Page 60 of Returning to Everton

“Oh Rowen, are you finally home sweet girl? We missed you so,” she tells me kindly as she pats my cheek.

“Yes, I’m finally home. I’m sorry it took so long,” I whisper to her as she wraps me in a warm hug.

“Now, now, none of that. We’re just glad you’re back where you belong dear. When did you get back? And who is this sweet girl named after my favorite flower?” she demands.

I smile at her. “This is my daughter. When I was in the hospital having her, I saw the most beautiful bloom of wild violets outside my window and just knew that’s what I had to name her.”

“Well isn’t that the most heartwarming story,” she smiles at Violet. “How are you liking the town so far little Violet?”

“I love it! It’s so much better than our old town. And so far the people are very nice.”

“Oh? Have you met many people already?” she asks.

“Oh no just reconnected with the guys and met Declan and Logan,” I tell her.

“Now there is a sweet little boy,” she smiles softly when she thinks about Logan. “I had a feeling you were back in town when Ayden stopped by and bought a bouquet of chocolate cosmos.”

“You still carry those? I don’t know why I didn’t think to ask Ayden where he got them,” I sigh. “They were beautiful by the way.”

“Of course, I still sell them. I told you when you were a little girl, I would always have your flowers for you when you needed a little pick me up. Besides after Hudson named his bakery after them, they really started to sell.”

I look up when I hear a crash across the store. Mrs. Roseglade doesn’t look too concerned though.

“Quinn Mathews! Clean that up and get your butt over here!” she hollers at Quinn, who apparently made a mess. I snicker at her. For once it wasn’t me.

“Sorry Mrs. Roseglade!” Quinn calls back.

“So, what brings you girls to the square today?” Mrs. Roseglade asks me as we wait for Quinn to clean up her mess.

“Well, the house I’m renting is a little bigger than what I had before. So naturally, we need to buy more stuff to fill it,” I chuckle. “We’re out exploring all the stores. Yours was our first stop.”

“Why do I have a feeling I was only your first stop because the bakery is closed today?”

I laugh. “Because you know me so well?”

Quinn comes rushing over. “Sorry Mrs. R. I cleaned it up,” she promises.

“That’s okay dear, I know how clumsy you are in small crowded spaces,” she chuckles. “Now come give an old lady a hug.”

Quinn obediently bends over to give Mrs. R. a hug. At four-seven, pretty much everyone has to bend down to hug her. I think she likes hugging kids like Violet because for once she gets to bend down to give a hug.

“So Quinn, I hear you’re shopping today. You know the street market is set up in the square this weekend.”

“Ohhh the street market? That sounds perfect!” I gush. “We can just walk around and see all sorts of different goodies to buy.”

Mrs. R. chuckles at me, “You did think to drive today, right? I don’t want you girls to have to carry everything you buy back home.”

I have to stop myself from rolling my eyes. Mrs. R. wouldn’t think twice about popping me if she knew I did that. Instead, I politely reply, “Yes, Mrs. R. we drove. For once we thought ahead.”

“Good, now go on and see what you can find. You've wasted enough time talking to an old woman.”

“It’s never a waste talking to you Mrs. R., you know that,” I hug her goodbye, and Violet thanks her again for the violet.

23

Rowen

We leave the flower store and keep walking towards the town square. Once we get there, I’m amazed by all of the tables set up. It’s been so long since I’ve been to a street market, I forgot how crowded they can get. Luckily, it’s still early in the morning so there’s not a lot of people yet, but you can see all the way down the square. There must be a hundred vendors set up today.

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