Not a maybe.

Just a one day wrapped in certainty.

“Okay,” I whispered. “I can wait.”

He exhaled slowly, tucking the box back into his pocket. Then he pulled me closer until my head rested on his shoulder and his arm wrapped securely around me.

We sat like that for a long time—watching the stars emerge one by one above our garden. Our home. Our beginning.

And all around us, Cedar Springs glowed with the quiet hum of something rare and precious:

Hope.

Chapter sixteen

Damien

The ribbon trembled in the breeze, a thick satin strip stretched across the wooden archway Ruby had draped in lavender, baby’s breath, and the first blush of early summer roses.

Fairy lights blinked softly above the crowd gathered in the garden, casting a warm glow over the rooftop space we’d poured our hearts into. Cedar Springs had shown up in full force—Eleanor with a tray of lemon bars, Hazel bossing vendors like a benevolent dictator, even Brandon, who’d driven up from the city just to stand at the back with a proud smirk and a camera.

But none of them held my attention.

My eyes were on her.

Ruby stood in the center of it all, a deep green dress hugging her curves like ivy clinging to stone, her curls pinned loosely, a single daisy tucked behind her ear. She glowed—radiant, alive, and absolutely, entirely mine.

She caught me staring and rolled her eyes. I grinned.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Hazel called out, her voice echoing through the rooftop. “Thank you for joining us tonight for the official opening of Hearts in Bloom, a healing garden built on hope, hard work, and a fair amount of duct tape.”

Laughter rippled through the crowd.

Hazel gestured to me. “And now, a few words from the co-founder, and our very own reluctant town transplant—Dr. Damien Cole.”

Applause rose like a tide. I stepped forward, smoothing the lapel of my jacket as Ruby passed me the mic. Her fingers brushed mine—just long enough to anchor me.

I cleared my throat.

“I didn’t come to Cedar Springs looking for a second chance. I came to hide. To breathe. To remember who I was without the noise.”

A hush fell. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath.

“But this town… it doesn’t let you disappear. It sees you. Shows up for you. And if you’re lucky, like I was, it gives you someone who reminds you that healing isn’t just something you do for others—it’s something you deserve, too.”

I turned toward Ruby. Her eyes shimmered.

“This garden isn’t just about flowers. It’s not just about wellness, or plants, or pretty things. It’s about hope. And if I’ve learned anything from this town—from her—it’s that hope blooms best when you’re not afraid to plant roots.”

Ruby’s hand flew to her mouth. The crowd murmured, touched.

I continued, my voice steady.

“So today isn’t just about cutting a ribbon. It’s about opening doors. Because starting next month, Hearts in Bloom won’t just be a garden. It will also be home to Cedar Springs’ first integrated wellness program.”

Gasps and applause burst all at once.

“We’ll be offering free community classes in stress management, grief support, floral therapy, and preventative care. Ruby will teach her design workshops. I’ll host weekly health talks. We’ll have visiting counselors and local volunteers. A place where your heart—no matter how bruised or tired—can come to breathe again.”