Page 115 of Wallflower in Bloom

But no. It was impossible. “To Vancouver? I can’t leave; my family’s here.” She thought of the lonely graves she’d visited a few months ago where her parents were. Of her sisters who’d uprooted their lives to be with her in Fairwick Falls.

His thumbs stroked her hands, even as his own shook. “We can come back and visit. My dad’s moving here, I think. We’ll come back all the time.”

“I can’t leave. My family is here. Permanently. In the ground.” It slipped out before she could help it. She softened. “My family won’t leave me.”

Jack’s eyebrows drew together with hurt in his eyes. “You think I will?”

She shrugged, feeling sorry for herself. “You’re leaving me right now, aren’t you?”

“I’m asking you to—” He cut himself off, pulling his hands away. “You’re stuck in the past. You have this old narrative that no one wants you, but people are falling all over themselves to have you. I want you to come with me. I want you.”

“In Vancouver,” she clarified.

“Wherever my work is.”

He needed flexibility to maintain his career; she knew that. Film wherever. Be wherever. “I can’t do that. I have commitments here. Greenhouses aren’t built for remote work.”

“So, if I do what I want”—he poked himself in the chest—“that’s it? We’re done?”

She wanted to be the good guy. She was always the good guy.

Her heart was breaking, and she could see his breaking too. A single tear rolled down the edge of his cheek, and he wiped it away quickly.

“I’ve been so happy here with you. You make me so happy because I—” He bit his lip and shook his head. Todd pounced onto the counter. “Because Todd and I have both been happy,” Jack said finally with a sad smile.

Violet knew what she had to do. She couldn’t get in the way. If she sacrificed for him and did the hard thing, she’d be a little more lovable; be the nice girl who didn’t ask for too much.

Wouldn’t be rejected if she rejected him first.

“I think I’m officially breaking up with you,” she said as her lip trembled.

“Love—” he said, grasping for her.

“No,” she interrupted, holding her hand up. “You know I don’t want this. You know I wanted two more weeks. I want a whole lot more, but I deserve the life I want. Kids and a family, and plants, and my cottage. Everything. You helped me see I deserve it.”

He nodded, a proud but sad look on his face. “You do deserve it. I want that life, too.”

“Then choose me,” she said, letting a sob escape, her facade slipping.

“It’s not that simple,” he countered, heat in his eyes. “I have people I support. My dad, Shay. Maybe…maybe long distance could work.”

She shook her head, her eyes willing him to see her. “How would you attend a Little League game from across the country? How would I hug you after a long day when there are 12 states between us? What if I craved pickle ice cream in the middle of the night when I’m pregnant and there’s a toddler already in bed? I’m supposed to do it all myself?”

“No.” He sucked in a deep breath, holding her gaze.

He didn’t play it off as if she was crazy for thinking about their future, about having a family together. His gaze scored through her, and she knew at that moment he’d imagined the same. He looked down at his hands, and a tear fell off his eyelashes.

She ached to hug him to make him feel better.

“My, um—” he paused, clearing his throat. “My flight’s tomorrow evening. Todd and I will leave in the morning. I think my dad is moving in with June. So I’m sure he’ll be out of your hair soon.”

Violet walked over to Todd, and he rubbed his face against her hand, purring loudly.

“Oh, Todd.” Her voice broke. “Who will I talk to early in the morning?”

How was this all slipping through her fingers so fast?

“Violet.” Jack’s ragged voice was low and desperate, and he tugged her toward him for a hug. She couldn’t say no to one last hug. She let herself wallow, trying to memorize the scent, the ridges of his chest, and cried quiet tears.

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