Page 65 of Love in Bloom

“I don’t want to operate the firm like you do, and I won’t be a son-in-law. I’m never going to marry Michelle.”

“This has nothing to do with her,” Harvey said. The old man’s ruddy complexion turned red.

“My mistake then.” Miller looked between William and Bob. “But it was heavily hinted on more than one occasion that the only way someone would be invited to become partner was if they were joining the family.”

“Yes, well.” William Anderson stopped as though not sure how to continue. “My apologies if we confused you. We meant the AAS partner family. You can join us without marrying my granddaughter.”

“You’ve worked hard for this. You’ve earned this,” Bob reminded him.

“If a different vision and Michelle were the simple reason, what’s the hard reason?” Harvey asked. He seemed more upset than William or Bob.Sharp as a tack, I’m going to miss him,Miller thought.

“I don’t want to work with someone who puts a neighbor out of business.” Miller tucked his hands into his suit pants’ pockets and tried to maintain his cool. His blood pressure rose as he thought about Wren’s unfair and underhanded eviction.

“We’ve done no such thing!” Harvey slammed his fist on the mahogany table.

“No? You should have a conversation with Diane.” Miller turned to leave, but stopped at the door. This was it. Last chance to change his mind. He turned back toward the partners. “Again, thank you. My time here has meant a lot to me, but it’s time for me to move on. I’ll be out by the end of the day.” Harvey gave a slight nod, and William stared out the window.

“Leave the door open, please,” Bob said as he reached for his phone. “Diane, could you come down here for a minute?” Miller smirked as he walked back to his office.Oh, to be a fly on the wall and watch Diane face the partners’ wrath.

Groom's Dinner & Wedding Day

Wrenpokedatherrich tiramisu. The few bites she’d had were as delicious as the dinner had been. The rooftop restaurant Jackson and Miller booked was excellent, and the weather had cooperated. A large storm front had stalled over Haven, causing rain and thunderstorms to pester them all week. Today was the first dry day, and the sun had graced Haven all day long. Now, the stars twinkled down on them. Wren hoped this boded well for tomorrow’s outdoor wedding. Wren knew most of the guests at the party, and the few out-of-towners she’d met were all pleasant.

Overall, a perfect groom’s dinner for Emily and Jackson. But she couldn’t wait to escape and watched the clock, waiting for an appropriate time to leave.

She was tired. Hopefully, after she moved next week, she’d find a new equilibrium. Telling Cindy and Dale about Wallflowers closing had been harder than she’d thought it would, but they’d rallied around her and had been an enormous support to her over the last few weeks.Best employees, ever, Wren thought. Her customers didn’t know, and Wren struggled to maintain a cheerful facade with them even though she felt like she was lying most of the time.

She also was lying to her friends. The only one she’d told about the break-up was Krista. Rica worked with Miller so she wasn’t an option. London didn’t have a warm and nurturing side. Nelie was too busy with the Galley. And she didn’t want to burst the happy bubble surrounding Emily, the bride-to-be.

Krista, however, had turned out to be the perfect confidant. She was a great listener, empathetic, available, and they agreed on movies and ice cream. Krista even called Wren in the morning to make sure she was up, dressed, and groomed. Wren hadn’t disclosed her mystery man, and Krista hadn’t pressed.

She’d also told Krista about losing her lease and Wallflowers. She was embarrassed about it, but telling Krista had helped. Krista agreed with her that it would be best not to tell anyone else. There was nothing they could do anyway other than feel sorry for her. She didn’t need pity, she needed time.

Wren still had her fingers crossed that Eric would find her an affordable space to rent. And, if by the end of the year he hadn’t, well, then she’d rethink her decision to stay in Haven. But for now at least, her secret was safe from Miller so he wouldn’t do anything stupid to jeopardize his AAS partnership.

At night, her brain raced with all the tasks and details left in closing the business, packing her belongings, and deciding what to do next. Should she get a job? Go back to waitressing? Paint and live off her nest egg? Cut her loses and start over somewhere warm? Everywhere she looked, she was reminded of loss. She’d lost her business, her home, and the best friend and lover she’d ever hoped to have—Miller.

Not for the first time, she wondered why doing the right thing had to feel so bad. Staying with Miller would have been wrong. She’d either have had to lose herself to help him to make his goal or he’d have had to give up his goal for her. Most of the time it looked like a lose-lose scenario.

But maybe it would have worked if he’d taken her concerns seriously. They could have addressed her fears together. Of course, all this wool-gathering assumed Diane would drop her campaign and the partners at AAS would accept Miller without a matching gold band on Michelle’s finger.

Miller had been right about one thing: Michael had spent his extra hours with his mistress and not at work. She’d forgotten about that until Miller had thrown it in her face. It had been easier to blame the break-up of her marriage on Michael’s work rather than accept her part in its demise. She’d lost herself in her marriage, and that was one reason it had failed. She wouldn’t lose herself again.

The guests started to leave. Wren said her goodbyes to Emily and Jackson, being careful to avoid Miller. She slipped out and headed home. Tonight, it would be lavender spray on her pillows and two sleeping pills chased with a glass of warm milk. She needed a good night’s sleep. There would be no avoiding Trouble tomorrow.

Theweathercontinuedtocooperate for the late-afternoon outdoor wedding at the Hart Hotel’s Rose Garden. It was sunny with a slight breeze that hinted at the fall weather to come. Wren was thrilled with the floral bouquets and the other decorations for the wedding. It was her best work to date.Might be goin’ out with a bang.Wren shook her head to chase away the negative thought.

The bridesmaids’ nosegays held champagne spray roses, variegated orange tea roses, soft orange ranunculus, purple antique hydrangea blooms, berries, and seeded eucalyptus. The colors were a perfect complement to their floor-length, V-neck navy and cream dresses.

Emily had argued navy was too dark for a late-afternoon wedding, but London, known for her fashion sense and unbiased since she wasn’t a member of the wedding party, pointed out that the satin cream bodice with the navy lace overlay gave it a brighter look and a lighter feel. Thank goodness Emily was amenable, and they’d talked her out of her original dress choice. Orange was beautiful as a rose, but not as a bridesmaid dress.

Emily sparkled in her white A-line wedding gown with its off-the-shoulder sweetheart bodice and lace neckline that carried over to the scalloped lace short sleeves. The neckline showcased Mrs. Hart’s pearl choker, Emily’s something old and borrowed. Her something new was the diamond and pearl drop earrings Jackson had given her last night on their romantic, moonlit carriage ride along the river. Emily had blushed when she’d told her bridal party that Jackson would discover her something blue after the reception.

Wren focused on the minister’s words. It was easier than focusing on Miller, who stood opposite of her during the ceremony. He looked so handsome in his tuxedo. The men wore black suit pants and a navy tuxedo jacket with satin black lapels over starched white tuxedo shirts with black button covers and a black bow tie.

Wren had pinned the boutonnieres, an orange tea rose with a hint of hydrangea and eucalyptus, on all the men before the ceremony. When it had been Miller’s turn, she’d pushed too hard on the pin and pricked her finger. She’d immediately put pressure on the pinprick, but Miller had taken her hand and gently kissed the wound.

“You look breathtaking. Save a dance for me,” he’d pleaded before walking away. Wren had stood there like an idiot for several minutes. She knew she could get through the day if he was hostile toward her, but if he was going to be nice and look at her longingly, it would be a disaster for her heart and her convictions.

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