The Resurrection of Wildflowers (Wildflower, #2)

by Micalea Smeltzer

It’s been six years. I should be over him. Moved on. But I’m not sure you ever really move on from your one true love.

I swore I would never cut any. Not unless they were for her. I honestly didn’t think this day would come, so I smile to myself as I put together the bundle of flowers.

It's like watching the sand in an hourglass and I know at some point the sand is going to run out. And when it happens, I'm going to lose my mom. And I just,” I pause, catching my breath. Feeling the tears burn my eyes. “I don't know how to live life without her.”

“You have a sister,” I tell him, wiping my damp cheeks. “I think you’d love her so much. Even though you’re older than her, I know you’d be kind to her, let her tagalong with you. I named her after you, you know? Seda,” I whisper her name into existence, tracing my finger over his again. “It means spirit of the forest.” I hang my head.

For my sunshine. —T

“I knew you were it for me, though, that I’d never love another person the way I love you. So, it’s just been me, here,” he waves a hand at his house, “alone. I decided that was my punishment—to have tasted something real and to be denied it for the rest of my existence because I pushed it away.”

“I never stopped loving you, Salem. Not once. Not for a minute, not even for a second.”

A bottle of water sits in front of him with a Diet Coke beside it. Pointing at the soda before I take a seat, I say, “You don’t drink that stuff.” “No.” He eyes the can, then me. “But you do.” “You just keep Diet Coke on hand in case I show up?” He looks away, like he doesn’t want me to see him vulnerable in this moment. “Ever since you came back.”

“All this time and you still feel the same about her?” “Yeah. I do.” When you know, you know.

spark—but I haven’t had sex with anyone.” I blink. Blink again. Surely, I haven’t heard him right. There’s no way. He gently pushes my jaw back up. “Don’t want you catching flies like that.” “You haven’t had sex in six years?” Stunned. I’m completely speechless. There’s no way. This has to be a joke, right? “No.”

“We all make messes, Salem. It’s how we deal with them that matters.”

“Mommy said when she had me you were in a bad place and weren’t ready to be my dad.” Thayer looks up at me briefly and back to her. “That’s right. You know about your brother?” When she nods, he goes on. “I was in a bad place after he died. It’s not easy for parents to lose their child.” She reaches out, placing her small hand gently on his cheek. “It’s okay. I’ll help you.” He smiles, putting his hand over top of hers. His big hand completely swallows the small one beneath it. “I’m sure you will.”

“Think? No, baby, I know. I knew then and I know now—you’re mine in the same way I’m yours. I don’t own you, but you’re my perfect fit—the puzzle piece I didn’t know I was missing.”

This man hasn’t touched another woman for six whole years. I wouldn’t be mad if he had. I would’ve expected it. But the fact he didn’t is one of the biggest turn-ons.

He nods, taking his hand from mine. He slips the ring off his pinky and grabs my left hand. I hold my breath when he slips it on my bare ring finger, bringing it up to his mouth to press a tender kiss to it. “That stays on,” he says with a low growl, “until I’m the one to take it off and replace it.”

Kissing his way over to my ear, he murmurs, “You are everything to me.”

His eyes are molten, taking me in beneath him. He traces his fingers lightly over the stretch marks on my stomach. “I fucking love these.” I blush at the compliment. He lays his hand over my stomach. “You grew our child in there. Your body loved her so much it always wanted to remember her.” He trails his finger over the line of one and I nearly shiver.

Her body sinks against mine, inhaling audibly like she can breathe for the first time. “I’ve got you,” I murmur, kissing the top of her head. “I’ve always got you.”

“Ignore him.” I point at my cock. “He has a mind of his own.” She giggles, the sound surprisingly genuine. “I don’t want to be alone.”

Taking her face in my hands, I press my forehead to hers beneath the spray of the rain shower. “As long as my heart beats, you are never alone in this world.”

I kiss her. “I love you.” I kiss her again. “I love you.” I kiss each of her cheeks, murmuring those three words. “I love you.” I kiss her forehead and then I just hold her for a few minutes.

Sex is intimate, there’s no denying it, but these are the raw, real, intimate moments that build your foundation. When you love someone, you take care of them in whatever way they need.

She waddles forward in her towel. I know what she wants without asking. Wrapping my arms around her, I hold her. She soaks in my touch like it’s a lifeline. I would be lying if I didn’t say I wasn’t doing the same with hers.

Some people never find this kind of love in a lifetime. I found it at eighteen, lost it for a while, and now I’m never letting it—letting him—go.

Her fingers delve into my hair, and she leans her body over mine. “Don’t cry,” she begs. I didn’t even realize I was, but she’s right. I’m shaking with the sobs. The fear that I might lose her just when I got her back was overwhelming.

“Because, you left and I had nothing but our memories, that ring,” he points to my finger where the ring sits that he got me so long ago, “and a few candles. When I burned all those up and the house didn’t smell like you anymore, I came here and bought more.” “They’re all peony. I smell like peonies?” “You do. And they’re your favorite flower. I guess it had a two-fold purpose.” “So, you what, just bought up all the peony candles?” “No, I bought them all.” “Yeah,” I point at the box, “all the peony ones.” “No.” He shakes his head, gripping my hips. “No, Sunshine. I bought all of them. Every last candle you made, and I’ve slowly went through them over the years. This just happened to be what I was saving for last. I just never got it picked up. Your mom held onto all of them for me since it was a lot.” “You … you got all of them? Thayer,” I choke out a laugh, “there must have been at least two-hundred.” “At least,” he agrees. “But I couldn’t let anyone else have them.” “You … I …” I can’t seem wrap my head around this. He cups my cheek. “I lost you, for what I thought was forever. I wanted to hold onto you in any way that I could.” He presses a gentle kiss to my lips.

My jaw drops. Spinning in circles, I take in the beautiful pink flowers. They’re everywhere. The entire greenhouse is filled with peonies.

My favorite flower. Thayer Holmes has lovingly grown my favorite flower in his greenhouse all this time just because it reminds him of me.

Thayer turns around. “Hop on.” She does just that, giggling when he takes off running with her on his back. Winnie runs after them barking at his heels.

Sometimes, when you’re in the midst of tragedy—of heartbreak—it can be impossible to see the other side. It’s like you’re drowning beneath the weight of your emotions, memories, your very thoughts, but if you just keep going, keep swimming, then eventually you make it to shore. You’re tired, but stronger, and look at yourself in a new light. I think it’s our tendency to doubt ourselves, to think we’re weaker than what we are, but there’s more in all of us than we realize.

I rest my chin on Thayer’s chest, looking up at him with all the love I used to think I would never be capable of. Closing my eyes, I rest my head on his chest once more. I made it.

I don’t even know when or where we heard Soleil, but we knew instantly it was perfect, because when the sun doesn’t shine, we have our own little sun now.