Page 77 of The Last Lavender Sister

“My door is always open for both of you,” Marigold said. “You guys know that, right? I don’t care if it’s two a.m., you just come on over.”

Aster nodded. “Mine, too.”

“Same,” Violet said, touching Aster’s hair and sealing their pact.

“And I’m setting you up soon,” Aster said, pointing at Marigold. “We may have to venture out of Homer’s Bluff, but I’m going to help you find your person.”

“Deal. But for now, we got a couple of dogs to play with,” Marigold said. “So don’t mind us. Get out of here and get to reading.”

Aster, feeling lighter for seeing her sisters, confident and renewed, grinned and took the bench they’d left for her. She turned to the latest note.

Aster,

When you returned to Homer’s Bluff, I panicked. The idea of being around you again was terrifying. But right here in this spot, I remembered all over again who we were. Us. Two people drawn together in the most inexplicable of ways. I was often supposed to be reading my book when instead my mind was consumed with nothing but you. I relished sitting so close to you again, marinating in the feelings that only you have ever inspired in me. I’ve known for much longer than I’ve admitted (even to myself) that we belong together. How about one last stop? Meet me at the fairgrounds?

Aster needed to remember to breathe.

The fairgrounds were a head-scratcher. Unlike the other locations, she and Brynn had very little history there. The open space was perfect for festivals and the occasional carnival that passed through, but on the average, the land stood empty. She said farewell to each sister with a tight hug of gratitude. They promised to keep the dogs safe until their owners were ready for them. Feeling a little wobbly and nervous, Aster made her way to the fairgrounds as each memory she’d revisited filled her up and swarmed her senses with overwhelming nostalgia. Each one was important, but as a group they painted a picture of something pretty special.

When she arrived at the fairgrounds, her gaze was pulled immediately to a grouping of white and purple dogwood trees because with that kind of color, how could it not be? Standing in front of them, waiting patiently, was Brynn. She radiated hope in spite of the fact that she looked about as nervous as Aster felt. She wasn’t sure what they were about to say to each other, but she had a feeling it was worthy of showing up on a pink-noted adventure. Brynn raised her hand as Aster approached. Her heart thudded with each advancing step. She was moving toward something big, unpredictable, and wonderful. This was her lightning dancing across the sky. Brynn was.

“I hope I didn’t wear you out too much,” Brynn said.

Aster took her in. After the notes, the words, the nostalgia, she just wanted to soak up the sight of her. “Hi. Just a little. It was nice, though.” She heard the softness in her voice, reserved for Brynn and their moments together. It was all swirling together now.

Brynn took both of Aster’s hands in hers, and that helped everything trickle to a stop. Their eyes connected and the world hummed pleasantly. “I don’t know if you know what it’s like,” Brynn began, “being terrified of the thing you want more than anything else.”

Aster shifted. “A little. Yeah.” She wasn’t giving a lot. She knew it. But at the same time, she needed to hear the words from Brynn first.

“From the beginning, I knew you were important. It was like the universe drew this big arrow sign over you, and even then I wasn’t sure where you fit into my life. Reading buddy, fellow animal lover, confidant, best friend, object of my overt lust. Which was it?” Aster couldn’t smother the smile. “Love of my life seems to fit best. It encompasses all those things and more.”

Aster felt those words squarely in the center of her chest.

“I let you go once, and I don’t plan to do that ever again.” She squeezed Aster’s hands. “And when I pulled away from that kiss the other night, it wasn’t because I had doubts. It was because I hadn’t had a chance to say all of this. To get my head around it all so we could do this right.” She exhaled and took a beat, her voice getting quiet. “To show you how wonderful you are.”

“Yeah?” Aster began to give in to the hope nestled behind her heart.

“I noticed this grouping of trees at last year’s Autumn Harvest Fest and thought they would make the perfect spot to get married.” Aster’s lips parted. “Since then, I’ve envisioned us here, saying I do, and promising each other forever. That’s been my favorite fantasy. But, Aster, I want the reality of you. Us. I love you and always have.” Brynn searched her eyes. “Now I just need to know from you if there’s enough space for another chance. A real one this time.”

“Can we go back to the I love you part?”

She touched Aster’s cheek. “I do. I love you. Always.”

Aster covered her hand, and the last little piece of her unlocked. “I love you, too.”

The smile that slowly took over Brynn’s face was one she would always remember. And just like that, she was up on her toes andleaning in for a kiss Aster anticipated with her everything. Her arms moved around Brynn just as a clap of thunder hit, their own version of applause. The rain that had teased all evening began to fall, a sanction.

“We should get out of here,” Aster said. “But it might be the most beautiful spot I’ve ever seen.”

“We’ll have to come back someday.”

Aster kissed her one more time. “I have a feeling we will.”

Chapter Nineteen

Neither one of them had brought a car to the fairgrounds, which meant it was them against the rain as they set out to Brynn’s place, the closer of their two homes. They started off at a steady walk, holding hands the way Aster had always wanted to. They stole looks at each other, basking in the relief that finally being together brought. When the rain picked up, so did their pace. But when the sky opened up on them, pouring down like no tomorrow, they had no recourse but to run.

“Ahhh!” Brynn yelled as her foot caught a puddle, soaking her foot and ankle. Thunder muffled her complaint, and Aster gaped, then laughed.

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