Page 77 of Coming Up Roses

“She makes those amazing cupcakes at Sugar.” Abi smooths her hair down. “I thought about asking her if she wants to do cakes for some of the weddings here, but …”

“But?” I prompt.

“She’s a Sheridan isn’t she? Aren’t I supposed to stay away from them?”

“No. Max is the only one who isn’t welcome around here. Tilly and her parents are fine.”

“I appreciate that,” Tilly says from behind us. She turns to Abi. “Please don’t lump me in with my idiot brother. I’ve been meaning to ask actually if you need more bar staff?”

Abi’s smile grows. “Yes. Always. Please. Can you start tomorrow?”

Tilly laughs. “Sure can, but you said something about flowers?”

Abi leads us inside, where the rest of the team are already waiting.

“Woah,” Tilly breathes, then turns to everyone else in the room to say a quick hello.

“What do you need us to do?” Olivia asks Abi and after the tiniest hesitation, Abi takes a deep breath and explains what needs doing. Everyone picks up a task and before I know it, the flower arrangements are coming together, surrounded by chatter and laughter.

I pause as I pass Abi carrying a finished arrangement to a table across the room.

“You don’t need to say I told you so,” she mutters and I let out a low laugh.

“I would never, Rosie. I just wanted to say how proud I am of you. Look at you, complete and total boss babe, emphasis on the babe.”

Her cheeks flush. “Shut up, Flynn,” she mutters, but as I move away her fingertips on my wrist make me pause. “But thank you, for everything.”

It’s my turn to fire an air kiss in her direction. “Any time, Rosie. Whatever you need.”

39

ABI

“Mama,”Sadie cries out as she sees me at the door and automatically flings her body into my arms.

“Heya, Sadie,” I murmur into her hair, squeezing my eyes shut against the burn of tears.

You’d think by now I’d be over crying every time my little girl refers to me as her mother, but I’m not and I don’t think I ever will be.

I’ve even spent time alone with her, with me the only adult around, without panic attacks. In fact, where Sadie’s concerned, there doesn’t seem to be anxiety anymore. It makes me wonder why I spent so much time away.

I squash those thoughts and remind myself what my therapist told me last week when I’d mentioned it to her on one of our virtual sessions. I took the time away because I needed to, so I could be the mum Sadie has now.

I squeeze her tight, then set Sadie’s feet back on the ground and step into the kitchen, expecting to see the table laid outready for the usual chaotic dinner, but while there’s some serving dishes of food lined up down the centre of the table, there’s nothing else.

“Everyone’s in here,” Sadie says, taking my hand and leading me through into the dining room. I’ve never actually stepped foot in this room, just had glimpses of it through the door. It’s never been used for any of the meals I’ve joined the family for.

But we’re clearly using it tonight.

When Violet asked me to come tonight—it was more of her strongly suggesting I be here, rather than an invitation—she had mentioned it was a bit of a special occasion, but she didn’t say why, and I didn’t even think to ask someone about it. I should have asked Flynn.

I glance around the room, looking for him, but I already know he’s not here. He would have greeted me already. I try not to feel the disappointment. He’ll be here soon. He’s as much a part of the Austin family as Olivia herself, he’s not going to miss this special occasion dinner.

Instead of seeing Flynn and receiving one of his beaming smiles, I acknowledge who is here; Dallas is setting cutlery out on the huge wooden table, Olivia is opening a bottle of wine and Katie is lining up glasses along the sideboard.

They each say hello and we settle into our usual conversations, with Olivia asking how things are going down at the function centre and me reassuring her it’s all fine.

The second flower fiasco was handled much quicker than the first, with so many hands on deck, and the wedding itself went off without an issue, especially with the new additionof Tilly to the bar staff. She seems to have a natural instinct for customer service and managing the moods of the staff. I’m already considering urging her to get her manager’s license so she can run the entire bar for me. She’s sure easier to work with than the grouchy woman I currently use, but I’ll wait to see how Tilly goes for a few more events first.

---