Page 77 of Memories of You

The canal winked at me from the bottom of the meadow, where Catch of the Day swayed gently, her lines secured to the dock. Securely fastened to the console, Aiden’s compass was a reminder of what was important for both of us. He and I could set sail at a moment’s notice, chasing the horizon whenever we chose. It was freedom anchored right outside our window yet tied to home.

Turning away from the window, my gaze swept across the cottage. Aged but spotless wood floors held the history of countless footsteps that had tread upon them before us, while the stone and timber walls stood strong. Exposed beams crossed the ceiling, and their roughness contrasted with the gentle light filtering through the windows.

Aiden had left early this morning, tight-lipped about his mysterious errand. His absence stretched the day thin, leaving me adrift in thoughts of how much had shifted in our lives. Six months ago, we were picking up the pieces, and now, here we were, delicately piecing together a shared existence. Boxes and all, this cottage felt right—like a puzzle finding its missing piece.

The front door creaked open, and I spun around, a smile breaking across my face. Aiden stepped through, the afternoon sun casting a glow about him. His eyes were alight, a secret dancing behind their blue depths as he concealed something behind his back.

“What are you hiding?” Bending sideways at the waist, I tried to peer around his frame.

“Nothing,” he replied, his voice thick with poorly disguised mischief. The corners of his mouth twitched upward as he held back a grin that threatened to betray his secret.

“Come on, show me,” I urged, taking a step closer.

He laughed. “So impatient!”

“Only when it comes to you,” I shot back. My heart skipped with anticipation.

“Are you sure? I don’t want to interrupt if you were doing something important.”

“Dammit, Aiden!”

I stomped my foot and he burst into laughter. With a dramatic flourish worthy of a stage actor, he revealed his hidden treasure. My hands flew to my mouth, holding in a gasp. It was an orchid.

But not just any orchid.

I recognized it at once. The orchid was covered with delicate cream-colored petals, each highlighted in the darker pink center by the very distinctive and enchanting face of a monkey. My breath caught in my throat as I reached out hesitantly to take it from him, afraid that somehow its delicate beauty would vanish if touched.

“Where on earth did you find this?” I murmured, my voice quiet as I cradled the plant like the rarest of jewels.

Aiden’s smile softened. “Let’s just say I have my ways.”

I couldn’t tear my gaze away from the orchid. Its unique petals stared back at me, each looking like it might wink at any moment. This was more than a flower. I had dreamed of this plant for years—this was what had caused me to become entranced with orchids in the first place. Aiden had given me not just an orchid, but a tangible piece of my deepest desires. And he had done it with such casual grace, as if gifting me the world was nothing out of the ordinary for him.

“Thank you,” I managed to say, finally looking up at him. “It’s perfect. How…?”

As Aiden’s chest swelled with pride, his lips parted in a victorious grin. “I found an orchid specialist up in Homestead. I’ve been emailing with her for months, waiting for her to get one in stock. Last night, she told me she had it.”

Homestead? My mind raced north along Highway One, the miles ticking away. I burst into laughter, the sound bouncing against the stone walls of our home. “That’s three hours away!”

“Exactly.” His eyes twinkled as he leaned against the doorframe. “Why do you think it took me so long?”

I shook my head, still cradling the monkey-face orchid, now nestled in my palm like a fragile secret. The room seemed to brighten, every sunbeam pointing toward the unique gift that had traveled such a distance just for me.

Gently, almost reverently, I placed the orchid atop the wooden stand Gabe had crafted. In the most prominent position, the orchid stood out, its quirky petals smiling at us both, a silent witness to Aiden’s gesture.

“Welcome,” I murmured, addressing the plant as though it understood my gratitude. “You’re going to love it here.”

I spun around then, propelled by a whirlwind of emotion, and flung myself into Aiden’s waiting arms. He caught me with ease, his body a familiar landscape of strength and warmth.

“I love it.” My voice was thick and I swallowed over the lump in my throat. “But you didn’t have to do all this, Aiden. One grand gesture was plenty.”

“Hey,” he whispered, his breath warm against my ear. “Seeing you like this, happy. That’s all I need.”

A deep laugh rumbled in Aiden’s chest, a sound that always managed to make my own heart feel lighter. His arms were still wrapped around me, strong and sure, but I sensed a shift in his mood—a playful annoyance edged with affection.

“No thanks to Luke,” he said, a snort punctuating his disbelief. “He told me women don’t make big gestures, only the guys. He knew exactly what he was doing, the jerk.”

“Maybe he realized we both needed to give a little. And trust a little more. But he’s right—women make grand gestures too.” I’d roared with laughter when Aiden told me the story of Luke’s wise council. But now I was serious as a giant swell of emotion filled every cell of my body. “You’re the only person on earth who understands why I want that orchid. What it means to me.”

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