Chapter Twenty Three
field of marigolds
“So what did you and my sister talk about?” Logan asks after 10 minutes of driving.
“Oh not much really.”
He looks at me like he doesn't believe me, so I add, “She said you like me.”
His eyebrows shoot up and he smiles, “Did she?”
“Yeah, she did.” I smile right back.
“She’s gotta stop giving away all my secrets.” he jokes.
“I don’t think it’s much of a secret, Logan.” I laugh, picturing last night.
“Well, no, not now .”
It still warms my heart to know that I’ve had an impact on him from day one, since that first day I saw him in my shop.
“Do you want to know one of my secrets?” I ask him.
“Absolutely.” he says, a little too quickly.
I laugh, and look out the window, suddenly embarrassed to voice this thought out loud.
“When you came into my shop, I thought you were shopping for your girlfriend.”
Logan throws his head back laughing, then looks over at me.
I don't know why watching him drive is so attractive, but it is. He always has one hand on the steering wheel, and just something about that position alone is attractive.
“Is that why you were snappy with me?” he asks, and I look at him completely shocked.
“I was not snappy? How was I snappy?”
“You practically bit my head off for being there after you closed, even though your door was unlocked, and the sign said open.”
“I did not” I shove at his arm playfully, and he snatches my hand before I can get it back to my lap.
He pulls it to his lips, planting kisses on my fingertips, then laces his fingers through mine, kissing the back of my hand.
“In my defense,” he starts, “your sign did say open. So technically, you had no right to be upset with me.”
I roll my eyes, “Yeah yeah. I know.”
Logan smiles, and gives my hand a squeeze. The rest of the drive is spent talking over design plans, and things I plan to do with my new space. Logan has some ideas for shelving, and I love that he wants to help me with this.
As soon as we reach Sage Valley, I feel the same butterflies and excitement I felt the first time I came here.
There’s just something so comforting about this town, and I can't wait to have a little piece of it for myself.
We pull up to the store about 20 minutes early, so we decide to walk and grab a coffee; plus my legs are stiff, so I could use the stretch.
We find a cute coffee shop that has some outdoor seating, and plants hanging everywhere.
I order my regular, and Logan orders his black coffee, but iced this time.
As we are walking back, we spot Kelly’s car pulling into the spot next to where we parked.
“Here we go.” I mumble, more to myself than anything.
Logan places a hand on my arm, stopping me.
“Do you want me to hang back, let you do this by yourself?”
My heart swells, loving that he thought to ask me that.
Because he knows Charlie’s Antiques was mine and Sam's thing.
But I want him here. I want him with me when I do this.
“No,” I shake my head, “I want you here.”
I watch something flash in his eyes, something he doesn't want to comment on, because he just nods, and starts walking again.
Kelly sees us, and puts on a big smile, and I cringe inside as I notice she’s wearing extra makeup, and tight clothes.
“Charlie! Logan! So good to see you again. I was so happy when I got your voicemail about wanting to move forward with this.” she pauses, “How are we feeling? Excited, nervous?”
I smile, “A lot of both. But mainly excited. I can’t wait to start putting my own touches on the place.”
“Oh absolutely. I’m sure it's going to be great. If you're ready, we can step inside, get these signed, and have you on your way.”
She waves a stack of papers, and smiles, looking at Logan. I watch as her eyes trail up him, but Logan doesn't even notice. He’s looking right at me.
“Let's do this.” I say, more to him than her, and he grabs my hand, leading me inside.
It takes close to an hour to go over everything, and sign every paper she brought. Logan asked all the business questions I wouldn't have thought to ask, and made sure I wasn't missing anything.
Kelly hands me the keys, and my chest feels like it might explode from excitement.
After we say goodbye to Kelly, I turn to Logan and squeal with excitement.
He joins me, and grabs me in his arms, lifting me and spinning me in a circle.
“You did it,” he says into my neck, and I smile.
“How do you want to celebrate?” he asks me, and I look at him confused, because I hadn't thought of that.
There's so much that needs to be done. I never thought of how to celebrate this, or even thought it needed to be celebrated.
“Oh, um. I’m not sure. I hadn't thought about that.”
“Why not? This is exciting. You should celebrate it.”
“I know,” I agree, “there's just so much to get done. I still have to move my things over, get shelving and cases, and send all my suppliers and vendors my new address. I haven't had time to think of celebrating.”
Logan nods his head, looking around, “How about this: we worry about the hard things tomorrow and celebrate today? Because you deserve that.”
After thinking for a second, I nod, because he’s right. I do deserve to have a fun day, where I don't have to worry.
“Alright. What did you have in mind?”
Logan smiles at me, and grabs my hand, pulling me to his truck.
“Come on. I have an idea.”
We drive for not even five minutes, when Logan tells me to close my eyes.
I do as he says, and listen to him turn the truck off, and come around to help me out.
“Logan what are we doing?” I ask him, feeling impatient.
How does he already have surprises for me here?
“Just wait, a little further.”
We stop, and he covers my eyes with his hands.
I feel him lean in behind me, and plant a kiss on the side of my neck. I instinctively tilt my head, allowing him better access to my skin.
He chuckles against me when he notices the goosebumps that spread.
“I found this place on the maps, and just knew you had to see it.” he whispers, and as he does, he uncovers my eyes.
It takes a second for them to adjust, but when they do, I see a field.
A field full of marigolds.
My jaw drops, and my eyes start to water.
“What..how? What is this?”
Logan holds my hand, and pulls me into the field.
“Apparently, this used to be a flower farm. It hasn't been open for a few years now, but these flowers pop up every October. A whole field of them.” he says, watching me.
I can't believe this is real. And marigolds? What are the chances of that?
“This is amazing. Can we go in it? Is this allowed?”
He shrugs his shoulders, “It's public land now. The town owns it, and makes sure it stays nice, but other than that no one does anything with it.”
I look around in awe; I’ve never seen this many marigolds.
Sam would've loved to see this.
A tear slides down my cheek, but I don't feel completely sad.
I’m just happy I get to see this. I never want to leave it.
I don't want to leave this town.
But I can't think about that. Not right now. There's too much new happening.
“You want to run through it?” Logan asks me, wiggling his eyebrows.
My stomach fills with butterflies. He wants to run through a field of flowers with me.
And not just any flowers.
“I absolutely do.” I smile at him, grabbing his hand.
We take off in a sprint, the flowers hitting against my ankles, and the aroma of them filling my nose.
I feel so carefree. So at peace.
He laughs, running alongside me, watching me. His face is full of pure joy, which only brings me more peace.
We reach the middle of the field, completely surrounded by the flowers.
Logan pulls me into him, cupping my face.
“Thank you for showing me this.” I say, my nose brushing against his.
“I thought you'd love it. And thought..” he pauses, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “I thought it would remind you of Sam. And this is right by the new shop. So I thought it would help you feel like you still have a piece of him with you.”
My heart thunders in my chest.
He brought me here, knowing it would make me think of Sam. Not an ounce of jealousy or being territorial has come from him with my situation.
Most men don't like hearing about past relationships. But here he is, helping me heal from mine.
I know my relationship with Sam didnt end like usual.
I didn't have a choice in losing him.
He didn't have a choice in losing me.
Life, and timing had other plans for us.
And I’m starting to believe Logan is a part of those plans.
I look into Logan's eyes, and I can just tell Sam would have loved him.
He’s kind. He’s thoughtful. He’s supportive. He’s incredibly selfless.
Looking in his eyes, I realize I will never stop loving Sam.
But that doesnt mean I shouldn't get to experience that again.
I don't know why it took me this long to realize, but looking at him..I feel at home.
“Penny for your thoughts.” Logan whispers, his arms are wrapped tight around me, and I hope he never lets go.
“Sam would have loved you.” I murmur, blinking away the tears in my eyes.
I feel him suck in a breath, and watch him start to get emotional.
“You think so?” he asks me after a minute.
“I really do. I think you two could have been friends in another lifetime.”
His eyebrows shoot up in surprise.
“I think so too.”
Coming here, seeing these flowers and this town again. I feel like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders.
It feels like all the hurt I was feeling has healed a little bit.
Maybe, this is where I’m supposed to be.