Page 83 of Only You

“I love you too, sis.”

Luis picked out an arrangement of roses in a vase from the cooler.

“These beauties will look gorgeous in the gallery. Head up, darling. I mean it. You’re a strong, independent woman. Do not let that crown fall.”

“Thanks, Luis.”

After he left the shop, Mary walked in five minutes late.

“I’m sorry I’m late.”

“Only by five minutes. No big deal.”

“I use my phone as an alarm, and I forgot to plug it in last night to charge it, so it died.”

“Mary, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”

“You’ve been crying. Is everything okay?”

As we collected flowers to make more arrangements, I told her everything about Alex.

“I’m sorry, Hannah. You don’t deserve that.”

“Maybe I do. Maybe this is the universe punishing me for the way I treated guys back in the day.”

Alex

I stood in my office, staring out the window at the flower shop. My office door opened.

“Excuse me, Alex? There’s a Mr. Shaun Kind on the phone for you.”

“Thank you.” I took a seat behind my desk and picked up the phone. “Shaun?”

“Hello, Alex. It’s been a while.”

“If my memory serves me right, the last time we spoke was when you came to Chicago last year.”

“Sounds about right, my friend. Anyway, I heard you packed up and moved to Harbor Falls. I’m sorry about your mother.”

“Thank you. I appreciate it.”

“You remember my friend, Asher Remington, right?”

“I do. Great guy.”

“We heard you’re building a new town outside of Harbor Falls.”

“I am.”

“Are you looking for new capital?” he asked.

“I’m always looking for new capital. Why?”

“Let’s just say we’re both interested in seeing what this town of yours has to offer.”

“Well, why don’t the two of you come out here, and I’ll present the plans to you.”

“We were hoping you’d say that. We’ll fly out next week. Do Rosie and Carl still own the bed and breakfast?”