CHAPTER 31
ROSE
Afeeling of accomplishment warms my chest as I stare at the rows of black buckets filled with marigold bouquets. I grew these beauties. With help. But my dream has become a reality.
And I don’t feel any guilt about competing with my parents. For one, this flower stand is very different than their store. And two, the Stadtburg location closed two months ago. Probably because they let Richard run it.
Jasmine steps inside. “The marigolds are gorgeous. And I can’t believe how many we have left after selling to stores. This self-serve flower shop idea is genius.”
“It was Dallas’s idea. And when I worried that no one would find it, he connected me with Daisy. I had no idea she was so popular online.”
“Oh yeah. She loves spotlighting stuff like this.” Jasmine glances at the time. “Fifteen minutes. Are you ready?”
“I think so. The box is on the wall for people to slide in money. The instructions and our name on each of the money apps are there. There are pens that work—because I checked—for people to write down what they bought.” I step closer to thedoor. “Do you need any help outside setting up tables for the plants?”
“The fall vegetables are lined up in their little pots, ready for people to snag.” She motions for me to stand near the bouquets. “Go over there. I’ll snap a picture.”
I smile, excited to send it to Dallas. “I can’t believe we pulled this off. But I couldn’t have done it without your help.”
“I’ve loved every minute. This is something I never would’ve tackled on my own, but today feels like Christmas. Same as the day we made the first big retail sale.”
“Yeah. I’m pretty much on cloud nine. Are my feet actually touching the ground?”
Her phone rings and lights up with Tyler’s face.
“I’m going to take this call outside.” She wanders through the double doors and out into a field of marigolds.
The barn Dallas had built along the main road is surrounded by fields. Some are still full of marigolds. Others are waiting to be planted. What I love most is how the bright yellow barn and the parking lot are edged by a white picket fence.
A truck door slams, and I walk outside.
Dallas spreads his arms wide. “You did it. I heard a rumor that a news crew would be showing up later today.”
“Your doing?”
He gives a shrug. “Possibly.”
I launch into his arms. “I love you. Not because of this amazing space you helped me create or the business you funded. I just love you. And I love who I am with you.”
“I love who I am with you too.” He kisses me, lifting me off my feet. “I can’t stick around very long because I have to feed the cows and find that dang goat.”
“He’s missing again?”
“Dennis has decided he doesn’t like the barn. And he wanders, but he eats Tandy’s flowers.”
“I’ve heard. She’s a bit sore about that.”
He chuckles. “Goats were her idea. But anyway, I stopped in to say congratulations. I love you. And don’t plan anything for tonight.”
“Okay.”
Multiple cars pull into the lot, and Dallas gives me a quick hug. “Customers.”
After spendinghours greeting people and explaining the self-serve system repeatedly to customers in disbelief, I race to Stadtburg for a shower and a bit of cuddle time with Floofy.
So much of my life centers around the ranch. I still work the occasional Saturday at the lingerie store, but otherwise, my time is spent at Matchmaker Ranch. The house in Stadtburg feels far away sometimes.
As I walk in the door, a text pops up, and I tear up a little.