Chapter 6Aiden
Chapter Six
Aiden
The air buzzed with the energy of Saturday morning commerce, bringing a smile to my face as I strolled along the central walkway of the weekly farmer’s market on Dove Key. Locals and tourists alike mingled in the narrow aisles formed by stalls overflowing with vibrant produce, handmade crafts, and fresh seafood straight from the boats moored near mine. May had always been one of my favorite months in the Keys, and today was a chamber of commerce day.
“Morning, Doc Mitchell!” a sun-leathered fisherman I’d seen several times in my clinic called out as he hauled a cooler filled with snapper onto his icy display.
“Looks like a good catch, Tom,” I replied, my voice tinged with the warmth this tight-knit community drew out of me. A community I was now a part of in a way I’d never been as a boy.
I moved through the crowd, taking in the scents—the salty brine of the sea mixing with the sweet aroma of ripe strawberries and the sharp tang of freshly baked sourdough from Mrs. Linley’s bakery stand. In the background, the sound of a fiddle blended with children’s laughter near the playground, crafting a song of simple pleasures.
Then my feet stumbled to a halt. Stella stood not ten feet away. She was at a flower vendor’s booth, her fingers delicately tracing the petals of an orchid. I’d seen no hint of her since the debacle in my office two weeks ago, and that only made her appearance before me more striking. Sunlight caught in her dark hair, adding bright highlights, and her smile held the effortless charm that had once undone all my defenses.
“That one is hardy enough for the restaurant,” the vendor said to her.
“They’re all so beautiful. I can’t decide!” Stella laughed, the sound tinkling like wind chimes caught in a gentle breeze.
I hesitated and shifted from foot to foot, torn between the safety of distance and the magnetic pull of her presence. My hands found the pockets of my shorts, seeking something to ground them. There was so much I wanted to say, to ask. Go on, talk to her , the little voice in my head urged, but doubt weighed my shoes down.
She was now holding the orchid up to the light, examining its roots as a furrow of concentration etched her brow. The expression was familiar, one that signaled her deep focus and attention to detail. I squared my shoulders and took the first step toward her.
“Morning, Stella,” I called out softly as I approached, not wanting to startle her this time.
The plant froze in her hands. She slowly turned, and a hint of pink crept over her cheeks. “Hi, Aiden.” Her blush deepened when our eyes met.
“Looks like we both had the same idea this morning.”
She licked her lips quickly, her eyes darting around. “This is a great farmer’s market.”
“I wanted to apologize for the shock back at the clinic,” I spoke softly enough that we couldn’t be overheard, ever mindful of privacy concerns as I scratched the back of my neck awkwardly. “That wasn’t exactly how I imagined we’d… you know, run into each other again. I wa sn’t sure if you were still around here until I saw your name on my charting system.”
She breathed a sigh, but it was softened by a slight twitch of her mouth that made my tight insides unclench a little. “It’s okay. That situation wasn’t your fault. Or mine, for that matter. It was just a coincidence—a really horrible, embarrassing one. And I should apologize for pushing you out of your own exam room.”
“I really am sorry. I’m well aware of how awkward that situation is for women.”
She turned to face me fully, her eyes holding mine. “Can we just move on from it? Pretend this is the first time we’ve seen each other again?”
“I’d like that. You look great.”
Her eyes dropped to the pot in her hands. “Thanks.” Her mouth remained open for a moment, then she shut it. As if she was going to say more but changed her mind.
I nodded to the flower she held. “Still can’t get enough of orchids?”
That brought a genuine smile to her face, and the air suddenly became warmer. “Yes. I still love them. Though this shopping trip is a bit less happy. We had two plants disappear from Orchid and I’m searching for replacements.”
“Orchid thief on the loose?”
“Seems so.” Stella shrugged, her eyes scanning the array of flowers before us. She picked up an orchid with delicate pink blooms. “I’m just hoping these new ones won’t vanish into thin air as well.”
Her gaze lingered on the flower in her hand. “This one could be a contender. The orchids that went missing were part of the public display on the wall outside the entrance. So the replacements have to be hearty varieties, since they’re out in the weather.”
I picked up a yellow and white one that had a sturdy central stem. “What about this guy?”
Her smile made my heart pound. “Oh, Phalaenopsis! I love those! I didn’t see it there. ”
“Sounds like fate, then. There’s a second one next to it.” I reached out with the flower.
“Thanks,” Stella said, accepting the pot. Her fingers brushed against mine, sending an unexpected jolt through me. The connection felt electric, a current that reignited old flames I hadn’t been sure were still there.
Guess that question is answered.
“Do you think the missing orchids are due to an over-inquisitive guest, or did someone actually steal them?”
She shrugged one shoulder. “Well, there’s no proof pointing to anyone specific. But they certainly didn’t sprout legs and walk out on their own.”
I nodded, but the notion unsettled me. Calypso Key Resort had always been the premier venue in our neck of the woods and a very coveted place to work. Since returning, I’d learned that that hadn’t changed, so an employee was unlikely. A guest then? It seemed improbable and yet…
“Dr. Mitchell!” A familiar voice cut through my thoughts. I turned to see Mrs. Landon holding hands with her young daughter, who beamed up at me.
“Hey there.” I smiled down at Mandy, who looked much happier than the last time I’d seen her.
Mrs. Landon reached out to pat my shoulder. “I wanted to thank you. Those antibiotics cleared her strep throat right up. It’s like night and day!”
Mandy nodded emphatically. The interaction with them was warm and friendly, a reminder of why I’d chosen this path. I said something positive and reassuring before the pair wandered away. When I refocused on Stella, I found her observing me with an intensity that quickened my pulse.
“I’m sure you’re a really good doctor, Aiden.” Her voice was soft, like a warm blanket wrapping around me.
“Thank you,” I replied, tucking my hands into my pockets to keep from fidgeting. Compliments still made me awkward, especially from her. I wanted to tell her about medical school, but the words lodged in my throat.
“I imagine you had some explaining to do after I tore out of your office last week.”
In fact, when I’d emerged from the deserted room where I’d recovered from my shock, I’d met with a lot of curious faces. Especially the old timers, who knew my history with Stella. But I only mentioned something vague and noncommittal.
Now I shrugged one shoulder. “I didn’t say anything. None of their business.” But my firm stance on keeping confidences created a different difficulty. I couldn’t very well ask my staff what Stella had been up to over the years. Where did she live? Where did she work?
But now she stood right before me.
My gaze lingered on her, taking in the highlights in her hair and the laugh lines around her eyes. The orchid in her hand paled in comparison. She stared back and the moment between us drew out.
Jerking her head away, Stella blinked. “I’m happy to see you became a doctor. It was what you always wanted.”
Not all that I wanted.
But I couldn’t say that out loud. Not if I didn’t want her to run away again. So I smiled instead. “I did. What about you?”
She straightened, a hint of steel in her spine now. “I just became the head chef at Orchid.”
My smile broadened, tempered with admiration now. “Congratulations. Looks like I’m not the only one who has realized a dream.”
That flush crept across her face again and her shoulders tensed. As if she’d been prepared for me to challenge her qualification to be a head chef. Like I ever would—that position was her destiny if anything was. So many mysteries here. I dropped my eyes to the orchid in her hands. “Now you get to work with food and orchids every day. Let’s hope that guy stays put.”
That earned me another smile. “Well, it better.” She bought two of the yellow and white orchids from the vendor. We lingered outside the stall as she adjusted them, cradling them against her body with one arm.
I stuck my hands back in my pockets and gave her a crooked smile. “I’m surprised you didn’t replace the missing ones with monkey-face orchids.”
Her hand paused mid-air, and she glanced up at me, surprise and delight flickering across her face. “You remember that?”
“That they’re your favorites?” I asked, my tone softening. “How could I forget? You gave a whole presentation on them in Mr. Calhoun’s biology class, junior year.”
Stella’s lips parted slightly, as if she was about to say something. But she just shook her head as a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. Her gaze locked with mine, and for a long moment, neither of us said anything. Memories swirled inside me, carrying whispers of our shared past—the laughter, our first, fumbling attempts at sex together, and the dreams we once dared to dream. Together.
“Monkey-face orchids are incredibly rare.” She finally broke the silence, her voice a soft murmur that resonated straight through me. “Not something they have at a farmer’s market on a local key.”
“Rare but worth searching for,” I replied as we faced each other fully, my words holding an undercurrent that went beyond the topic of elusive flowers. The air between us felt heavy with things unsaid, feelings unexplored, and the weight of years spent apart.
“I can’t believe you remember those.” The crowd gently parted around us, but I couldn’t tear my eyes from hers.
“I remember a lot, Stella.”
And right there, with wistful longing showing in her eyes, I knew. I wanted to ask her out, to try to reclaim the time we’d lost.
But how?
Stella broke the trance to stare at the orchids cradled in her arms, her expression shifting. “I should get these home.” Suddenly flustered, she fiddled with her purse. “I’ll see you around.”
“Of course.” Any further words I wanted to say remained inside as she turned away .
She’d taken a few steps when she paused and looked back over her shoulder. “It was good to see you again, Aiden. Goodbye.”
Her voice was soft, carrying a note that made me want to reach out and press pause on the moment. What was the message she was sending? The part about being happy that we met up again. Or the goodbye?
“Good to see you too.”
I watched her walk away, the sway of her hips hypnotic and familiar. As she disappeared into the throng of marketgoers, I was left with the scent of flowers and corn dogs, along with the lingering question of what would happen next. At least she hadn’t shoved me away this time, though she’d been guarded and tentative. The laughter and chatter of the market resumed its full volume around me, but I still stood there, anchored to the spot by the weight of unspoken words.