Page 21 of Lavender and Honey

I laughed at this, “I could do with one of your sourdough then too…and maybe a French bread as well.” Elias nodded, going to grab the bread, putting them in a bag with the preservatives. Elias quickly rang up the purchases and I paid him.

“Here you go.” He handed me the bag, his smile still in place as I took it with a small smile and blush.

“Thank you. I do love all your creations I have had so far.” I told him, and it was true. Everything that I have bought from Elias has been delicious and nothing went to waste.

"Speaking of creations," Finn grinned, enjoying watching our interactions, "we brought some of those gift sets we were discussing at our meeting. Would you like to see the final product? We did a few little tweaks to make it look better.”

I nodded eagerly, curious to see the finished product. Finn reached behind the stall and brought out one of the wooden boxes I had admired earlier in the week. That and I wanted to bring up what they proposed about putting them in my store. After my talk with Avery and letting it sit for most of the week, it couldn’t stop thinking about it.

I just had to figure out the best way to ask…lets hope I could gather up the courage to do so.

Chapter Thirteen

As Finn brought out one of the wooden gift boxes, I felt a flutter of anticipation in my chest. The box was even more beautiful than I remembered— the rich, warm wood polished to a soft sheen, with intricate floral patterns carved into the lid. Finn opened it carefully, revealing a selection of Elias's preserves nestled inside, their vibrant colors a stark contrast to the dark wood.

"It's beautiful," I breathed, my fingers itching to trace the delicate carvings. "The detail in the woodwork is amazing, Finn."

Finn's eyes lit up with pride. "Thank you," he said warmly. "I'm really pleased with how they turned out. Each box is unique— the wood grain and carved patterns are never quite the same."

Elias leaned in, his honey-sweet scent enveloping me. "And inside, we've included a selection of our most popular preserves," he explained, gesturing to the jars. "The apricot wildflower you just tried, our classic strawberry lavender, and a savory tomato basil spread that pairs beautifully with cheese."

I nodded, admiring how the colors of the preserves complemented the rich tones of the wood. "It's a perfect combination," I said softly. "The craftsmanship of both the box and the preserves... It's really something special. I can see these being very popular gifts.”

Finn and Elias exchanged a pleased glance, their pride in their collaborative work evident. "We're really happy with how they've turned out," Finn said. "We think they'll make great gifts for the holiday season."

As I examined the gift set, I felt a surge of courage. This was the perfect opportunity to bring up their offer from earlier in the week. I took a deep breath, steeling myself.

"Actually," I began, my voice quieter than I intended, "I've been thinking about what you said. About maybe displaying some of your work in my shop."

Elias and Finn both turned to me, their eyes lighting up with interest.

"Really?" Elias asked, his voice warm with excitement. "You've been considering it?"

I nodded, feeling a mix of nervousness and anticipation fluttering in my stomach. "Yes, I have. I think... I think it could be a nice addition to the store. Something unique to offer customers, especially with the holidays coming up."

Finn's smile widened. "That's wonderful, Lydia. We'd be honored to have our work displayed in your shop."

"Are you sure?" I asked, biting my lip. "I mean, I've never done anything like this before. I wouldn't want to mess it up or..."

Elias reached out, gently placing his hand on my arm. The warmth of his touch sent a shiver through me. "Lydia, we have complete faith in you," he said softly, his hazel eyes meeting mine. "Your store is beautiful, and you have an incredible eye for aesthetics. Our work would be in good hands with you."

I felt a blush creep up my cheeks at his words, a warmth blooming in my chest. "Thank you," I murmured, still not entirely used to such genuine praise. "I just... I want to do it justice."

Finn nodded, his green eyes warm with understanding. "We know you will," he said, his deep voice reassuring. "And we'll be here to help every step of the way. We could start small— maybe just a few pieces to see how they're received?"

I nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness bubbling up inside me. "That sounds good," I said softly. "Maybe we could start with a small display near the register? Just a few of the gift sets to begin with?"

Elias beamed, his honey-sweet scent spiking with happiness. "That's a great idea," he said enthusiastically. "We could put together a little assortment for you– maybe three or four different styles of boxes with various preserve combinations."

Finn nodded in agreement. "And if you'd like, we could come by the shop sometime this week to help set up the display? We want to make sure it complements your space perfectly."

Their eagerness to help, to ensure that their work fit seamlessly into my carefully curated shop, touched me deeply, “Yes. That could work. I am open Tuesdays to Sundays. Mondays I take off. So any time that works for you…” I trailed off, knowing they would understand what I meant.

Elias's eyes lit up with excitement. "That's perfect! How about this Tuesday? We could come by in the afternoon, after the lunch rush dies down."

I nodded, feeling a mix of nervousness and anticipation flutter in my stomach. "Tuesday afternoon works for me…around two?" I said softly. "I'll make sure to clear some space near the register."

Finn's green eyes twinkled with enthusiasm. "Perfect. We'll bring a selection of gift sets and work with you to create a display that complements your shop's aesthetic."

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