Chapter 30
Chapter Thirty
ALICE
“Hey. You awake?” Declan whispers.
I nod, not moving. He’s curled around me, his body heat warming me from the outside in.
I spent most of the night tossing and turning. Declan turned in early because of practice today, but I stayed on the couch until two, not wanting to keep him awake.
When I finally went to bed, Declan pulled me into him and didn’t let me out of his hold.
At least someone cares about me.
“I have to get ready for practice.”
“I know.”
“Are you going to be okay?” Declan asks, cupping my cheek and turning my attention to him.
“I’ll be fine.”
“You don’t have to pretend,” he says. “I know you’re not.”
“No, but I’ll be fine while you’re at practice. I promise.”
“You sure?”
I nod, turning back over.
“I let Leon know you wouldn’t be in today.”
“You did?”
“Yes. Stay home. Just…” He brushes a piece of hair out of my face. “Let me know if you need anything, okay?”
“I will.”
Declan presses a kiss to my cheek as he hops out of bed, taking his warmth with him.
The sun is starting to peek through the closed blinds, casting long shadows across the room.
My mind is a chaotic mess after last night.
It’s not that I lost my trust. Fine. Whatever.
I’ve been saving every penny since I started working at Enchanted Petals because I love it so much and wanted to take over.
Leon always talked about his dream of passing it on to me so he could retire early to enjoy his life with Jacob.
No.
It’s the fact that my parents care so little about me that they’d go through the trouble of nullifying my trust just to keep me under their thumb.
Did they really think I’d give up everything I’ve wanted since I graduated from college and started working?
Hurt and anger battle for control as Declan drops one last kiss to my cheek before leaving.
I have no idea how long I stay here. Exhaustion clings to me, but I can’t stay like this all day.
When the stream of sunlight brightens, I know I need to get up. Glancing at the clock, it’s well after one in the afternoon.
Piling my hair on top of my head, I throw on one of Declan’s sweatshirts over my sleep shorts and tank and pad into the kitchen.
Maybe a cup of coffee will help me feel better. At least give me a clear head so I can try to come up with a plan of action going forward.
But before I can do anything, the front door swings open.
“Alice?”
“Kathleen? What are you doing here?”
My jaw drops in shock as Declan’s parents stride in through the front door.
“Oh, sweetheart.” Kathleen walks around the counter and pulls me in for a hug. The smell of lavender invades my senses, causing tears to well in my eyes. “Declan told us what happened.”
“Did you drive all night?”
“We got up early this morning to drive. You know it’s not that bad without traffic.”
“You didn’t need to come.” Except I squeeze her tighter to me.
“Nonsense. I whipped up some soup for you and you are going to sit and eat it until you feel better.”
“Excuse me,” Aiden interjects, shutting the door behind him. “Who made the soup?”
Kathleen untangles her arms from mine and pats my cheek. “Fine. He made the soup. But I told him we had to do it.”
“Like I wouldn’t have done it.” Aiden sidles up to us with a smile on his face. “She thinks that she knows everything, but you know we’d do anything for you, Alice. You’re like a daughter to us.”
I can’t hold back the tears. A fresh wave roll down my cheeks as I try to wipe them away, but to no avail.
“Oh, sweetheart.” Kathleen pulls me in again, rubbing circles on my back as I let the tears go. “I’m so sorry.”
I can’t say anything. My throat is too thick with emotion.
“I know your parents were shitheads to you—”
Aiden is interrupted almost immediately.
“You can’t say that to her right now,” Kathleen hisses.
He shrugs as I turn to face him.
“As I was saying. I know your parents were terrible to you and basically disowned you, but if you’re looking for a set of adopted parents, you have us. We might cuss, drink a lot, and drop in unannounced, but we do it because we care.”
“I’d take the two of you any day,” I say, pulling Declan’s dad in for a hug.
“Good. Now, time to eat some soup.” Kathleen steers me toward the kitchen right as the doorbell rings. “Aiden. Get that.”
I laugh as he gripes but does exactly what she says. Leon and Jacob are at the door with a stunning bouquet in hand.
“Okay, did Declan call everyone?” I throw my hands up, leaning back in the barstool.
They shed their coats, hanging them on the hook and toeing off their shoes.
“When I got his text this morning, I knew things were bad,” Leon says. “He was worried, and so am I.”
“I told him I was fine.”
Jacob waves me off, grabbing one of my vases to put the flowers in. “I’d be worried if you were.”
“I’m going to have to have a talk with him about what fine means.”
Aiden pats me on the back as he goes over toward the stove. “Then he knows exactly what it means. Fine is never fine.”
A glass of amber liquid is slid in front of me. Jacob winks as he takes a seat next to me. “Agreed. You found a good one.”
“Yeah, I really did.” I swirl the glass around before taking a sip.
The bourbon burns on the way down, but helps to settle my insides. Leon is at the stove, helping Kathleen with the soup while Aiden turns the oven on to heat up the bag of rolls he brought.
All these people are here because of Declan. Because of the one person that means more to me than anything else.
Who cares so much about me that he didn’t want me left to my own devices today. His parents drove over eight hours to be here. I know Leon closed the shop because without a manager there, who else would oversee things?
My parents might be the worst and not care, but Declan does.
My husband, who I love more than anything in the world, even though we got married on a whim in Vegas.
I don’t give a damn that I lost my trust.
I have Declan and these people.
That means more than they’ll ever know.
“You look sad,” Leon says, leaning across the counter at me. “You had a smile and now it’s gone.”
My lip quivers. “I wish I could buy the shop from you, but I don’t think I’ll be able to now.” It sinks like a lead weight in my stomach. All I’ve ever wanted is now out of reach.
“Why would you think that?” Leon asks, looking confused.
“You told me that.” I point out. “You wanted to sell Enchanted Petals free and clear so you could travel with Jacob.”
Jacob nods his head next to me. “Darling, you’ve said that several times.”
“I have?” Leon looks chagrined. “I’m sorry if I made you think that’s the only way you could have the shop. The only person I trust with my baby is you.”
“Hey!” Jacob interjects. “I thought I was your baby.”
I snicker at the two of them, the lightness clearing my full head.
“Of course you are,” Leon tells him. “But I’ve had Enchanted Petals much longer than you, and I love it. I wanted to make sure it was in good hands. Alice is the only person I would sell it to.”
“Which is impossible because my parents voided my trust.”
“We can work something else out, Alice,” Leon says.
“Really?”
Leon cups my cheeks, forcing my eyes to meet his.
“Yes. I want you to have the store. There is no one that loves it more than you, and I’m including myself in that.
You have a passion for what you do that shines through in everything you create.
Clients love you. Customers love you. I love you. It’s a done deal.”
“You mean that? You’re not just saying it?” It’s been a roller coaster of emotions these last eighteen hours. The last thing I want is to get my hopes up to have them dashed.
“Of course.”
“I really want to be more excited right now, but with everything else going on, it’s hard,” I confess.
Leon kisses my cheek and Jacob pats my knee. “Take a few days to get your head on straight. We’ll worry about ironing out the details later.”
“Which means it’s time to eat,” Aiden says. “We made enough to feed an army, so I hope you’re hungry.”
“I’m starving,” Leon says.
As everyone heads into the dining room, I pop off the stool and go to grab my phone, firing off a text to Declan.
Alice
You didn’t need to call in reinforcements
Declan
Yes I did
I was worried about you
As much as I said I didn’t need anyone, I’m glad they’re here
Good
I should be home soon
I love you
Not as much as I love you, Froggie
With everyone at the table, noise fills the house. It helps to make the ache in my chest go away.
Because while my family by blood don’t want anything to do with me unless I live up to their vision of a good daughter, but these people? They love me for me.
I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to tell them that. But I’ll keep them around for as long as they’ll let me.