Page 69 of Almost Always

“So what flowers did you pick?”

He puffed out his chest and rattled off their names, mispronouncing most of them. She looked up at Rafferty and he grinned when their eyes met. Her heart was right on the edge of that cliff and with these few hours, it was so close to falling over.

“Good choices,” she said, even though she hadn’t really been listening. “Did you find any favorites?”

He nodded. “I did! Ripley showed me lots of flowers and I think I love them all.”

“How about you pick three that youreallylike?”

“Why?”

“So I know what to get you for your birthday.”

His eyes widened. “You’ll get me flowers for my birthday?”

“If you don’t want that, we can get you something else.”

“I want flowers,” he said quickly, nodding with a broad smile. Then he held his hand out to her and she took it as she pushed to her feet. “I’ll show you my favorites.”

As she followed him around the shop, she glanced back at Rafferty and he was still watching them. Now he looked as in love as she felt.

“All these flowers have the best colors,” Cal said and she glanced at the buckets in front of them.

“Do you know what they’re called?”

“Yes. But my pronunciation isn’t very good.”

She smiled and said the names as she pointed at them. “Remember the peonies we talked about? That’s this one. These are carnations and the ones on that side are dahlias.”

“They’re so pretty.” He looked lovestruck, much like she did when she first stepped into Nonna’s old flower shop. “I think these are my favorites.”

“Great, I’ll keep that in mind.”

He grinned and yelled across the shop, “Dad, what are your favorite flowers?”

“Cal,” Rafferty sighed as he shook his head, the flowers falling out of his hair. “Inside voice, please.”

“Sorry.” He blushed and offered her a sheepish smile.

With a laugh, she tugged him to the other side. “Your dad likes tulips, hydrangeas and mums.”

“And daisies,” he added with a serious nod.

Can’t forget the daisies.

“Come on, let’s go make sure your dad and Boots aren’t bored.”

He hopped ahead of her and she smiled as she looked at the bouquet again. She could see the parts where Ripley had helped, because it started out strong and sturdy. It was clear that once Callahan got comfortable, he did whatever he wanted. It was still pretty in its chaos and she was so touched that he’d made something for her. She was looking forward to teaching him about flowers and plants in broader terms one day.

“You look beautiful, hotshot,” she said as they returned to the high table. He still had a few flowers in his hair as he smiled.

“Apparently my hair wasn’t pretty enough.”

“Well, it’s absolutely stunning now.”

He bowed. “Thank you, sweetheart.”

She blew him a kiss and turned to the kid who was putting flowers in Boots’s fur. “You ready for our next stop?”

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