Page 107 of Wild Flower

“Yes,” the loan officer answers. “We are saying yes. Congratulations, your loan has been approved.”

I scream!

I may also jump in the air and fist pump the sky and twirl around in joy.

Finn and Archer are out of their chairs running over to me, smiles on their faces and arms enveloping me.

“I got the loan!”

“Yes, indeed,” the loan officer laughs in my ear, as Finn and Archer holler in excitement as well.

“Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” I sputter into the phone. “This is amazing news.”

“I’ll email you the details and we’ll set up a meeting in a few days to finalize everything.”

“Of course, thank you!”

I hang up the phone and I’m kissing Finn, then I’m kissing Archer, and there are definitely phones recording this love fest of excitement, but I don’t care. This is my life with my two loves and we’re perfect.

* * *

A week later, I’m standing with Miranda inside my empty greenhouse on my parents’ property. The farm has been moved, the guest house is empty, and this tiny structure of glass sits vacant.

After my father called, my mother reached out. Archer’s speech caused them to have a small change of heart and they kindly helped me move the rest of my plants. Even Helena and Mark showed up to lend a hand, and miraculously none of them said anything to Archer and Finn as we all dug up, re-potted, and moved each one of my exotic plants. My family didn’t go out of their way to apologize to Archer and Finn and welcome them with open arms, but they were polite and kind. Baby steps, right? You can only swallow one giant alien peen at a time. Okay, that’s absolutely the wrong metaphor for this situation, but I’m still grateful.

“This feels like the end of an era,” Miranda says, picking up a stray plant tray.

“You’ve been telling me to do this for years,” I admit. “I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you earlier.”

“Please remember that when you want to micromanage all my decisions at the boutique,” she sasses. “I’m the manager now, and I’m about to train three new employees on Monday. I’d appreciate you having my back.”

“Nobody knows Birds of Paradise as well as you,” I say with a smile. “And thank you for being with me through everything—every teenage drama, tattoo, and dead plant. I couldn’t ask for a better friend.”

“You better not forget it! In fact, you should get my name tattooed to your ass, just to remind you of how awesome I am. Especially when you go into boss-zilla mode.”

“Boss-zilla?” I ask.

“That’s a thing,” Miranda defends. “Sometimes you get intense.”

“So, I should tattoo your name to my backside so your cousin Finn can see it when he takes me doggy style?”

“Ahhhh! Gross!” Miranda makes a face. “Okay, maybe not your ass.”

I pull out my phone as her face contorts, unable to erase the image of me and her cousin. “It’s not your name,” I say, pulling up the photo. “But I’ve been thinking about getting a tattoo of this.” I show her the image of a red flower. “That’s a Miranda tulip.”

“Whaaaaat?” Now Miranda starts to blush. “Are you serious?”

“Maybe not on my ass,” I quip, “but yes. You are my best friend. I should’ve gotten this a long time ago.”

Miranda attacks me with a hug. “I love it!” Then she pulls back and gives me a sneaky smile. “I’m going to hold this over Finn’s head. I’m going to be tattooed on your body before him!”

I laugh. “Yes, you are. Chicks before dicks, right?”

There’s a cough behind us, and I turn to see my mother standing in the doorway, holding a cup of jasmine tea. My instinct is to apologize for that comment, but I’m done doing that. I swear. I sleep with two men. I’m not sweet. I’m me.

“Um, I’ll give you a minute,” Miranda says, but my mother holds up her hand.

“You can stay,” my mother asserts. “You’ve been like a third daughter around here, looking after my ugly duckling.”

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