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Thanks,I reply.That’s great news.
Let me know when you’d like to go over what you want for the booth.
I bite my lip as my stomach gives a little shimmy.Stop that, I tell it firmly. No shimmies. No backflips, no flutters, and absolutely no throbbing of any body parts.
I’ll be at the library tomorrow around 3,I tell him.We could talk then.
Immediately, three dots appear on my screen.
Sounds good.
I shove my phone into the pocket of my dress just as there’s a knock on the door. I open it to find my fiancé standing there with a bouquet of flowers from Joni’s shop in his hands.
“Hey,” he says with that easy smile. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you,” I say, leaning up to kiss him. “You didn’t have to bring me flowers.”
“I will always bring you flowers,” Luke says. “Roses for my rose.”
“Let me just put these in water and then we can go,” I say. “Oh! And guess what! I’m going to have my own booth for Magnolia Day.”
I beam at him. Luke’s eyes widen. “Seriously? That’s great babe!”
“I was just talking to Charlotte,” I say. “She’s going to help me choose what to make. Do you want to help too?”
“You know I love your baking,” he says. “But these next two months are madness. Dad is finally putting me in charge of all the Sixth Avenue properties.”
“Wow,” I say. “That’s incredible. Congratulations.”
“It’s a lot of work,” Luke says. “But I’ll try and make it out here as much as I can.”
“I understand,” I say, even as I’m a little crestfallen he won’t be able to help me like Charlotte will. But I know his work is important.
I decide not to mention that Caden is making my booth—it doesn’t seem relevant, and Luke doesn’t ask. I’m not sure he’s aware of the technical details of Magnolia Day anyway. As far as I know, he’s never attended it.
Besides, whatever was between me and Caden is over. And he certainly owes me the favor.
I follow Luke outside and he holds my hand as we walk toward the restaurant to meet his parents.
Charlotte’s words seem to drift back to me as I contemplate seeing Caden tomorrow.
Do you really think that’s the best idea?
CHAPTER NINE
CADEN
“Do you even know how to use a hammer?” Von says wryly as she passes me the salad.
“Ha ha,” I say.
“Wow,” Daisy says, her eyes wide. “You’re making the booths. Like, with your own hands.”
“I want to see this chicken coop,” Alistair says. “Can you guys imagine Caden chasing down a rowdy rooster?”
Von and Daisy laugh and even Finn chuckles.
“I wasn’t chasing the chickens,” I say. “I was building their home. And Fernando didn’t live in the hen house.”