15. Zoe
FIFTEEN
Zoe
I stand behind the counter of my little Florist Shop, watching Caleb give me one final wave before he disappears into Little Five Points, a neighborhood that doesn’t see a lot of suits like his. Two girls in their twenties turn to watch him walk by, and grin to each other, lifted eyebrows and all. I don’t blame them for looking. He is very handsome. I have a new fiancé who’s got a lot of grand ideas and new orders to fill, all for the Bentworths. That’s a lot of new…one far more overwhelming than the other.
Tom asks, “You need any help?” leaning against the counter with that lopsided grin that makes my heart skip.
“With?”
“Putting the orders together.”
I blink at him. “You want to help me?”
“Sure, why not?” He pretends to roll up his sleeves — he’s wearing a short-sleeved polo shirt — comically ready to tackle the task.
“The orders aren’t that difficult, but if you’d like to help, that would be fun!”
Tom follows me into the refrigerated room and I load up his arms with all the color I need. A rose falls and I bend to pick it up, glancing up to find his eyes locked on me. “Put it right on top,” he says, voice intimate.
I lay it gently on the others and yank my hand back, “Ouch! A thorn got my middle finger!”
“Lemme see,” Tom says, and I hold it up for him, a drop of blood appearing on its tip. “Have a First Aid kit?”
“I do!” He follows me to the sink and I direct him, “Lay those down so we can trim them.”
“You got it, Boss.”
I throw him a smile over my shoulder before opening the cupboard of cleaning supplies, a fire extinguisher and my First Aid kit.
Tom takes it from me, “Can’t be bleeding all over the customer’s flowers, now can we?” he winks, opening the plastic box showcasing various medical supplies like gauze, a thermometer, tape, ointments. Poking through the bandaids, he holds one up specifically made for finger cuts. “Here we go. Give me your hand.”
I lift it up, looking at the small wound. “Is the thorn still there? It hurts.”
Tom brings my middle finger up for closer inspection. “Yes, there’s a little piece right…here!” He snatches it out and I yelp. “See, if you do it quickly, it hurts less. You okay?”
“Splinters are the worst,” I mutter. “So much better when they’re gone.”
He brings my finger to his lips and sucks it, shocking me speechless. “Saliva heals it and stops the bleeding.”
“Oh,” I whisper, watching him in awe. “I could’ve done that.”
His cheeks redden. “I acted fast.”
I shrug wistfully. “It’s okay. I didn’t mind.”
His lopsided grin peeks out as he tears open the bandaid’s wrapper, peels off its plastic protector and oh-so-gently wraps my wounded finger. “There you go, Boss.” Our eyes lock. “All patched up.”
I burst, “We have to get the orders done! They need them tonight.”
“Them?”
“ Several orders from the Bentworths came in one after the other. All for tonight. They’re having a party and I have a feeling it’s an afterthought.”
Tom grins, “Like someone forgot an anniversary?”
“Or a birthday!”
We dive into the task, first cutting then arranging daisies, peonies, roses and so many more, my hands moving deftly as I teach him the basics of bouquet design. We laugh and joke about flower meanings, and I can feel the tension in my shoulders is gone. For a moment, it feels like just the two of us, lost in our own little world. “I want to add eucalyptus to these before?—”
“Zoe!” someone shouts as the bell on the door roars. In storm my brothers, Wyatt and Nathan, like a whirlwind of chaos. They’re furious, and I immediately know what’s up.
“Zoe!” Wyatt barks again, his policeman’s uniform making people outside stop and look through the windows to see what illegal acts have been discovered in here. “We need to talk!”
My heart races as I glance at Tom who’s still beside me, and back to my brothers to ask, “Is everything okay?”
“Is everything okay?! ” Nate echoes incredulously, crossing his arms over his fireman’s uniform.
A busy-body looky-loo has poked her head in, “Yes, is everything okay?” or perhaps she’s just hoping to begin a conversation with one of my handsome brothers. A man in uniform is one thing, but a Cocker in uniform is ten-fold.
Nathan gives her his boyish grin. “All is well, miss. Just talking to our sister.”
Tom offers, “She owns this shop, if you ever need flowers.”
The busy-body smiles, nods, and hesitates. Wyatt cocks an eyebrow at her. “Nothing to see here. Move along,” forcing her to disappear.
“Wyatt!” I scold him, “Now she might not become a customer!”
“You’ve committed to this marriage of convenience with some stranger, and you didn’t tell us?”
“What are you talking about? I don’t know what you mean.”
Wyatt crosses his arms, his brows furrowing. “Focus, Zoe! You and some stranger are getting married. We heard about it. Some incredibly wealthy guy you met just days ago! This isn’t like you. What’s going on? Do you need money?”
“I’m not doing it for the money!”
Tom turns to me. “You’re not?”
My brothers both stare at Tom, and Wyatt says, “Wait, we know you!”
Tom shifts his weight, introducing himself. “I’m Tom Bennet,” he says, voice friendly despite the tension. “I’m just helping Zoe with some bouquets that are, uh, due to go out soon .”
“Thank you, Tom,” I whisper, raising my voice to assert myself, “I have to get these orders out, guys. Now is not a good time.”
Wyatt’s and Nathan’s gazes narrow, and I can see the gears turning in their heads. “Tom Bennet,” Nate says slowly. “You were on our football team in high school! You were a senior when Wyatt was a freshman.” They shake hands. “Good to see you again.”
Tom chuckles. “Good to see you too, Nate.”
“What’re you doing here?” Wyatt huffs. “We heard some billionaire stranger was engaged to Zoe, not you.”
Tom’s eyes flicker and I interject, “He works with me.”
“ For her,” Tom corrects me. “She’s my boss. I’m doing deliveries, returned back to college.”
Nathan blinks and Wyatt dips his chin, “That’s cool. What’re you studying?”
“Family Law.”
“Huh. That’s a lot of…wait! We came in here to find out what our sister is up to with this crazy news we just heard.”
Remembering to be aggravated, Nathan agrees, “We can catch up with you later. Zoe , what is going on?”
“Please just listen a second?” I raise my hands in a plea for calm. “I need your support in this decision because I’m going to do it. No more treating me like I’m your kid sister! I’m older than both of you! This marriage is happening. And it’s a lot! I need you on my side. Trust me, because… it’s all very new and confusing.”
Wyatt’s jaw clenches. “Confusing? Ya think?!! We want to meet him. This isn’t just some fling, Zoe. You’re talking about marriage!”
I feel a wave of frustration wash over me. “As if I’ve ever had a fling! I didn’t plan this! Yet here I am. Getting married. It’s done. You can’t stop it!”
Tom stands beside me, a silent pillar of support. I glance at him, and for a brief moment, his presence steadies me.
He looks between my brothers and me. “Maybe you could give Zoe some space to breathe,” Tom suggests, respectful but firm. “She’s an adult, and whatever she decides is her choice.”
Wyatt’s expression shifts slightly, surprised by Tom’s assertiveness. Few people stand up to him. Especially when he’s in uniform! “This isn’t about you, man. This is family,” Wyatt smirks, but there’s a hint of uncertainty in his eyes.
“Yes, it is,” I say, my heart pounding. “And you’re mine, so I need you to back me up and be here for me. You want to meet him? Fine. You’ll have many chances, because he’s going to be my husband. Have you told Nicholas? Or Mom and Dad?”
Nathan explains, “Samantha just called me,” body tense, “I called Wyatt and he picked me up at the station.” Since they’ve always been so close, the two youngest, it doesn’t surprise me that they’d fact-check first before bringing everyone in, even our eldest sibling, Nicholas.
“Can you please wait for me to tell him? And Mom and Dad? And Grandma and Grandpa? And Aunt Cecily and Uncle Mike and…”
“Zoe!” Wyatt holds up his hand. “You don’t have to list everyone.”
“I just want to make sure I don’t miss someone because you could go and tell them and say I didn’t tell you not to.”
“Do you love him?” Nathan asks, and all three men look at me.
“I…I just met him,” I slowly answer. “But I like him. He’s nice. Now I really have to work. Can you at least let me finish these bouquets?”
My brothers stare at me for a few long seconds, and say in unison, “Fine.”
As they head for the door, my heart calms.
Wyatt walks out first, shaking his head, “I can’t believe she did this!”
Nate pauses to say, “This alarm, Zoe…it’s so you.”
I offer a tired smile. “Everything in this shop is so me.”
Nate flashes a grin, “Yeah,” but there’s worry still in his eyes. “We’ll talk later?!”
“Promise.”
He bends to pet Ralphie, “Stay here, Ralphie old boy,” carefully closing the door as my cat walks to watch the world pass by the windows.
I turn to Tom and find him watching me. “Thanks for standing up for me,” I say quietly, grateful for his unwavering support.
“Anytime,” he replies, his smile returning, though there’s a hint of something troubled in his gaze.
“Do you know how much I rely on you, Tom? You make me feel lighter.”
“Do I?”
I smile, “Uh huh,” reaching out and touching his hand. “What would I have done if you hadn’t been here?” He starts to speak, but I explode, “Oh! The bouquets. Let me run and get that eucalyptus! If I hurry you’ll be able to get them to the Bentworth’s on time! Timing is everything.”
I dash off as he heads for his box and I swear I hear him say under his breath, “And sometimes you’re just too late.”