Chapter Twenty-One
Everyone felt the chill in the air on the 13th when they arrived to help with the final preparations for the Valentine’s Day rush—and it had nothing to do with the snow falling outside. Lauren, Kate, Missy, and Vanessa were surprised by how much Cammie had already accomplished. The dark smudges under her eyes said it all: she’d been up all night.
No one commented. They simply took their stations and got to work. Thanks to Allen’s suggestion of a trial run before the grand reopening, the team ran like a well-oiled machine. Gwen kept everyone fueled with perfectly timed food deliveries.
Other than a few close calls while adding completed arrangements to the coolers or taking flowers out of the walk-in, Cammie managed to keep her distance from Allen. Aside from a polite “good morning” and brief answers to his occasional questions, she barely spoke to him.
At one point, Missy took over the Bluetooth speaker, filling the shop with a playful variety of kissing songs. Cammie didn’t notice until Thompson Square’s “Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not” played a little too loudly. Without a word, she booted the giggling teen off the speaker and started her own playlist—one she knew wouldn’t spark any ideas. The uplifting mix of Mercy Me, Casting Crowns, For King & Country, Lauren Daigle, Ann Wilson, and other favorite artists soon filled the space.
Lauren caught her eye with a knowing smirk but said nothing, her expression carrying the quiet understanding of a woman too perceptive for her own—or Cammie’s—good.
Tim Adler arrived at 9 p.m. to drive his family back to Sweet Valley, as the weather had worsened throughout the day. He promised to bring them back first thing in the morning, and everyone hurried out to the waiting Sheriff’s vehicle.
Anna, who had come later in the day to assist Allen with the balloons, was tying off one of the final bunches when her father, Bill Adler, arrived. He walked to the back of the shop and peeked into the walk-in cooler.
“Everything working okay with this beast?” he asked Cammie.
“Yes, sir,” Cammie replied with a grateful smile. “Phill did a great job installing it. It works like a charm. Thank you for the help. He wouldn’t accept payment, but I’m more than willing to pay a fee. I know you lost work hours with the four men you sent to help him disassemble and reassemble it.”
“Nope, we’re all square,” Bill replied with a friendly smile. “That’s what neighbors do. You’ve done us all a favor, helping Miss Betty ease into her retirement and opening this great shop to keep our ladies in bouquets. My boy knows how to run a business and would have sent an invoice if it was necessary. Actually, no—he’d have roped in his cousins and handled it after hours,” he added with a chuckle. “But don’t get any ideas. You keep your prices fair. We don’t do tit-for-tat around here.”
“Speaking of which, can you check your schedule and make sure my wife is on the list for tomorrow? I’ll be out of town until late, and I don’t want her to think I forgot. Our first date was on Valentine’s Day, so it’s a pretty big deal for us.”
Cammie nodded and turned to the computer to verify the delivery schedule. By the time she confirmed the twenty-five crimson roses for Bill’s wife, Allen had tied off the last balloon bunch, and Anna was bundled up, ready to leave. Cammie handed her an envelope with payment and thanked her for her hard work.
Allen was shrugging into his jacket when he asked, “Feel like grabbing a cup of coffee before Gathering Grounds closes?”
Cammie shook her head with a tired smile. “Thanks, but I think I’ll pass.”
He nodded and headed down the street alone, snowflakes clinging to his coat and lashes by the time he arrived.
As expected, Gwen and her gaggle of girls were holed up in the back sitting area. When he knocked on the locked door, Gwen jogged over to let him in. “It’s about time you showed up. Some of us have to get up early tomorrow,” she teased.
“You’re telling me. I promised Cammie I’d be back at 4 a.m. What’s so urgent that I had to rush over here tonight? I still need to go over the delivery logistics for tomorrow,” Allen groused, allowing his frustration with the day to show to his friend.
“Come. Sit,” Gwen ordered, grabbing a coffee with his name on it from the table and pressing it into his hand as she nudged him toward the dark leather couch.
“Is this some kind of intervention?” he asked, sinking into the seat they’d saved for him and scanning the group. Even Harper, usually in bed by 8 p.m., was there, which worried him given the big events planned for her the next day.
“Yes. Lauren called and said there’s trouble in paradise. What happened with you and Cammie? You’re perfect for each other, and we’re not about to let you ruin it by being a dumb guy. Spill, and we’ll help you fix it,” Gwen said, punching his arm.
Rubbing the spot where her jab landed, Allen sighed. “I’m not entirely sure. Her ex-fiancé showed up last night, acting like a jerk. I tried to support her without overstepping, and I think I did okay. He eventually left, and I don’t think he’ll be back, but I wouldn’t be surprised if her parents show up tomorrow…”
He trailed off, hesitating to share the rest.
“We need to hear everything,” Becky urged gently. “We’re not here to gossip or interfere. We care about Cammie and want her to be happy. So far, we haven’t heard anything that would put your relationship on ice, but according to Lauren, Cammie froze you out today.”
Rubbing the back of his neck, Allen weighed his options. These women had been like sisters to him since he’d arrived—supportive, kind, and trustworthy. If anyone could help, it was them. He exhaled slowly. “I think… it might’ve been the kiss,” he admitted awkwardly.
“The kiss?” Harper leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “Go on. This sounds promising.”
Allen scanned the group, his gaze landing on Anika. She gave him a small, encouraging nod. He took a breath. “She was really shaken when Judson showed up, but by the time he left, I felt like she’d found her footing. She stood her ground, kicked him out—it was like she realized her own strength for the first time. But just as he was leaving, he swept all the spa baskets off the top shelf. The glass shattered everywhere, and I could see it hit her hard. I wanted to go after him, but she just asked me to hold her while she cried.”
He paused, glancing around the room. The women sighed in unison, and Allen noticed Anika discreetly dabbing at a tear.
“It’s not the first time she’s turned to me for comfort, and honestly, I hope it won’t be the last. But… I slipped. I called her sweetheart.” His voice softened. “She looked at me, and I could see it—the longing in her eyes. Then she leaned in for a kiss… and I stopped her.”
“What?” Gwen exclaimed, her tone sharp with disbelief. “Why would you do that? She probably thinks you rejected her!”
“No, I explained it to her,” Allen said, his tone quieter. “I told her I didn’t want our first kiss to be tainted by Judson’s memory. That when it happens, it should be because we both want it and understand where we stand.”
“Is that all you said? Did you tell her how you feel about her?” Anika asked gently.
Allen hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. “No, I didn’t. I didn’t think it was the right time. I asked her to come to dinner so we could talk, but she cried off, said she was going to take a bath and go to bed. This morning… it was clear she worked through the night.”
He stared down at his hands, frustration and uncertainty etched into his features. “I’ll give her time. Hopefully, she’ll come back to me, and we can start again. She’s my soul mate, and if waiting is what it takes, I’ll wait.”
“I wouldn’t wait too long,” Harper said, her voice thoughtful but firm, as the other women nodded in agreement. “It sounds like she had plenty to think about during that bath, and her conclusion was to tuck you into the friend zone. Look at Zach and me. Our friend zone lasted a decade. A decade! If he had been upfront with me—or me with him—we’d have had all those years together as a family.”
“Whatever has her doubting—whether it’s you or herself—you need to tackle it head-on. If her reasons make sense, give her the space she needs. But if they don’t, push through. Get to the other side of it. Don’t let fear or miscommunication do to you what it did to us. You’ve got to decide if this is worth fighting for.”
Allen scanned the room, taking in the expectant looks from the women who had become his extended family. Harper’s words weighed heavy, but they carried undeniable truth. He had to act.
Gwen gave him a sharp slap on the back, jolting him from his thoughts. “That wasn’t a suggestion—it was an order. Go fix this. If my sources are right, she’s pulling another late night or even an all-nighter. Why wait for tomorrow when you can make your move today? Text me what you need for your romantic picnic, and I’ll coordinate with Mrs. Davis.”
“Picnic?” Allen asked, a flicker of confusion crossing his face as he rose from the couch.
Gwen shot him a sly grin. “You’re a smart man. You’ll figure it out.”
Her grin widened as she gave him a playful shove toward the door. “Good night, Prince Charming. Make it count.”
As Allen stepped into the cold night air, the snow crunching beneath his boots, his determination solidified. He wouldn’t let her slip away—not now, not when he’d finally found her.
The clock was ticking, and tomorrow wasn’t soon enough.