Chapter 37
Ruby
Valentine’s Day
One Year Later
Oopsie Daisies floods with winter morning light. I’ve got frosting on my sleeve from the cupcakes donated by Desiree and Mae. Customers trickle in, each one accepting a pastry with the café’s logo and number on the liner.
Gift baskets filled with flowers and books are neatly lined on the worktable, the Silver Quill’s and our logo prominently displayed on the wrapping. They’re ready for delivery to the bookshop’s corporate affiliates who promote our small-town charm.
The shop is smaller by a third, but with creative rearranging, we’re doing fine. Desiree’s drama group loves their new space and our rent is now manageable. Somehow, we righted a sinking ship.
Griffin pulls a chair across from me, our knees brushing. He still won’t dance with me in the shop but since his son came for a visit, he’s no longer the official town grump. The reunion went better than either of them expected.
I hand him yesterday’s receipts which he photographs, uploading them to our new accounting system. Twice a week, he drives down to his Denver office and works remotely from Silver Pine the rest of the time. When things are super busy like today, he comes to help me in the shop.
“You were right,” he says.
“About what?” I ask.
“About blending our strengths. Your creativity along with my business sense.”
He takes my hand, rough from hours of trimming stems, then gives me the look that makes my knees go wobbly. I move to his lap, wrapping my arms around his shoulders.
“Remind me again why I agreed to keep this place,” he says, lightly.
“Because you love me.”
“That’s right. I love you, Ruby,” he says. “You color my entire world.”
I blink, caught off guard by the seriousness in his tone. “Griffin Renshaw, that might be the most romantic thing anyone’s ever said in this flower shop.”
“Excuse me.” Griffin gently moves me off his lap and before I know it he’s on the floor, kneeling. Goosebumps line my arms as he pulls a blue velvet box from his pocket.
I gasp, my hands flying to my mouth.
“Marry me,” he says, his face beaming.
Carefully, I open the box to find a ruby, surrounded by tiny diamonds set in gold.
“Colorful and a little different,” Griffin says softly. “Just like you.” He slips the dazzling ring on my finger.
“It’s perfect,” I whisper, shell-shocked.
He stands, that faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “So are you,” he says.
His arms envelop me and I kiss him tenderly.
“Is that a yes?”
“Yes, yes, yes!” I kiss him once more, this time long and deep.
I’m melting into Griffin’s embrace when Mrs. Periwinkle bursts in. Her voice carries like a town crier. “Well, it’s about time you two made it official!”
Griffin and I laugh. The woman’s timing never fails to amaze.
Mrs. P. congratulates us, leaving with a spring in her step. This town runs on friendship, love, and gossip. Within minutes, our engagement will be the talk of Silver Pine.
Across the street, the community theater marquee reads, A VALENTINE’S SECRET. Desiree’s playing the lead.
Love is in the air, the flowers are selling, and the grumpy man I never meant to fall for just proposed to me in the middle of our shop. I’ve always loved Valentine’s Day, but this one is the memory I’ll carry for the rest of my life.
Griffin leans in, and when our lips meet, everything else falls away, the kiss sealing the life we’re finally brave enough to choose.
Clara would have loved this ending.