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This wasn’t how things had gone in my head when I’d imagined the scene playing out.
Should I have asked? Included Joanne in the decision? Would she understand that it wasn’t a slight against the past, but a celebration of our future?
“Shit. Joanne, I’m sorry. I know I should’ve—”
My apology was cut short, the words I’d been about to say knocked out of me as she launched herself into my arms, climbing up my body and crushing her mouth against mine.
It was a long, deep, soulful kiss, and—thank fuckingGod—it answered all of my questions.
Joanne loved it.
Shegotit.
I didn’t have to say it with words—the kiss instantly calmed all of my fears and brought the bubbling happiness I’d been filled with all morning rushing back in its place—but then Joanne broke away long enough to say it anyway.
“Oh. My.God. Brady, I can’tbelieveyou did this without me finding out! How did you even manage—no, it doesn’t matter. It’s… I don’t even have words. It’s amazing. It’s beautiful. It’sperfect.”
“You don’t think it’s too much? I probably should’ve asked you before I picked the name, but when I tried to think of something that you might like, something that fit you, that expressed who you were—this was the first thing that came to mind, and then it just sort of stuck. Once I thought of it, I couldn’t think of anything else.”
“Chance to Bloom,” Joanne said, grinning as she said the name out loud. “It’sus, Brady. Chance to Bloom.” Her smile grew wider each time she repeated it. “No, it’s not too much. It’s perfect.You’reperfect. Oh my God, thank you so much. I don’t even know what to say. I know that Henry named it after your mother…”
My heart soared with the words, even as Joanne’s reminder choked me up.
Thiswas what I’d been imagining, though.
Joanne’s face was glowing, the sunshine that warmed my heart every day pouring off her in waves. It was exactly the reaction I’d been hoping for, and it made all of the secret arrangements worthwhile.
“I love that my dad honored my mom this way,” I said, needing Joanne to understand. “But now… I wanted you to feel like it was your shop. I think she would have liked that. Likedyou, Joanne. And the way you run the place—the way you treat people and yourgoodness—it honors her every day.”
Her eyes teared up, and I cupped her face, brushing them away tenderly with my thumbs.
“But now? Itisyour shop, Joanne. I’ve had the paperwork drawn up to make you an equal partner in the business—my co-owner of Chance to Bloom. It’s just waiting on your signature.”
“Brady, are you serious?” she whispered incredulously, her eyes spilling over all over again. “You really want me as a partner? For real, this is happening?”
“It’s real, babe. And yes, I’ve never been more serious about anything in my life, or more certain. There’s nobody else I’d want as a partner—either in this business or anything else. And… I want you asmorethan just a business partner, Joanne.”
Joanne beamed at me, her smile so bright I swore I could feel it.
“You’ve got me,” she said, a thousand emotions playing across her expressive face—all of them joyful. “Oh myGod, Brady. This is amazing.You’reamazing. No one’s ever done anything like this for me. I love you. Did I mention that?Thankyou.”
I laughed, Joanne’s joy infectious. But she didn’t get it. Not all of it. Or… I just hadn’t said it well enough. Not my strong suit, but right now, I needed to get over that limitation and find the perfect words.
“I love you, too, Joanne, and… I mean it about partners. I want more for you—forus—than just the store.” I swallowed, emotion choking me for a moment. Then I spoke from the heart. “You’ve changed my life for the better every minute of every day since I met you, and I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to properly thank you for that.”
I leaned in and used my thumb to catch another tear that had started to roll down her cheek, then kissed the spot gently before I continued.
“I can’t think of many times in my life that my dad was proud of me, but I know that right now he’s looking down and that he’d approve—that he’d beproud—of this decision, of what we’ve accomplished together, of having you in my life.”
“He really would,” Joanne said, her voice husky, too. “Your mom, too, Brady. I know it.”
I nodded. “And you know what they’d be even more proud of?”
“You, Brady,” Joanne answered, even though I hadn’t expected one. “They’d be proud ofyou. I love you so much.”
Her voice was a just whisper, but it overflowed with emotion. Tears were streaming down her face in earnest now, but her smile was brighter and sunnier than ever, and it pierced straight to my heart, filling every corner of it.
“I know Henry would be so proud of the man you’ve become.”
