Chapter 21
twenty-one
Koren
The shop smells like fresh greens, and sunlight streams through the front windows, casting soft light across the counter. It’s the kind of day where everything feels a little gentler.
I’m elbow-deep in carnations, cutting the stems just so when Mom glances up from her computer and flashes our order invoice at me. “Hey, did you mean to add lavender to this week’s order?”
She knows exactly what that means, which makes my palms sweat a little. “Yeah. I thought it was time.”
She makes a soft “hmm” sound. Not suspicious or pressing, just observant in that way she always is.
I can feel her eyes linger for a beat before she returns to her order form.
I hesitate, weighing how much to tell her.
She already knows we’re back together. “Elijah and I are talking about marriage. Again.”
“Yeah, Kaci and I called it. As soon as Kaci took down the decorations from her wedding, she called me and asked if I wanted to save them for yours.”
“Of course, she did. I’m not sure we want a big wedding. We haven’t talked about that part yet.”
“You just do what you want.” She glances at me, one brow raised.
I set down the stem I’m holding, wiping my hands on my apron. A pressure builds in my chest now that I have Mom all to myself. This is as good a time as any to get it out. “Can I ask you something?”
Mom lowers her clipboard, immediately attentive. “Always.”
“It’s kind of serious.”
She nods, taking her hands off the clipboard completely and shifts to square her body forward.
“Back when Elijah and I broke up, someone told Elijah that you had asked his parents for money. Like, blackmail. Something about if they didn’t give you money, you were going to go public with some dirt on him that would ruin his career.”
“What?” I can practically feel the weight of the accusation settling on her shoulders. “Who are you even talking about because you know I’d never do that.”
Rubbing the back of my head, I stare forward. Surely, I can trust my mom. She wants what’s best for us. I just don’t know how everything got so tangled up, and as I unravel the truth, things only get more confusing.
“Sweetheart,” she says gently, “I would never do that. I don’t even have information about Elijah that I could use for blackmail if I wanted. I want nothing but for you guys to be happy. If he makes you happy, then that’s what I want.”
My throat constricts. I believe her. That only means one thing.
Elijah’s parents lied, which means exactly what I thought, and they don’t like me.
For some reason, they’re trying to keep us apart.
I’ve always felt like they blamed me for Elijah not wanting to follow his dad’s footsteps into the family farming business, but that was never my encouragement.
I will love Elijah, despite any job he has.
She reaches out and tucks a stray hair behind my ear, the way she used to when I was little.
It’s a small gesture, but it unravels something knotted inside me.
“Thanks, Mom,” I squeak out, unsure what to do now.
I tuck another stem into the vase I’m working on and do my best to ease out of the silence. “So, Granite Ice has a game on Friday.”
She raises her eyebrows knowingly. “It’s the rematch, right?”
“Yeah. Elijah seems calm, but I’m anxious about it. Would you want to come with me for moral support?”
Her face lights up with surprise. “You want me to come to a hockey game?”
I shrug, trying to play it cool. “Well, yeah. I mean, you can watch Jackson too, since apparently we Roberts women like our hockey men.”
She laughs, stepping closer. “Of course, I’ll come. I’m sure we can sit with Kaci and Bella.”
“Thanks, Mom,” I say more quietly than usual.
“Ah, sweetie.” She pulls me into a hug, one of those firm ones that says more than words. “You have nothing to stress over. You two are going to make it this time.”
“I think so too,” I whisper.
The bell over the door jingles, and we both turn back to the counter. Another customer, another bouquet, another ordinary moment. But beneath it all, I’m so blissfully happy, doing what is right for me.