just as selfish holding onto that land when I have other plots and properties.

“I’m going to tell her about the land tonight.” I don’t bother mentioning the lawyer because I know how she feels about it and she’s not wrong. I know how important trust is to Lily. I just can’t risk her refusing the help and not getting the justice and closure that she deserves. She needs a win after everything, and I will make sure that she gets it.

Michele shakes her head walking back to her desk. Her fingers rub at the petals of one flower, but she doesn’t pick them up. “Ethan was the last person to get me flowers until today.”

“Oh Chele, I didn’t know. I’m sorry, I just wanted to show my gratitude for all your help.”

“It’s fine. It’s been twelve years, Thoren. Twelve damn years, and my heart still hurts. Why can’t I get over my high school crush?” her voice breaks with the last word.

I pull her into my chest, holding her as she lets the tears flow. “He wasn’t just a crush. He was your first love. You either need to find him and fight for him, or you need to try to move on.”

“I did. I flew out to see him six years ago. The minute we were together again, it was like no time had passed. He’s the other half of my soul, and I told him that. But I won’t leave Cedar Ridge; I want a family and to raise my children here. He wanted to chase wildfires across the country and for me to follow.” She steps out of my embrace, wiping at her eyes before turning around to mess with the papers on her desk. “I’m trying to move on. I really am.”

I knew they had sporadically talked over the years, but I had no idea she went to go see him. I can’t imagine the pain she must have felt putting herself out there like that, only for him to crush her so thoroughly. When Lily told me that I was enough last week, it was like she blew air into my lungs, and I was able to take my first full breath in years. Like I had been just wading through the rough waters for the last few years and she pulled me to the surface and into her boat. Everyone deserves to feel like they are enough just the way that they are, especially the incredible woman who can’t look at me. “You’ll find him one day. And when you do, everything will be right in your world. I gotta go get my girl. You okay here?”

“Yeah, I will file the papers and you should have a check next week,” she says, still not turning to face me. I make it all the way to the door before she calls out, “Thanks for the flowers.”

Hopping back into Marge, I race toward home. Even with mixed emotions, I just made over a million dollar sale and I’m excited to tell Lily. My truck isn’t home when I get there, but she might have left it at her place. Shadow’s waiting at the door for me, but when I call out for Lily, no one answers. I throw out the wilting flowers on the dining room table and replace them with the fresh ones before heading next door.

Mine and Jake’s trucks are outside, and it seems someone has already brought in all the tiles. The front door is unlocked, so I let myself in, immediately greeted by laughter. A smile forms unbidden at the sound of these two letting their guards down and enjoying each other’s company. Jake is a surly guy who doesn’t let people in easily, so I love hearing his deep laugh with Lily’s carefree one.

“I did not show Michele my dick,” Jake swears when they calm down.

“This again?” I ask, rounding the doorway into the bathroom.

“I just want to know the truth,” Lily grumbles. “She turned bright red when I asked if she saw the ladder thing and you know she doesn’t blush.”

“Ugh, fine. She saw my piercings. Happy now?”

“Well, everyone but me has seen them, so no. That doesn’t seem fair,” Lily counters. Jake’s eyes go wide as I tackle her on her spot on the floor.

“You better watch it, baby,” I whisper into her ear as I pull her into my lap. “My cock is the only one you see.”

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