Page 13 of Lennox

A small smile tugs at the corners of my mouth. "Winnie, I know your heart, and I know you were only trying to protect me. We're good." I pull her into a brief, reassuring hug.

"But, I can't let Lennox think he's a burden." Determination settles within me, steeling my resolve. "I need to clear the air with him. But first," I say, glancing at the remnants of the birthday cake, "we have some cake to finish. One crisis at a time."

Chapter 7

Lennox

Lennox

I stand amidst the vibrant aisles of the plant nursery, my heart pounding with anticipation. Overhead, the sun filters through the foliage, casting dappled patterns on the ground. Everywhere I turn, there are pots of blooming flowers and fresh greenery, but my focus isn’t on the plants.

It’s on the entrance, on the possibility of a familiar figure walking through at any moment.

The past day's events replay in my mind. My inability to communicate and my tendency to jump to conclusions feel juvenile now. It's an old reflex to guard against vulnerability, to maintain that façade of unwavering strength. I've made leaps and bounds since my accident and since Charlene entered my life, yet some old habits are hard to kick.

I hope she comes. I've given her no context, no reason for this meeting, just a cryptic message with an address. I want to apologize, to explain. To make her understand that beneath the tough exterior, the hero facade, there's a man grappling with change and vulnerability.

With each passing minute, my anxiety grows. But intertwined with that nervousness is a seed of hope, a budding realization of just how deeply Charlene has come to mean to me.

I hear the soft chime of the entrance bell and turn in that direction. Charlene steps through, her gaze darting around the space with a mix of wonder and confusion. Her blonde hair, tied into a loose bun, catches the soft glow of the afternoon light.

"Lennox?" she calls out, a slight tilt to her head, her eyes finally finding mine across the space. That familiar warmth, that optimism, fills her gaze, but there's also a trace of uncertainty. The ambiance of the nursery seems to soften her initial confusion, and I see her shoulders relax a bit, eyes widening with curiosity as they dance over the various plants, flowers, and shrubs.

She stops in front of me, the fragrance of fresh blooms surrounding us. "What are we doing here?" she asks, the corners of her mouth lifting in a small, intrigued smile.

Gesturing around, I say, "You shared your dream about that garden, and I thought... it was about time I listened."

Her eyebrows arch up, "So, we're here to...?”

I take a deep breath, "After yesterday, I realized I needed to make amends. So, I spent today talking with the hospital board, pulling a few strings here and there. It wasn’t easy, but..." I pause, letting out a slight chuckle, "let's just say I'm quite persuasive when I put my mind to something."

She looks at me, blinking in surprise. "What are you saying?"

I take a deep breath. "I managed to get board approval for your therapeutic garden. You'll have full control, and it will be on the rooftop, just as you had envisioned."

For a moment, Charlene seems at a loss for words. Her mouth opens, but no sound emerges. Her eyes, those warm brown pools, shimmer with a mix of joy and disbelief.

"I realized," I continue, taking a step closer, "that if we’re in this together, I should be helping to make your visions come to life, not complicating things."

She inhales deeply, her chest rising and falling with emotion. Her voice trembles slightly as she murmurs, "You did this for me?"

I nod, locking my gaze with hers. "Yeah, I did. For us. Yesterday was a mistake. I let old insecurities dictate my actions when I should’ve stayed, listened, and trusted."

She takes my words in, then speaks, "We all falter sometimes. I've always projected this image of unwavering positivity, but being with you? It’s taught me it’s okay to lean on someone. To admit when I'm not okay."

I take her hand gently. "That’s all I want, for us to be a team. To face the good, the bad, and everything in between, together."

A genuine smile touches her lips. "Together."

Shifting the mood, I gesture toward the plants. “Alright, so tell me about this dream garden of yours. Which of these are making the cut?”

She gazes around, her eyes scanning the array of flowers, her fingers brushing the petals of a few as she contemplates. “I’ve always wanted lavender," she murmurs, her voice taking on a wistful tone. "It's calming and has a lovely scent. Reminds me of my mom's garden."

I nod, filing away the information. "Lavender it is."

We wander deeper into the nursery, and she pauses by a display of bright sunflowers. “These," she says with a smile, "they're just like sunshine, aren't they? Always facing the light, always looking up.”

“Sounds a lot like someone I know,” I comment teasingly, earning a playful nudge from her.

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