Page 14 of Paper Flowers (Stonebrook #1)

CHAPTER EIGHT

DAYNA

F irst of all, I just told Luke indirectly that I have a thing for single dads.

Then he just pulled me back into reality when he said “We” in his text.

Why did I think texting him would be a good idea?

He obviously has someone, he told that person he loved them.

I felt bad for not texting back but that made my heart sting a little.

I place my phone on its charging pad for the night.

I lay awake letting my mind wander into different scenarios until sleep welcomes me.

It’s been a busy day, it’s the first Monday of the school year and we have our midday Administrator meeting.

We’re in the conference room discussing upcoming events and making lists of potential activities for the students.

Dean suggests a Fall carnival with food trucks and activity booths.

“That is a great idea, what kind of booths should we do?” Morgan asked curiously.

“If it’s a Fall themed carnival, we should make a pumpkin patch and have a carving station. ” I suggested.

“Dayna, that would be perfect! This should be the weekend before Halloween, so the kids can dress up in their costumes as well. We can assign booths to teachers and of course we would team up with them.” Cara is going to go wild when she hears about this.

Holidays are her thing and I absolutely love it when she helps me decorate for them.

Dean is looking at me and says, “We should ask if Swirl and Toppings would sell cones and have Alfredo’s Pizza there too.” I find myself thinking of Sadie and her love for ice cream.

“That’s a great idea, I will call them both later today.” The meeting went on well into the afternoon. As we walk out of the conference room, Mrs. Emily is smiling and using her head to nod towards my office and I look at my door, it is slightly ajar.

I slowly walk in and I see Luke for the first time today.

He is off to the side standing with his hands in his pockets.

He is wearing a maroon plaid button-down shirt with navy blue dress pants secured with a brown belt.

I wasn’t expecting to see him today but my goodness, this man looks so good.

My face feels hot, and he knows what his presence does to me.

“Hey Dayna.” he said with a half smile and sadness in his voice.

“Is everything okay, Luke?”

“I was hoping if you had time— we could talk.” he said with somber eyes.

“Yeah— of course, I have time right now. Do you want to take a seat?” I said softly as I reached behind me to close my office door.

“I’m okay standing, thank you.”

I get the sense that what he is going to say next is going to hurt. His blue eyes are dimmed and I can see the pain on his face. I want to reach over to give him a hug but I’ll stay where I am. With the two of us standing feet apart he clears his throat.

“I’m…um…”

“I…was married. My wife, Juliette. She was killed in a car accident last October.”

Oh my fucking god. My heart starts pounding so hard in my chest. How the hell could he be standing up right now?

My legs begin to feel like jello. I can’t imagine how hard this is for him.

Oh my god— and Sadie? That poor little girl.

Luke starts pacing my office back and forth.

He stops to pick up my framed photo of me and my parents on my 30th birthday.

He places it back down and puts his hands in his pockets and looks at me.

“We met in college. She was the athletics photographer for our university. She occasionally traveled with my baseball team. Juliette and I started dating our Junior year and got married soon after we graduated. We eventually moved back to her hometown up north. We had Sadie a few years after we were married. We were so excited to be parents. We were building a great life together, you know? She got to travel the world for work. Sometimes she would take Sadie with her during school breaks. I was a fourth grade teacher at my last district. Her parents, they are so amazing, they welcomed me in from the very beginning. They are truly great people. They helped with Sadie if we needed someone to watch her. They ask to spend time with her any chance they get. She adores her grandparents so much. But…”

I take a step closer as I see a single tear fall from his sorrow filled blue eyes. He takes a deep breath, his hands are now on his hips, he drops his head down and he continues…

“... but every morning, when I woke up, Jules wasn’t there.

Sadie cried every day for her mother. The morning I told her about her mother’s accident, she ran out the front door trying to look for her.

It was the most god awful thing I have ever fucking experienced.

Until one morning, I made the decision to leave Pinewood.

I tried to stay for my in-laws but I couldn’t.

I told Nina and William, I couldn’t be in that house without Juliette.

They understood and wanted me to stay close but I couldn’t be anywhere near the town.

With everyone’s glances and whispers, I needed to get Sadie and I away.

I saw the teaching job posted, and I applied.

My brother Liam helped sell my house, and we moved here to Stonebrook. ”

I take a smaller step towards him and reach for his hand.

He shuts his eyes as tears begin to fall.

“Oh, Luke…” Without hesitation, I close the gap and I wrap my arms around the back of his neck.

His arms fall under my arms and he leans his head on top of mine.

“Dayna, I don’t know— I don’t know how I have survived almost a year without her.

” He says quietly and begins to weep in my arms.

I place my hand on the back of his head and he holds me tighter.

We stood there for what seemed like several hours.

I’m holding on to him as if I let go, he’ll fall apart at the seams. I’m soothing circles on the top of his back as he leans back.

Luke stares into my eyes. I don’t dare to look away from the intensity of his stare.

“Thank you for being here for me. For letting me cry on your shoulder. I haven’t had the chance to fully let it out. I’m sorry for putting that on you.”

He hasn’t been able to grieve for his wife because he has been worried about his daughter and his wife’s parents. He is incredible and I feel so bad that I find that so attractive. But that is who Luke is. He puts everyone before himself. My heart is in two.

“Luke, there’s no need to apologize. I care about you, and I’m here for you.

I know you’ve been holding a lot in, and it’s reached a breaking point.

You always put others first, but now it’s time to focus on yourself.

You’ve been carrying this for nearly a year, and the best thing you can do for your family is take the time to heal. ”

I suddenly think of the text Dean sent me the other night.

“…I know you’ll be the person he needs.” He knew and he couldn’t tell me.

Luke must have felt a change of mood as my heart began to pump harder with the thought of Dean knowing about him and Sadie’s loss.

Luke tilts my chin up with his finger and thumb between it to look at him. “Dayna?” he said softly.

“I’m really sorry about your wife. I’m sorry Sadie lost her mother. I can’t think of anything else to say that will help you.” I feel so awful, the pain I’m feeling that he is hurting and I can’t do anything about it.

“You being here for me is helping. The way Sadie has opened up to you, I haven’t seen her smile like that in almost a year.

You should know…she started collecting the paper flowers you made her so she can place them on Juliette’s headstone.

You don’t know how much that means to me.

It reminds me of a compassionate girl I once knew.

” I start crying against his chest and he holds me gently letting me process what he said.

With my tears stained on his maroon button down, I slowly release my arms from his neck and wipe my tears away.

“If you need anyone to talk to, I want you to know you can always talk to me. If you can’t sleep at night, please call me.

If you need someone to be there while you cry, I’m there. ” Luke looks at me with hope.

Maybe this is what he needed? Maybe I can be the person he needs to heal?

I may not be the person he truly needs, like his late wife.

But I can still be what he is to everyone else, unconditionally supportive.

“I would really appreciate it, thank you Dayna.” He gives me a gentle hug and the rush of being in his arms makes my head spin.

He rubs the side of my arms playfully like he’s trying to compose himself.

“I better get going, I need to get Sadie. She’s with Caleb and Kelsey out on the playground.

” I nod my head and smile softly. “Luke, I really meant what I said— I’m here for you and Sadie.

” He smiles slightly, “I know you did, I’ll talk to you later,” and he closes the door.

I take a deep breath and replay every word he said to me and I am a wreck.

Of all the things he could have possibly told me, I certainly didn’t think that would be what he had to say.

For him and Sadie to be living with such heavy hearts, I begin to cry again.

I think of how Dean must have known, and that makes me so angry.

Mrs. Emily has left for the day and I know Dean is still here because he doesn’t leave before 4:30 PM.

I round the front desk and reach his door.

I swing it open and I see him typing on his laptop.

He looks up and sees how upset I am. He cautiously walks towards me. “Dayna, what’s wrong? What is it?”