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“Yeah, so.” But I saw where she was going with her inquisition. “First loves are different. They sit on a pedestal in the long list of broken heart moments.”
“Yes, they are special, and yes, they are put on a pedestal.” She sighed and shook her head. “I can’t believe I’m going to say this, because I’m not a big pusher of happy ever afters and fairy tales, but dang.” She sighed again. “You need to go to him. Take the temporary job at that tree-bending place and make all the weird ornaments your little heart desires. Get to know the guy again. Make him fall in love with you once more.”
“I can’t do that. He doesn’t want to.”
“He does, but clearly, there’s something preventing him from taking that step. Just like when you asked him out.”
I reflected on our conversation, and he had said he’d wanted to, but he couldn’t. Did I need to push him? It wasn’t what I wanted. I wanted to be sought after, to feel important enough that the guy wanted to make the first move. For once, just one time, I wanted to be chased.
However, it’s hard to be chased when we’re not even in the same area.
“So you think I need to move there and take the menial job?”
“Honestly, yeah.” Her head bobbed a resounding yes. “Take a couple of months, work in a retail job with customers, not clients, and get to know Carter again. Who knows? Maybe the change will be good for you, and you’ll come back here, clear-headed, and ready to move on. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll bring Carter back with you.”
“For real? You think I should?”
“I think you’d better. Should I help you pack?”
Chapter Nine
Packing up and moving wasn’t as simple as I expected or hoped. First, I needed a place to go, and there weren’t too many available options in Ridge Heights, however, as a last resort there was a motel in town that rented rooms by the week and month. It wasn’t fancy, but thankfully it was clean and came with a tiny, yet workable kitchenette. Ironically, given the age of the place, it had the type of charger I needed for my car Casper. I told the owner I’d take the place for a couple of weeks and paid in full.
By the middle of November with a quick wave and a tear-free goodbye from Amanda, who had lovingly helped me pack, I drove to the mountainside town with a full car. I kept my apartment in the city as a fallback for when this whole blasted idea fell apart and had brought with me the things I thought I’d truly need; the Phantom mug being one of them.
Once settled, as much as one could in a tiny 200 square foot space, and after a night of tossing and turning, I ventured out for a long morning walk, strolling the long length of Main Street until I stopped outside Daisy & Dahlia.
Steeling myself, I pushed down a morsel of fear and stepped inside, taking the help wanted sign off the window by the door and walking to the counter. Along the way, I removed my jacket and folded it over my arm.
The place smelled amazing with the mixture of fresh flowers permeating the air and it was like walking through a field, instantly whisking me back to childhood memories of rolling down a long grassy hill and stopping to sniff the wildflowers along the way.
The man behind the counter set down what he was working on and watched me approach, looking at me over his glasses. “Can I help you, miss?”
“I’m new in town and saw your sign.” I set it on the counter, along with my jacket. “I have open availability and can work anytime. Your Grinch Tree workshop caught my attention, and I just happen to love those trees. We had them all the time when I was younger.” I pushed my shoulders down as I looked up at the giant.
He was tall, broad-shouldered with a weathered face you just knew by looking at him how he didn’t accept nonsense from anyone.
“Ever worked in a flower shop before?” His raked gaze sized me up.
“Never. But I’m a quick study and work well under minimal supervision.” Besides, how hard could it be?
“I see. Do you happen to have a resume or something I can look at? Contacts? References? I can’t just hire you all willy-nilly.” He shifted on his feet, but his stance never changed.
However, my composure was falling and fast. “To be honest, Sir, I’m probably the last person you should hire.”
His expression fell, as it should’ve, causing him to lean forward on the counter with rapt interest. “Oh? Why’s that?”
“You see, Stanley,” as I read his nametag. “I have a background in marketing, not in floral arrangement, but I’m going through a few things in my personal life causing me to leave my city life behind, move here, and start fresh. Maybe it’s the clean, crisp mountain air, but there’s something about this town that’s calling out to me.” He didn’t need to know it was a guy because that sounded pure crazy.
There was no reason for him to think I was some lusty man-chaser taking a job just to knock the socks off the man I was desperate to reconnect with.
With a hopefully subtle shake of the head, I carried on. “However, for the first time in a long time, I’m listening to my gut. It told me I needed to be here, to switch fields and try this out. I’m likely to stumble and fall many times over, but I’m not a quitter, and you’ll soon see that. In fact, even when things aren’t working out, I tend to be loyal beyond reason. If you hire me, I will try my very best to be an outstanding employee.”
“A background in marketing you say?”
“Yes, Sir.” I hoped he heard beyond that because it was Grade-A verbiage, and I had impressed myself.
Standing back up to his full height, he rubbed his grey stubbled chin. “Hard worker too?”
