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Nash let out a groan next to Cole, like he was fighting through his own inner turmoil. He shot past Cole and embraced Hudson, patting him loudly on the back before turning to Cadence. “Oh, man,” Nash said. “Okay, this is happening.” He reached for his letter and also got a sunflower for his pains.
Cadence bent over his ear as if to explain why Momma had thought of giving him that bright, cheerful flower. It was kind of obvious. Nash must’ve said something cheeky in return to get her and his twin to laugh so hard like that, and still Nash held his letter in a grip that would stop anyone from wrestling it from him.
Momma’s boys sure loved her.
They loved their women too.
Nash wandered over to Emily while she played her guitar next to her brother. He grinned at her and made a heart sign with his hands over his heart.
Such a dork!
Porter brought Cadence close and kissed her, crushing the basket between them. Mimi just held Hudson.
Cole ached at the sight. What he’d do to have Eva at his side again.
And that was stupid!
Anger sputtered through him, ruining whatever peace he could’ve felt at his momma’s memorial. What was West thinking coming here with Eva anyway? He was through avoiding the both of them. He glanced back at her, seeing his brother’s deep scowl. West ignored Eva as usual.
He always ignored her. Was that what she really wanted?
Cole had it! Eva deserved what she got. West did too! He was going to let his brother have it, and send him packing back to Nashville if it was the last thing he did.
“Hey!”
With a jerk of sudden awareness, he noticed Cadence had left Porter to mingle with more guests while she had made her way over to him with her basket of flowers.
“Cole…?”
It was like his momma called out to him through his sweet sister-in-law. His chin jerked up. “Yeah.” Cole forced the word out. It was his turn to get his letter and his flower, and for some crazy reason, getting a final gift from Momma felt unbearable. He didn’t feel like crying in front of Funches, of all people… orsomeone elsefor that matter, not after he’d been so wronged.
He was dying here!
Cole clutched to the snapdragon he’d brought with him. He couldn’t bring himself to throw it away like the others had, though now it was almost forgotten in his crushing grip.
Cadence’s eyes found the flower too and her chin lifted, so that she could smile at him. “You and your momma think alike. She thought of the snapdragon for you, too.”
“Is that so?” Cole’s eyes glistened with emotion at the coincidence, but also at the joke. “I don’t suppose it’s because I picked them all out of her flowerbed when I was four?”
Cadence threw a hand over her mouth to hide her light giggles. “You didn’t?”
“You bet I did. I thought I was the best son ever.”
“I’m sure she’d agree.” Cadence retrieved a fresh snapdragon from the basket she carried with her—one a little less crushed than Cole’s. It was so bright and cheery that he relaxed at the sight of it. “Lily told me everything she knew about snapdragons,” she said, “but she told me even more about you. Did you know in ancient cultures that snapdragons represent three things in folklore—grace, might, and love? She happens to think you’re all three.”
Cole took a deep breath. His momma had put so much thought into all of this, but she also saw him as more than he was. “She’s a good woman,” he said, “but what is she thinking? Grace? I’m grace?” He almost laughed at the thought.
“Yes, grace.” Cadence doubled down. “Grace is for poise under a blistering sun, brightness in the face of tragedy, unexpected goodness and cheer.”
Yeah, but where did he fit into all this?
Cadence must’ve sensed his skepticism because she smiled over at him. “Believe me, everyone sees it, even if you can’t. Snapdragons are also known for their might because they stand tall in the wind, vibrant and unafraid, growing more profusely than any in the field.”
Cole took a steadying breath. He’d always been the biggest of the brothers. They’d dubbed him the wrestler. Was that what his momma was saying?
She was very sweet.
“And love,” Cadence said, “because the snapdragon was traditionally sent to lovers separated by distance. It was used to beg for forgiveness.”
