Page 88 of Beauty and the Beard

“Well, thank you? I think? I was just going to meet him at the airport and bring him home.”

Even saying he’s coming home sets loose a battalion of butterflies in my gut. He’ll be here. Permanently.

“Ahh, I love it when you smile like that when only his name is mentioned. It’s good on you.” Perry climbs down from his ladder and claps me on the shoulder. “But you’re not just gonna meet him, right?”

They both look at me, expectant smiles on their faces, and I feel like I’m a contestant on a game show.

“Nooo… I’m… stopping at the florist? Yeah.”

“Oh great! And what are you going to get?”

Perry rubs his hands together with far too much enthusiasm.

“Carnations?”

They both frown, so I hurry to correct myself. “Roses?”

“Classic romance.” Perry sighs. “What colour?”

“Ok, listen, I was going to ask the florist to make something for me while I stood there. That’s the truth.”

“Well, that’s good. They’ll know best. I think it’s roses, though.”

Pete nods in agreement and I wonder if I stepped into another dimension where my brother and father figure have suddenly acquired a taste for all things romance and flowers.

Shaking my head, I walk back to the kitchen, where Millie meets me with a smile.

“What do you think?”

“I think you’ve all lost your minds. But also, thank you. He’ll love it.”

“You’re okay with it, right? When I brought it up last week, you seemed okay with it.”

“You asked if I wanted a welcome home party?”

“No, I asked if we could do something to make Sasha feel welcome. It grew to a party. Not that the guest list is that large, but… I didn’t think it would be an issue.”

“It’s not. I’m moved. You’re all so excited to have him here.” Leaning down, I kiss her cheek. “He’ll love it, and I should’ve put more thought into something like this. I’ve just been…I don’t know, too excited reorganizing my closet to think of this.”

We both laugh and she squeezes my hands. We don’t need to say the words. She’s been a part of my life since I first met Connor, and she’s never left. We’ve celebrated and grieved together and all things in between.

From late night crying sessions in the kitchen to finding me chopping wood at 3 A.M. while screaming, Millie walked with me through it all. Having her approval and support for Sasha means the world to me.

“Happy is good on you, Leaf. I’m so pleased you found it again. Now take a few cookies with you for that man and get on the road.”

She pops a few into a bag and hands them to me.

“Thanks Millie. I’ll see you in a few hours.”

I rush out the front with a wave to Pete and Perry. Once in my truck, I plug in my phone to charge, but before driving off, I send a text to Sasha.

Standing in the arrivals area, I clutch the enormous bouquet in front of me. The arrivals board finally updates his flight to‘Arrived’ and I rush to the doors where weary passengers stream through.

The moment he breaks through the door and sees me, the entire world knows.

“Leaf!”

Sasha barrels towards me, barely missing knocking a woman down. I drop the flowers to the floor when he throws himself at me, wrapping his arms around my neck. My instant reaction is to wrap my arms around his waist and spin him around. Which I do while he peppers my face with kisses.

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