“Hydrangeas. They can mean different things for the different shades they come in, like most flowers. Pink though, is harmony, romance, and true feelings,” I tell her.
“How on earth do you know so much about flowers, Remington? You are like an encyclopedia.” She looks back at me over her shoulder, distracting me with her long lashes and pouty lips.
Clearing my throat and sinking deeper into the couch, I explain, “My parents own a landscaping company. So, plantsand flowers were a big part of life growing up. My momlovesto rattle off names, meanings, and flower facts. What I don’t remember from her I Google,” I admit and Lainey laughs. “She runs the office side of the company, and my dad is the dreamer and designer. He runs the crews and all that.”
Lainey sinks back and snuggles close to me. I wrap my arm around her, breathing in her honey scent. “You didn’t want to be part of the family business?”
“No. I mean, I like flowers, but landscaping and everything my dad does is not what I’m passionate about. My parents named the company after our family, LeBlanc Landscape, just because it has a nice ring to it. They didn’t put any pressure on me or on Sutton to join them in the business.”
“They sound really great.” Lainey sighs.
“Sutton and I are lucky, they are really great parents. If we had wanted to be a part of it, they would have welcomed us with open arms. But ultimately, they truly wanted us to figure out what would make us happiest and pursue that. They have always supported us.” I know that talking about my parents could be a sore spot for Lainey, but I want her to know them. I want her to understand that they are good people, and once they get to know her, they will love and support her the same ways they have and continue to for me and my sister. Lainey deserves that kind of parental embrace more than anyone.
“What will happen to the company when they want to retire?” Lainey asks.
“My cousin, Felix, actually works with my dad. He has the green thumb of the family. My dad has one brother, and my mom has a sister and two brothers. Felix is her sister’s son. My dad is going to hand over the whole thing to him but still be part owner. But that won’t be for a long time. My mom will probably give up the books before my dad hands over the planning, dirt, and shovels. Although, my mom’s gardens canrival anything my dad does. She’s a master gardener,” I tell Lainey as I gently play with her hair.
“What does that mean? Master gardener?”
“She went through this like intense gardening education program and got a certification for it. So she knows a shit ton about plants and how to take care of them. What should and should be planted together, where they can be planted depending on climate and zones. Lots of stuff. She is way into it.” I try to explain the best I can.
Lainey smiles up at me. “It’s her passion.”
“Yeah, it is. I actually got those flowers from her garden this morning.” I point to the hydrangeas.
“Really? I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.” Lainey looks at them with an expression I can’t really place.
“I told her all about you when I was there.” This makes Lainey sit up straight and look at me.
“Y-you did?” she asks, nervously. She starts to fidget her hands. I notice that she does this when her anxiety starts to kick up, so I place my hand over hers and squeeze gently.
“Of course I did, Lainey. I wanted to tell her all about my amazing girlfriend. She can’t wait to meet you. I got scolded for keeping you all to myself for this long. And then scoldedagainwhen I told her that you know Sutton and have already hung out with her.” I laugh.
“I would love to meet her, Remington. Your dad, too.” She says it quietly and looks down.
“Hey, if you are not ready that’s okay. She can be overly excited ...” Lainey cuts me off.
“No, it’s not that. I really do want to meet your parents, especially your mom. They sound lovely. It’s just that, Remington, my family isnotlike your family, and when you eventually meet them I am scared to know what you will think of me.” She looks at me as those tears that rip me apart and send rage racing along my nerves any time shetalks about her family are welling back up in her deep-blue eyes.
I swipe a fallen tear off of the apple of her cheek, and tell her, “Your family dynamics do not change the woman that I am holding in my arms. The person you are today is resilient, kind, warm, and strong despite all the shit they did to you. You could have gone down a totally different road, but you chose to bethis versionof Lainey Quinn. You have a lot to be proud of. It doesn’t matter that we come from different backgrounds because we fit together perfectly.”
A little sob chokes Lainey’s laugh as she buries her face in my neck, and she says, “You don’t know that yet.”
I growl. “Oh, she’s got jokes now.” I poke her side, and she squirms. “I do know. I think you know it, too.”
Lainey looks at me and wipes away a final tear. “We do. And it scares me.”
“I know.” I kiss her softly, hoping she can feel what I can’t put into words.
Pulling back she says, “I ... we did a lot that one day at my place, well it was a lot for me, and it was amazing. But that’s not like me. I want every part of you, Remington, but I also don’t want to go too fast.” She bites her lip, obviously worried about my reaction.
“I’m okay with that, baby. We can take this as slow as you need.”
“Really?” Her disbelief is written across her face, and I want to punch every asshole that has made her feel uncomfortable or pushed her for more than she was ready to give in the past.
“There is no rush, I am not going anywhere.” I kiss her again softly.
“Thank you,” she says, a shimmer of tears starting to form again, the hurricane in her eyes swirling back to life.
