Epilogue

Sabin ending up in France and stumbling upon my shop four years ago was indeed a chance occurrence. He respected my space as much as I respected his–he had no clue that I was opening up a shop outside of the US. But it was wild for us to see each other after all this time–what a twist of fate. Frankly, we debated the legitimacy of this from the moment we met for dinner that one evening in France all the way to each date that followed once we were both back home, back in St. Claire.

After time apart, we wanted to see if what we once had was still there or if the spark we felt in France was simply residual feelings that lingered more as a memory than truth.

It wasn’t.

Telling him I loved him came naturally as if we never skipped a beat, but we tried to be gentle with each other–after all, we had a brand new layer of ourselves to share with one another. All this time, I missed the sound of his laughter and the sound of my name on his lips after he told me he loved me.

Sabin felt like home.

We took our time getting to know each other again, but what once brought us together pulled us in close again. This time we were stuck like glue, unwilling to let go of each other again. We talked about what we did during our time apart and where we were now. Sabin ended up moving about 6 months after we broke up to Twinbrook where he took his therapy more seriously than ever. He dated around too, but nothing went beyond a few dates here and there. He took his time working through everything he went through–and that included more than just what happened between us. Now he was back in St. Claire working closely with other veterans who needed the same help and support that he did. He wasn’t alone and wanted to make sure that others in similar situations received and felt the same support that he did.

Both of us would always be a work in progress, but this time it felt better, it felt like the timing was finally right.

Nothing that happened between us could ever be forgotten, but that included the love we had for each other–a love we couldn’t fully give or receive when we needed to love ourselves first.

Given our history, I felt more sure of us. In all this time, I tried to move forward, as did he, but no one ever made me feel the way Sabin did. I couldn’t imagine spending my life with anyone other than him.

After things settled down with Hope’s Blossom and all my locations were finally operating without me hovering from store to store, Sabin and I finally got married in a small ceremony. Our most immediate family and friends were present to hear us exchange our vows. Sweeter words couldn’t have cradled me more than those of Sabin professing his love and promise to me and I to him.

In all those years, I couldn’t forget him.

When we exchanged rings, I felt the weight of our journey. I felt the rollercoaster of emotions and struggle and growth–all of which finally brought us together again. Every moment, even the ones I tried to forget–it all led to this. So when I cursed the fates while I hurt, I now found myself thanking them, because without the pain, could I truly see this moment for what it was? This was everything. Sabin was always going to be the one.

I took my time to heal and move on, but…I couldn’t erase this love. I admit I would have respected him if he came to my store with a woman around his arm. I would have smiled and looked the other way even if my heart hurt. But for him to show the way he did, I would have been a fool to turn down his invitation. This crossing of fates was of a colossal proportion–to ignore it would have been the greatest mistake of my life.

I couldn’t walk away.

And neither could he.

Over the next few years, we spent our time together–traveling and making new memories with our friends and family. We spent time in Amsterdam where Kaden was indeed planting his roots, but no longer alone. During my time away, I learned that two of my favorite people found comfort in each other. Gia was now living in Amsterdam and bringing her knowledge of psychology to the senior animal organization that Kaden was helping run. And while wedding bells weren’t sounding quite yet–the two seemed more at peace than I’d ever seen them.

Dani and Otto were still very much their old selves–just with a few more kids. Four total, actually. Even as their family grew, their roots were planted firmly in St. Claire, which meant Sabin and I had the pleasure of continuing our immensely missed monthly get-togethers of games, drinks, and reminiscing about all the good times we shared together over the years. Our lives would always be tangled with theirs and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Grandma Atoli and Grandpa Crescendo were going to outlive us all–at least it sure seemed like it. They were still so active around their friends and of course, our family, but took more time to rest. After everything they’ve done for us all, they certainly deserved it. They actually spent some time volunteering at my shops, leading small workshops for kids in St. Claire who wanted to learn about flower arranging…with a touch of science, of course.

Their love showed no signs of dimming.

Oren and Jax were making us all proud in Germany. They were involved with a talented team of doctors and researchers, helping bring our grandfather’s vision of curing Alzheimer’s into a reality that wasn’t too far out of reach.

And of course…Mom and Dad. My two wonderful supporters, protectors, and amazing examples of a strong and healthy relationship. They finally took some much-needed time off together from sculpting and music to travel together. Get new tattoos together. And document their adventures with postcards that decorated our fridge.

But now…four years later…where were we in our grand adventure?

---

“Thank you for stopping by!” Sabin said, handing a small bag to a customer.

He turned on his heel and glanced at me as I was peeking out the glass window of my office door. He chuckled and walked to me once the store was clear. “Are you spying on me?” He asked, planting a soft kiss on my forehead.

“You know, I could have totally helped them,” I admitted, but gasped when Sabin’s hand traveled from my shoulder to my stomach. That sensation still startled me. I wondered if he could feel the flutters beneath my skin that I was just beginning to experience.

With Hope’s Blossom doing well, we were able to set more money aside. Despite feeling completely content with our lives, we talked, and weighed our options, and only when we truly felt secure and ready for any outcome did we put our trust in science to help us start a family. It was a complicated process that I couldn’t have imagined or afforded all those years ago, but we wanted to give it one more try.

And our final try…stuck.

“I know you are very capable of helping and running all of this on your own, but would you really deny me the pleasure of experiencing this vision firsthand? And well, letting you finish getting ready to close?” He smirked, moving his hand to my side. “Now, come on, let’s lock up and grab some dinner. I have my session with Dr. Riley tonight, so that means we’re going out tonight. What are you and baby in the mood for?”

“Can we get wings?” I pleaded as that’s all I had been craving the last twelve hours. That and pita chips with cinnamon sugar. Man–it was good to crave things again.

“You name it–we’ll get it,” Sabin grinned and stopped to cup my chin in his hand. He was gentle as he planted his lips on mine.

Each taste of his lips made me hungry for more. But as I tasted him, I tugged on the sleeve of his shirt and exhaled softly against his chest. “You know, I think we would end up here every time, Sabin. No matter what universe we’re in,” I smiled.

“I think you’re right,” he whispered as he rubbed my back soothingly. “If not right away, we’d never stop trying to make our way back to each other…” He brushed my cheek one more time before heading out the door to start our car. “You ready?”

I quickly grabbed my keys and turned off the lights. Before locking the doors, I took a moment to admire my now quiet store.

Hope truly did blossom here even when I saw no sign of light. All that was left for us to do now was to turn the page and proceed down the lines of the chapters that would follow–no longer needing a name to guide us to be just who we were meant to be.

My name is Alma Rowan. I come from a long line of strong and resilient women whose bravery and love reside not only in me but also in the little Hope inside me.

***

Gen. 10 – Alma. Chapter Fifty

My flight was smooth mainly because I decided to sedate myself with a few mimosas before boarding–and then some tea once I was seated on my 10-hour flight to France. I read that sleeping during your flight should help with jetlag. I only hoped that it would work because I wanted to get right to work after getting off the plane.

Well, after getting drinks with Lucian and his fiancé. That was still the plan.

A few times during my flight, I would stir at the sound of the stewardesses passing out meals and snacks. I made sure to eat, hydrate, and do my best to get more sleep. It really was difficult to do when I was charged like a kid who had devoured a bag of sugar. This excitement…I couldn’t wait to put it to use.

The rest of the flight was easy. I napped, scrolled through old pictures and videos on my phone, and gave in to watching whatever nonsensical movie was playing as part of the inflight entertainment. Unfortunately, it was the 5th showing of Garfield, which I didn’t enjoy quite as much as I had hoped. It was just too different from the comics I once read. But the rage-watching did actually keep me awake for the last bit of the trip.

Good…almost there.

And almost there was right! The plane landed safely at the closest airport to Champs Les Sims–about half an hour from Paris, which was precisely why Lucian wanted to pick me up. I rushed through baggage claim, freshened up in the bathroom, and finally made it outside to where Lucian was already waiting.

“Alma!!” He called for me, rushing to help with my bags. “Mon dieu! You made it!”

“Hey! Thanks so much for picking me up–I really appreciate it!”

Before we moved a step further, Lucian sighed and threw his arms around me, pulling me into a firm hug. He gave me a few tight squeezes and groaned. “It has been TOO long! Now…we party!”

“Party?” I laughed, fixing my hair as we walked to his car. “You said drinks…and maybe dinner?”

Lucian rolled his eyes. “When you’re with us,” he smirked, nodding towards his car where his fiancé was standing, waving excitedly, “It will always be a party.”

“I am Veronique!” The woman grinned and rushed to also give me a warm hug. “It’s so wonderful to meet you in person!”

I laughed. “It’s nice to meet you too. I’m Alma.”

“I know! Lucian speaks of you very often–about the business and your new store here–Amazing!” She clasped her hands together and got in the passenger seat once all my luggage was placed in the trunk of the car.

Man, they weren’t kidding. The moment we left the airport, we were flying through the streets of Paris–well, the Paris that you’d often see in movies. The city of lights. Everything was moving so quickly that it hadn’t officially hit me that I was actually there. As I sat back in the backseat, I let myself process.

I made it.

Despite my wanting to rush to the store and start my work, Lucian convinced me that this first evening called for a celebration. He wanted to properly congratulate me on everything that I was able to accomplish in the last few years. It meant a lot, but I also extended the congratulations to him, because without his business, I wouldn’t have had the spark to really push forward. My success was extended to him, because he was my exclusive coffee vendor, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. We were a fantastic team.

Drinks and appetizers were consumed that first night. While I sat and slowly sipped my beer, letting my fingers glide along the condensation collecting on the outside of the glass, I watched Lucian dance with Veronique. They moved so slowly, sensually–I couldn’t help but blush, feeling like I was viewing something meant for their eyes only.

I was happy Lucian finally found someone. Just like I had my bad date stories, he too had his, till they were replaced by tales of new love when he met “the woman of his dreams”. She was a good fit for him. Sweet, supportive, and so incredibly well-informed about the Paris cocktail lounge scene.

Our outing was fabulous and a well-fit celebration for us all. Of course, as much as we all wanted to stay out late and dance into the night, we did have to get home eventually. Veronique and Lucian drove me to my home away from home back through the streets of Paris all the way to the much quieter, and more “my scene” Champs Les Sims.

As much as I wanted to rush into setting everything up, the reality was that my furniture wouldn’t be delivered to the store until later that week, so all that was left to do was mentally prepare for the work that would come.

I did everything I could to get some rest, but my brain wouldn’t slow down. I got up, threw on some clothes, and made my way outside, following my phone’s directions to where Hope’s Blossom would soon be open.

When I approached the building, I was stunned. It was beautiful.

I fidgeted with the keys in my pocket before convincing myself to open the doors.

The room was empty, but I was already imagining where I would place my displays, which plants would look best where based on the amount of sunlight, and where I would have my team’s office. Standing inside the store was such a more surreal feeling than seeing virtual tours.

“Holy shit…this is perfect,” I laughed to myself.

Tomorrow would be truly a brand new day.

---

Getting a new store setup was difficult. Getting a new store setup with a language barrier? Much more difficult.

“Err—non—non!” I quickly pulled out my phone to look up a translation that I could share with the furniture company delivering more pieces to the empty store I was standing in.

I knew so little French that I often ended up cursing myself for not learning more before arriving. Luckily, I had Wi-fi and that meant a handy dandy tool called Google Translate!

I quickly typed in what I needed to say and showed it to the kind man delivering display cases.

“Madame, je vous promets que nous avons les mêmes étagères que vous avez commandées.” The man recited into my phone, to immediately translate.

I quickly read the translation and nodded. “Okay, same shelves–tres bien. Merci! Merci!” I grinned happily, rushing out of their way so they could bring in the shelves I had ordered. These were going to be my displays for the quirky little gifts and trinkets alongside some of my smaller plants that were already being adorned by a heat lamp in the back room.

These were still very much the beginning stages of this setup, but with each passing day, the store was really starting to look like…my store. Hope’s Blossom: Champs Les Sims would be up and running before long.

In between movers and deliveries, Lucian came to help me out with interviews. He was great with the French crowd and I was there as the owner. Hope’s Blossom was located in an area that received more tourists, but still fit in well with a crowd of locals. I wanted my employees to be well-versed in their native language, but also have a conversational understanding of English. I knew it was a lot to ask for, but with Lucian’s help, I was able to interview a handful of very promising candidates. Meeting them in person really helped solidify the energy I was hoping for my team to have.

After a few rounds of interviews and reference reivews, I knew my team was going to be ready for a few weeks of training before the store would officially open.

When not at the store, I spent most of my evenings at home, resting. Getting everything up and running in a few months was…a lot, but it was doable. Luckily, I was only around for the big-picture items. I had plenty of professional help with me, so I could leave the heavy lifting to them.

Despite not doing much lifting, I was still exhausted each night. It was the kind of fatigue that I wore like a badge of honor. I earned it and it would soon result in my vision finally being realized.

Fatigue, however, did not stop me from checking in on my friends whenever I could. Whether it was texting or video calls, we kept in touch one way or another. Frankly, it was what helped get me through the weeks and weeks of getting everything together and ready for opening day.

That and after-work drinks with Lucian.

“Bravo, Alma,” Lucian smiled, raising his glass to me. “Tomorrow your store will say bonjour to a whole new group of people! How do you feel?”

I sat back in my grandparent’s study–taking in the detail of the room. I heard Lucian clearly, but I needed to slow down and memorize the moment, cement it in memory. I wanted to call upon it in the future when asked where I was and how I felt the moment I realized my dream for my store was only hours from being truly realized.

“Alma?” Lucian chuckled. “You there?”

“Yes–I feel fucking fantastic,” I grinned, taking a sip of my drink. “One–I can’t believe how quickly time has gone by. Two–how the hell did we manage to get all this done?”

“Well, I’m still convinced you have a clone, because you’ve been working nonstop it seems…”

“Nah, no clone, just good ‘ol feminine energy to get shit done,” I winked. The satisfaction washed over my expression. Lucian was right. After one more sleep, I would be ready to put on my apron and begin the first day at Hope’s Blossom’s new location in the beautiful Champs Les Sims.

“But you are good–this is what you wanted, oui?”

“Mhm,” I agreed. This idea, this store–it was all my love and energy. But with it done, I wondered what I would want to do next. Perhaps nothing. Like a parent with kids who were ready to be off on their own, the stores would eventually begin to function without my intervention. I would be free to step back, in time, if I really wanted to.

“I’m great,” I confirmed again, saying out loud would just make it more real.

“Then here is to Hope’s Blossom,” Lucian cheered, pouring us both another glass of wine.

“Here’s to Hope’s!”

---

It was finally time for the doors to open.

The first official day of business for Hope’s Blossom: Champs Les Sims.

The first hour I was going to have one salesperson and a barista with me. I wasn’t anticipating a huge rush of people because again–this was Champs Les Sims, not Paris. However, I still did think it would be wise to have some backup.

When the doors were finally unlocked, I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best. The first few minutes were silent and vacant, and I had to remind myself not to hold my breath otherwise I’d pass out before I could see if things would work out.

Then I heard it. That first ding. Our first customer. A sweet older woman with a cart was looking for a custom arrangement for her niece’s graduation. Not a problem! My sales girl assisted her swiftly and had her out the door just as fast with a promise to come back next week. The next few hours continued in the same way. A customer here and there coming in for flowers, some for coffee, and some for both. It definitely kept everyone engaged.

Eventually, when we hit a midday lull, I urged my team to take their breaks before the second shift team arrived. With it being slower up front, I quickly excused myself to the storeroom to take inventory of what I could still bring out front. Hmm, perhaps the little potted succulents. Those would be cute! Before I could even finish the thought, I was pulled back into action.

A ding sounded again. Perhaps a second wave!

“Bonjour! Welcome to Hope’s Blossom! I will be with you in just a second!” I announced happily. I quickly gathered the last few bags of product from the back and waltzed back to the front of the store where I felt like I had the air kicked out of me.

“Hi…”

I placed the bags down and flattened my apron that hung loosely around my waist. “Hi–hello.”

I couldn’t find the words. How? When? What? I looked him up and down–blue hair no longer shaved, but neatly combed, the same scar on his face, and the soulful eyes, and…oh my god it was him.

Sabin.

“I was walking by and I saw the name,” he chuckled nervously, running a hand through his hair. “I recognized it immediately but what were the chances. Hope’s Blossom in France,” he touched one of the knickknacks I had set out on the display table and tried to keep his gaze on me, but every few seconds, I watched him glance down as if to examine the items closer. “Congratulations, Alma.”

My cheeks warmed at the sound of my name on his lips. My heart was pounding fiercely inside my chest–so hard I had to remind myself to breathe. Even I could tell that we both were taken aback. My store…in France of all places. And Him? Sabin was just standing there in France…in MY store. What the fuck was happening?

It was as if all the feelings I had for him that were tucked away suddenly began to buzz at the sight of the familiar.

“A funny coincidence for sure,” I admitted, trying to play it cool. “Are you here for work?”

“No, actually. Something fun for once,” he replied, unable to keep his teeth from peeking out in a gentle smile. “I’ve never been and I had the opportunity for a short trip to just get away for a bit.”

“Ah, Champs is a great place to visit for sure.”

“Your grandparents live here, right?” Sabin asked.

Oh god, he remembered them.

“Lived, actually. They moved back to the States recently.”

“Understandable…”. I watched him speak, observing the corner of his mouth as it slightly twitched further into a more sheepish smile.

I was terrible at small talk, especially when it came to small talk with my ex, but I didn’t know how else to get to the questions I was dying to know the answers to.

“So, are you shopping for anyone special today? Perhaps I can help you put together a bouquet for your…?” I waited, baiting him to finish.

Sabin stuck his hand in his pocket and motioned towards the door with his chin. “I’m here with my sister and her girlfriend,” he said. “They let this old man tag along and they’re actually waiting outside to grab some lunch. They thought it would be sad if I went on my own…”

My heart fluttered, but I just responded with a quick “Oh–please do tell them hello, and–” I reached into the bags at my feet to pull out some small succulents I had packaged into gift boxes. “For you…and them. A small thank you for coming in today.”

Sabin reached forward to take the small planters from my hands gently. Our fingers brushed against each other only for a second, but I wondered if he could feel it, too. He seemed more nervous than I remembered, but that cloud of pain and shame that I used to see so much towards the end…I couldn’t see it anymore. Maybe it just had been so long.

With the flowers in his arms, he looked toward the door before he looked back at me while I did my best to make myself look like the busy shop owner I wanted to appear to be. “Alma…”

“Hmm?” I hummed.

“Would you have dinner with me? Tonight?”

I was a woman with Wells blood running hot in my veins. If I learned one thing from my family, it was to never ignore the chance to seize what I thought I–what we lost.

“Absolutely…” I smiled with flushed cheeks. “It’s a date?”

Sabin smirked and gave me a quick nod. “It’s a date.”

---

Maybe one day our paths would cross again and maybe then we would finally be ready to be together…

I was ready and there in the gleam of his smile, I felt it–he was too.

Gen. 10 – Alma. Chapter Forty-Nine

My flight was booked. My grandparent’s home was vacant and ready for my arrival. Everything that I needed for a few months in France was neatly packed into three suitcases that were ready for me to bring with me to the airport in the next twelve hours. All that was left was…this.

I got so used to seeing my friends and family regularly that a few months away from them would certainly make me feel extra homesick. So on the final evening of my time in this home for the next few months, I had everyone over for dinner and and drinks. Sure it was a bunch of pizza Gia ordered, but…we were here for the moments, the memories we were creating.

My home was filled with the buzz of laughter and excited chatter that I wanted to be a part of rather than a shadow catching glimpses.

I grabbed a slice of pizza from the box on the counter and walked to the living room where my parents were seated.

“Hey there–did you guys eat already?” I asked.

Dad turned his head and grinned. “Grazing here and there. How are you holding up?”

I looked around, happy to see the house filled with so many people who helped me find my way in one way or another. “Doing okay here. I’m really excited about the store and I’m feeling really good about what’s happening here. It’s just…”

Mom reached to touch my hand. “You did it.”

My lips spread into a wide smile. I did…I really did do it. Even if I got the store up and running and it would crash and burn–I would still feel pride in the mere fact that I freaking DID IT! I couldn’t wait to get there and get started.

I squeezed Mom’s hand and nodded. “Yeah, I really did, didn’t I? Well, please do eat some more food, pretty sure Gia ordered the entire supply that the local shop had. So even while I’m gone, she’ll likely be living off the leftovers for a week, which…I think that might have been the goal.” I laughed and gave my parents a quick wave before walking to my brother and grandparents who, once again, were engaged in a ridiculous conversation defending Grandma’s cooking.

“Crescendo, my love, please tell our grandson that my cookies did not give your entire family food poisoning!” Grandma Attie chirped.

“I thought they only chipped a tooth?” I added, squeezing my way into their little circle.

“Alma!” Grandma gasped.

“Just kidding. I’ve had Grandma’s cookies and they’re not bad.,” I admitted, giving her a half hug just so my half-eaten slice of pizza wouldn’t get on her clothes.

Grandpa moved to let me in between him and Grandma. “Ahh, not quite. They were a bit salty, but I assure you–everyone survived the weekend. In fact, I know the effort she put in really made a great impression on my family.” He smirked and adjusted his glasses. “All great memories…”

Kaden moved his gaze to me and cleared his throat. “So, you flying out tomorrow?”

I nodded. “Yup…5 AM flight, so I’ll likely be out of here around 3 AM.”

“Oh gosh, that’s quite early,” Grandma chimed in.

I nodded. “I figured I could get in as soon as possible and really get to work.”

Grandpa stuck his hand in his pocket and leaned forward to glance at me. “And you still have the house keys, right?”

“Yes,” I smiled. “Yes, thank you so much for letting me stay there again.”

“Of course, we’re just happy someone is getting use of that home–we loved it so much and would have just hated to sell it,” Grandma admitted, reaching for Grandpa’s hand to gently guide him outside the circle. “We’ll go get some more food, but please do come talk to us later, okay?”

“Of course!”

We watched Grandma and Grandpa walk away with their arms locked. Once they were back at the counter, grabbing some more food to eat, I nodded towards Kaden. Once again, I wasn’t sure if he was actually going to be here, or if he was going to be back in Amsterdam.

“Glad you came,” I smiled. “Did you miss your flight?”

“I figured I’d stick around. Wanted to make sure you didn’t chicken out, ya know?” He joked.

“I put all my savings into this place…it’s too late to chicken out.”

“Good. Taking chances like this–it’s a good look for you.” Kaden stepped forward to put his arm around me. “It’s good to see you smile, sis.”

I nodded. I felt like I shed my skin. The Alma who hurt would always be there, but she would now be held and protected by the one who learned to take care of herself. How could I ever take care of anyone else if I was so broken? Kaden was right–I now found more reasons to smile. I never wished days away and I appreciated all the moments that led to where I am today. What I lost and stepped away from, I would never forget.

“Thanks, Kaden. It’s been great seeing you around more these days. I hope you come around more often.”

“I know…”

“And while I’m in France, you know there’s always that spare room in Champs that you can crash in,” I smirked, giving him a quick nudge.

“Alma!!” I heard from outside before a loud splash hit the pavement and splashed the windows.

Before I could say anything more to Kaden, he motioned for me to go outside. I couldn’t object as long as he promised that he would still be here in the next hour. Once he agreed, I walked outside where Dani and Gia were splashing in the pool. The sight reminded me of my childhood. How incredibly lucky I felt to have friends who saw me through so much of my life. And how freaking lucky I felt to be included in theirs. I’ve witnessed Dani get married, and have children–I watched her fall in love when she didn’t believe she would settle down. And Gia? She evolved into a strong woman who embraced every moment and opportunity. I felt everyone could only strive to be a little more like Gia.

“Why didn’t we swim hear more?!” Dani cried out. “This feels fucking amazing!”

I laughed and walked over to Otto who was trying to keep the kids from flinging themselves into the pool after their Mom. I figured I’d offer to help and scooped Lenore up in my arms.

“You little ones are just in such a hurry,” I smirked, giving little Lenore a quick tickle.

“But Mama!!” Lenore screeched, reaching toward the pool.

“Dani, I don’t know where they get this strength!” Otto laughed so hard it sounded more like a wheeze. I felt that was part of why he was struggling with Clementine, their youngest daughter. It was definitely a comical sight to behold. Knowing where those two were at the start of their relationship–it was heartwarming to see them as the great parents and partners everyone else now got to see.

“They get it from their Mama!” Dani declared proudly. “I know Alma recognizes that spirit!”

I sure did.

I always wondered what life could have been like if my children were given the chance to well…live. I thought of these moments with only a small hint of sadness. What used to be a thought that would pull me down, I looked at it as an opportunity for another me. Maybe in another life, I had children who adored me; maybe in another life, I had what they did. I looked at Dani and Otto, not with envy, but with so much love.

The wiggling little girl in my arms soon won her Mother’s attention, as I helped her into the water, into Dani’s arms.

I watched them float together–all smiles. I thought of everyone here and thought of those who couldn’t make it. My youngest brothers were already in Germany but promised to visit me in France as soon as possible. We already had our moment, our period of bonding, so I still felt them with me. As I witnessed an evening I always hoped to see in this home, I resisted the urge to laugh. After all these years, I now understood the need from within to gather everyone together to make a speech. All those years watching Mom and wondering how she knew when the right time was…

I turned my head to peek inside, everyone was still engaged and having a good time. I looked back at the pool and gave my friends a quick wave. “I’m…I’m going to say something real quick, okay?”

They nodded.

I quickly opened the screen door and asked for everyone inside to join me in the yard. I felt exhilarated. The hours were counting down, and everything was really beginning to feel….real.

When everyone was outside and out of the pool, I grabbed a drink from the cooler I left outside.

“I’m not used to making speeches,” I admitted, swallowing the lump in my throat that I knew would creep back up again. “I wanted to take the time to thank you all for coming to spend this evening with me. For all of us to be together under one roof–sans Oren and Jax…”

I watched everyone keep their eyes on me as I spoke. Those who were paired off huddled close to one another.

“When I decided to focus on my shop, I had a mission, a dream, to open up at least one international location. Any country was fine, but France was the goal. I hold a special love for France as it was where I felt I started to catch a glimpse of the passion I felt for botany again, a passion for myself.”

I closed my eyes and breathed steadily. “This next chapter is going to be it,” I started. “The start of a new adventure that will either end in flames or blossom into something that will continue to bring the joy of Hope’s Blossom into households all over the world.”

I tried to fight it but allowed my watering eyes to give in to the emotions I was feeling.

“I am so thankful for you all because you saw me at my worst. You saw me when I was just a shell of my former self…”

“Now you’re a bad bitch!” Gia announced, giving a loud “Woop Woop” from behind Dani.

“Yes, I am that bad bitch,” I laughed through the tears. “This trip to France is temporary–just long enough for me to get things going, but—I did it. The dream is here and I am making it real. But this,” I stopped, pointing to everyone in front of me. “This feels like the perfect way to end the chapter of struggle and rebirth. What comes next…I really don’t know, but I am ready and excited to see what awaits me on the other side.”

I raised my bottle and smiled, as genuinely as I could. “Thank you for not giving up on me, even when I gave up on myself. Here to you, to me, and to us,” I laughed and watched as everyone raised either their drinks or sippy cups. My eyes caught Mom’s. They were glossy. She could have run up and hugged me, but she raised her glass once more and smiled before resting her head on Dad’s shoulders.

---

Once everyone else said their goodbyes, the house was left occupied with only Gia and Dani. My two best friends.

“Hell of a speech, Alma,” Dani hiccuped. “So good Otto had to take the babes home.”

“Aww,” Gia commented, patting Dani on the head. “Motherhood made her a lightweight again. I love it!”

“Hey, it’s hard to compete with Mama Wells, okay?” I smirked, bringing a glass of water to Dani. “But I do admit it felt good. I’m just so excited to get there. I can’t wait to get started on setting everything up and just…being able to enjoy Hope’s…”

Gia grinned. “Feeling good?”

“Very. Honestly, I thought it may be a good idea to sleep for a bit before I have to head out, but I can’t.” I sat down beside them. “I don’t know how long it will be before we get to sit down like this again. Moments like this, I still think about how things could have been.”

“Oh Alma,” Dani sniffled. “You are right where you needed to be.”

“Look, lady–this next chapter is whatever you need it to be for you. Hope’s will be great, we know it. But with this now achieved, I hope you plan on taking a long vacation.”

“Well, I do plan on spending more time overseas, especially since my grandparents are letting me use their home while I’m there. I figured I could approve a few more business trips.”

“Good!” Gia smirked. “No new expansions?”

“Definitely not for a while. We’ll work with what we already have and hope nothing blows up in my face.”

It was always a fear of mine that all of this would just be for nothing. That I’d end up losing my money, have to file for bankruptcy, and well, throw in the towel. I hoped that it would never come to that, but if it ever did, I felt I would be able to handle myself gracefully. Again…let’s hope it would never come to that.

As the evening hours were upon us, I looked at my friends and sighed. “Thank you for being with me through all of this. And know that I’d do the same for you. Always.”

Gia nodded and turned on the TV. “Come on, Alma. Sit down, put your feet up, and enjoy the stillness of this evening with us. Your next adventure is only a few hours away…”

---

When my alarm sounded on my phone, I quickly turned it off. I didn’t get much sleep, unlike Dani and Gia, who were still passed out on the couch. While they rested, I used the time to check all my packed bags, and my tickets, and spend a little time trying to get ahead. I checked in with Lucian already, who by some miracle was actually awake. He wanted to keep in touch with me since he offered to pick me up at the airport, mainly so that I could join him and his fiance for a drink immediately after I landed. Wasting no time–naturally.

With all the extra time I had, I showered and had a cup of coffee in the backyard while listening to the sound of…nothing.

I leaned back in my chair and sighed. My chest fell slowly and rose steadily. Wow…that’s what peace felt like, huh? I breathed easily without panic filling the back of my mind. If anything lingered in my mind, then it was excitement. I thought back to my days in school when I tried my best to impress my teachers with my botany knowledge and arrangements. Any doubt that I felt–how I wished I could have told young Alma that it would pass. Flowers, the idea and hope behind this shop–that would always remain my constant. In fact, it would be the thing that would save me.

I snapped back to my morning coffee when I felt my phone vibrate in my lap. It was my Uber–arriving to take me to the airport.

I took my last few sips of coffee as I walked back inside. My friends were still sound asleep, but I had to give Gia a soft nudge.

“You don’t need to wake up, but my car is here. I made sure my spare keys are hanging in the hall, okay? I’ll talk to you soon…” I whispered.

Gia’s eyes barely opened, until she felt me rub her shoulder again. “H-hey…what?” Her eyes shot open and she shoved Dani. “You’re leaving now?”

I nodded. “Yeah, my Uber is out front.”

Dani woke up, clutching her head. “Oh my god–what time is it?”

“Alma’s leaving,” Gia stated, which perked Dani up right away.

“Hold on!” Dani exclaimed. “Let’s walk you to the car at least!”

I couldn’t deny them, even if they both looked dead to the world. I was still touched by the gesture.

When we did eventually make it outside, I gave my friends one last smile and hugged them tightly. This trip was only for a few months and then I’d be back. If three years flew by, then a few months would be nothing. At least that’s what I had to keep telling my friends. Silly…I loved them so much.

We did have to let go eventually as I didn’t want to keep the driver waiting. My suitcases were piled into the trunk and all that was left was for me to get in as well.

One last wave. I smiled and got in.

Gen.10 – Alma. Chapter Forty-Eight

Would the pain we suffered, and the difficulties we faced…would they eventually be balanced out with joy and love? All of us, at some point, would ask the same question–perhaps at the end of everything or when faced with yet another challenge that truly made us beg the question: Is it really worth it?

I thought of that question quite often when I was down or when I couldn’t see the light peeking out beyond the horizon. We all faced many different challenges–all of which were valid. Tragedy didn’t have to strike for us to question our path.

I thought of that question when I set foot in our family’s cemetery. It was time I made the trip alone unlike the times I joined my Mom and Grandma to help refresh the flowers and make sure the groundskeeper was keeping the moss from taking over all the headstones.

I arrived, clutching a bouquet I put together tightly in my arms. I tilted my chin to glance at the variety of colors–Red, Purple, Yellow, Baby Blue, Green, Magenta, and Gold. Anyone looking at this bouquet would think twice about me being a master botanist, but when combined with greenery and crooked branches–there was beauty in it. This particular arrangement, however, was not meant the be presented together, but rather distributed to each of them, them being the women who were here with me today. No longer walking the mortal plane, but here very much in my bones, my blood. Never without me.

The stone path under my feet guided me deeper into the center of the cemetery where a large fountain spit water around a statue of a woman so beautiful, you would have thought she was trapped in stone. When I finally did allow my eyes to wander from her slender frame, I turned on my heel to look at my surroundings. Each small plot of land was separated by an iron fence, to keep the family together with their spouses and children.

I couldn’t believe how much of my family history was just beneath my feet. Gotta admit, it was a bit spine-chilling, but there was a strange comfort in it. Cemeteries would often evoke feelings of darkness, dread, and fear, yet I felt none of that here. Yes, there was a thickness in the air that only appeared when I arrived, but it felt inviting. I followed the stone path to Amelie’s plot of Earth. Her headstone was recently washed and a fresh bouquet of flowers was already set beneath her plaque that read: Amelie Wells & Jeremie Wells. Beneath her headstone was one smaller stone. Some were more symbolic, but a way to keep the children with the heiresses throughout the years.

“Hello Amelie.”

I reached into my bouquet and pulled out a single red flower, setting it beneath her name.

I sat down on the stone bench and waited, listening to the stillness before speaking again.

“You…you started something incredible. I know your upbringing brought you pain and challenges that I’m happy to report have never been repeated in our family. I hope that brings you peace knowing that. All the love you poured into your children–that same love can be seen throughout generations. My Mom, Isobel–I’m sure she’s chatted with you, too, but getting to my point,” I paused, “Her support is something I will never take for granted. You’ve done well, Amelie. Your ideals, your hopes…I feel them in me.”

Soon it came time to stand. Before leaving, I studied the engraved text again, looking at each letter closely. “Rest easy, your work and love will continue long after me.”

After Amelie, I followed the stone-paved path to where Lucy was resting. A woman who truly took on the weight of the legacy–the one who made the decision to keep it going, respecting her mother’s wish. I felt like I knew so little about her, outside of the books we read, yet I felt her influence hover over so many of the women after her. She lived her life with love.

I pulled a purple flower from my bunch and rested it gently on the headstone that held Lucy’s name and her husband’s: Gavin. Her children were not far from her, too. Her son, just below, and her daughter over in the next section.

“Rest easy, Lucy…”

Sonny was Lucy’s only daughter. She was resting with her husband Aiden. It was Sonny who began to push the boundaries, getting the Wells name outside of Twinbrook and into Bridgeport. There was so much to her, her story, that I couldn’t decipher how much of it was true. Vampires? Brainwashing? It all seemed so fantastical, but stranger things have certainly happened.

I pulled out a yellow rose and set it on her headstone.

“You’ve had your fair share of turmoil, Sonny. You rocked the boat in a way that encouraged the rest of us to fight against a static life. Thank you for sharing your drive…”

The next headstone had me ready a baby blue flower immediately upon stepping inside the fenced-in area. I set it delicately beneath the plaque that read: Ophelia Wells & Vaan Wells.

Ophelia’s name was repeated quite often and not solely due to her affiliation to our family’s legacy, but because she was a beloved author who penned many stories. Yes, some of those stories were about us, our family, but that wasn’t all she wrote. I admit some of her retellings of our family history made everyone sound…perfect, and happy, and it made us feel like we were working toward unrealistic expectations. I suppose she didn’t want to hang everyone’s dirty laundry out for the entire world to read about.

Beyond her creativity and love for her family, she suffered too. She met an end no one anticipated, so rather than stirring the past, I touched her headstone lightly and offered my thanks for her love and dedication to her family.

Spending time with each headstone, I could see all the layers in our family. I acknowledged all the personality differences that I read and heard about. Just as Grandma mentioned, there was only so much that we could know because it was all word of mouth and occasionally written word. There would always be gaps that we wouldn’t be able to fill unless the truth came from the mouths of those who lived these moments firsthand.

I made my way to Naomi’s grave and planted a light green flower beneath her headstone and a magenta flower on her daughter, Mariko’s headstone. All these years, all these experiences…I just wished that I was at least honoring them appropriately.

It was when I stepped towards the next grave that I felt a chill rush up my skin. So many of the women before me, I had so little firsthand knowledge about. But Amalia Wells? Grandma’s mother. A woman who had her own challenges to overcome only to have her own memory stripped from her. It was the first time we really threw around the world “soulmates” in our family. Amalia and Auron were a pair that inspired love and withstood so many obstacles.

I looked at the last flower I had in my arms. A single gold flower that I set down on the stone beneath her name. “I’m so proud to be related to you, Amalia. Grandma Atoli never fails to share stories about you–it feels like you’re still with us. I hope as you’re resting that you feel all the love that everyone still has for you…”

I looked down at the thinner bouquet in my arms now only full of greenery and twisted branches. As I spoke to each woman resting below the Earth, I wondered what it would be like being in a room with all of them. What would they think of me? Would they celebrate the closing of a chapter that spanned so many years? Would they cheer me on as I moved on to the next?

Before I said my goodbyes, I noticed that there were more fenced-in headstones beyond Amalia. I paused for a moment before making my way closer to see the engraved name on the tall headstone. Atoli Wells & Crescendo Wells. Birth dates: present. Death date: blank. The headstones were set in place, but no bodies were there. I hoped I wouldn’t have to be back here for a very long time.

Despite my grandparents still very much alive, there was still a smaller grave beneath theirs: Arecia.

“Auntie…” I looked at my remaining plants and took the time to arrange them into a small wreath–winding the greenery around the branches that allowed me to bend them. To outlive a child, I couldn’t imagine the pain. As I set the wreath down, I still noticed that beyond Atoli’s headstone was another.

I couldn’t look because I knew damn well whose name I would see and I just—

I spoke my final words of gratitude and excused myself from our family’s cemetery. My pace picked up against the stone path, following it quickly to get out to where the air didn’t feel so…heavy. I wasn’t afraid of death, but I wasn’t ready to read my mother’s or my father’s name on a headstone marked as a placeholder. They were very much alive and I didn’t want to picture a life where they weren’t.

I pulled out my phone which I kept on silent for the duration of my visit. Despite having a few missed calls and messages, I dialed Mom’s number.

“Hello, sweets!” Mom answered after the first thing.

“H-Hi Mom!” I uttered, making my way out of the cemetery and back to my car where I sat and allowed the emotion of that morning to settle. It felt like a tidal wave crashed against me.

“Back from the cemetery, I take it?”

I sighed. “I didn’t realize you and Dad have your headstones all made up…I just, I didn’t realize how much it would hit me that I would one day see both dates engraved on there…and I wouldn’t be able to call you anymore.”

I heard Mom sigh wearily. “I told your Grandmother that it was too early, but apparently she got a really good deal. My love, your father and I are not going anywhere–not for a long time. But… besides that spooky sight, how was it?”

I sniffled and managed a laugh. I could imagine Grandma running into the room declaring that she found a great deal on family headstones–my god. “Um, it felt pretty amazing. It was like walking through history. To know so many wonderful women came before us…”

“You feel a bit better about this whole thing?”

The thing…the legacy…the thing I was set to end.

“Yeah–I feel this is right. I felt them. I felt their love, their energy–I think I’m just ready to focus on me and whatever comes next. I’m just…I’m really grateful for everything you’ve done for me. Thank you for not pushing me…”

“Alma…”

“Look, I’ll probably be more emotional when you guys come for dinner before I leave, but, I just feel like I never said it enough. You say you’re proud of me, but I’m proud to be your daughter, Mom. I love you.”

I heard the phone sound muffled. Mom was sniffling on the other end. “Um…look, little girl,” she started, “You’re going to make me a blubbering mess, so let’s…keep the feelings for dinner, but thank you. I’ll say it forever and always, I love you to the moon and back…”

Both sniffling, we hung up, letting the weight of the day truly settle before I drove back home to continue packing.

Even if I was going to be leaving for a few months…something about this still felt so final.

Oh man…this was gonna hurt like a bitch, wasn’t it?

Gen.10 – Alma. Chapter Forty-Seven

The final preparations, the legal ones, for the French location of Hope’s Blossom were in full swing. Rather than renting the space, like I’ve done here, I ended up buying the entire shop. Apparently, the owners were retiring and decided to revisit the offers they received from potential renters. I didn’t know why they contacted us–whether my offer was drawn at random, or if they thought that my story was a compelling one—It didn’t really matter now. I was just thrilled that I would soon be making my way to France for an extended trip to get everything set up.

This meant that preparations would have to be made. I was constantly moving, traveling from my three locations in St. Claire, Bridgeport, and Sunset Valley, making sure that everything was running as expected. I couldn’t believe it, but with the decision I made to include a cafe in my business, everything truly began to…blossom. Bridgeport was an excellent location because it had all the hustle and bustle of a busy business district. People needed a quick pick-me-up and often purchased flowers before taking the train back home.

I was so proud of my team who stood by my decisions and helped execute my vision. I had great confidence that things would continue operating even if I wasn’t on US soil. Plus, our weekly team meetings would still continue. We found video calls to be an excellent addition to our small company culture!

While all of that was underway, I found myself standing before a door I had stopped seeing regularly. Having a face-to-face with Dr. Riley had become a treat, but I did see positives to it. All the emergency appointments I had to have just a few years ago were no longer scheduled as regularly as my weekly sessions. I truly felt…light…for the first time in years.

“Alma, I’m so glad you could make it. Please, come in,” Dr. Riley urged, welcoming me into her office.

The decorations hadn’t changed much, but I noticed some new plants and plaques with her name that filled the room. I found my spot on the couch and waited for her to sit across from me.

Dr. Riley kept her notebook notebook in her lap and flipped to a clean page before looking at me. “How have you been, Alma?”

I smiled and sank a little deeper into the seat. “I finally got the location in France. I’ll be leaving soon. All the other locations are doing well, so I feel confident leaving to get everything set up in Champs Les Sims.”

I watched as Dr. Riley scribbled in her book. “That’s wonderful news. Have you been taking time for yourself in the middle of all this? Expanding your business–it certainly does take a lot of time and energy. Do you allow yourself some time away from it all?”

“I’ve been spending a lot of time with family,” I admitted proudly.

“And what about more…personally. Have you met anyone else? Perhaps dinner, a movie?”

“Oh…” I sighed and gave her the entire story of Riley, the man. I admit I laughed more about the name situation than she did, but I explained it all. I tried to highlight the fact that I saw him a few times over two months, that I finally slept with someone new, and that well…it unintentionally fizzled out. While I didn’t plan on marrying the guy, I just wanted to end things on more polite terms. Still bugged me, like one of those things you’d remember while lying in bed when you’re just trying to fall asleep.

“But, some things to take from this, Alma. You allowed yourself to spend time with someone else other than friends or family. That’s wonderful to hear. And while you may feel uncomfortable with how things ended, it still is a step forward.” Dr. Riley smiled. “How are you doing?” She asked again. “Not your business or friends or family, but you…”

The question took me back for a moment. Most days my business was simply an extension of me, but I could see why my first answer didn’t satisfy my therapist. Instead of answering quickly, I sat back and thought for a moment. Again, the heaviness I used to feel while sitting in this exact seat felt absent. I didn’t feel the urge to bring up any of the things that once brought me so much hurt. They were still there, but no longer present as pain that defined me. Strength and joy were embedded in me while sadness and pain were whispers.

But looking inside myself, I felt my mouth spread into a smile. “I feel happy.”

Dr. Riley set her notebook aside and kept her legs crossed.

“I feel…light. I know I speak of my business as if it’s the only thing I have going for me, but…it means everything to me. I pushed myself these last few years to get to where I am today. I couldn’t have done it if my focus was anything else,” I said. To many, I could assume this would sound obsessive, but small businesses were just like that. Accomplishments such as this wouldn’t come to people who were casually operating their stores. I fought and faced rejection after rejection to get to where I was. But even then I kept going.

“I’ve been taking time for myself too,” I continued. “I’ve been more involved with my family. I’ve been seeing my friends regularly, and I allow myself to rest. Even if it that just means ordering myself a nice dinner, or cooking something light while I watch silly movies.”

Dr. Riley didn’t say anything as she could see I was ready to keep going. I just couldn’t stop.

“And boyfriends? Maybe one day. Maybe I would be satisfied with what I wanted to accomplish, so I could spend some more time with someone new. But–” I held up my finger stiffly. “This does not mean that my heart is closed off and hard as a stone, okay? If love suddenly presented itself, if I felt that spark again that made my heart beat fiercely inside my chest–I wouldn’t dare ignore it.”

Dr. Riley paused one more second until she noticed that I reached to wipe a tear that had snuck out.

“You’ve put in a lot of work, Alma,” she started. “Healing means so many different things to people. Sometimes it means healing physical wounds. Sometimes it means learning to live with the pain experienced. And it even sometimes means being able to accept the pain experienced as a chapter in your life that you grow with. Growth is not letting that pain consume you.”

I nodded.

“I recall seeing you on that couch when we first started–your body language alone was much different. It’s great seeing you taking the things we talked about and putting them into practice. Your love for your work is nothing to be ashamed of,” she smiled. “We women are allowed passion beyond settling down and having a family. There is much more to life than that, and you seem to be embracing the things that do indeed bring you joy.”

I didn’t know why I felt, going into this, that she’d reprimand me for pouring my energy into my work. But hearing her say all that…I suppose it was something I needed to hear before I spoke again.

“That’s honestly part of why I came today. Not sure if you noticed, but I canceled a few weeks of sessions…”

“Ah, I did notice, yes.”

“I’m going to be leaving for France in just a few weeks and I wanted to come today not only to have a session but to determine if what I’m about to say is going to sit right with me,” I exhaled softly, thinking of the words before speaking them. “I think I’m ready to put our sessions on an indefinite hold.”

As those words were given a voice, I watched for Dr. Riley’s expression to change, but man was she good at keeping a poker face. I studied her lips for any signs of a smile or frown. Ugh, it was just like canceling a subscription that required a phone call. I hated the confrontation, especially after years of seeing her.

“That’s perfectly fine,” she said plainly. “Therapy is not forever. I am here to give you the tools to work through whatever you need. Just know that if you want to come back and chat, my doors will be open, okay?”

Woah…did I graduate from therapy?

“Only you really know when you’re ready to move on. Now you can take all you learned and use it when times get to feel a bit too much. But that’s the most important part of all this,” she reminded me. “It’s that you feel instead of pushing it back to process later. There’s only so much room we have for that.”

“I understand and–thank you, Dr. Riley. I really appreciate all your time and patience with me over the years. I know I wasn’t always easy.” I exhaled sharply and allowed myself a soft chuckle. “Wow–honestly didn’t think I’d make it here, but…”

“You did,” Dr. Riley smiled. “It’s been a pleasure watching you grow and discover your strengths. Now…if you don’t have anything else to add….I do believe that our time is up for today.”

Normally Dr. Riley would stay in her seat and occasionally walk me out of her office, but today she got up and offered me a hug. I knew therapists were often just objective vacuums that helped organize trauma and guide healing, but…this was nice. Dr. Riley helped me in more ways than she would ever know. I couldn’t have done this without her guidance and patience, especially on those days when I was quite literally breaking down in her office.

I will always be thankful for that.

---

My family found out about my upcoming trip to France and the reason behind it once I truly had everything confirmed. The store was mine and I would be able to design it and run it as I always wanted. I was hearing from Lucien daily. He was counting down the days till my arrival so we could finally see my dream realized.

It felt great having that support and sensing that excitement from everyone around me. Despite this being just another location of my store, it was going to be my first international one. Plus, my trip to get everything up and running was going to extend my trip past a one-week stay. I was anticipating a few months. I wanted to be there to get all the furniture in, the flowers, and cafe, and of course the team. I was already in the process of screening potential employees, but I wouldn’t be able to make a decision until I actually met them in person.

There was still so much to do, but I truly enjoyed every moment of it.

To help keep things organized, my parents made frequent visits to make sure I had everything that I needed. Even being in my 30’s my parents still made me feel like this was my first time traveling on my own. I thought it was cute.

As for what would happen with my home for these next few months?

“Giiiiirl, I am so freaking excited to stay here,” Gia declared, getting out of the pool and walking to me. I was seated on the patio chair, finally catching a break in between calls. Since Gia had the option to really work from many major clinics, she elected to stay put for a few months while I was going to be out of town. I trusted her completely when it came to my home, so I had zero reservations about leaving it in her care.

“I’m glad! I was worried this wouldn’t work out and I’d had to rent it out to some freaking strangers!”

Gia gasped dramatically, bringing her hand to her mouth. “Oh! I’m sorry, you don’t think I’m capable of throwing a rager in your home?”

I rolled my eyes and motioned to the pitcher of lemonade on the table. “At least if you did, you’d still clean up. You’re definitely welcome to have people over, just maybe don’t….”

“Host a hedonistic marathon?”

“A what?” I laughed.

“An orgy.”

“Fucking hell–sure, yes, please refrain from an abundance of bodily fluids all over my walls,” I laughed, shuddering at the thought.

Gia sat down and poured herself a glass. She was great at keeping things light but knew when to reel herself in. I always appreciated that, as much as I appreciated her friendship in general. “So what’s left on your list before you fly away to the land of baguettes?”

I scrolled through my checklist on my phone before pausing at the one word I found towards the bottom of my list. Cemetery. I had this on my to-do list for months, but just wouldn’t bring myself to do it. I wanted to give myself the proper amount of time to visit and spend time honoring those who came before us. With this being such a huge step for me and for Hope’s, it was time I paid the family a visit.

“Um, I wanted to visit the family cemetery,” I said. “Since I’m traveling, I don’t know…this just feels big. I mean, I’ll be back, but…it feels like I’m closing a chapter. A big one.”

Gia nodded. “This is big, Alma. Lady, how long have you been working towards this…?”

Time just slipped from me. Since Sabin and I broke up, I felt like I buried myself in my work. I worked on all of this with my head down. Time meant nothing until I got to where I needed to be, but if I really had to think about it…it had been years. Two? Three? Oh my god.

“You’ve been chugging along, Alma. It’s been awesome to see you well–” Gia raised her glass for me to clink against. “Kicking ass. Let’s be serious. You zeroed in on what you wanted and look at you!” She grinned, foregoing the cheer and rushing to sit next to me. “You took what kept you down and turned it into a freaking masterpiece…with coffee!”

“You’ve become quite the softy,” I laughed, pulling her into a hug. “Thank you tho. You and Dani–after all these years, I would be so lost without you two. I mean you’re both so busy, so the fact that you’d spend time with me away from your own madness, I appreciate it all so much.”

“Hey…let’s leave the touchy-feely stuff for before you leave. We’re not saying goodbye.” Gia suggested with a wink. “Dani wouldn’t want to miss out on this part of you either.”

“Fine. Let’s drink, have a dip in the pool, and watch some trash TV. We’ll save the feels for next week.”

“I’ll drink to that,” Gia smirked and clinked her glass against mine so we could finally sip our drink. As soon as we swallowed, she yanked me by the wrist off the bench and straight into the pool.

We swam and laughed till daylight began its descent. I thought of what was to come not with fear or anxiety, but with hope and excitement. When one chapter would end another would begin.

I was excited to experience it and tackle whatever challenge I would face. But first…I had to pay a visit to all who came before me.

Gen. 10 – Alma. Chapter Forty-Six

Planning parties wasn’t my forte, but in between work and calls, I managed to finish my part of helping Mom plan Oren and Jax’s graduation party. Once that was done (and I snuck in my adjustments), I assisted with ordering the decorations. That alone made the week go by very quickly.

Before I knew it, I was standing in the rented event space that Mom insisted on booking. Something about not having to clean dishes and tidy the house–I mean, I get it. Mom wanted to enjoy the moment of celebrating the twins without having to run around and make sure no one was spilling drinks all over the furniture. Mind you, she was never that anal, but I figured she just wanted as little distraction from the celebration as possible.

“Alma–the banner looks perfect!” Mom ginned giving me a quick squeeze before rushing off to join the rest of the family.

I started to make my way around the party, catching glimpses of friends and family mid-conversation. It was like taking a peek into their lives while just passing by. I got to hear about the events in their life–new jobs, new babies, breakups, favorite movies, and games. It felt good to be in the middle, even if for a brief moment before I moved on past the next cluster of people.

The one person I wasn’t expecting to overhear was Kaden–who was standing in the corner talking to Grandma and Grandpa. I didn’t recall him mentioning he was going to be here.

Catching my gaze, I saw him give me a quick nod. That, of course, triggered my grandparents to invite me over to their conversation. Naturally, I couldn’t deny that invitation.

“Alma love, you and your mother did such a fabulous job. Did you know the boys came into town early? We even got this one to show up!” Grandma said excitedly, tugging on Kaden’s arm. “Now this is a Wells party, right? Just like we used to have!”

“Can’t forget those,” Kaden added, “Don’t these always end up with someone dancing on a table?”

I rolled my eyes and shoved him playfully. “Wrong party, buddy.”

Grandpa chuckled and put his arm around Grandma who was vibrating with enough energy to power the rest of the event. “Alright-alright, let’s go get some food and continue making the rounds. I’m sure Kaden will be around long enough for us to talk his ear off again,” he winked at us and guided Grandma to the buffet table I remembered ordering for the party.

“So,” I started once our grandparents were out of sight, “I didn’t see an RSVP, sir.”

Kaden scratched his head and shrugged. “I thought family was an automatic yes. Plus, this is kind of a spur-of-the-moment thing…”

“Our brothers graduating?”

Kaden leaned in quickly and whispered, “Excuse me, did you not hear that they’re moving to freaking GERMANY?”

I pressed my finger to my lips. “Hey, that’s their news to break. No shortcuts for them, you hear?”

He nodded, “But tell me you’re not wondering what Mom and Dad will say?”

“Believe me, I’ve been trying to imagine the scene. I guess if we’re lucky we’ll get to see it, but that’s really up to them. Okay–what about you? Not off frolicking in Amsterdam?”

My brother leaned against the wall and exhaled. “I am, actually. I think I may actually settle there.”

I stepped back and offered him a smile. In the last 10 years, Kaden hopped from country to country without showing signs of wanting to settle. Now that he was going to be planting his roots, I wondered what prompted him to do that. I considered guessing, but the way he looked at me, I figured he was going to reveal it eventually.

“No, I don’t have a secret family over there,” he chuckled. “But I did find a job I really liked. The whole remote work is great, but I’m actually helping with a senior animal sanctuary. You know, dogs, cats–all animals that would otherwise be in shelters.”

“There’s something similar in the States, right? The dog sanctuary?” I asked. Honestly, with his lifestyle, I thought he finally managed to knock someone up, but this was actually so…wholesome.

“Yeah, exactly. I met some folks there and I don’t know–it’s weird. I never thought I’d just stay somewhere and do something like this, but it feels good. I’m in charge of social media for the organization as well as the general day-to-day care for the dogs.” He looked excited just talking about it. I would have considered he was pulling my leg, but the brightness in his eyes couldn’t be mistaken for anything else. Now, where this opportunity would lead him we wouldn’t know, but he was taking a chance.

Made me happy to see my brother so passionate.

“That’s really awesome, Kaden. I’ll hopefully be in France relatively soon, so maybe we could meet up in Amsterdam. I know I’ve always wanted to visit.”

Kaden gripped my shoulders and squeezed. “That would be awesome! And hell yeah! We could celebrate the shelter and your store kicking ass. Man–look at us,” he smirked, turning us around to face the rest of the party. “We’re all grown up, the parents and grandparents are celebrating…feels good to be back to see this.”

I looked up at him and allowed my lips to spread into a small smile. He was right. This felt like such a monumental moment for us. Even as we stood on the sidelines watching the event unfold, we were really in a position we often didn’t think we’d find ourselves in. Ever.

Kaden used to say that he would always be the nomadic playboy just living a carefree life and never staying in one place long enough to settle.

And me? I didn’t think I’d find myself standing where I was, to observe such a joyful scene all while feeling so completely…happy. Truly, truly happy.

---

Kaden and I continued on our rounds until everyone began to gather near the small platform that Mom requested to have set up. It wasn’t a Wells gathering without someone making a speech.

What? Whoever would one day write our life story would need these key moments. At least that’s what Grandma Attie used to tell me anytime any of the kids would start to groan when an adult would make a speech. I smirked at the thought.

I walked closer to the small stage to get a good view of my Mother whose eyes were already looking red and puffy. My brothers were sitting a little further away, sipping their drinks with anxiety plastered on their faces.

“Um–excuse me?” Mom raised her arms up and grinned. “If I could just get a few minutes of your time, everyone!” She cleared her throat and immediately looked to Oren and Jax before motioning to Dad, urging all of them to join her on the small platform.

“Thank you for taking the time to join us today. I can’t believe that this is the last graduation party that we’ll be holding–unless any of my other children would like to go back to school?”

Kaden and I both motioned for Mom: Nope!

“Okay–okay…so, I just wanted to speak to our boys–Oren and Jax. We are so incredibly proud of you both. I remember when we found out that I was cooking two of you…it was such a surprise, but you are just what our family needed. Two incredibly smart boys who are going to keep making us so proud. I just know that you’ll be making a difference no matter where you end up.”

Dad stepped forward and placed his arm around Mom’s shoulder. “I’d also like to add that we are so proud of all you have accomplished so far and can’t wait to see what you both will do next.”

“You know I’ll keep clipping whatever article I find like I’ve done for all you kiddos,” Mom chirped excitedly.

It was great seeing them go on and on about the twins. It was also great to see Mom and Dad basking in the moment of having raised four kids who all seemed to have their shit figured out–well, for the most part. They too were young and clueless at one point, but the one thing I could never deny was that they were there for all of us every step of the way. I never felt unloved or like I couldn’t tell them about things that truly bothered me. Their opinions meant a lot to me, but even when we disagreed, they respected all of us.

When the praises were done, we all raised our glasses to Oren and Jax who looked less queasy than they did just a few minutes prior.

Cheers to you, baby brothers–cheers to your next chapter.

---

Not long after Mom and Dad toasted, everyone slowly began to disperse until only immediate family remained. Kaden and I sat enjoying our drinks and trading stories of our most recent dating experiences. See? My arsenal of bad date stories came in handy. Kaden almost spat out his beer listening to some of them and I had to keep myself from blushing too hard when Kaden told his stories. Man, these European ladies were something else…no wonder he didn’t want to move back here.

While he tried to describe clubs in Amsterdam with all too vivid detail, I couldn’t help but notice that Oren and Jax were inching closer to Mom and Dad. I could only see their lips move. I assumed they were asking to speak to them. At least I thought they were until I saw all four of them move towards where Kaden and I were sitting.

“What? They told them already?” Kaden asked, sitting up straight.

“Hey,” Jax started. “We wanted to talk about something and thought it would be good to have the whole family here.”

Mom looked puzzled but tried to keep her concerned expression from taking over.

Oren motioned for Mom and Dad to sit beside us. They did as he asked.

“Everything okay?” Dad asked, taking the words right out of Mom’s mouth it seemed.

“Yes–everything is great, actually,” Oren smiled, taking his place beside his brother. “We wanted to also say thank you for this great party and for everyone being here. We did want to talk about something though…”

Jax glanced at me and then at Mom, bowing his head a bit. “We love this family. You gave us opportunities that we don’t take for granted. You’ve gently ushered us forward…”

“Why does this sound like a breakup,” Mom asked, looking around at Dad, Kaden, and finally me. “Am I crazy–that’s what it sounds like?”

I fought back a smirk and leaned back against the wall. I wondered how long the twins practiced this performance. Enough apparently because Oren stepped forward past his brother and groaned.

“Damn it, I knew we couldn’t write some speech,” he looked at Mom and Dad and puffed out his chest. “Mom, Dad…Jax and I got a job,” he paused, “At an amazing clinic…”

Our parents’ expressions were unchanged–puzzled.

“In Germany,” Jax added faintly until he clenched his fists and stepped beside Oren. “The clinics are in Germany. We’re going to be moving there.”

Ooof, the silence stretched a bit, but there was so much that could be observed. I knew that they feared Mom would have a meltdown as they were the youngest and would officially mark her and Dad as the stereotypical “empty-nesters”. I had my own theories, but truth be told, I saw many layers to Mom, so I just watched and waited for someone, anyone, to break the silence.

“L-Look Mom,” Oren struggled, but not another word could leave his lips because he and Jax were pulled into a hug by Mom. She got up from her seat in one fluid motion and practically flung her arms around them. She still wasn’t saying anything, but I couldn’t hear any sniffling, so no waterworks–interesting.

“I wish you would have told me earlier,” she started, pulling away to glance at Dad. “Then at least everyone could have congratulated you on this amazing opportunity!”

“You’re…not mad?” Jax asked.

“Oh, you boys must have seen me cry too much over the years, hmm?”

They both nodded.

“I admit I am doing everything in my power to keep it together, ” she managed a quick laugh that came out more like half a cough.

Ah, there it was.

“But how could I be mad? Now if you just decided to leave without telling us, yes, I’d be upset with you, but this is your life, your career–there is nothing that we want more for you than happiness, success, and wealth–whether it be monetary or experience.”

“Ideally both,” Dad chuckled, getting up to get in on the embrace.

Oren and Jax shot a look at me, completely perplexed by what was happening. To which I simply raised my glass and grinned. Just because I told them they they would have to be the ones to break the news, didn’t mean that I was expecting Mom and Dad to set the party on fire and lock them both in the house forever. Growing up meant having those conversations that were difficult.

We just had to consider that perhaps the outcomes we feared were not always going to be the ones we faced.

Since the news was now in the open, Oren and Jax spoke more freely, huddling with us to talk about their new apartment, their planning for the move, and when all of us could visit them in Germany. I could only imagine the relief they both felt at that moment. Sure, their moment probably felt a bit anticlimactic, but such was life. It wasn’t going to be all drama.

While they chatted, I felt my phone vibrate in my jacket pocket. I smiled and excused myself from the conversation. I pulled out my phone and glanced at the nine missed calls displayed on the screen. Quickly moving away from the noise, I called the number back.

“Hey–thanks for getting back to me.”

It was Parker.

“Of course, what’s going on?” I asked. As far as I knew, we weren’t expecting any responses just yet from any of the four properties we had put offers on.

“Are you sitting down?” He sounded out of breath.

“Are you okay?” I asked, my concern increasing steadily.

“They want to sell,” He exclaimed.

“Who?”

“The Champs location. The first rejection.”

I pulled the phone from my face for a second. The words were so light yet I felt like they made the phone so heavy against my cheek.

“What…does that mean?” I asked slowly.

“It means if you still like that location, Alma, then they will accept the offer and it’s yours.” He explained, speaking slowly and clearly.

“Oh my god…” I felt the tears well up in my eyes. As my tears overflowed from my eyes down my cheek and off my chin, I attempted to steady my words without letting the trembling of my body render my speech incomprehensible. “I can’t believe it…”

“I called as soon as I heard. I knew you had your party today, but…Alma–this is huge. What are you thinking?”

“I’m thinking we gotta do it,” I admitted quickly. “Please, put in the offer, send them flowers, I don’t care. I’m not letting this get away from me again.”

“On it–wow, okay. I am sweating through my blazer. I’ll–” He chuckled. “This is a wild ride, Alma. Let me get this in order and give you a call later to review, okay? You did it. I don’t know what convinced them, but I’d like to think it was you.”

I looked down and sighed. “We did it, Parker. You’ve been my champion every step of the way. I sincerely appreciate all your effort.”

“Thank you, Alma. Now, go have a drink with your family. Celebrate all you’ve done…”

After hanging up, I wiped my tears away and looked back at my family. Everyone looked so engaged and animated. Their talk of Oren and Jax’s next adventure really did bring us all together. I knew it wouldn’t be long before gatherings like this would become a rarity. Rather than bring my news to the group, I wanted tonight, this moment, to be about them. I would tell them eventually, but now just wasn’t the time.

For now, I would cherish my win silently while celebrating the twin’s achievement of not only graduating but also working up the nerve to break their exciting news to the family. Today was a day of victories. Another moment cemented into memory–one that I’d never want to forget.

Gen. 10 – Alma. Chapter Forty-Five

“Alma, giving you another call…not sure if you got any of my other messages? Or maybe you did and you’re just too busy to answer…anyway–it’s Riley. I’ll try you again later.”

“Hey look, if this isn’t something you’re interested in, just let me know, okay?”

“Hey…it’s me…again…my folks are wondering if I’m going to be bringing a plus one to their BBQ. I’m gonna assume no, but if that changes…I guess, give me a call?”

“I think two months of no response means we’re done, right? Don’t know if there really was an “us”…because that requires there to be two people in the…thing…anyway…I know we didn’t talk about anything exclusive, but let’s just call it, okay? I don’t want to get any more attached than I was starting to. Just do me a favor and take care of yourself, too.“

I stared at my phone and then over at Gia and Dani who were standing with their mouths hanging open.

“I’m a bitch, aren’t I?” I groaned, covering my face with my hands. “Oh my god, I swear I intended on responding, but then he just started calling and texting more and I couldn’t keep up with everything…”

Gia walked to me and placed a hand on my shoulder. “I have never seen someone get ghosted and still be polite at the end.”

“I swear I wasn’t trying to ghost him!” I declared.

“Well, do you want to date him? Have a relationship with him?”

I pouted and shook my head. “He’s super nice it’s just that I don’t really think a relationship is what I want right now. It was nice hanging out with someone other than my Mom and well…no offense, but you guys.”

Dani shrugged. “None taken, you needed to clear the cobwebs between your legs. Just because you’re not a teenager doesn’t mean you can’t have innocent fun. Remember, dating is dating—not a relationship. That’s the mistake kids make,” she started and planted her butt on my couch. “You think you ask someone out and you’re bonded for life. Bullshit. Dating is about meeting people, experiences, and all that great, unpredictable sex. God, I loved dating Otto. We’d get it on anywhere we could….”

Gia rolled her eyes and looked at Dani, who appeared to be lost in some smutty fantasy. “Dani has a point. That dude seemed nice, which is good for you, but don’t get hung up on it. He cut ties with you and you can still do whatever you want. You weren’t engaged or even in a relationship. Sucks, but it happened.”

Ugh. I felt terrible. I liked the guy, but I admit it wasn’t a like that could have developed into a love. He was a delicious escape for me during my busy time at work. And frankly, the busy time just got busier, which was how I got so behind on going out with him, returning messages, and well…everything else. I tried calling him after I received the last message, but I couldn’t get through to him. After doing some Google-fu, I found out that my number was blocked. Honestly, not surprised.

I just hated disappointing people. Guess that was another topic for therapy.

“At least you got out for a bit. Maybe you’re not looking for a relationship right now,” Gia suggested. “Maybe you just wanted a good time and you got it. Dani is right–I don’t think you causally dated before.”

“I haven’t. I dated Sabin and well…that was ten years.”

“Ten years–lady, this was the first guy you’ve been with since your last relationship. Everyone is going to make some mistakes. I don’t know if you know this but…you’re human.”

I looked at Gia and smirked. “Life’s greatest frustration.”

Despite feeling terrible about completely neglecting a potential relationship, serious or not, I did agree with my friends. Feeling like shit was normal, but I did in fact pull off the bandaid of getting together with someone completely new. I could count that as a success in my personal growth, but I was going to sulk over disappointing a nice man for a bit longer. Processing, okay?

If my neglected romantic life wasn’t an indicator enough–my life had gotten much busier in the last few months. Between training, budget meetings, and figuring out locations where I could open up my store in France…I had very little time for anything else. Even therapy.

I still appreciated the sessions with Dr. Riley. Yes, it did hit me after a few weeks that I kept saying my therapist’s name all while accidentally ignoring a man named Riley. You’d think I’d have it pushed to the front of my mental to-do list. As time went on, I started rescheduling some sessions, even getting through them using their TeleHealth portal. But I admit I slipped up some weeks too and just didn’t remember to go or log on.

I felt…better. Not quite perfect or “normal”, but I felt distracted enough to not let my little doubts keep me up at night. I truly was happy and proud of how things were going. Maybe Gia and Dani were right–I was okay dating causally, but committing fully to someone brand new? I wasn’t longing for that. Mind you, I wasn’t opposed to it one day if it would happen, but right now…my babies…my stores…they had my undivided attention.

---

It was late at night in the store and I found myself picking at a box of takeout on the floor. I’d sit at my desk and eat, but my entire surface was cluttered with floor plans, fabrics, and flower catalogs. I had a system–I wasn’t going to risk moving something and throwing my vision into disarray.

With everyone else gone for the night, I picked up my phone and called Lucien, setting the phone on speakerphone.

One ring, Two Rings…

“Alma! How it goes?”

“It goes, it goes. How are things on your end?”

I could hear the weary sigh on his end. “Very, very busy. You’re definitely keeping me occupied with all your orders. Amazing–I had a feeling about you when we met.”

“What?” I laughed. “That I’d take away all your free time and bury you in busy work?”

“Ha! More so you’d show me just how much I love my work. It has been nonstop and I can finally hire more people to help. Your partnership is helping boost my sales overall in France, too. Did I tell you I have some snooty boutiques in Paris looking to have me supply my product? I told them I am a loyal man right now to Hope’s”.

I leaned against the couch and sighed. “Really means a lot, Luc.”

“You sound tired. You getting rest? Merde–isn’t it like 1 AM over there?”

“Yup. Can’t sleep. My agent is going to have news for me today, hopefully.”

“Ah,” Lucien clicked his tongue. “The property in Champs?”

“Yes–It’s close. I can feel it, but we’ve been going back and forth with them on agreements for the past few weeks.”

Yes, we finally found a property that I felt fit the vibe of what I envisioned for Hope’s Blossom in France. It was about 20 minutes away from the rest of Champs Les Sims. It had just enough room for a flower shop and a cafe. I even asked Lucien to go there in person so he could help with a virtual tour since I couldn’t fly out there in time for the viewing.

“Oui, I really liked that cafe space. I could even refer you to some awesome baristas when you finally get set up here…”

“Ah–IF we get it.”

“I know it’ll happen. Maybe it will take longer, maybe it will be a different spot, but I feel it won’t be long till you’re back here. France agreed with you.”

“I appreciate it…”

“Alma, I gotta go deliver some orders, but keep me updated, okay? Rooting for Hope’s!”

I thanked him again and promised to keep him updated on whatever the outcome was going to be. He was right though, I probably could do with some rest instead of just waiting by my phone for a response.

---

The news was delivered eventually that I didn’t get the property. I didn’t spiral out of control but used that to fuel my next steps. Looking for more properties and not stopping until I found a property that was going to work out.

I’ve gotten used to rejection in this entire process and it honestly didn’t disappoint me as much anymore. It pushed me, honestly, in the best way. Parker and I were ready to keep going. I had a great team on my side, so I just had to wait a bit longer to get to where I needed to be.

I wasn’t going to quit.

While all this was going on, I still continued to celebrate those around me. My youngest brothers were graduating soon and Kaden was going to be in town. If I knew Mom, she was going to be throwing some sort of party for everyone. It was a long time since all of us, truly, were under one roof.

Since Mom wanted to make it a big celebration she asked for my help in getting everything ready. There was a lot to do, so I figured to keep myself busy with something productive other than just hopping from store to store. Even if it was a lot of online shopping, it still helped. That was until I heard my doorbell ring. Honestly, in the last few years, my home saw more visitors than it ever had. However today, I wasn’t expecting anyone to stop by.

I set my laptop on the coffee table and walked to the door. In the small window, I saw two young men. One with snow-white hair and the other…with azure hair. I wasted no time in swinging my door open.

“Well hello there, strangers!” I grinned, pulling my brothers inside into a big hug. “Holy crap! I thought you weren’t going to be in town until next week!”

Oren and Jax struggled in my grasp but were eventually freed to properly step inside my home.

“Our finals are over and we don’t have to be back for the ceremony until the weekend. Mom said she was going to be throwing a party for us, so we wanted to see if we could make some suggestions,” Jax smirked.

“That sounds reasonable,” I nodded and guided them to the living room. “Want anything to eat? Drink? I’m sure I have some takeout that’s still somewhat edible.”

“We’re fine,” Oren quickly responded. “We stopped by earlier also just to hang out. Last time we texted it was very brief and we wanted to hang out with everyone one-on-one before life gets crazy.”

I appreciated my little brothers. While Kaden was off traveling and living the seemingly carefree life, our youngest siblings were in school. Oren and Jax were most definitely twins. They went to the same school and hung out together, and it was also fitting that they were planning on renting an apartment together after graduating. At least that was the last bit of info I heard about the post-school plans.

“It’s nice of you two to stop by. I’m really glad to see you–I don’t recall, but were you two at Thanksgiving last year?”

Jax shook his head. “Nope, we had a research trip. Good opportunity for some extra credit.”

I tilted my head to the side and tried to piece the information together. I knew I was pretty aloof for a few years, but I thought I would at least understand what the heck my brothers were going to school for. Seemed they could tell by the puzzled look on my face.

“Biology,” Oren stated plainly. “There were some research opportunities in California over the holidays, so that’s where we were.”

“Sorry, I thought I had remembered. So you’ll be graduating soon. Biology–wow…” I studied my little brothers who were now young men. I remembered how little they were and how they used to look up to me. Times sure did change, but it felt good seeing them again.

“So, what’s next for you guys?” I asked as I walked back into the kitchen to grab us a few drinks.

They got up from their seat and motioned for our catch-up hour to move to the backyard. Figured the weather was still nice enough that we could enjoy the last bits of daylight. Once they plopped down in the outdoor chairs, Jax and Oren exhaled quite loudly.

“I take it the next steps are stressing you guys out?” I asked, handing them their drinks. “What’s going on?”

“We have to tell Mom and Dad we’re going to be moving overseas.” Oren blurted out only to get smacked on the back by his brother.

Yikes.

I sat down and just waited for them to continue. I was their sister, their confidant. Aw! Wait–they came to me because they wanted to discuss, didn’t they? It finally clicked, so I sat back in my chair and motioned with a quick flick of my wrist for them to speak freely.

Jax leaned forward and ran a hand through his already windblown hair. “I assume your sibling code is still in effect?”

“Always was and always will be. I take it this is brand new information?” I asked.

“We’ve known over over a year…,” Oren started. “But you know how Mom and Dad get…mainly Mom.”

That made complete sense to me. Mom was always the risk taker when she was younger, but I could see it made her sad when all of us were no longer under one roof. I mean, Kaden alone–he left because he didn’t want to be tied down. I honestly didn’t think he was going to be coming back anytime soon. But my baby brothers? I could understand that they would be nervous about telling our parents about their future plans, just out of respect for their love for them.

“When are you officially moving and where?” I asked, sipping my beer.

“Germany,” they said together. “In a month.”

Jax turned to his brother and looked at me. “We were offered positions in a German clinic to pursue our research and experiments in genetics. They liked our submission and found both of us positions in two clinics, which is why we got an apartment together.”

I nodded.

“Look, we’re freaking out over here. Did you see what Mom titled the graduation party on the invites?”

I didn’t think much of it when I first saw it, but then I winced. I remembered exactly, word for word, what Mom wanted to be blown up on a banner.

“Home At Last For Oren And Jax….”. I slapped my palm against my forehead. Oh my god. I shook my head and took out my phone to quickly note the needed changes on the banner and likely…all the other decorations I was still waiting to put final touches on.

“I got it, don’t worry. I’ll just say that doing the custom text is ridiculously expensive and they…ran out of letters or something.”

“You’d do that?” They both dropped down to their knees and jokingly bowed. “Oh Alma, what would we do without you?!”

“You’d have to break the news to Mom while she uses party decorating to imply that you’re basically moving back into her womb. I get it. Look, it’s been a hell of a ride these last few years–I’ll be happy to do this for you guys, but talking to her–you’ll need to do it on your own.”

Jax nodded and got back into his seat. ”Yeah, for sure. We just want to soften the blow. We’ll still be able to visit and even have them come to spend time in Germany with us. Don’t think she’s ever been…unless it was on tour with Dad…”

I sighed and watched them, trying their best to put words together. I dealt with my fair share of difficult conversations with my family, but this was a different level. It was their right of passage to have those difficult conversations where they needed to stay strong and think of their future. Mom and Dad were going to love them no matter what. We were raised to chase our dreams, even if those dreams kept us from home.

“So you think she’ll cause a scene at the party next week?” Oren asked.

“Speak to them in private, ideally after the party. Let them enjoy your homecoming without worrying about what will come next. That’s my tip for you.”

They both nodded and leaned forward to clink their bottles against mine. “Cheers to us then…”

Clink!

“What about you, Alma? We saw a new Hope’s Blossom in Sunset Valley and word is you’re looking to open more?” Jax asked.

“Yup–working on a store in France, but they’re being so annoying about the little details. I feel like I’ll have them soon, but it’s basically a game of cat and mouse right now, mainly between them and my real estate guy and lawyer–honestly, it’s exhausting.” I admitted with a small smile.

I told my brothers about the adventure I set myself on in the last few years. Talking about this entire process, I allowed myself to embrace a bit of pride. I was doing it, wasn’t I? All the things that I promised myself, I was working towards. Sure, I wished that some things were different, but now I had memories that didn’t hurt as much. Even Dr. Riley approved of my coping strategies and congratulated me on allowing myself to just…feel. That’s what I needed. I was allowed to feel unhappy some days, but I didn’t let those feelings hold me back.

I felt what I needed to feel and moved forward.

My brothers were excited for me and made me promise to let them know when the French location would open. I guess with them already being in Europe, a quick trip to France could be planned a lot easier than one from the States.

“Okay, okay, enough about me,” I smirked. “Since you two are here and enjoying some brews, I think that puts you in a good position to help me plan parts of your party!”

“Ha! Can we pick the colors?” Jax laughed.

“You bet! We’ll make a party of it–I’ll order some food and we’ll get cracking…otherwise I’ll pick the colors and have THE most ridiculous party hats for you two. Ya know, since you’ll be abandoning us for the milkmaids of Germany…”

With a quick wink, I ran inside to get started on ordering food for the rest of our evening. I laughed as my brothers bolted after me, throwing out suggestions to make sure their ideas were heard for the party next week.

Moments like this didn’t come around often. Knowing that my brothers chose to spend time with me, to confide in me, and to share their excitement for their own future with me–that’s truly all that I needed. I appreciated them still wanting to stay connected with their hot mess of a sister.

Whatever would come next for them, I was so proud to be their sister. As for the news they would have to break to our parents?

Well…I would light a candle for them.

Gen.10 – Alma. Chapter Forty-Four

Since the expansion of my store was now in full swing, all I had to do was sign a few contracts, attend some weekly meetings, and schedule time to actually…not work.

I admit I allowed myself to get wrapped up in my mission to push my business into the next chapter that I neglected some other vital parts of life. Well, my personal life. My friends were busy, my parents were traveling, and my stores were running as expected with a well-trained staff that honestly started to make me feel like I was taking up space. Not in a bad way, but…nothing was needing my undivided attention at the moment.

Well, except for myself.

After months of Gia sending me screenshots of Hinge profiles, I allowed her to talk me into setting up a profile of my own. I felt silly sitting at home, swiping left and right on profiles of men who tried to sell themselves like hot commodities. One man named Elias had a profile picture of him holding a large fish. Another named Anton had only pictures of his body neck down. And always shirtless–ugh.

For weeks, I opened my app, browsed, and closed it out of secondhand embarrassment for many of these profiles I’ve seen. Eventually, I did come across a few gentlemen who seemed rather normal. We chatted, talked on the phone, and actually made plans to go out on a date. Some plans were canceled before the actual outing, and some well…had me make it past my front door.

That’s how I ended up sitting across the table from a young man named Quintin. He was 6 years younger than I was, working in Finance, and his favorite hobby was “moderating a Medieval Memes Facebook Group”. We had so little in common, but apparently, our mutual liking of travel and low-key dates got us matched.

“…so I was telling Alexander that his Excel sheet is a fucking joke–you see how they’re bringing AI now into the game? His formulas and filters will soon be obsolete.”

He paused and I assumed he needed a reaction, to which I smiled, offered a polite “Ah…wow!” and went back to poking at my plate of lightly charred broccoli and pork chops.

“So you’re a business owner? Flower shop?”

I nodded. “Yes, Hope’s Blossom in St. Claire, Sunset Valley, and soon Bridgeport.”

“Ah–cool, cool. You don’t look it, you know?”

“Excuse me?” I smirked. “What do you mean?”

“Like a business owner. Like, you look chill and stuff. Like, if I didn’t read your profile, then I would’ve been more of an asshole and doubted that. Like, yeah, you’re a manager or something, but owning a business? But I saw you put that on your profile, so I wanted to do a little fact-checking.”

He couldn’t be serious.

“Hey, you wanna get out of here? My roommate is out of town, so I can make you a mean old fashioned!”

I sighed and shook my head. “Quintin, thank you for the company and for splitting the check with me, but I do have some appointments tomorrow that I need to attend.”

“Oh sure–you wanna go out again?”

“I appreciate the offer, but I don’t feel this is a connection,” I admitted. “I prefer to be honest about it. I mean, best of luck to you. Hope you find your person soon.”

“Appreciate the offer,” he scoffed. “Well, you’re an uptight bitch. No one fucking cares about your stupid flowers.”

I raised my brows at the explosive response and wasted no time in getting up from my seat. I honestly had to laugh at how quickly that had escalated. Apparently, some truly dared to stay stuff like that in person. Wow… Goodbye, butt-hurt Quintin. I’ll just go ahead and archive this delightful interaction.

To put it plainly–this whole dating app mess was…a mess. I put myself out there only to end up back to the swiping. Dating in my 30’s was not what I envisioned doing, but it was tough to meet people organically anymore. I rarely went out without purpose and the places I often found myself were anything but…romantic. Rather than feel discouraged, I simply needed to take a much-needed break from the apps. I didn’t want to meet any other Quintin’s, Leo’s, or Rex’s for a good while.

After a few weeks of nonstop meetings, casual family gatherings, and phone tag with my best friends, I ended up on the apps again. I scrolled and swiped into the night until I eventually came across a mutual match.

Riley. 39. No Kids. 3 Dogs. Loves coffee, video game soundtrack music, and is a committed Dungeon Master for a campaign he’s had with his friends since high school.

I stared at his profile picture and scanned for anything else that seemed too good to be true. Once I read his profile from top to bottom, I swiped right on him and immediately got notified that it was a match. Oooh!

I quickly opened up the chat and decided to be the first one to message him.

Alma: I see we’re a match. Nice! How’s it going?
Riley: LOL Night owl! Yup, guess we have good taste. Doing good here. Hanging out with my dogs and doing some writing.
Alma: What do you write?
Riley: I’m actually writing a new one-shot for my table. Errrrrr, for D&D. Not sure you know all the specifics?
Alma: Never played, but it sounds great. I did see the movie and also came across it in some cafes. Like… role-playing, right?
Riley: Can be yeah…hey, do you get off the app and talk on the phone? Hate that they removed the feature for voice notes.
Alma: Oh sure! Yeah, let’s make sure we’re not catfishing each other ASAP, right?
Riley: ROFL!! You a mind reader too???

Riley and I connected soon after. We talked on the phone well into the night after checking off that we both weren’t some creeps. We laughed about all the ridiculous profiles we came across and if we had any weird dates. It was nice to laugh about it because in the moment it felt like such a waste of time.

“At least we have stories to tell when we chat someone new up, right?” Riley laughed.

“Some of this shit I wish I just made up, but it’s too ridiculous,” I coughed, trying to recover from my laughing fit. “Oh man…this is great.”

“Pretty sure we burned a few calories just laughing. Thanks for the ab workout!”

“It’s my pleasure.” I smiled at my phone and glanced at the clock. “Hey, we’ve been talking on the phone for three hours.”

“Yeah, I was gonna ask if you were getting tired yet.”

“Of talking, not really, but I suppose I should get some sleep. I have some work I need to get done tomorrow before I open shop.”

“Maybe we can meet in person?” Riley asked. “If you want, that is.”

I paused for a moment before responding. I didn’t want to sound too eager, but I was actually excited at the thought of going on a date with someone who seemed…easy to talk to.

“Yeah–let’s do that. Why don’t you send me your availability for the next few days and maybe we can make something work.”

After agreeing and ending our call, I tossed my phone onto the couch and grinned. I hadn’t felt that kind of high from talking to someone in a very long time. Would he be different than the duds I had earlier? I hoped not, but if that was going to be the case, then I suppose I would have another bad date story to add to my arsenal of small talk topics.

---

Riley and I met in person a week after we first chatted on the app. The vibe was great. It was just like the phone call we had just without the phone and distance between us. We could see each other’s expressions to the things we were saying and it was nice to see that our energies were still matching. We got dinner and talked until they were about to close, so we ended up at a bar that was open late at night.

We saw each other again a few more times with a few weeks in between dates. If he wasn’t busy with his work or other commitments, then I was busy with my phone silent and neck-deep in contracts for new expansion plans. With the Sunset Valley store up and running, my projections were looking good to start work on more locations.

Believe it or not, the dream of opening shops internationally was looking more and more attainable than I thought it was going to be. Apparently, the more “boutique” style cafes were really doing well, and with the added bonus of having my business be a flower shop first and cafe second, I got to enjoy the variety of customers. That, of course, took more time. Yes, my employees were fantastic, but I couldn’t just disappear. I had to travel between locations to make sure they were still operating well. A business like mine only succeeded due to the energy that came with it. My team had to be knowledgeable when it came to flowers. We weren’t a gas station stop with generic arrangements. There was an art to it…

Of course, my being busy meant that I was often left with multiple messages from Riley left on read until the end of the week.

“Hey, so sorry I’ve been swamped this week. Let’s meet up for dinner?” I quickly responded to the wall of messages I had from Riley.

“Want to come over?” He quickly responded.

After glancing at my calendar, I sighed and noticed my attorney already calling me. I sent over a thumbs-up emoji and moved on to the next item on my list.

---

“Oh my goddddd, this is the best freaking takeout!” I exclaimed, shoveling more food into my mouth with chopsticks.

“Told you,” Riley responded, playfully. “So…been missing each other quite a bit lately.”

I stopped chewing for a second before resuming slowly to not choke on the mouthful of orange chicken. The last thing I wanted to do was have to spit it out and we all know…it just wouldn’t be as good to enjoy mama bird style…

“Yeah, I’m sorry. Work has been crazy and with all the lawyers and banks and–“

Riley nodded. “I get it. Just wanted to check in. Was kinda worried that I was getting ghosted for a bit there.”

I sighed and nudged him. “I’m really sorry. I’m really having a good time hanging out with you. Plus your dogs are great and you have the best insight on great takeout. I’m clueless with this stuff sometimes and I just end up eating a stale pop tart if I find one somewhere in my pantry.”

“Ah, so you’re just here for my amazing takeout picking and dogs? I get it.” He winked and wrapped his arm around me. “Hopefully we can make this a little more regular.”

Being with Riley was easy. He made me laugh and went out of his way to make our time together fun. I enjoyed it when we spent time together, even if work was constantly in the back of my mind. I was at a point where each day brought more things to my plate. But if I could juggle work and a romantic partner, then I could do it, right?

Riley was…a break for me. A break from work, a break from having to mask in one way or another. I really did appreciate his companionship.

We made the most of our time together. We ate, watched shows together, and well…there was the sex. We finally tested our physical chemistry after a delicious brunch that did indeed include a little bubbly. I tried to keep myself from getting it on with someone so soon, but it had been a few dates, and the tension between us was pretty thick. Errr…no pun intended.

Riley was a nice guy. He cared for his dogs, had a full-time job, led his friends on amazing adventures in D&D…and fucked like he was straight out of one of the smut books I kept on my nightstand. You know, for some light reading before bed.

Maybe it was because I didn’t have a consistent partner in the last few years since Sabin, but..wow. Talk about stress relief after a long day. Riley and I clicked and communicated well in terms of what we liked in bed. Made me almost not miss my handy toys.

I admit I used sex sometimes to close the gap between us after I disappeared for a few weeks at a time. I felt bad doing it, but I was trying. Trying this new…casual relationship thing was very new to me. Riley and I never really gave our relationship a title, so it wasn’t like we were in an exclusive relationship. At least neither of us brought it up. Not that I was seeing anyone else, because honestly–who had the time?

I liked our arrangement. It felt nice to clear the cobwebs and feel that I was still desirable and that I too felt a desire for someone new. It did feel weird for a while, but in time I could lose myself completely.

Like most nights when our bedroom play went into the early hours, I let him sleep while I gathered my things and got ready to head back home. I didn’t like spending the nights because I had to have a clean set of clothes ready and be at work way before the shop opened.

If I was lucky, I only left a note and didn’t have to wake him.

Tonight, however, I leaned down to fix the strap on my shoe when Riley walked out of the bedroom.

“You know there’s room for both of us, right? I didn’t buy a Queen-sized before to just share with the dogs.”

I laughed and put on my jacket. “I know, I know. It’s just–“

“You have work,” he finished for me. “Gotcha. Maybe you can plan to stay over…you know, the entire night someday day? Heck, I’ll maybe make some room for you in the bathroom…”

I forced myself to blink more times than I probably needed. “Um…y-yeah, I’ll let you know, Riley. I’m sorry, I just gotta get going!”

I left his apartment in a rush like I did any time I stayed late. While I did enjoy our time together, spending the night meant…well, spending the night. And that would mean needing more of me and I honestly wasn’t ready to commit fully to something so new. Sure, it had been months, but we only saw each other every few weeks. To catch up, eat, and well…somehow always end up with us disrupting the peace of his neighbors who had apparently given him some strange looks ever since I started coming by.

I thought that I would have a better balance, but the more I tried, the faster my work plans were materializing before me. What was once a dream was a firm plan set with steps that were being checked off…

I mean, Riley didn’t think I was his girlfriend, right? We didn’t establish anything like that…

Right?

Gen.10 – Alma. Chapter Forty-Three

I woke up to the sound of acoustic guitar chords creeping through the cracks in my door. The tune wasn’t familiar. It must have been one of Dad’s new songs he was practicing, but the moment felt like a blast to my childhood. I remembered laying in bed while Dad sang in the morning. There was no better alarm clock for me.

With Dad practicing, I noticed that the rest of the house was also very much awake. Mom and Grandma were already bickering downstairs. I smirked at the thought–a glimpse of the dynamic that Mom had with her own mother.

“Almaaaaa!” Mom called from downstairs. “You gotta come occupy your grandmother because she’s driving me NUTS!”

“No, I am not! She’s not letting me help!”

The back and forth continued and I couldn’t help but laugh to myself. If that wasn’t a summoning downstairs, I didn’t know what was. Before heading down, I pulled out my phone from my pocket and checked for any updates from the realtor or any of my more…legal team…on what the process for expansion was looking like. Nothing yet. I was so eager for the next chapter of all this, but…mornings like this reminded me that embracing the little moments was just as important.

I wasn’t going to be wishing days away just to get to the next step. Some days were slow and those were days that should still be treasured.

“Okay, okay,” I said, stretching my arms above my head. “I’ve been summoned! Good morning, everyone.”

“Ahhh, there she is,” Grandma Attie smiled. “So nice to have you here with us, Alma. Your mama isn’t letting me help, so I thought I could talk your ear off. Are you working today?”

“Nah, not today. I have a team in St. Claire who will be working, so I’m just here for any emergencies and doing some stuff in the background. I’m just here to hang out for now. Figured I’d take that much-needed break. Feel like everything has been moving so quickly and this is just the kind of day I needed.”

“Good girl,” Mom commented, continuing on with breakfast.

Grandma Attie rolled her eyes at her daughter, shooting her dagger eyes. “All these years and you still do not want me cooking?”

“Dad isn’t here to supervise you. I’ve seen you set oatmeal on fire.”

I giggled. “What?”

“Alma, I kid you not. I came downstairs one day and Mom was making breakfast for us and she was begging us not to call over Dad.”

“Oh stop!” Grandma groaned, covering her face with her hands.

“The pot was on fire.”

“No, it wasn’t!”

Mom shrugged. “I’ve blacked out a bunch in my life, but that was a scene that even Arecia remembered. She’s the one who ran in with the fire extinguisher”.

Grandma snuck a peek at me and silently, yet quite comically pleaded for me to “Help her.”

“Well,” I started, hoping I’d find the inspiration for what I could say. “You survived this long, Mom. Grandma’s food couldn’t have been that bad!”

“Thank you, Alma! I kept you fed with yummy breakfast in France, right?”

“Dad cooked that, I’m sure,” Mom added with a smirk. “Come on now, I am your daughter. I should know.”

“At least I am the master at finding great takeout, okay?” Grandma Attie admitted.

“Yes, that I will absolutely agree with you on.” Mom walked to the table with two plates of food that she set in front of me and Grandma. “You know I kid, Mom. Your strength may not be in the kitchen, but you always made sure we ate well. We just love giving you crap.”

Grandma wrapped her arm around Mom’s waist and rolled her eyes. “The joys of children. They will never let you forget one silly little incident.”

I looked up at Mom who mouthed “so many” only for me to see. Well, that was the attempt at least, but Grandma noticed and swatted her her playfully.

“Oh hush–let’s get the gentlemen down for some breakfast before we reminisce too far back.”

Dad and Grandpa joined us in the kitchen where they joined in on the conversation. The grandparents laughed and enjoyed the morning scene over the great food that Mom made. They were happy in France, but being around their kids–it didn’t compare. They seemed so happy just being included in something as ordinary as breakfast.

I watched Grandpa help Grandma with her medication, just as he did in France. It seemed not a day went by where they were apart for that routine. It reminded me to stop and realize that time wasn’t pausing. With each year, I noticed that the fine lines Mom had on her face looked more pronounced. Her hair seemed more grey in places it wasn’t before. And Grandma and Grandpa? They were still active but had slowed down, even if just a bit.

And Dad? Ugh, that was too much. I hoped that I could remind myself more frequently to just stop…

Life didn’t have to move in months or years, but days, hours…moments.

So when I was asked what I had planned for the day, I simply shrugged and sipped my coffee. “I’m just here…enjoying the day.”

“Brilliant,” Grandma Attie smiled. “We can maybe help your mother go through some clothes and such she’s been hoarding in the attic.”

“Hoarding?” Mom scoffed. “I inherited half the stuff from you!”

Grandma smirked. “You inherited my hoarding that I inherited from my mother.”

“I…didn’t inherit anything,” I smirked, playfully.

“What did you think was going to happen today, Alma?” Mom laughed. “That’s how it happens.”

“What?!”

---

I spent the day with the Wells ladies–we sorted through pictures, clothes, paintings, and extremely obscure knickknacks that both Mom and Grandma wanted to put in a box “just for me”.

Within a few hours, my “special” pile was growing into a solid mountain.

“Um, can we slow down a bit? I barely have any room in my house at this point.”

“Well…I don’t need it anymore,” Mom pouted.

“Did we ever?” Grandma Attie paused and looked at Mom. “I mean…should we do the thing where we ask the objects if they spark joy?”

“The Marie Kondo method?” Mom laughed. “You watched that?”

“I read it–thank you,” Grandma corrected her. “I think that would be nice. And if Alma really wants to keep something, she can. She’s welcome to any of it.”

With that method, the pile was reduced only to a few books, some paintings, and a family album or two. I enjoyed seeing Mom and Grandma gasp and announce that they remembered something about an object. From dramatic moments in their youth to relics from Mom’s time in college. Posters, sketchpads, and an ungodly amount of ramen wrappers.

She explained that she kept them all in hopes of one day creating an art piece from all the wrappers. The working title was going to be “The Salty Artist”. Sure, Mom.

In between their laughter and nostalgia, I found myself thinking not about objects, but experiences. I thought about my questions first, wondering if they were even appropriate to ask. Well, c’est la vie.

“Mom, Grandma…were you ever in love? I mean, before meeting Dad and Grandpa?”

Mom set down a hoodie she was holding and glanced at Grandma Attie who urged her to go first. She exhaled softly and got up from the floor to take a seat on the couch. I only hoped that the question I asked wouldn’t stir anything up for the worse. I mean…the past was the past, right?

“I struggled with the concept of love,” Mom admitted. “I was a bit lost in that department. I got into art school and was encouraged to get more in touch with my sensuality.”

Grandma perked up and her eyes widened. “You were what?”

Mom swatted at the air and laughed. “Oh shit–sorry. I don’t think I ever get into the specifics with you, Mom. Well, yeah–I distanced myself emotionally from a lot of people. Your father was really the first person who urged me to look at relationships differently. So…I can admit he was the first person I truly loved.”

When it came to be Grandma’s turn, she looked more…fragile. I knew most of the details of how she met Grandpa, but that was the extent of it. I didn’t know of anyone before him.

“I was in love before your Grandfather; I was engaged.”

Mom bowed her head. I imagined she knew a lot more than I did.

“I was engaged to my high school boyfriend. It was an enemies-to-lovers kind of trope,” she smirked. “Silly annoyances led to a whirlwind romance. Everything moved quickly until we realized we were just too different. It was an unfortunate ending, but it led to finally reuniting with your grandfather.”

I smiled.

“The idea of a ‘one true love’ is beautiful, but we are human, Alma. We grow, evolve, and find out more things about ourselves, oftentimes around others. It may not always end well,” Grandma spoke softly. “I used to hate looking back–it hurt to know I went through what I did when I could have just been with Crescendo from the start. But…”

Mom leaned forward, noticing Grandma’s hesitance. “Love is a tricky thing. It’s not exclusive to a single person or a time. Love changes and grows as much as we do as individuals.”

Grandma reached out to take Mom’s hand and smiled. “Well said, my darling. And the hurt that I felt, I hated it. I thought it was so unfair that I had to first choose someone who wouldn’t want to choose me in the end,” she closed her eyes. “It took me a long time to accept that the loss of a first love didn’t mean it was the end.”

I sat back and nodded slowly. Grandma was always such a happy woman when I was growing up. She and Grandpa were the ones who made everyone “sick” with how much they loved each other. That’s all we really knew. Of course, we saw her sad when Aunt Arecia passed away, but…never due to another man. I truly didn’t realize how much weight that layer of her held.

“I’m sorry–I didn’t mean to upset you, Grandma,” I said quietly.

“Nothing to apologize for, Alma. These are things we remember. The pain felt is but a memory that I can now recognize as…something that I needed to feel to understand how special what I have is. It’s important you kids know that some of the stuff you read about us–you know, Ophelia, right?”

I nodded.

“She was a brilliant author. She wrote a version of our legacy that…was nice to read. Yes, she included some drama and true facts, but…you knew her retelling of it. It was a retelling of a retelling of a–you get my point,” Grandma continued as she accepted Mom’s help to get off the floor as well. “There is always so much more to each and every one of us. You know one version of your mother. I know one version of my grandmother.”

I absorbed her words as wisdom and listened to each word. She was right. I did, over the years, find myself overwhelmed with the text around my family. Everyone paired off like it was love at first sight and that was it. No pain, no heartache, just happily ever after. To hear Grandma Attie shatter the illusion of the “perfect” romance in just a few words and glances that held what felt like years of pain, I finally got up from the floor and moved to hug her.

I caught Mom’s smile from the corner of my eye. Her usual snark and sass were left out completely.

“Well, this was a productive unpacking and sorting, hmm?” Grandma chuckled. “Phew! How about we make some tea and I cut us some of that cake I brought. Oh! Bel, maybe you took out the macarons I brought back?”

Mom nodded and motioned for Grandma to lead the way into the kitchen. Before she could follow, she stopped me, placing her hand on my forearm.

“I just wanted to say,” she paused and looked me in the eyes. “I’m so proud of you and the woman you’ve become. It, um…” her lips tightened into a thin line. “I’m so grateful that I get to be your mom.”

I was used to my Mom being sassy and quick, but this felt…heavier somehow. Not an impending doom kind of heavy, but like…this moment felt like one cemented into our story. I knew her to be genuine, but speaking so delicately, her words carried more weight than they would have if they were followed by some lightheartedness of a quick joke.

Before I had a chance to wrap my arms around her or even thank her, Mom was already in the kitchen. I stood out in the living room around the pile of clothes and knickknacks, watching the scene beyond the doorway of a mother and daughter peacefully preparing afternoon tea and treats.

An intermission between acts of our unpacking…both physical and well…whatever just happened.

---

“Hold on, hold on,” I scoffed into my phone, quickly walking back into my office. “Why didn’t they want to rent it out to me?”

News soon broke about my application being denied for the Sunset Valley property. Fuck. Fortunately, Parker was used to my spike of panic and waited for me to get my comments out. Shit. Fuck. Damn. WHY?!

“Alma, yes that property did not work, BUT, I’ll have you know that I’m already discussing with the owner and they have a few more locations to check out.“

“But that one had the right lighting and the vibe…”

“But location,” Parker quickly added. “20 minutes away from the heart of the town. All alone.“

I paused.

“The property owner owns a chain of these buildings positioned all over town. Once they heard what this was going to be for, they denied the application but sent over another. This one–located near the park and a small business plaza.”

“Woah…”

“3-year commitment still, but this area sounds more promising to make that minimum commitment easy, Alma. I told you I wasn’t going to fail you.”

I groaned and squeezed my phone tightly in my hand. “Next time, you can please start off with that instead of having me cuss in your ear?”

Parker chuckled on the other side of the line. “I apologize, but it makes you see how much better this other place is. It’s literally the same construction–one of those cookie-cutter type of places, but…works in your favor.”

“Thank you–wow. Yeah, please send over the paperwork and I’ll get it looked at, signed, and sent back to you by tomorrow. Just need my attorney to take a quick look.”

“You got it, Alma. Sending now–this is good news,” he exclaimed before hanging up.

When I set my phone down, I looked down at my desk, the stack of boxes with coffee from Lucien, and then finally at the door leading back out into the front of my store. I was vibrating, the layer of disappointment disappeared only to be replaced with excitement. Energy buzzed inside me until I finally shouted an ecstatic “YES!!”

The volume of my excitement startled a few shoppers, but I quickly gathered myself and got back to work. This next location wasn’t a sure thing yet, but with the momentum of my excitement and drive, I wasn’t going to stop until I did.

I tried to think of it as a domino. Once I would get approved for the Sunset Valley spot, I could get set up and work on the next location, and the next, and…whatever would come after. Keeping that thought up front–I felt it would be the snowball that would just keep me pushing forward.

Hell yeah…

Gen. 10 – Alma. Chapter Forty-Two

Vendor contracts and plans for the expansion of Hope’s Blossom were all things that took much longer than a week, a month, and honestly…close to a year of just planning and researching. What I was envisioning was going to be an ongoing process, but once it was started…there was no going back.

I was ready.

I put my faith in my team to help make this happen and I was going to deal with any conflicts that could come up.

While the mess behind the scenes was happening, I had the pleasure of working with my team, but also taking the time to meet and work with a real estate agent to find some potential spots for my next locations. I hoped to make Sunset Valley my next location for Hope’s Blossom. It would be my second. I had goosebumps just thinking about that.

“So, you’ve seen a few properties, anything standing out to you right now?” My agent, Parker, asked fixing the collar on his shirt. “Anything specific we should be looking for?”

I looked through the sheets and shrugged. “I mean, they’re nice properties, but I’m hoping for a similar, if not the same vibe as my home store has.”

“Ms. Wells, you understand getting something identical would require building…”

“And the building is expensive,” we said at the same time, our voices nearly overlapping.

“We will keep looking. A new location is bound to show up. I am not giving up on your dream,” he assured me.

“Well, thank god for that,” I chuckled and followed him into his car so we could go to the next spot. Looking was always fun, but as more time went by, it was difficult not to feel discouraged. Finding somewhere perfect was going to be difficult when I felt my St. Claire store was ideal. I had to keep an open mind, I understood that, but it was a huge investment that I was planning on making.

“This one used to be a small boutique. There are plenty of windows, so great light for flowers. Want to check it out?”

I rolled down the window and smirked. “Okay, yeah, let’s look at this one.”

The store we approached was indeed vacant. The windows were large and there was even a small patio area that I could already imagine using as an outdoor seating for people to enjoy their drinks. Truly making it a community spot. Beautiful flowers, French-roasted coffee–I mean…

“Wow…” I smiled after getting out of the car. “This is…”

“I take it you like it?”

“Hell yeah…”

Parker quickly approached me with a set of keys and the informational sheet about the space. “Well, let’s get you inside so you can look around. The rent is pretty reasonable–it’s within your budget. You have space for back stock, bathroom, and of course, office space for your employees.”

Exactly what I was looking for.

“Seems too good. Anything I should know about?”

“The lease requires a 3-year commitment. If you need to get out of it early, then there is a fine of about 6 months’ rent.”

I didn’t plan on leaving the space in three years, but the concern I understood. What if the shop didn’t do well here? What if I ended up losing all my money? It was concerning, but I had to take a leap. If I was going to put everything in and then fail…at least I would have tried.

That’s what I kept telling myself at least.

“Okay,” I exhaled. “Let’s put in an application for this one. If I get approved, awesome, if not…we keep looking.”

“No more for today?” Parker asked.

“No, I actually have another appointment after this, so we can head back to your office.”

Parker nodded and made a few notes on his phone before walking me out to his car. The drive back to his office wasn’t a long one at all, so my next appointment didn’t have to wait too long in the parking lot on the plaza.

“Holy f–” Parker stopped himself once we parked. “Is that Cateo Saunders?!”

I turned to look at him before opening the door. “Yup, that’s my dad.”

I watched my agent’s face explode with excitement. He quickly parked his car and got out, racing to catch up to me. “It’s so nice to meet you, C-Cateo. Wow–I grew up listening to The Fall of Ivalice! So freaking awesome!”

Dad smirked and bowed his head. “I appreciate it. Thanks for listening. Are you two all done now?”

Parker nodded and shook my hand. “Yes, of course. If there’s anything that you need, Alma. I am available for you day or night. I will fight to make sure we get that location for you!”

I admit I still found it amusing how many people reacted that way to seeing Dad or learning that he was my father. Even after all these years. But while he was a celebrated frontman of a punk/rock band, to me he was always my dad first. Once Parker excused himself to his office, I threw my arms around him and grinned.

“I’m so glad you made it, Dad!”

“How could I pass up an opportunity to spend some time with you one-on-one. Feels like it’s been…well, way too long,” he smiled after kissing the top of my head. “Want to go get some food?”

“That would be awesome…”

---

My relationship with my Father was…special. I assume it was because I was his firstborn or maybe because of all the shit I got myself into. Either way, I was very grateful to have him all to myself even if for a few days out of the year. Between my breakdowns, healing, and everything that was happening now, Dad had his own life still keeping him very busy. He was working on some new music with his band and that required him to travel a bit more. I knew Mom missed him like crazy, but she often ended up traveling with him, so that worked out well for both of them.

Moments like this were often spent catching up. I felt the last time we really had an honest conversation was months after Sabin and I broke up. Now we were approaching almost a year…woah.

“I see you’re looking into expanding quite seriously. Are you excited?” Dad asked in between bites of his sandwich.

“It’s exciting but definitely scary. I mean, I’m basically a one-woman shop when it comes to these big decisions. I have my team and I know it can completely blow up in my face, but…”

“Makes you feel alive doing this, eh?” He asked.

“It does. It’s the best I’ve felt. Even if this completely fails, then at least I’ll go down loving every second of Hope’s Blossom being in existence.”

Dad nodded. “That’s a great way to look at it..”

I told him more about my vendor relationships overseas and what I ultimately dreamed of for my store. Talking about it always made me so happy. Ever since I was a young girl, I had this idea of owning my own store to sell flowers, bouquets, and other arrangements perfect for any occasion. I wanted this show to be more than just a flower shop. Of course, I had to establish myself as that first before even thinking about bringing more community-minded aspects into the business plan.

Now seemed as good a time as any.

“Your Mom’s been worried about you overworking yourself,” Dad smirked. “It’s funny, she forgets how she was when she was pursuing all her major clients. She spent hours stuck in that room with her clay, remember?”

I nodded. “Yeah, I think that’s just her being a Mom. We’re creatives in one way or another. Once we find our passion, we chase that high until we accomplish whatever we set our minds on. Do you think–” I stopped and bit down on my lip. I almost didn’t want to say the words. “I know I say I will happily go down with the ship that is my store, but do you think I can do this? Is this a good idea?”

“A flower shop that a community space? Cafe? Yeah–I don’t think there’s a shortage of cafes, but yours is different in its own way. Something to be proud of.”

That reassurance helped. I would still carry a healthy amount of doubt to keep my head from soaring too high in the clouds, but…hearing Dad say that, really did help.

“If you’re not busy after lunch, why don’t you come hang out with us. The French travelers have finally settled in with us.”

“Oh! So, they decided to move in with you and Mom?” I asked.

“Yup. With you kids gone, we really have enough space to fit everyone. I know your mother wanted to stay close to hers, so it just made sense. Plus, if I need to travel and Bel can’t join, she won’t be left alone.”

“Makes sense, but yeah, sure. I don’t have anything else planned for today or tomorrow, so I’m happy to tag along.”

Dad welcomed my response and went back to enjoying his lunch, as did I.

---

Back at my parent’s home, the house felt more full than it had in years. I know Mom loved having people over. Ever since I moved out, Kaden started traveling, and Oren and Jax were away at school, the house rarely had everyone under the same roof.

While my brothers were still out, I got to enjoy the company of my parents and grandparents together under the same roof. We ate dinner together, talked, drank, and even played board games.

I admit with everything on my mind with the store, I was on autopilot. I joined in casually on conversations when I had to, but I used the time to simply listen to their stories.

As it started to get late, I excused myself to my old room. Mom refused to change too much, so it felt like being in a time capsule. My old posters, my desk, my figures–they were all still there.
I thought back to what it was like being a teenager when I was first made the “heiress”. I imagined the pressure that fell into my lap to make my family happy.

I remembered the stress, the pain, and the struggles that overpowered the need to perform a duty no longer required of me. Now I felt lighter and that relief could be felt not only by me but also by the other women in my family.

We were free of a duty that kept us going. The lessons that were learned were indeed so embedded in our being. Our blood and bones held the stories of struggles, successes, and strength that the many women before us experienced. There was no way any of that could be erased.

While the image of my family tree danced around my mind, I allowed myself to sink deeper into the mattress that still held the frame of my younger self.

Everything, in time, would fall into place. Whether there would be more struggles or bliss, I was feeling more open to feeling it all.

My heart was beginning to feel lighter, unburdened.