36. Epilogue
Epilogue
GIA
Three months later
“Are you ready?” Marley asked, brandishing the new pair of scissors she had insisted on purchasing for the occasion.
Gia sucked in a breath, trying and failing to calm her racing heart.
Am I ready?
No, the truth was she wasn’t ready, but it was too late to back out now.
She exhaled, hand outstretched for the scissors. The cool metal felt reassuring in her hands.
I can do this.
“Okay, I’m ready,” Gia said, turning to face the small crowd gathered in front of the newly renovated Blooming Petals. They had repainted the front door a vibrant teal color, and the window displayed the new branding, which incorporated a flower with its roots wrapped around the moon.
Jake and Marley had left a pink ribbon in the doorway, insisting Gia cut it to celebrate the reopening of the floral shop that had been left to her after Rosie died this past spring.
Gia looked up at the new signage she’d installed.
A small smile tugged at her lips even as she felt a twinge of grief at losing Rosie so soon after she returned to town.
Since before the holidays, Gia had noticed Rosie struggling to keep the store maintained and keep fresh inventory.
One early November afternoon, Gia had been walking by while Rosie was dusting the windows.
Instead of walking past like she normally would have, Gia pivoted and turned into the flower shop instead.
After some awkward small talk, Rosie confessed it had been a tough year for her to go to market and pick up fresh flowers while also maintaining the shop, so Gia volunteered to help.
It started with going to the wholesale market in Bramblewood, over an hour’s drive outside of town. In those days, she often brought Marley along with her as they picked out which flowers to bring back to the shop. A day or two a week turned into Gia helping Rosie any time she wasn’t at The Lotus.
Gia hadn’t realized how precious those days were until one day, Rosie didn’t show up to open the store. Gia called 911 on the way to Rosie’s house, but by the time she’d gotten there, Rosie had long since passed. She’d gone to bed and hadn’t woken up.
That was in early March.
They laid Rosie to rest in the town’s cemetery to honor what she represented to Willowbrook—beauty through all the seasons. Rosie didn’t have any relatives, but when it came time for the reading of her will, Rosie surprised Gia by leaving Blooming Petals to her.
They’d spent the better part of the past few months fixing up the place and bringing the shop back to life. She would give any money she earned selling flowers to groups that supported women and children who experienced sexual assault.
“Gia? You okay?” Jake’s soft touch brushed against the small of her back, anchoring her to the present.
She wiped away a stray tear, smiling up at the man who had been there for her through thick and thin. Her rock. Her future husband.
“Yeah, I’m okay.” She gripped the scissors firmly in her right hand, the ribbon in the other, while Marley started counting down.
“Three… two… one!” Marley shouted.
On the last count, Gia snipped the ribbon in half while the surrounding crowd cheered. Camera shutters and flashes went off as Jake gathered her in his arms, kissing her for the entire world to see.
She turned toward the street, a sea of familiar and trusted faces, all bearing expressions of happiness.
Diem stood in the center, Silas looming behind her protectively.
Alina stood next to her, arm in arm with Lana, while Quynh held a cup of coffee between her palms and Griffin wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
Ben, Emily, and their two kids played on the sidewalk.
Even Hanh, her therapist—whom she had been seeing weekly for months, and who had been absolutely vital for her mental health—had come out of her office to show her support.
“Welcome to Blooming Petals!” Gia cheered with the crowd.