“A few times. His brain is like a sponge andhe remembers everything he learns.”
The sensation of Chantelle’s heart beingheavy amplified. Watching the young boys, she couldn’t help butwonder. If only life had been fair.
“Chantelle?” Lance touched her arm.
She was fine. She only needed to be alone. “Ithink I have enough notes to include in the article.” She backedaway from him.
Lance looked at the kids and then back ather. He bit his bottom lip as if realizing her discomfort.“Chantelle, I didn’t mean—”
She raised a hand to stop him. “Don’t worryabout it. I’m fine.”
“I don’t think you are.”
“I am.” She didn’t intend to sound rude, butshe didn’t want to talk about it. Not with him. “I’ll see youlater.”
***
The following day Chantelle stood inside thefloral shop, waiting for her appointment with Lance. She inhaledfresh flowers and greenery, while feeling the powdery smoothness ofa rose petal. She spotted the staging area for creatingarrangements such as spools of ribbon, lace and wire, green floristtape, flower wrap, along with crystal vases, and spray glitter. Asmall rack of blank cards weren’t too far behind for those thatwanted to personalize their flowers with notes.
She checked her phone for the time. Meetingsswamped Lance’s mornings and lunch time was best for this week.Where was he?
The simple question carried so much weight.Where was he ten years ago? Chantelle shook her head. He could havecalled her. He didn’t. He could have come after her. No. He stayedaway.
Getting accepted into the University ofHouston had been a dream for Chantelle, but she couldn’t leavewithout saying goodbye to Lance—no matter how angry she was athim.
Knocking on the mansion door, Glenda, thefamily cook had answered the door.
“Chantelle? What are you doing here?” She hadasked.
“I was um... looking for Lance.” Chantellehad backed away. She returned to her car.
To her surprise, Lance found her at theirusual spot. Chantelle had been sitting on the hood of her car.
“I thought you might be here,” he hadsaid.
She didn’t respond. They said what theyneeded to already. Their parents already weighed in on theirdecision.
“Chantelle, I’ve been thinking.” He hadinched closer.
A tear spilled down her cheek. Noresponse.
“I think I know how to fix it. It’s crazy,but I think we can do it. Together.” He had reached into his backpocket. Chantelle’s eyes had widened.
Now, as she stood in Hilda’s FloralArrangements, it grated on her nerves. Some idea. It didn’t solvetheir problems. They meant it to remedy their poor judgement. Nosuch luck.
“You’ve been waiting long?” Lance asked.
Chantelle didn’t even hear the door chime athis arrival. She must have tuned out while remembering their highschool years. The year they fell in love. The year their worldshattered.
“Not too long.” She cleared her throat. “Iseverything alright?”
“They’ve instructed me to find bird ofparadise. Is that even a flower?” He asked, raising an eyebrow.
Chantelle giggled. She might as well enjoythe happier moments. “Yes, it is.”
“Well, let’s ask Hilda if she carries that,or if they’ll be here in time if we order it.”
She followed him to the counter, ignoring thefresh scent of his cologne as he brushed past her. Where did thatcome from? “Sure.” Did her voice croak?
“Hilda, make my day and tell me you sell birdof paradise.” Lance rested his elbows on the front counter.
“We sure do. When do you need them?”
“June 29th.”
Hilda’s arched eyebrows rose against hersmooth olive skin. “Well… that’s short notice, but I think we canmake an exception for Delta Height’s most eligible bachelor.”
Chantelle noticed his jaw flinch.
“Thank you for making the time to work withme,” he said.
“I could have sworn that you two would be theones getting married,” Hilda said as she typed on her computer.“Although, I will say, Andrea Williams is quite a catch for you.I’ve always wanted that smooth hair like hers. Do you know whattype of hair products she uses?”
Lance’s mouth fell open.
“I don’t know if she’s disclosed thatinformation, Hilda,” Chantelle said. “Besides, you know Lance and Iwere a long time ago.” Only a select group of people in town knewthe full story.
Hilda shrugged. “I can’t wait to meet her. Ihope she’s nice since not all famous people are.”
Chantelle nudged Lance away from the counter.“Thanks so much for your help, Hilda.”
She waved, flashing her bright smile. “Mypleasure.”
By the time they made it outside her shop,Chantelle heard Lance dispel a deep breath. He ran his hand downthe back of his head.
“Are you alright?” She asked.
“Yeah, I just forgot how… involved this townis.”
“You mean nosy.”
He chuckled. “You said it, not me.”
“Is there somewhere we can go so we cancontinue?” Chantelle held up her tablet.
“Go ahead.”
“Why did you wait to plan this wedding? Haveschedules been that big of an issue?”
“We’re working on that. I know it looks likewe’re planning this last minute, but Andrea picked the date thatshe was available. My mother’s been scrambling ever since. Now shewants me involved since Andrea’s not here.” He stared at her.“Don’t print that.”
She nodded. “I won’t.”
A mirthless laugh escaped Lance’s lips. “I’msurprised you didn’t take notes in there.” He gestured at Hilda’sshop. “With what she said, you should have enough to have theentire town talking.”
She rubbed at her eyebrow, wanting to blotout Hilda’s comment on Chantelle marrying Lance instead of Andrea.The thought only upset her stomach.
“The things people say,” Lance said.
“What?” Chantelle released a breath. Why didthe comment make her lungs constrict?
Lance chuckled. “Hilda talking about…us.”
He couldn’t be serious. Not after everythingthey had been through. The trauma she’d suffered. Was it all a joketo him now? “Don’t do that.”
“Do what? We’ve avoided the subject longenough, don’t you think?” His voice was steady.
“How can you... are you kidding me?”
“What? What did I say?”
She huffed. “I can’t believe you would stoopthat low. Are you brushing it off as if it meant nothing toyou?”
His eyebrows shot up. “Meant nothing to me?Are you kidding? Chantelle, I—”
“You’re throwing it back in my face, aren’tyou?” No point in holding back now. A painful tightness increasedin her throat. Wasn’t she over it? Chantelle thought she madeprogress. Not if she dashed out of the community center afterseeing the children play. Not after Lance laughed at theirrelationship as if it had been a mistake. Spots flashed
