Page 90 of Petals and Plot Twists
We all laugh, then fall into easy conversation about life in Serendipity Springs and our new life in Charlotte. I tell them how much I love working for Gregory, and they give me updates on all our mutual friends from The Serendipity.
Then Willa surprises me when she suggests that maybe sometime soon, she and Archer could come to Charlotte for a visit.
Willa has always struggled with travel, with leaving Serendipity Springs, so it’s big that she’s suggesting it.
Archer drops a hand on Willa’s shoulder, his expression gentle and full of warmth.
“You know I would love to have you visit,” I say, and she grins.
“Oh! I almost forgot. I made a batch of cookies just for you! Let me go grab them.”
She jumps out of her seat and heads across the garden, but she must not make it far, because only seconds go by before she calls my name.
“Sophie?” she calls. “Can you come here a sec?”
I put down my pizza slice and go in search of her, only to find her standing just past the rose trellis next to the Japanese maple.
“What’s up?” I ask as I approach.
I follow her gaze to my magical flower and let out a little gasp.
The flower is blooming just like expected, just like always, except this time, I see two blooms instead of one.
Two blooms.
“Have you ever seen it do that before?” Willa whispers.
“Never,” I say. “Do you think it means…” I meet her gaze, and Willa gives me a hopeful smile.
“Two blooms for two couples?” she says.
I close my eyes. I don’t need the flower to bloom for me and Peter. I am completely, evendesperately,in love with him. So in love with him that even six months in, I still think about pinching myself because our relationship doesn’t seem real.
But if the flowerisblooming for us, well. I can’t say the confirmation wouldn’t feel good. Like a true full circle moment. Is it wrong that I kind of want it now that I know it’s a possibility?
“Should we test it?” Willa asks.
I open my eyes. “How would we do that?”
She shrugs. “I don’t know. Maybe Archer and I could leave for a second? Then you could watch and see what happens?”
“Okay, yeah, let’s do that,” I say before I can lose my nerve. “But do it in a way that doesn’t alert Peter.”
“Alert Peter to what?” Peter says as he comes up behind us.
I spin to face him, and I see the exact moment his gaze lands on the flower. His eyes widen, his mouth falling slightly open.
“That’s it?” he asks, and I nod, suddenly wondering why we didn’t stop and look at it on our way in. His hands were full of food, and I was so excited to see Willa, I didn’t even think about stopping to see it.
Peter leans down to study the flower, his finger gently brushing across the petal.
While he’s distracted, I nod to Willa who runs over and gestures to Archer. Together, they sneak around the opposite side of the garden and head downstairs.
I hold my breath as one of the blooms slowly closes, leaving only one bloom on the plant.
Peter stands and looks over his shoulder, surprise on his face. “What just happened?”
I smile, warmth spreading behind my ribs. “Archer and Willa went downstairs.”
