Any Blooming Thing: Contemporary Second Chance Romance Novella (Clean Romantic Comedy) (Flower Shop Romance Book 1) Read online

  “Saying that if you were my girl, I’d hope you’d stick around to do messed up things with me…then maybe go crazy. I’d like that better than some love story suicide pact. That just sounds unhealthy.”

  “Your girl?” Jessica didn’t know what to say. The question was barely audible, but it made her mind reel.

  “Yeah. You seem like the Lady Mac…Scottish Queen type.”

  “Why? Because I’m nuts?” Jessica tried to hide her emotions by being silly. She didn’t know the right words to say about this.

  “No, because you’re a ride or die. And you make me laugh. Not a lot of people have done that since Mitch Hedberg died,” Alfie said.

  “Well I’m glad I can make you laugh,” Jessica said with an over the top bow. She couldn’t break her rhythm. Anything would give her away, and she didn’t know how she would feel if everything was unraveled at once.

  “Yeah. Doesn’t hurt that you’re really pretty,” Alfie said looking away. He shuffled nervously from the ball of one foot to the other. He looked everywhere but directly at Jessica.

  He must’ve been joking. There was no way that he was really telling her that she was pretty. The only thing that made it seem that he could have been serious was the fact that his face was turning a bright shade of red.

  “But I’m fat,” Jessica blurted out the words. She didn’t know why that was the first thing she thought to say. All of the compliments geared towards her were about her personality, about how funny she and Chleo were, and how she was an open and fun person. It was everyone’s kind way of saying; you would be dateable if you weren’t you. That was what Jessica thought to say, but the only things that came to mind was her weight.

  “Yes,” Alfie nodded in agreement. “You’re fat and you’re pretty. You can be both, you know?”

  Jessica’s eyes had wandered around the room too, but when she looked back at Alfie, he was looking and smiling at her.

  “You think?”

  “Of course. You have those freckles, and that bouncy curly hair, and when you laugh you light up. You’re beautiful, Jessica,” Alfie said. His smile was reassuring. He wasn’t being condescending at all.

  The look on his face made Jessica smile back. She couldn’t believe how genuine he was.

  “Anyway,” Alfie cleared his throat, “are we getting this project done or what?”

  Jessica didn’t say anything. She simply nodded, and the two of them didn’t talk about anything other than work for the next hour and a half.

  ***

  “That’s it?” Chleo asked. Jessica had told her the story, and it had lasted all the way to Jessica’s front door.

  “What do you mean ‘that’s it’? He thinks I’m beautiful!” Jessica said. Chleo could practically see the brightly colored words escaping Jessica’s lips. So full of happiness and so full of hope.

  “Honey, I think you’re beautiful. Because you are beautiful, but that’s just Alfie being sweet.”

  “Maybe,” Jessica said with a shrug, rummaging through the front pocket of her Jansport bag in search of keys to her front door. “But he was just extra sweet to me.”

  Nothing seemed to be sinking in. Chleo didn’t want to see her friend get hurt or disappointed. In Freshman year, a boy pretended to like her, only to pull some childish middle school prank. He had cornered her in an empty classroom one day, whispered a few sweet things, and kissed her on the cheek. The next few days he did this. He’d be sweet to her in the quiet, and ignored her throughout the day. Eventually, he worked up the courage to ask her on a date, and Jessica made the stupid mistake of asking him about it the next day. The boy, recoiled in mock disgust bleated loudly enough for everyone in the class to hear that there was no way in hell that he’d date a hippo. Jessica had sunk back in her chair, and didn’t speak to anyone again until Chleo had moved into town just before winter break.

  Chleo didn’t know Alfie. They were only in one class together, but she didn’t pay him much mind, so she couldn’t know what his intentions were. Thinking she could save her friend and not hurt her, she blurted out:

  “You know he’s taking Stacy Links to prom, right?”

  Chleo felt terrible, but she also felt like she was doing her duty. She didn’t know just how much that hurt Jessica. Jessica pretended not to let it show. She found her key, shrugged, put it in the lock, and went inside without a word.

  Alfie Reynolds did take Stacy Links to prom, and he and Jessica barely spoke in Senior year. It was for the best; Jessica kept trying to convince herself. Even though after almost 15 years her heart and stomach twisted in knots when she recognized his face.

  Chapter 4

  Jessica was pulled out of her high school memory by the sound of the door opening. She was so lost in her trance that she didn’t notice Alfie coming toward the door to open it. Jessica’s heart was still when she heard the jingle of the wind chime when the door brushed against it.

  “Can I help you?” Jessica tried her best to sound cheery. Her cheeks were red, she knew, and that meant the freckles about her face were more visible. She brushed a strand of her long dark hair behind her ear, and stood up from behind the counter.

  “Just looking for now, thanks.”

  He hadn’t recognized her. Rather, his eyes were perusing the store and hadn’t come to focus on her yet. Normally she would have asked a customer to leave their food and beverages on the front counter, but she was almost too scared to say anything.

  Then she shook her head at herself. This was stupid. She had known Alfie Reynolds a half a lifetime ago. This was her business, and she needed him to buy something.

  “What kind of flowers are you looking for? Is it a gift, or…”

  That was when Alfie finally turned to look her way. His eyes met her, and every muscle in his face relaxed into a curious smile. He did, but also didn’t recognize her. Her hair was no longer wild and red, and she had lost some weight. The only thing that could probably give her away were her beautiful blue eyes and freckled nose.

  “I know you,” Alfie said. It almost came out as a question. His movements were so graceful that he practically floated across the room toward her. The dreamy smile of curious recognition remained on his face until he got to the counter.

  He wasn’t wearing glasses. He probably got over his disdain for them, Jessica thought.

  “Do you?” Jessica asked. She pretended not to really notice, and shifted her gaze this way and that like a trapped mouse.

  “Yeah. I’m sorry, there’s just something so familiar about you.”

  “Maybe we went to the same high school,” Jessica offered, not wanting to give away any hints that she recognized him right away.

  “Yes,” he breathed. “Jessica. Jessica Moore.”

  He sounded more satisfied than surprised.

  “Alfie Reynolds,” she said with a smile. She was as red as a beet. Usually, when someone recognized her, they stared at her wide eyed. They talked about how stunning she was now that she lost the weight and did something about the ginger hair. Alfie just looked pleased to see her.

  “What a nice surprise. I just moved here. I own the coffee shop,” he said, holding up the mug in his hand as if to confirm.

  “Oh how nice,” Jessica said. She was at a loss for something normal to say around him. That hadn’t changed at all.

  “I’m sorry,” he put his items on the counter that separated them. “Is it ok if I give you a hug?”

  Jessica tried to hide her growing smile, and the reddening of her face, but she didn’t. Instead she maneuvered out of her hiding space and gently fell into his arms. His embrace was so warm and inviting. It was like seeing an old friend. Maybe that’s what it felt like to him. She didn’t know.

  “It’s so good to see you. Wow. Jessica Moore,” he said when they let each other go.

  “It’s a good thing you remembered my whole name. There were two other Jessicas in our class,” she said. She was glad her humor was kind of coming back.

  Alfie laughe
d a bit, but suddenly remembered where he was.

  “Oh gosh. I’ve got to get some flowers. Can I have a couple of sunflowers? One of each color please,” Alfie said. He was all business now. Jessica had to be the same. She had to contain her excitement. Alfie worked so close to her now. They could maybe catch up some time and reconnect, or maybe she could finally get her own closure so that she could move on without melting any time someone mentioned his name around her.

  Jessica collected all of the flowers and tied a silver ribbon around them. Alfie asked for a card and Jessica handed one to him.

  “You know, sunflowers are my absolute favorite,” she told him.

  “Mine too. Something about how bright they are. They’re like the perfect flowers to make you smile,” he said when he took a pen out of his pocket.

  She didn’t want to spy, but she couldn’t help but follow his hands as he wrote down on it.

  “Sunflowers for my sunflower. I love you, Lydia. Get well soon.”

  He marked the bottom with a large X and stuffed the card in between the ribbon and the flowers.

  Of course he was married, or at least in love. You couldn’t be someone as sweet as Alfie Reynolds and not have a woman in your life. For some reason, Jessica felt stupid, but she smiled and took his money, handed him his change, and watched him walk out.

  *

  “So I bumped into the famous Mr. Reynolds,” Chleo said when she got back from lunch. “He was holding some very familiar flowers.”

  “Yeah, he came in here,” Jessica said as casually as she could.

  “He was all excited to see me. Told me he bumped into both of the famous yin yang sisters in one afternoon, but cut that out when I made a face at him. Apparently someone failed to mention that there were two people who owned Any Blooming Thing,” Chleo looked sternly at Jessica and put her hands on her hips.

  “We barely talked about anything,” Jessica held her hands up in surrender.

  “Doesn’t matter,” Chleo said unraveling the scarf around her neck. She handed Jessica the food that she had brought for her. “So, when’s the wedding?”

  “You’re nuts,” Jessica scoffed.

  “Yep, and so are you. What happened? Who are the flowers for?”

  “Someone named Lydia. He’s got a girlfriend.”

  “Jess, did he actually say that he has a girlfriend?”

  Jessica shook her head. It was silly for Chleo to even say something like that. It would just fill Jessica up with a false sense of hope that she had been quietly burying since the end of high school.

  “You know he owns the coffee shop, right?”

  Jessica nodded. She didn’t really want to talk about Alfie anymore.

  “I don’t think you’re over him. It’s written all over your face. You’re quiet, and distant, and this is so reminiscent of when we were 16. I just don’t want to see you hurt, is all. Best way to find out something, is to ask about that something,” Chleo said. She was always like a mama bear when it came to these things. Chleo had been looking out for Jessica for as long as the two had known each other. It was definitely time for Jessica to look out for herself.

  “Ok. If he passes by tomorrow, I promise I’ll ask him about Lydia,” Jessica said.

  “And?”

  “And,” Jessica sighed, “if nothing’s going on, I guess I’ll invite him out for coffee.”

  “Make sure it’s from his shop. It’s expensive in there. Make sure you get some free pastries.”

  Jessica laughed.

  Chapter 5

  Jessica couldn’t help but glance up over the counter every few minutes the next day. She was anticipating Alfie walking by. Maybe he would pop in to say hello, or maybe he was too busy and would just wave from afar. She didn’t know how she was going to approach him. How was she going to ask if he was seeing someone?

  Chleo wasn’t at the store that day. She was at home doing some paperwork. She was the math wiz who knew all the numbers and how to sort out finances and taxes. If Jess needed her, she was a call and just a train ride away.

  Not having Chleo there made Jessica anxious, even though she was a grown woman, and she kept whispering to herself that she was still as crazy as a high schooler whenever it came to Alfred Reynolds.

  She hadn’t seen him for most of the day, and she even missed her lunch hour. She had to eat, and at 3, she finally gave up and turned the sign at the front of the store and walked out.

  “Whoa, fancy seeing you here,” a voice said behind her. She knew right away that it was Alfie. He had a big stupid grin on his face at the joke that he made, and that made Jessica laugh. In his hands were an egg carton with 2 paper coffee cups, and a small bowl with an assortment of sweeteners and creams. He clung to a black plastic bag with the pinky of the hand that held the egg cartons. “I was just about to stop by and ask you how you liked your coffee.”

  “Good thing I didn’t turn the key or anything. Ok, come in, but we have to go to the back, or people will think that I’m still working.”

  Jessica opened the door and let him in, and the two of them slipped into the back room once Jessica had locked the door.

  “What’s on the menu?” Jessica asked. Alfie had put down the egg carton and the bowl, and was now rummaging through the plastic bag.

  “Well, I didn’t know if you were the new age hippy type, or a carnivore, so I brought a veggie meatball sub sandwich with your choice of dipping sauce, and a vegan cinnamon swirl. Well, if you like bees, then I guess it’s not totally vegan because it’s sweetened with honey.”

  “I’m actually a pescatarian, so good call,” Jessica said, taking the sub. It was weird how normal it felt to fall back into place of sneaking into classrooms to laugh and joke with Alfie. The time that he had gotten serious for a moment to tell her how beautiful she was had stuck in her head. Macbeth had always been her favorite Shakespeare play because of that moment.

  The two of them sat down and started to eat their sandwiches in silence. It was comfortable and not at all awkward. Whenever one caught the other looking at them, they would smile and look away with mouths too full to say anything.

  “I hope Lydia is feeling better,” Jessica blurted out. She wanted to be nice, but he would probably wonder how it was that she even knew who Lydia was.

  “She’ll be OK. She’s a little champ,” Alfie said while clearing his throat. There was something about the question that made him slightly less at ease.

  “Oh, how long have you known each other?” Jessica tried to sound cool. She put her sandwich down to put a sachet of stevia into her coffee, so she seemed occupied and not in the mood to look him in the eye when he revealed his answer.

  “Lydia? Well, I’ve known her her whole life,” Alfie laughed nervously. “Lydia…umm…Lydia is my daughter.”

  Jessica didn’t know why that made her smile. She finally looked up, and she could see that Alfie was waiting for her reaction.

  “That’s adorable. How old is she?”

  “She’ll be 8 in the summer.”

  Jessica wanted to ask about Lydia’s mom, but she didn’t know if it was a touchy subject.

  “Are you married?” she asked instead. It was an easier way to frame the question, she thought.

  “Nah. Lydia’s mom and I have been friends since college. It was just a random night where we got ahead of ourselves,” he started. He took a bite of his sandwich and waited to swallow before speaking up again.

  “When Lydia was born we lived in the same neighborhood until Lydia was 5. She always knew that her family life was a little different from her friends at school, but Kelly and I are always there for her. Kelly got a job in California, and she moved there two years ago. So she tries to visit when she can, and Lydia’s with her for vacation. I miss her like crazy when she’s away, but I’m just grateful there’s no bitterness where Kelly and I are concerned.”

  Jessica nodded. She understood. Alfie was such a good guy that he had gained a daughter, and never lost a friend. Whenever h
e spoke about his daughter, his face lit up.

  “What about you? Any kids?”

  “No kids. No relationship. My store seems to be my life right now. I’m just trying to make everything work until I have the money to start up my career.”

  “Still doing art?”

  “Yeah actually. I want my own studio. There’s a place kind of close here. It would be amazing to have openings downstairs while I sculpted and painted downstairs. I tried my hand at acting a few years ago, but I could only get pretty vapid commercials, and that didn’t really make me happy.”

  “Have I seen any of your ads?” Alfie asked.

  “Probably one. I was in a Ross commercial in a purple coat. I was throwing fake autumn leaves at the camera and laughing at nothing. I couldn’t keep up with stuff like that,” Jessica said with a shudder.

  Alfie clapped his hands together and laughed.

  “I knew there was something familiar about that chick in the commercial. This whole lunch I’ve been sitting across from a would be celebrity.”

  “Oh hush!” Jessica said. She rolled her little stevia sachet into a ball and tossed it at him.

  “Still funny. Thank goodness too. I thought the fame would’ve maybe gotten to your head,” he giggled. By the time he got to the word ‘fame’, Jessica was standing over him and poking him all over as he teased her.

  “I’d have my bodyguard tear your limbs off, but he’s vacationing in Jamaica as we speak,” Jessica said with a false huff. They were both standing up now, poking and play wrestling.

  Alfie took Jessica by the hand and brought her close to him. He was still poking and tickling her with his free hand while she attempted to wriggle free. She grabbed ahold of his arm to stop him from making her laugh anymore and their eyes met.

  Their laughter ceased. All that could be heard now was the low panting of Jessica from having laughed so much, and the heavy breathing of Alfie, who had grown tired but giddy from having his arm wrapped around Jessica.

  They paused for just a moment, and that was when Alfie leaned forward, and gave Jessica a kiss.