Chapter 49
FORTY-NINE
ZOE
The morning had started cool, seeing as it was barely fifty degrees out, but now, by noon, it was closer to eighty. Sweatshirts had been abandoned, jeans rolled at the ankle; tank tops and sundresses brightened the square in every direction.
The town square was alive with flowers overflowing from their hanging baskets on the lampposts, and the air buzzed with the scent of kettle corn, lemonade, and fresh flowers.
The fountain at the center of the square glittered beneath strands of pastel ribbons, while children darted between booths clutching bags of cotton candy and balloons that bobbed above their heads.
The Spring Fling had always been the town’s biggest celebration of the season. It was part craft fair, part farmer’s market, part small-town reunion. Every shopkeeper had a table out front, every porch was strung with blossoms, and every conversation started with “Can you believe this weather?”
Mrs. Bishop balanced a crate of blooms on her hip, pausing to give Zoe a knowing smile. “You’re trying to stay busy the whole day, aren’t you?”
Zoe laughed softly, brushing extra dirt off her hands.
The flower stand overflowed with tulips, daffodils, and ranunculus spilling from galvanized buckets, their scent drifting sweetly through the air.
She’d added a few early peonies and wild daisies from the meadow, bright touches of pink and gold.
The Moonlight Kisses were growing spectacularly in the greenhouse, but they weren’t ready to release to the masses yet.
Soon, Zoe thought, she’d be able to share the magic with everyone.
“Whatever keeps my mind off until the announcement,” Zoe admitted, her voice dropping to something more fragile. “The crowning is so important for my mom.”
Zoe caught sight of Cassidy weaving through the crowd. “Is that actually an Easter sweater?” she teased as Cassidy reached for a bouquet.
Cassidy tipped her head, showing off her tiny pastel bunnies that sparkled in the sun. “Yep, but don’t worry, I’ll have my festive ones back out soon. Christmas is in 257 days…”
“I shouldn’t be surprised that you know that,” Zoe said with a smile.
She was arranging a bucket of blue blossoms when a familiar shadow stretched across the booth. She looked up to see Jackson, hands in his pockets, a half grin tugging at his mouth.
“Can I persuade you to come away with me?” he asked, his voice low.
Zoe tilted her head, amusement sparking in her eyes. “Away? From my busiest day of the year?” She gestured to the bustling booth behind her, where a reporter was snapping photos and Mrs. Bishop was haggling over three bouquets at once. “You’re asking a lot, Mr. Hawthorne.”
Jackson leaned one elbow against the counter, casual but insistent. “I know. But the Spring Fling isn’t going anywhere, and neither are your flowers. I’m asking for five minutes. Maybe ten. Just you and me.”
Her lips quirked. “Five minutes, huh? What’s in it for me?”
He leaned closer, his breath warm against her ear despite the spring breeze. “Sunshine. Cotton candy. Possibly a dance under the cherry blossoms. Come on, Zoe. You’ve given Maple Falls its flowers. Give me a little of your time.”
She glanced at the booth, at the line forming. Then back at him. Her heart tugged toward the square, toward him. “Ten minutes,” she said finally, sliding her hand into his.
“Deal,” Jackson murmured, squeezing her fingers. “Though I was hoping you’d say forever.”
Zoe rolled her eyes, but her smile betrayed her. “Forever’s negotiable. Cotton candy first.”
He laughed, pulling her gently from behind the booth as petals drifted through the air, the town square blooming with color and music all around them.
“Why are your hands sweaty?” Jackson asked, his tone teasing, though his thumb smoothed over her knuckles.
“I’m nervous,” Zoe confessed. “I know we’ve got a good chance, but what if the votes went to someone else? What if it’s Cassidy and Liam? Everyone adores them. Remember the Christmas Light-Up? They practically had the whole town under their spell.”
Jackson opened his mouth, but Zoe pressed on.
“And Madison and Zach—the Cinnamon Spice Inn is beloved. People root for them. What if there’s another couple we’re not even thinking of? Edith and the mayor even? It’s normally a young couple who wins, but they did just get married…” She sighed. “I just… I don’t want to disappoint Mom.”
Jackson squeezed her hand, steady, grounding. “How much did she wager?”
Zoe winced. “Five thousand. Maybe more. Maybe I should raise the flower prices, try to cover it. Or dip into savings. I could—”
“Zoe.” Jackson stopped her mid-spiral, tilting her chin so she’d look at him. “Listen to me. Everything will be okay. Whether we win or not. We didn’t make your mom place that bet. And if anyone in this town can’t see how crazy in love I am with you, then they’re fools.”
Zoe smiled. “Crazy in love, huh?”
“Completely.” His grin widened. “You, Zoe Hart, are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. And you are the love of my life. If I’m lucky, you’ll be by my side forever.”
“Jackson, I—”
“I loved you when we were kids making mud pies. I loved you in middle school, when you got up on stage and sang Beyoncé at the talent show.”
Zoe laughed, cheeks warming. “It’s Beyoncé. What’s not to love?”
“I loved you when you dragged us all to prom as a group. You thought I didn’t notice, but I knew—it was because you were scared to ask me, and I was just as scared to ask you.”
Zoe blinked fast, her chest tightening.
“I loved you when you moved away, chasing your dreams. And when you came home to take over the flower shop, turning it into something even more beautiful than your mom’s.
I loved you when you looked at me and actually saw me.
I’ve loved you longer than I know. And I’ll keep loving you—for the rest of my life. ”
Before she could answer, a hush swept through the square.
Mayor Bloomfield, punctual as ever, stepped up to the gazebo at five o’clock on the dot. His outfit was a vision in pastels with powder-blue slacks, a pale yellow shirt, and a crisp white tie that gleamed in the sun. His fashion sense always made her smile.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” he boomed, his voice carrying over the square, “thank you for joining us for this year’s Spring Fling! Isn’t Maple Falls radiant this season? Full of color, full of life, full of love.”
Applause rippled through the crowd.
“Now, the moment we’ve all been waiting for.” He turned, beaming at Edith. “Envelope, please.”
She handed it over with a wink, and he held it aloft.
“This year has been like no other,” the mayor continued.
“Apparently, wagers were placed.” Laughter rolled across the square.
“And you all turned out in record numbers to vote. Truly, this has been the most spirited Spring Fling we’ve ever seen. ”
He broke the seal, drawing out the pause, eyes twinkling. “And the Couple of the Year is…”
The crowd held its breath.
“Jackson Hawthorne and Zoe Hart!”
The mayor grinned, raising his voice above the noise. “And I’d say it’s an excellent choice! After all, these two are the very pair who rediscovered the long-lost Moonlight Kiss bloom, a flower said to appear only where true love has taken root!”
A collective “aww” swept through the square.
He spread his arms wide, voice booming again. “Seems to me love is alive and well here in Maple Falls!”
The mayor’s words rang out clear as the bells that crowned the square, and then the cheers began.
They were tentative at first, like the strike of a match, before catching and roaring to life.
The sound swelled around Zoe until she felt it in her bones, every clap, every whistle, every shout of her name.
Her mom cried outright, camera shaking in her hands as she snapped photo after photo. “That’s my baby!” she wailed, voice cracked with joy. “That’s my baby!”
Zoe’s throat tightened. She might have laughed if the lump in her chest hadn’t been so thick.
Jackson’s hand found hers, steady and sure, and he leaned down just enough that only she could hear. “Told you they’d see it.”
Her lips trembled into a smile.
And then, in front of everyone, he pulled her into his arms. The world narrowed to the warmth of his body, the press of his palm against the small of her back, the slant of his mouth lowering to hers.
The crowd roared, the noise rolling over them like a wave, but Zoe barely heard it.
The only sound was the rush of blood in her ears, the faint catch of his breath as his lips claimed hers.
He kissed her slowly, deeply, as though this were the vow, the promise, the whole of their future sealed with one touch.
She sank against him, his arm strong at her waist, keeping her steady, keeping her safe. Her soldier. Always her soldier.
When he finally lifted his head, blossoms drifted on the spring breeze, caught in her hair, on his jacket. He laughed softly, brushing one from her cheek.
Mrs. Bishop fanned herself with her program, declaring loud enough for everyone to hear, “Woo-eee, that’s why they won, folks!”
The fiddlers, never ones to miss their cue, slipped into a lilting ballad. Couples paired off instinctively, but many eyes remained fixed on Zoe and Jackson.
“Dance with me?” he murmured, offering his hand.
Her chest swelled, her answer a whisper caught between a laugh and a sigh. “Always.”
He drew her close, and together they moved beneath the lanterns strung across the square.
The glow painted everything gold, the blossoms falling like confetti, the music winding soft and sweet.
Jackson’s hand splayed warm at her waist, guiding her gently, mindful of her ankle, every step protective and sure.
“I’m so glad this isn’t just for today.” His voice brushed her ear, low and certain. “Couple of the Year’s nothing compared to Couple of a Lifetime.”
Her heart stumbled, then soared. She tipped her face up, catching the look in his eyes. It was steady, devoted, lit with hope she never thought she’d see there again.
Somewhere above the square, the breeze shifted, carrying the faint, sweet scent of blossoms. Zoe thought of the hidden meadow and the shimmer of the Moonlight Kiss blooms glowing under sunlight.
It felt like that same magic was here now, swirling through the air, settling around them, blessing this moment.
And in the center of Maple Falls, with the town cheering, blossoms drifting, and the future blooming bright before them, Zoe finally let herself believe that some kinds of love really were enchanted. And theirs had just begun to bloom.