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“Well, you didn’t base the relationship on sex. You actually talked. I mean, you have to call him. You can’t marry Leon. He’s such an asshole.”

“I don’t have a choice, Grace.” I cut the leaves off the final rose and tuck it into the vase next to a long thin fern. “This is happening. I can’t have Dad’s guys after Sawyer.I can’t.I… you saw what they did to Harper’s boyfriend. He almost died, lost his business, was forced to move across the country, and Dad still chained Harper to a new man.” I huff out a breath and stare toward my sister. “I’m lucky. I got two great years with Sawyer. I got to feel real love. Not everyone gets to say that.” I turn back and slide the finished arrangement into the cooler next to the others. “Sawyer is probably married off to some other girl by now, anyway.”

“You haven’t looked him up online or sent someone to go check on him? I mean, he’s only a couple hours away. You’d think you guys would run into each other every once in a while.”

If I could count the number of times I went by the tattoo shop hoping to catch a glimpse of him, or how many times I prayed we’d run into each other at some harvest festival, it would take hours. It’s a recurring daydream I wake up with every morning, but come nightfall, I still find myself waiting for tomorrow, hoping I can see him one more time.

“He doesn’t do social media,” I shrug, “which is a good thing. I don’t need to torture myself withwhat-if’sforever. It’s for the best.”

The bell on the door rings and my father steps inside, changing the vibe in the room immediately. He’s nearly eighty and though he doesn’t get around as well as he used to, he’s still a presence. Dressed in a three-piece suit for a walk kind of presence. Shiny bald head with a designer watch kind of presence.

“Dad.” I reach out to hug him hello. He’s never been mean to me, per se. In fact, he’s given me everything money can buy. A college education, new cars, jewelry, and he even bought the flower shop. The fact that I didn’t want it isn’t the point—I guess.The only thing I was ever really missing was love. Even then, I’ve had it better than most.

He reaches down and pulls me in for a quick hug, the scent of cigars on his clothes. “Your fiancé’s been looking for you.”

My brows narrow. “Really? I’ve been right here, at work, all day. What’s going on?”

Dad clears his throat and lowers onto the stool behind the register. “The rehearsal dinner is tonight. He said you were trying to get out of it.”

Oh, so he hasn’t been trying to get a hold of me. He sent my father after me because I wasn’t listening to him.

“It’s not a rehearsal dinner, Dad. It’s Leon and a bunch of his buddies screwing around on the boat.” I shake my head and busy myself with tidying up the mess I’ve made with cut stems. “They get drunk, they act stupid, and they—”

“He wants you there.”

“For what?” I snap back. “It’s more a bachelor party than a rehearsal dinner.”

“Whatever it is, the man wants you there, and you’re going.” He nods toward the stack of pies on the counter. “What are these?”

“Pie.” My stomach clenches as I brace for an incoming lecture.

“Why do you have pies on the counter? This is a flower shop.” I hate when he uses this tone. It’s both condescending and dismissive, and it reminds me that my life isn’t my own. I mean, I never wanted a flower shop. Sure, I like flowers, but what do I need with a whole store?

What I wanted was a fairytale pie shop where all the pies were named after different story books. I imagined how cute it would be with a whimsical décor and enchanted music humming through the speakers. Sawyer and I even had these cute, colorful aprons picked out. Well, I picked them, and Sawyer agreed.“Get rid of them,” my father grunts as he stands from the stool. “They don’t make sense here, and make sure you’re at that party tonight. You’re about to be someone’s wife, Evie. Start acting like it.” He carries his frail body toward the door and steps out into the sun without a goodbye.

Okay…I turn toward my sister, whose jaw has dropped to the floor.

“What the hell was that about?”

“Right? Oh my God.” I flip open a box of strawberry pie and break off a piece of the crust, shoving the crumbling pastry into my mouth while offering my sister some. “Leon planned this stupid party, and his mom told him I should be there. So, now I have to go, or he has to cancel his party. We got into this argument about it last night. He must have sent Dad to put me in my place.”

My sister bursts into unabridged laughter. “What’s happening here? You’rebothbeing ruled by your parents. Did I mention you’re over thirty years old? Come on, Evie! You have to stop this!”

“Umm… you do realize you’re being ruled by Dad too, right?”

“No, I’m not.” Grace flips her hair back away from her shoulder. “I do what I want. Just last night I got thinking about petitioning for a public playground. I mean, there are plenty of kids everywhere and there never seems to be one.”

My brows narrow. “A playground? Why do you care about a playground?”

She rolls her eyes and redirects her gaze to the floor, then up again. “Oh my God, does it matter? The point is, I’m doing something that’s not on Dad’s list of approved activities. You should too.”

I have a million questions about this sudden interest in playgrounds, but I don’t have the energy right now to ask. “I’mgonna grab a coffee. You know where they have good coffee, Rugged Mountain. Besides, it’s on the way to the lake, right?”

Grace laughs, rolls her eyes, and heads down the hall toward the back door. “Just finally do it this time. I’m not sure I can keep harassing you at this pace forever.”

“We’ll see.” I grab my purse from under the register and head out into the afternoon sun.

A cup of coffee will fix everything… at least it better.

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