December. The end of the semester.

I blew on my hands to keep them warm as I entered my hairdresser’s shop. I’d decided last summer that twice a year—summer break and winter break—I’d treat myself to a full hair makeover. And with the way things had gone for me over the past few months, I needed this. Desperately.

“The usual trim?” my hairdresser asked as she snapped the black cape in place over my clothes.

I shook my head. “I want to go a bit different today.” I explained what I was looking for, and she nodded along.

“Oh honey,” she drawled. “Heartbreak is a beast. We’ll make you up real nice today, okay?”

“Thanks, Sarah.”

She walked me over to the washing station. The warm water felt good on my head as she massaged my temples, a scent of lavender flowing over me. As she washed, we made small talk about school and Eloise. Anything to get my mind off of everything else.

By the time she was done, my head felt lighter—both from our talk and the haircut.

“Now, remember. Use a round brush, take the blow dryer and use them together to form the curls. It’ll add heat and give you some more volume.” She handed me a spray next. “This is to keep the curls in place.”

I pulled my wallet out from my purse. “Thank you so much. How much do I owe you?”

Sarah waved her hand. “Friend discount.” She tapped out the details on her payment iPad and swiveled it around to me. “Don’t be a stranger, okay? I’ll see you soon.”

“See ya, Sarah.” I slung my purse over my shoulder and started toward the door, but froze before I got there.

Standing at the front of the salon, pulling off a pair of faux leather gloves, was the last person I expected to see here.

Out of all the hairdressers in Portland…

“Amelia?”

How dare you speak to me.

I forced a smile. “Linda.”

Her features, tinged with pink, softened. “He misses you, you know. Just the other day, Braden was saying—”

“I hate to be rude,” I jumped at my chance before she could boast about how perfect her life was now that Braden was back in it. “I’m on my way out and have some errands to run. If you’ll excuse me…” I gestured to the door, but she just reached out and curled her fingers around my wrist.

“Amelia, I know we got off on the wrong foot—to put it midly.” She let out a chuckle, trying to lighten the mood. “I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions about you and Braden, and I’m sorry. You weren’t ever trying to break up our family and I was too blinded by jealousy to see how good you are. For Lucy and Braden.”

I stayed silent; it wasn’t like there was much I could say.

“I hope maybe we'll be able to move forward. Maybe not friends, probably not friends. But you still have to see me for one more semester while Lucy is in your class.”

Not to mention every year until she graduates because you’re the PTA president, I thought to myself.

“And if that’s not going to convince you, then I think this next thing might.” She pulled a card from her pocket. “Tomorrow at three pm. Please, be there. I promise it’ll be worth your while.”

I regarded her carefully as I took the card. What could she possibly think that she could offer that would be worth my while?

***

It was freezing cold as I walked the couple of blocks it took to get to the Callahan Construction offices. I had no idea what would be waiting for me when I arrived, but the scenarios that ran through my head were endless.

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The company was located in an office building in a quiet part of town. In fact, the company seemed to be the entire office building, including a garage underneath which had a few people hacking away at stacks of wood.

I caught the eye of a man who wore an Oregon Ducks sweatshirt along with a pair of brownish orange boots. For a second, she thought it was Braden, but the way he smiled made me realize immediately that it wasn’t.

“Can I help you with something?” he asked.

Wow, even their voices sounded similar.

“Um, yes. I…I was looking for Braden Callahan? He’s a landscape artist,” I said.

The man nodded. “Yes, yes. I’m his older brother, Jack. Architect.” He held out his hand for me to shake. “You’re Amelia, aren’t you?”

“Yeah.” How much did he know about me?

“Unfortunately, Braden isn’t here today.”

Of course not.

“He has a second gig in the winter months,” he continued. “But I know where you can find him.” He jutted his head toward the garage door. “That your car?”

I shook my head. “No, I walked.” Now I wished I hadn’t.

“No problem. I was gonna take a material run anyway and can give you a ride if you want?” He flashed me a grin. “I promise I don’t bite.”

“Thank you. If it’s not too much trouble.” I rubbed my hands together again for warmth.

“Not a problem.” Jack led me out to his car and it rumbled to life as we drove down the road toward the botanical gardens.

A red closed sign glared back at me when the truck came to a stop.

My heart sank. Of course it was closed, just my luck. This was all just one big wild goose chase. I’d learned my lesson. This was the last time I’d ever trust—

“Amelia? We’re here,” Jack said.

“It’s closed,” I replied, stating the obvious.

Jack smiled. “He’s here, I promise. Follow this gate around to the side. You’ll find him in the gardens.”

I took a deep breath. “Okay. Thank you.”

I couldn’t believe I was doing this.

I walked around to the side entrance of the Portland Botanical Gardens, but it was chained. With a sigh, I whipped out my phone and called Daphne. She’d tell me this was a bad idea.

“You want to see him, don’t you?” she asked after I explained.

“Yeah.” It’s all I’d wanted for over a month. I missed his smile, his laugh, his touch.

“Then what are you waiting for? Go! And narrate everything to me.”

Another deep breath. “Okay, I’m climbing over the chain.” I walked along the path to an area filled with flowers. My heart caught in my throat. Sitting in one of the pots was a note.

“Ames, what’s happening?” Daphne asked.

“Lilies,” I murmured. “He…lilies.”

“Okay, I have no idea what that means.”

I laughed. “I do. I’ll call you later, Daph.” I hung up and ran forward to where Braden was waiting. For me.

“You’re late,” he said. “I said three.”

I crossed my arms over my chest, the pain between us melting away. “What are you doing here, Braden? Are you trying to get us in trouble?”

He flashed a grin. “It’s okay, I work here. They know the trouble I get up to.”

One step closer.

“So, it’s funny,” he said. “I got a voicemail from you a month ago.”

“Yeah?” I stepped toward him. “You never followed up.”

“I’ve been a bit indisposed. Making all of this.” He gestured around us. Beautiful sculptures with smaller shrubs and flowers decorated every inch of the outdoor area.

Another step closer.

“Letting you go was the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” he said. “And then your voicemail came in and I realized something. Our spark is still burning and I don’t want it to die. Not because of a rule, not because of Linda. I don’t want to let you go.”

“Me either,” I whispered.

He closed the space between us. “I’ve felt the spark since the moment we first touched.” He drew a hand over my face. I turned into his touch. “Do you think we can have another chance?”

My heart pounded in my chest.

“What about Linda? And Lucy? And the school? There’s so much to think about and—”

His lips found mine and his hand moved to support my back as my knees buckled against him. I wrapped my arms around his neck, memorizing his touch, his taste.

“I love the way you ramble when you’re nervous,” he murmured against my mouth.

I laced my fingers through his hair, letting out a small moan as he nipped at the skin by my earlobe.

“Braden,” I whispered. “I want you. I want this. Us. But I need to know that it’ll work.”

“I believe in us,” he said. “Linda and I have talked about how to make this all work. I want you in my life, and Linda sees how important you are to Lucy. I’ve spoken with Victoria, too. As long as it doesn’t affect our ability to parent Lucy or for you to do your job, she is fine with us maintaining a relationship.” He tilted my chin up. “What do you say?”

I smiled and kissed him again. “Yes, let’s do this. I love you.”

Braden grinned, leaning me back and dipping me in the middle of the gardens. “I love you too.”