Page 21 of Challenged By the Rugged Lumberjack

Blooming Wonders is exactly as charming as its name suggests—a small shop bursting with color and fragrance. Buckets of fresh flowers line the walls, arrangements in various stages of completion cover the work tables, and the air is sweet with the scent of roses and lilies.

A bell jingles as I enter, and a young woman looks up from behind the counter. She's about my age, with curly red hair piled in a messy bun and freckles scattered across her nose. Her green apron is dotted with water spots and bits of greenery.

"Hi there!" she calls cheerfully. "Just browsing, or can I help you with something specific?"

"Actually," I begin, approaching the counter, "I spoke with Marge Bell yesterday, and she mentioned you might be looking for help."

The woman's face lights up. "Oh! Are you Elisa? Marge called this morning to say you might stop by." She wipes her hands on her apron and extends one to me. "I'm Christine. This is my shop."

"Nice to meet you." We shake hands, and I'm immediately struck by her enthusiasm. "Yes, I'm Elisa Lowell. I just moved to Cedar Falls, and I'm looking for work."

"Perfect timing!" Christine gestures around the shop. "I've been running this place solo for two years, and I'm absolutely swamped. Wedding season is ramping up, plus regular orders, plus I'm trying to expand into houseplants." She leans forward. "Between us, I haven't had a day off in three months."

I laugh, warming to her immediately. "That sounds exhausting."

"It is! But I love it. Marge mentioned you have a little one?"

"Yes, my son Mason. He's almost three."

Christine's expression softens. "Oh, I love that age. They're so curious about everything." She arranges some flowers in a nearby vase, then adds casually, "I've always wanted kids. Just haven't found the right person to have them with, you know?"

I nod, unsure how to respond to this personal admission from someone I've just met.

"Sorry," she says, catching my expression. "I tend to overshare. Small-town life—you forget how to have normal boundaries." She laughs self-deprecatingly. "Anyway, the job! It's part-time to start, maybe full-time eventually if things keep growing. Basic retail stuff, plus I'd train you on arrangements. Do you have any experience with flowers?"

"Not professionally," I admit. "But I've always loved gardening. My mother had the most beautiful rose garden when I was growing up."

Christine nods encouragingly. "That's a start! Honestly, the most important thing is reliability and being good with people. The flower skills I can teach."

"I'm definitely reliable," I assure her. "And I'm a quick learner."

"Perfect!" She claps her hands together. "When can you start?"

The question catches me off guard. "You're offering me the job? Just like that?"

"Trust me, I've been desperate for help," Christine says with a laugh. "And Marge spoke highly of you. That counts for a lot in Cedar Falls."

"Wow. That's... thank you." I feel a weight lift from my shoulders—one worry addressed, at least. "I could start tomorrow, if that works?"

"Tomorrow's perfect." Christine begins writing on a notepad. "Let's say nine to two to start? We can adjust the schedule as needed. And of course, if you ever need to bring your little boy in an emergency, that's fine. I love kids."

Her eyes take on a wistful quality. "My sister just had her second. I swear, every time I visit them, my biological clock ticks louder." She catches herself and laughs again. "And I'm oversharing again! Sorry. It's just nice to see a new face around here, especially someone close to my age."

"Don't apologize," I say, genuinely touched by her openness. "It's refreshing, actually. And thank you for being so understanding about Mason."

"Of course!" She hands me the paper with my schedule. "So, tomorrow at nine? I'll show you the ropes and introduce you to our regular customers."

"I'll be here." I tuck the paper into my pocket, still slightly dazed by how easily this fell into place.

"Great!" Christine comes around the counter and walks me to the door. "And welcome to Cedar Falls, Elisa. I think you're going to like it here."

As I step back onto the sunlit sidewalk, I'm inclined to agree with her. The mountain air is fresh and clean, the town is picture-perfect, and in less than forty-eight hours, I've found both housing and employment. It feels almost too good to be true—like the universe is finally balancing the scales after years of hardship.

I start toward the park, eager to share my good news with Josh and Mason. As I walk, I pass Riley's Auto Repair again. Through the open bay doors, I can see a man bent over the engine of a truck. Even from a distance, the resemblance to Josh is striking—the same broad shoulders, the same dark hair, though Riley's is cut shorter and flecked with gray.

I pause, thinking of the twenty years of silence between them. Of Josh's pain, still raw after all this time. Of the walls he's built around himself, walls that somehow, miraculously, he's beginning to lower for Mason and me.

Some wounds can only heal when they're exposed to air, I think. Some bridges can only be rebuilt if someone takes the first step.

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