14. Caleb
FOURTEEN
Caleb
Z oe’s Florist Shop is an assault of color and fragrance, air dominated by the scents of roses and lilies. Sunlight filters through the windows casting a warm glow on everything. So why am I in such a foul mood all of a sudden?
Her cat hisses at me.
I raise an eyebrow and take a deep breath to shake off the irritation her delivery guy left behind. What about him made me angry? Our marriage will be one of convenience, an arrangement that suits us both for different reasons. I’m marrying Zoe because not only will I unlock my trust fund but she’s the perfect addition to the life I’m building — sweet, hardworking, and completely oblivious to the world of wealth I inhabit. And she needs the reliability of having a partner. A plus-one she called it.
It should be simple, but now that I’m here in front of her, seeing her eye-to-eye for the first time since my phone-proposal, I can’t shake the feeling that there’s an unspoken barrier between us. Because there is one.
We’re strangers.
And that guy.
Isn’t one.
“Hey, Zoe,” I say, forcing a smile as I approach the counter.
She looks up from her computer, expression brightening, but there’s a flicker of something in her eyes. “Caleb! So sorry! I was ignoring you. Some orders just came in. And my ADHD brain is unpredictable in its focus, to say the least.”
“Oh yeah?” I reply, thinking her admission vulnerable. I haven’t told her of any of my flaws yet. Glancing around the shop I consider the fact that I haven’t shared with my future wife that I’m in a program for problem drinkers who’ve trashed hotel rooms and embarrassed their parents. “I have things of my own…like that.”
“You’ve got ADHD?”
“No.”
“Oh, um…OCD?”
“No. Do you have OCD?"
“No.” The screen catches her attention again, and saves me from having to answer more questions.
Instead I deflect by sending her one. “Nice place. How’s everything going here?”
“It’s busy, as always,” she says, looping a strand of hair into her bun. “I’m very blessed.”
“You work hard,” I correct her.
“I do my part. God does the rest,” she shrugs.
I nod, trying to ignore the uncomfortable silence that settles in. There’s still undeniably a tension between us, a sense of formality we have yet to breach. In an effort to get to know her better I ask, “Are you a religious person?”
“I go to church. My cousins and I go together.”
“Ah…” I nod.
Zoe looks up at me, her green eyes warm and kind. “It’s okay if you don’t believe what I believe. I won’t need you to go with me, Caleb. I believe everyone can believe what they feel is right in their hearts.”
After a moment of silence I confess, “I believe in a Higher Power, just not sure what exactly that is. I’m still figuring it out.”
Her smiles is kind and patient, “Do we ever really know until it’s all over?”
“Speaking of churches…” I venture, hoping to steer the conversation to a more comfortable direction. “I’ve been thinking about our wedding, as I mentioned.”
Zoe’s eyes widen, and I’m not sure if her interest is piqued despite the lingering awkwardness or if she merely remembered I’d brought up the topic before, when her friend was here. “What do you have in mind?”
I had zero ideas when I walked in here today, but that Tom guy irked me. He seemed like he owned the place, and had a claim on Zoe. I have no doubt he’s interested in her as more than his friend or his boss. I’ve no reason to feel threatened, being who I am, but somehow I do so I changed tactics and brought up our wedding, claiming to have plans. I walked around her shop and forced myself to come up with some that I think are actually quite good.
I lean against the marble counter, feeling a surge of confidence. “How about a romantic ceremony by the lake in Piedmont Park? Picture it — at sunset, water shimmering, ducks floating by, and us standing there with our closest friends and family.” Probably five hundred or more, but I’m not going to freak her out yet with that information.
Zoe’s smile broadens, tension dissipated. “That sounds beautiful! I love Piedmont Park! Oh, I can already imagine the flowers we could use.”
“Exactly!” I say, eager to build momentum, “And then we could have a cozy reception in a garden. We could fill it with lights, the best food, and your incredible arrangements, of course.”
“I love that idea!” she replies, her enthusiasm brightening my mood.
“And what if we had a band playing our favorite songs?” I continue, adding quickly, “When I learn what your favorite songs are, I mean.”
Zoe blushes. “That would be lovely, Caleb.”
“And let’s talk more about the food! We’ll have the best catering…”
“A buffet!”
I blink, and hesitate in agreeing, “…a buffet with a variety of dishes, something for everyone. I can see that. Or, how ‘bout this? We could send people a menu to pick from beforehand and servers will bring everything right to them.” She looks unconvinced so I add, “I want people to enjoy themselves.”
“We have buffets at our Family BBQs and everyone enjoys themselves. They can all get what they want, and go back for seconds if they’re still hungry. Oh, and what if they change their mind after they order from our wedding invites? With a buffet they’re not stuck to one thing.”
“I see.” My gaze drops to the marble as I pick at its permanence. “We could go with a buffet if you have your heart set on that.”
“I think it will make it feel more casual and inviting,” she says with cautiousness shining through.
“And finally,” I say, leaning in a bit closer, “we can have a honeymoon in Paris.”
Zoe lights up with shock. “Paris?!”
“Paris. The restaurants. The little cafes. The Eiffel Tower. Montmartre where the artists sell their paintings. And I have to take you to Musée Marmottan Monet…”
“What is Musée Marmottan Monet?”
“The Monet Museum. His paintings of flowers and lily pads are enormous, taking up entire walls. As a florist, you’ll love that!” I glance around the shop again, and an idea strikes me. “And maybe we could spruce up the shop a bit for the wedding. You know, make it look a little more high-end for the occasion?”
The moment the words leave my mouth I see a shift in her demeanor. The light in her eyes dims, and her smile falters. “High-end?” she repeats, voice quiet.
“Yeah, you know, like adding some elegant décor or centerpieces. Give some more thought to the white planters. It could really enhance the vibe,” I explain, trying to salvage the moment.
She lifts a pen and quietly says, “Caleb, that’s not very nice,” all of her attention on how her pen twirls in her fingers.
“Why?” I respond, defensiveness rising. “I just thought it would be nice to elevate the experience since it’s such a big day.”
“That’s the second time you suggested my shop look more ‘high-end’. You’re implying that it isn’t good enough as it is,” she says, tone gentle but firm. “I pour my heart into every cell of this space.”
Words get stuck in my throat. “I didn’t mean to offend you,” I finally say, carefully. “I just thought it might be better if it were more elegant.”
“For who?”
I blink. “Reporters will be interested in who I’m marrying. They’ll come here. So will my parents.”
Zoe takes a deep breath, her expression filling with confusion. “I appreciate that you are used to living a more…regal…lifestyle, but kindness matters more than aesthetics or wealth. By saying you want to improve what I’ve done is telling me you don’t approve of it, as is. I care about the love and effort behind what I have created, not how expensive it appears to the outside viewer. In fact, I want it to feel homey. Have you ever read the book The Secret Garden? I want it to feel like that!” She raises her gaze to slide around the shop, quietly adding, “And it does.”
My new fiancé’s words hit me, and I suddenly feel small. I’ve spent so much of my life thinking that status and appearances equate to value. Look where that’s gotten me? I’ve been learning, slowly, from A.A. and my sponsor that community and people matter more than money and how things ‘look’. And now she’s joined my list of teachers.
“I’m sorry, Zoe,” I say, the sincerity in my voice surprising even me. “I didn’t think before speaking. And while I haven’t read that book, I can imagine from your shop how colorful the garden must have been described. Please forgive me.”
Her sweet green eyes clear. “I accept your apology. Thank you.”
I stare at her, starting to realize how much I actually like this girl. “You’re amazing, you know that? I admire your ability to stand up for yourself without being, I don’t know, mean. You just put me in my place, changed my mind completely, and you did it all while keeping your voice gentle and your smile at the ready.”
Her cheeks flush brightly, and she drops her head with shyness, causing a lock of hair to stray. I reach over and tuck it behind her ear as she whispers, “Thank you, Caleb. That means so much to me,” making my heart unexpectedly skip a beat.
“Let’s focus on what makes you happy then,” I smile. “How about we plan a beautiful ceremony together?”
Zoe’s face lights up. “I love that idea. We can create a little party, endowed with all the things that matter to us. I mean, we’ll have to find out what those are, but we can do it together.”
As we dive back into planning, I can’t help but fight thinking how it will look to reporters, pushing back on a lot of her ideas even as I see it’s frustrating her.
After a while, I mutter, “Okay,” and tap a pen against her notepad. “We’re at a standstill on what food to serve, but we agree on Pop music, good for dancing. Let’s make a list of the flowers we want for the ceremony. I want to hear your favorites.”
“I love…” Zoe’s eyes flicker and she bites her lip. “I want something unique—maybe wildflowers to add a personal touch.”
“Wildflowers,” I repeat, intrigued. “Are they your favorite?”
“No.”
“I never would’ve expected wildflowers, but okay, I like it.”
“They represent hope and resilience,” she explains.
I pause writing. “Hope and resilience? Do we need that?”
“Well, we’re getting married without knowing each other, so there’s a lot of hope there that it’ll work. And we’ll need resilience to weather the storms that will come.”
“Right,” I mutter.
As I jot down the wildflowers idea, I feel the tension from earlier struggling to return, and offer, “What about including candles for a romantic touch? Imagine the soft glow as the sun sets.”
“There must be candles!” Zoe nods enthusiastically. “Yes! Candlelight will be so beautiful.”
“And what about disposable film cameras on every table?” I suggest.
“Caleb, that’s amazing!” she exclaims, green eyes sparkling. “Our friends and family could take pictures and nobody would get to see them until we have the film developed old-school style! It would make it feel so personal.”
The more we talk, the more I realize how much I treasure this collaboration. Nothing about it is boring me. I’ve always made decisions based on logic and wealth, but this is different. This is about emotions, memories, and the friendship we’re building together.
“Zoe?”
Her cat jumps up between us, and she lifts him up, nuzzling her face into his snowy fur. “Yes?”
My voice goes quieter. “Thank you.”
“For?”
“For saying yes.”
She lifts her face, “Oh!” one white thread of fur stuck to her nose.
I reach over and gently remove it. “If I ever planned to have a marriage of convenience, I’d have hoped it would be with someone as unusual as you.”
She bites her smile, and hugs her cat closer. “Thank you.”
“I have to get back for dinner with my parents. We’re wrapping this up, yes?”
“We can plan more later.”
I linger for a moment, “Hey, Zoe? Can I ask you something?”
“I’m going to be your wife. You can ask me anything,” she replies, tilting her head to the side.
“What’s your dream for this shop? What do you hope to achieve?”
She pauses, expression thoughtful. “I wanted to create a space where people can express to the ones they care most about… all of the things they sometimes cannot say. I wanted to create a sanctuary, a garden that’s not so secret after all but is available to everyone. Flowers can be expensive so I have a free day every third Thursday of the month where anyone can come get a bouquet for their loved ones, even if they don’t have any money. Flowers brighten our souls, that’s what I believe. I want to brighten souls.”
I nod, completely captivated. “You could open one in New York.”
A frown immediately pierces her brow. “I don’t think I could leave my family.”
“My place is in New York.” We stare at each other, and she starts to rock in place, cooing to her cat. “Zoe, I live in New York.”
“Couldn’t you live here?”
Her gaze is filled with innocence, so I laugh, “I’ll think about it. God knows I don’t love my job and that’s the main thing keeping me there, I guess. Plus my friends.” I almost said my sponsor, who I rely on — they’re someone who’s teaching me how to be less selfish, among other things.
Zoe sets down Ralphie and he saunters away as she asks me, “You don’t love your job? I’m sorry…I just realized I don’t know what you do for a living.”
“I work for my father.”
“Doing what?”
“That’s a great question,” I mutter. “I sit at a desk and show up to meetings and have no clue why I’m even there. They don’t listen to my ideas. I’m basically glossed over, tolerated only because I’m the boss’s son.”
“I don’t understand.”
That crazy freakin’ bell goes nuts and I nearly jump out of my skin as I look toward the door. In walks her delivery friend carrying an empty box and a clipboard with pen dangling. The expression on his face as he adjusts the pen tells me he didn’t expect me to still be here.
“Any new orders, Boss?”
Zoe brightens up. Did I just see her shoulders relax? “Oh right! I have some orders to fill. Thank you for reminding me. I swear, where does my head go sometimes? They’re all going to the Bentworth’s.”
“Oh great, then I don’t need the address.”
This prompts me to ask, “They order a lot, do they?”
Zoe and Tom shrug, locking eyes as he says, “Not in what…three months or so?”
“But they’re neighbors,” she smiles. “Everyone knows the Bentworth family.”
Thinking how different this place feels from New York City, I nod.
He flicks a tense glance to me, then smiles at her. “Want me to wait?”
“Yeah, if you could.”
“I’m here for you,” he says, and glances to me again, “whenever you need me.”
My phone buzzes and I check to see a text from my father.
Where are you?!!
I blink, wondering what he’s talking about. It’s not time for dinner. I was going to hit the gym and shower before meeting them. “Oh shit,” I mutter as it dawns on me. “I’ve gotta go. I’m supposed to be in a video conference for work.”
Zoe reaches out and touches my hand. “Oh no! Now you sound like me. Forgetting important work things!”
“Yeah,” I frown, glancing to Tom as he waits for the orders. Or is he waiting for me to leave? “Dammit, I’m sorry. I have to run.”
“That’s okay. We’ll talk later.”
“Yeah, and I want to go over what will be needed for the retirement event, too. We forgot to talk about that. I’ll call you tonight. That number your cell?”
“The one listed online?” She bends under the counter and bounces up, holding out her phone, looking adorable. “One and the same.”
“I’ll call you,” I repeat, giving her my best smile.
Tom watches me and nods goodbye.
I don’t reciprocate.
Huh. Suddenly I feel a renewed sense of purpose and excitement for the future. I can’t wait to build a life with my trust fund, Zoe, and then a job I actually give a shit about… but more importantly, a life he’s not in.