Page 110 of Not Until I Found You

So, I close my eyes, draw in a slow breath, and force my voice to soften.

“Mom, I know you’re upset. And honestly, I am too. But I think we both need a little time before we say something we’ll regret.”

She exhales. “You’re right. I’ll, uh…call you later.”

Once we hang up, I lower the phone slowly, trying to steady my breathing. I’m wiping my eyes when Ashton wraps an arm around my shoulder.

“It didn’t go well, I take it,” he asks, already knowing.

I nod as another tear slips free.

“She’ll come around. She always does. And even if it takes time…this?” He pulls back to look at me. “This is your chance to finally choose yourself, and I’m really proud of you for it.”

I exhale, leaning into him as the porch creaks beneath our feet, the sounds of the homestead steadying around us. I want to believe him, but there’s a small part of me filling with more guilt than relief at her reaction.

A little bell jingles softly as I step into Covewood Botanicals. The scent of dried herbs, fresh dirt, and lavender wraps around me like a comforting blanket. Sunlight pours in through the front windows, catching dust motes drifting lazily through the air. Shelves lined with glass jars stretch across the walls. They’re filled with dried chamomile, elderberries, peppermint leaves, and spices labeled in the owner’s careful handwriting. Small potted plants crowd the windowsills while bundles of eucalyptus hang upside down near the register to dry.

I love it here. The store has become one of my happy places in Covewood, and the second I walk in, it instantly relaxes me. I inhale, and my gaze drifts slowly across the shop, lingering on all the tiny details I’ve started noticing every time I visit.

It makes me think of the store I dream of opening one day. I can almost picture it, rows of homemade tinctures, different selections of herbal teas, natural skincare products, and plants hanging from every corner of the ceiling. I could host workshops and be involved with community events.

It would be a space people could walk into and instantly feel safe in. It’s been my dream since the beginning, one I probably shouldn’t let myself think too hard about. Right now, I need to focus on making it through this last year of school. Then—and only then—could that dream become possible.

The funny thing is, I can’t shake the feeling that God has been preparing my heart for Covewood all along. He brought me here for a reason. I’m starting to suspect that He’s been leading me toward this, one small step at a time.

“Well, there’s my favorite customer.”

I glance up as Marie Tompkins appears from the back room, carrying a small wooden crate filled with dried bundles of rosemary. Her silver curls are pinned loosely at the nape of her neck, reading glasses hanging from a chain around her neck.

I smile immediately. “I bet you say that to everyone.”

Marie pats my hand once as she passes. “No one has visited my store twice in a week like you have.”

I chuckle while I wander toward the herbal shelf. “I can’t believe I only have two more weeks here before I have to go back to Westbridge.”

The words leave a strange ache behind. Marie studies me knowingly while setting the crate onto the counter.

“You don’t sound very excited about that.”

“I’m excited for school,” I admit and glance toward the front window where downtown Covewood bustles outside. “But I don’t like the idea of leaving. I’ve fallen in love with this place. I’ve already decided I’m willing to make the drive. Three hours isn’t that bad a few days a week. I just…” I smile softly to myself. “I want Covewood to be my home.”

Marie’s expression is gentle as she says, “You know, I meant what I told you at the Fourth of July festival.”

I glance back at her. “About selling the shop?”

She nods slowly. “My children are all out west now. And ever since Harold passed, I haven’t had the passion for this place like I should.”

Sadness flickers quietly in her smile, softening the fine lines around her eyes. Her gaze drifts toward the back corner of the shop where an old wooden rocking chair sits beside a shelf of herbal teas.

“My husband used to sit right there every morning. He’d drink a cup of tea and would complain every time I rearranged anything in the store.” She lets out a soft laugh. “He passed away three years ago, and ever since then, this place hasn’t felt the same. I’ve only kept it going because it’s what we built together.”

I can see it, early mornings unlocking the doors side by side as they shared routines and dreams together. They loved something enough to spend years nurturing it together, and now she’s standing here alone inside all those memories.

“I’m tired, sweetheart. I think I’m ready to be near my family again.” Marie exhales softly and glances around the store with affection. “I still love this place. I just don’t know if I can give it everything it deserves.”

I glance around the store again, seeing what it could be. The classes that could be held in the back room. A workbench filled with seedlings. Being a part of community events. Teaching kids how to grow their first plant. A place of my own.

The realization hits so suddenly I almost laugh. Maybe this is why God brought me here. Not only to help my family, or to rediscover myself after Derek, or to meet Zane. No, what if it was to discover a life I never would have considered for myself?