Page 69 of Love in Bloom

Wren handed her plate to Miller to hold while she fetched her gift from its hiding place in the corner. She came back and noticed the sheepish look on Miller’s face. Half of her chicken salad croissant sandwich and her brownies were gone. He hadn’t touched the fresh fruit skewers, though.

“This is also for you and Jackson, but mostly you,” Wren said. She carefully withdrew the eight-by-eight-inch painting from the bag and removed the protective covering. “Be careful, though. It hasn’t fully cured.”

Emily’s eyes widened as Wren turned the painting toward her. “It’s my bouquet,” she breathed. She reached for it with shaky hands. “Wren, this is gorgeous.” It didn’t look exactly like the bouquet, but Wren didn’t correct her. It was a close-up of the flowers used in the bridal bouquet: peach dahlias, orange spray roses, charity blush tea roses, purple hydrangeas, and spray eucalyptus. Emily’s eyes watered.Yep, she’s happier than a pig in mud, Wren thought happily.

“Nice, you made the bride cry,” Jackson mocked. Wren shrugged and smiled. Emily handed the painting back to Wren.

“I’ll bring it to you after your honeymoon when it’s done curing, if that’s all right?” Emily said yes before Mrs. Hart interrupted and dragged her and Jackson to another corner of the room. “Looks like I need to get some more food. Do you want to finish the fruit so I can start fresh?” Wren asked Miller.

“Nah, keep the fruit and we’ll start a new plate for you.” Miller followed her. Once Wren had a full plate with a sandwich, several salads, and the original fruit skewers, and Miller had a small plate of cookies, they found a quiet corner to eat. Wren patted her almost full stomach and reached for a cookie on Miller’s plate. He moved it away.

“Seriously? You ate my lunch and you won’t share a cookie?”

“I didn’t eat all your lunch,” he mumbled and handed the plate to her. “I was hungry. Jackson wanted more frequent and longer trail runs the closer we got to the wedding.”

“And you’re a stress eater, so I’m guessing leaving AAS and striking out on your own hasn’t helped, either.”

“I’m not alone. I’ve got Croix and Rica, and leaving AAS was hard, but not as hard as I thought it would be. Ginge, right now, you are the biggest stressor in my life.” He looked at Wren and intertwined his fingers with hers. “Have you thought about what I said last night?” he asked.

“I’ve done nothing but think,” she admitted. “And as I said last night, I didn’t think I’d ever feel this way again. The only thing I’m certain of is I’m scared. I don’t want to fail, again, either. Other than that, I’m pretty confused.”

“Get unconfused, then. Stop being afraid.”

“You can’t dictate my feelings.” Wren removed her hand from his and sat on it.

“I can when you’re being stupid.”

“I’m being stupid?” Wren jumped up. Miller grabbed her arm as she turned to leave.

“Not stupid. Stubborn.” He sighed.

“And you’re being pushy,” she accused.

“Guilty as charged.” Miller released her and held up his hands. His face softened. “You can’t use the partnership as an excuse anymore. Wren, I love you, and I’ll keep pushing you until you get past your fears.”

“It may take a while,” she warned him. “I’ve been told I’m stubborn.” She gave him a slight smile.

“You can set the pace,” he assured her, “as long as you know the finish line is us together.”

Wren nodded. “I’ll call you when my head is a little clearer.” She wandered into the Rose Garden where yesterday’s ceremony had taken place. Wren pulled out her sketch pad and colored pencils. She always thought better when she drew. She focused on the delicate yellow tea rose in front of her. A hardy rugosa rose stood near it. Wren liked the contrast of the traditional, delicate hothouse flower next to the rugged one bred to withstand Canadian winters.

As her hand moved, her mind wandered. Bits and pieces of time with Miller interspersed with memories of her life in Knoxville. In Knoxville, her life and her marriage were like the tea rose, pretty but covered with hard, painful thorns. Constantly needing attention and tending.

Tea roses were demanding, unlike the rugosa rose. There was no pretension with that rose. It had thorns, too, but they were smaller, softer, and not as painful. Things were easier in Haven, and with Miller. He challenged her, but it never felt like work and it wasn’t too painful.

She sniffed both flowers. The yellow tea rose was faint and delicate.You’d think a flower so perfect would smell better. The imperfect rugosa rose, however, had a stronger, sweeter scent.

She rubbed her fingers up the soft prickly stem of the rugosa rose and thought of all the times Miller had accused her of being prickly.

Her life wasn’t like the tea rose anymore. She was more like the rugosa: resilient, complex, sweet, and, yes, prickly. And, yet, Miller loved her. He loved her when she was sweet, and he loved her when she was prickly. What she felt for Miller was real and true. Nothing like what she’d felt for Michael even as a newlywed. She felt a pang of guilt and shame. She and Michael had each deserved better. Miller was her better.

She’d be a fool to walk away from him, from them. He’d transformed his dream to include her, and it looked like an incredible dream. One that would be successful and meet both their needs. And he said he would let her set the pace. She’d be in control. That made it less scary, and she trusted Miller to keep his promise.But I don’t want to make it too easy on him.The corners of her mouth quirked up thinking about the not-so-subtle methods he might use to speed up her thinking.

Wren looked down at her sketch. The tea rose was faint and wilting but the rugosa was brilliant and thriving. In the corner, she signed itTo Miller Love Always, Wren.

She packed her supplies and stood to stretch. She went to find Miller, but the gift opening and lunch was over. Everyone had left. She glanced at her watch.Good grief, I’ve been out here for almost two hours!Wren shook her head in disbelief. Miller must have told everyone she had left. Otherwise, she was sure Krista would have had the entire Haven police department out looking for her. She smiled and headed home to finish packing.

Moving Day

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