Chapter 33
Levi
March in Stonevale never fully commits, always caught between seasons.
The lingering frost of winter and the soft promise of spring.
The ground beneath my feet is still firm with ice, but there’s a warmth in the air today, a gentle hint of what’s coming.
It’s quiet here. The kind that feels like a held breath, as if the earth itself is cautiously anticipating the first signs of life, ready to bloom into something beautiful.
Standing at the edge of the empty field, I scan the bare dirt, the emptiness bursting with possibility and hope.
My heart tightens with pride at the journey that brought us here.
Messy and exhausting, but so, so worth it.
When the funding vanished overnight, it felt like watching sand slip through my fingers, carrying every dream I’d hoped to build.
I never thought we’d get here again.
But my people rallied behind me.
Naomi, who refused to hear the word no, and whose sheer stubbornness practically reshaped reality into giving us a second chance.
Elijah, whose connections at the college helped find a path when we thought there was none.
Dominic, who kept us grounded, even when it seemed like everything was falling apart.
They made sure this garden wasn’t just a dream, but a reality.
And damn, am I grateful. This town, these people…they’re everything. Without them, none of this would be happening.
I glance over at Naomi, who’s enthusiastically talking to volunteers, clipboard in hand, making sure everything’s running on schedule. People are showing up in droves, ready to give back and pour their hearts into something that will outlast us all.
The press, the volunteers, the families who have shown up to witness this moment…
everything feels a little too loud, a little too big.
But I push past it. Inhale, trying to steady my nerves.
I’m ready, even if my shaky hands would lead you to believe otherwise.
I take one last look at the plot of land before I step up to the podium, clear my throat, and begin.
“Thank you all for being here today,” I start.
“I’ve spent my whole life in Stonevale. It’s my home, and it always will be.
It’s a place that’s seen a lot of change over the years, like all small towns do.
But what I’ve learned is that no matter how hard things get, this town never backs down.
We come together. We support each other. And we fight for what matters.”
Heads nod in the crowd and I pause, letting the weight of what I’m trying to say settle.
“This garden…it’s not just a pretty place.
It’s a place to grow and to rest. A row for beginners, a quiet bench for remembering, a plot for every classroom that wants to learn with their hands.
A space where we can connect with one another, where we can find peace and comfort.
It’s a reminder that no matter how hard everything else may get, we have each other. ”
Applause ripples through the crowd and my heart swells.
“I want to thank everyone who made today possible. For volunteering their time and energy to help me create something special.” And then, I add, “I do have to give a special thank-you to Naomi Kapoor, who, despite ‘just being an intern,’ has basically run my entire life for the past few months. Without her relentless determination, I can assure you we wouldn’t be standing here today.
If anyone in Stonevale is hiring, this unstoppable force is your future.
But fair warning: Losing her when this internship ends might literally kill me, so make sure the offer is too good to refuse.
Anyway, let’s give a massive round of applause for Naomi,” I say, enthusiastically clapping in her direction.
Naomi ducks her head, visibly touched, and I catch the sheen of tears she quickly tries to blink away. She offers a small, genuine smile and a shy wave, and I hope she truly knows how invaluable she’s been. Not just to today and this project, but to me.
I take another deep breath and look out over the crowd, all the faces I’ve known my whole life, all of them ready to make something happen together.
“I want this garden to mean something deeper than just plants and soil. I hope it becomes a reminder of the power in community, the comfort in quiet moments, and the beauty in choosing each other even when life gets messy. I want it to be something lasting. Something worth fighting for.”
The crowd claps, and I feel the weight of it all. The pressure, the gratitude, the excitement. This is the start of something new, not just for me, but for Stonevale.
After my speech, the ribbon is cut with a flourish and the shovel digs into the earth with a satisfying crunch.
I’m surrounded by a chorus of cheers, laughter, and the sounds of the crowd milling around, shaking hands, slapping backs.
The press wants quotes. Volunteers want photos.
I’m swept into the chaos of it all. It’s dizzying, overwhelming, and I love every second of the madness.
The crowd shifts, parting for a heartbeat, and the noise drops to a distant hum.
That’s when I see him.
Hayden.
Standing at the edge like he’s been carved into the moment, hands tucked in his pockets and watching me with an intensity that makes my heart trip over itself.
He looks more gorgeous and polished than anyone has the right to look at a ground-breaking ceremony.
His pale eyes find mine, steady and searching, and the rest of the world blurs like someone turned down the volume on everything but him.
I almost can’t stomach tearing my gaze from his face but something in his hand catches my eye.
He’s holding a single white lily.
Simple and serene, a Hayden Harlow classic. But then, just as I start to walk toward him, he removes the hand he’s had hiding behind his back, revealing something that makes my heart flutter.
A sunflower.
A bright, cheerful, bold sunflower that at one point the man holding it had called an abomination, if I remember correctly.
I freeze, unable to help the smile that spreads across my face.
He reaches me in three long strides and pulls me into a hug. Full-bodied and grounding like he’s been holding the shape of me in his memory.
“I’m so proud of you,” he murmurs, his voice soft with sincerity. “Take this in. All of it. Let the town see you and all you’ve accomplished. And when you’re ready…come find me at the greenhouse.”
I pull back, looking into his eyes. “But you ca…” I start, but he doesn’t let me finish.
“This is your day, Levi,” he whispers, brushing a tender kiss on my cheek, and I could just about combust on the spot.
“This is your moment. You’ve worked incredibly hard to get to today and I am so amazed by you.
Embrace every second of it. Hold it in your heart, and when you’re done, I’ll be waiting. ”
Something inside me, something I didn’t realize was shaking, finally steadies.
A sweet smile tugs at his lips as he steps back, leaving me with the sunflower, the lily, and a feeling in my chest I can’t quite name. I watch him leave, a very big part of me wanting to run after him, but I know he’s right. I have worked so hard for this.
I force my focus back to the event and to why we’re here today. The interviews Naomi helped line up are coming next. The press needs sound bites. The volunteers are still buzzing around.
But Hayden lingers like sunlight on skin.
Warm and impossible to ignore, even after he stepped away.
The fact that he came, that he’s prioritizing this personal accomplishment without making it about him or us, even when everything between us hasn’t been ironed out…
it’s so him. He showed up. Celebrated me.
And slipped away so I could shine. It’s exactly what I’d always imagined partnership feeling like.
Like being held, even from across a room. Or field, in this instance.
As the event winds down and endless hugs are concluded, I finally slip away from the crowd and head toward a small corner of the event area where Elijah, Dominic, and Naomi are gathered, watching the final moments of all their hard work unfold.
“Hey,” I say, my voice a little rough from all the talking.
I take a seat next to Dominic and rest my head on his shoulder.
“I just…” My throat catches and my eyes sting unsurprisingly.
“You three…you didn’t have to show for me the way you did.
But you did anyway. And now…” I gesture helplessly at everything around us.
“All this happened because I have you in my life, and I don’t know how to thank you enough. ”
I feel the tears come as the words get lost somewhere in my chest. It’s hard to express how much this all means to me, but I don’t get the chance to finish before Dominic nudges me with his elbow.
“We know, Levi. You love us. We’re amazing. Blah, blah, appreciation, blah.” He tips his head toward the street leading back to the greenhouse. “But seriously, go. Funeral Guy’s been patient enough.”
I kiss them both on the cheek before turning to Naomi. She looks back at me with that knowing smile of hers and I reach out and hug her tight.
“I wouldn’t be here without you,” I whisper.
She pats my back, pulling away. “You made this happen, Levi. But you’re welcome for the constant micromanaging. Now, stop lingering and go get him already.”
I don’t need another push.
I turn on my heel, heart pounding as I leave the garden behind.
With each step closer to the greenhouse, my nerves sharpen, thoughts tumbling over each other.
There is so much left unsaid between Hayden and me.
So many pieces we need to pick up, rearrange, and figure out how to fit back together.
But beneath the uncertainty, there’s also hope.
A persistent tug in my chest that propels me toward him.