Page 39 of Love Deep

“Yes, honey?”

“My lunch?” she says. “It’s not in my bag.”

“It’s not?” I scan the countertops, but it’s not out. “It’s gotta be. I know I made it.”

She opens her backpack wide, showing me that it’s not in there. Where else could it be?

I pace up and down in front of the cabinets, like it’s going to jump out at me.

“What about the refrigerator?” she asks.

I open the door, and there it is, like I prepared it for tomorrow or something.

I pull it out and hold it up.

“Mommy!” She collapses into giggles. “You need to wind up your brain today.”

“You’re right. I do. I hope yours is wound up too.”

I place the lunchbox into her bag, and she zips it up.

“My brain is always wound.”

I laugh. “Okay. You have your water?”

She nods.

“Sweater?”

“Mom, I’m wearing my sweater!”

I grin and wink at her. “You want another one?”

She rolls her eyes, and we head out. As we get to the car, a delivery guy pulls up.

“Mom,” she says. “Who’s that?”

The driver slides out of the cab. “Hey there. Got something for ya here.”

I’m not expecting anything. He goes around the back of his truck and pulls out the biggest bouquet of flowers I’ve ever seen, already arranged in a vase.

Instantly, I know they’re from Fisher. But how? I only left him about five hours ago. How on earth did he manage to get flowers delivered to me this early?

“Thanks,” I say, signing for them.

They are the most beautiful shades of pink and yellow and green. They look almost wild. I look more closely and realize that the green foliage is juniper. My heart climbs in my chest at his thoughtful, romantic gesture.

“Can I take them?” Riley says.

“I think they might be a bit big for you,” he says.

I laugh as she tries to take them. They’re practically as big as her. I grab them, and we shuffle back into the house.

“Did you order these, Mommy?” she asks.

I shake my head.

“Then who sent them?”