After Saturn gave me a rundown on the fastest route to take, I stood to leave. It was getting late and I wanted to get Sparky home.

“Will you call me when you get home?”

“I’ll call, but I think you’ll be asleep before I start my engine.”

“Call anyway. I’ll hear my phone. I wanna say good night to Sparky and see how he’s adjusting to being in a new environment. Make sure you bring him tomorrow when you come by the shop.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Normally, I’d give Saturn a kiss on the cheek or forehead, but tonight I went in for the kill and placed a kiss on her lips. Since she kissed me back, I assumed I hadn’t crossed any lines. I needed Saturn to know I respected her as a woman above anything else. This time when I pulled out of her driveway, I felt accomplished.

SEVEN

Saturn

“Sapphire, you think you can handle the floor for a little while? I’ll be in my office if you need anything, but I have a meeting.”

“Of course. There aren’t any deliveries until around four. So far, there are only three and I’ve already finished the first two,” she explained.

Sapphire had only been here a few days, but she lightened my load a ton. From running the register to making sure arrangements were ready, she was a blessing. I’d been able to focus on inventory and making sure everything on the backend was good. Today, Mccoy would be letting me know his professional opinion on the future of May’s Flowers and I was nervous. I wanted so badly to keep my grandmother’s dream alive, but it was difficult.

“Okay, good. I shouldn’t be too long.”

“Even if you are, I’m good. I got you, Saturn,” Sapphire countered with a smile.

She was walking around and spraying the plants with the pink water bottle she’d seen me use on several occasions. Sapphire opened up more every day and it was interestinggetting to know her. Although I still didn’t know much about her personal life, I knew enough to know that she loved her daughter. Little Kylie was all she talked about and I adored that about her. One thing I noticed was that Sapphire never wore a wedding ring. I assumed she was married since she had a little one, but she never even mentioned a man’s name.

“Thank you. What candle are you burning? It smells good. Like some kind of berry.”

I sold a few candles at the shop, but the one I was smelling wasn’t a scent from me. The smell was strong, but not overpowering. The scent seemed to linger in the air and it was calming.

“You’re good. It’s strawberry mixed with a few other things, but I wanted the strawberry so subtle that you barely know it’s there. I made it myself.”

“You know how to make candles?”

“From scratch,” she answered.

“Really? Do you have a few that I can buy?”

“I do. You don’t have to buy them. It’s something I love to do, so I make them just because.”

“It’s still a product. I’d love some for my personal use.”

“Okay, I’ll bring you a few tomorrow.”

A few customers came in that Sapphire took care of while I finished the last arrangement for delivery. I was putting the blue ribbon around the vase when the bell went off and Mccoy walked in. I was all smiles until I noticed Sparky wasn’t trailing him.

“Don’t look so disappointed. Justin kept Sparky while I was gone. He’s bringing him here in a few minutes,” he explained as he walked in.

“I’m not disappointed. I was just expecting to see him too.”

“He’ll be here soon. How’s your day going so far?”

“It’s good. Just now starting, but it’s been smooth so far. How was the drive?” I asked.

For Mccoy to have been out and moving around all morning, his appearance was still intact. The jogging suit he had on was clean and I could smell his cologne the closer he walked to me.

“It wasn’t bad at all. It was for sure Pleasant Springs 2.0. I thought you were exaggerating, but no.”