Page 75 of Smoldering Nights
"It's done."
He whacked Sid's shoulder in return, then smiled at Izzy."Now's a good time."
He saw her throat constrict as she swallowed, then her smile grew.She nodded to him, and he held up a forefinger, "Hang on."
He pulled a step ladder from the back room and brought it out front.He opened it next to the old wooden counter Izzy insisted on keeping as a reminder of her father."Stand up on the counter so everyone can see you."
He held his hand out to her as she climbed the ladder, then he whistled loudly after she nodded that she was ready.
The crowd turned to Izzy and quieted.She took a deep breath."Thank you all for coming today to help me officially kick off Petal Pushers once again.I appreciate each and every one of you for coming and cheering me on."She swallowed and looked at him.He grinned and nodded.Izzy continued, "I'm here to tell you all first.I've gotten the permits to expand around the corner onto Main Street where the former Delilah's Nails used to be.I've purchased the building, it'll be demolished, and Petal Pushers will expand in that direction with more parking available."
The crowd clapped and cheered.Mitch clapped the loudest.He already knew what was happening, but to see Izzy shine while she told the townspeople what she was doing, after all the bullshit Delilah had put her through, that was icing on the cake.He couldn't have been more proud.
He helped her down from the counter and quickly pulled her into his arms for a kiss.Then he whispered in her ear, "I am so proud of you."
She chuckled."Thank you so much, Mitch.I couldn't have done it without you, though.And I'm so happy to have found you."
"The pleasure has been all mine."
"Knock it off, you can do that later."Grace teased as she moved in and hugged Izzy.He was happy to stand back and watch Izzy gather all the support she could.
Epilogue
The sun dipped low over the hills just outside Blossom Springs, casting golden light across the wraparound porch of the little farmhouse Mitch and Izzy now called home.Wind whispered through the trees, rustling the leaves as the scent of lilacs and fresh-cut grass floated in the air.
Izzy rocked gently in the porch swing, a glass of sweet tea balanced on her knee, and her bare feet brushing against Mitch’s shin.He sat beside her, legs stretched out, one arm casually draped along the back of the swing.
"I can't wait to see the wildflowers start to pop up.Thank you so much for spending so much time helping me plant them today."
He chuckled, and she nearly sighed because she enjoyed the sound so much."I have to admit, I never thought I'd like being a flower farmer, but this life has really grown on me."
She laughed."It has a way of doing that.Your hands in fresh dirt, seeing the seeds you lovingly planted poke through the dirt and bloom, and finally the beautiful flowers as they open up.It's such a wholesome life.It's hard work, but I can't believe I actually get to live like this."
She watched his chest expand as he took a deep breath.He looked into her eyes, his that deep brown she'd first noticed and fallen in love with.Fine lines were etched at the corners of his eyes, and a few shining silver strands of hair wove their way into his temples.He was incredibly handsome.
"I can't believe I get to live like this either.I'll be honest, though, the past few months of fixing fences, unpacking boxes, moving furniture, cleaning out the woodshed and the barn, I wasn't always loving life.But now that we've managed to set this place up the way we want it, I love the hell out of this place."
Izzy laughed."I'm right there with you.When I moved into the upstairs of Petal Pushers, it wasn't anything like it was when I moved here.There were so many repairs on this place.My goodness, I had no idea."
Mitch nodded."We could have hired someone to do most of that work, but there was something inside of me that wanted to do it myself.Now, every day when I come up the driveway, I am proud as hell of what we've done here."
She leaned over and kissed his lips."I am, too.That's why we did it.So we would be proud of our place.I can't wait to have our friends out here for a party."
"I'd love that.It's been a couple of months since we joined them at Sarge's for their Thursday night out.Why don't we go there tomorrow and enjoy?"
She giggled."Yes.That sounds heavenly.Thank you."
"I think so, too.I'll let Jace know to expect two more tomorrow."
Izzy clapped her hands and leaned back against the arm he had around the back of the swing.They swung silently for some time, listening to the birds chirping.A gentle breeze blew the trees near the first garden they'd planted, and she watched the baby leaves dance.
Mitch took a deep breath and said, "I'll tell Jace we're celebrating and to have something special set up."
She watched a bird land on the fencepost he'd installed just yesterday, and her lips curved up."Okay," she responded absently.
The swing moved as Mitch stood, and she turned her attention to him instead of the bird.He knelt in front of her, the handsomest smile on his face she'd ever seen, when he asked."Don't you want to know what we're celebrating?"
"Celebrating?"
