“Julie,” Horatio called from the greenhouse. “You aren’t going to believe this. Come check it out.”
Putting the throws aside, I walked through the shopfront toward the greenhouse only to be awestruck. There was silvery light shimmering all around the room.
“What is that?” I whispered, stepping down into the greenhouse. The large, and what I thought to be decorative, silver and crystal chandelier overhead was glowing with soft light. “I thought it was just ornamental.”
“I saw the electrician in here today, but I thought he was working on the floor lights. I just happened to brush against that old switch when I took out the trash,” Horatio said, motioning to a round knob on the wall.
I gazed from the light to him. He was smiling, face turned upward, at the light. It shone down on his dark hair, making his pale face and blue eyes glow with iridescence. Maybe it was the beer, or maybe the gratitude I felt, or maybe my admiration for him that he would leave a toxic situation like he had, but in that moment, I felt myself drawn to Horatio. Earlier, fight or flight was ruling me. Now, however, I wanted him. I just wanted him. It was no more complicated than that.
“Horatio,” I said, taking his hand gently, “thank you so much for everything. I know that this place, well, it tore your life apart. I’m sorry that it happened because of me.”
He shook his head as his hand drifted to my lower back. He pulled me closer. “It wasn’t your fault. But I’m glad it happened. And glad I met you. Thank you for tearing my life apart.”
I gazed deeply into his eyes. “My pleasure,” I replied and leaned toward him.
Some first kisses are like duds. It’s all anticipation and then the delivery just falls flat…a peck, a tongue driving toward your esophagus, onion breath, too much or too little pressure. First kisses are tough. But this…this was just right. Horatio’s lips were soft and warm. His mouth tasted sweet, the hint of pumpkin lingering on his tongue. We pressed our mouths together, kissing softly. First came the sweet touch-and-go kisses, but then we became more passionate, our bodies pressing against one another. I could feel how fit he was, his muscles firm under his thin T-shirt. His arms gripped my small frame, pulling me close. He was so strong.
“Am I seeing stars or is it just the twinkling lights?” Horatio asked with a laugh.
“Stars, of course,” I whispered. “Chasing stars,” I muttered absently as Horatio drizzled kisses down my neck. Since the moment I saw the photo of the little shop that’s exactly what I’d been doing, chasing stars. And despite my mother’s insistence that such acts were futile, I was seeing a lot to the contrary.
“Julie,” he whispered in my ear. “I really like you. And I really want to stay, which tells me I really need to leave. You’re not like anyone I’ve ever met before. I want to deserve you. I want you, and not for just one night. I want more than that from you. Does that make sense?”
“Yes,” I whispered. I wanted him too. Badly. But I wasn’t in it for a one night stand either. The Horatio who had stood up to his father was the kind of man I wanted in my life.
He kissed me on my forehead then we pressed our foreheads together. “You’re staying here tonight?”
“Yes. I’m going to keep working.”
“I’ll stop by or text you. I’m not sure what kind of mess I’ll need to clean up now. My sister…I need to make sure everything is okay with Viola. With Dad so pissed off…I just need to check on her.”
In that moment, I couldn’t have adored him more. “Okay. Thank you so much for today.”
“Thank you too.”
I giggled. “Made your life a mess.”
“That’s what bakers do, right? But the result is always sweet.”
“I hope so.”
“I know so. Good night, Julie Dayton,” he said, then leaned in and kissed me once more.
“Do that again and I’m not going to let you leave, no matter how chivalrous you’re trying to be,” I whispered once he let me go.
Horatio laughed.
I followed him to the door, grabbing just one more kiss before he bounded off the front porch toward his Mercedes SUV parked on the other side of the street. With a wave, he hopped in the vehicle and drove off.
I stepped onto the porch and looked out over the garden. I’d been so busy inside all day that I’d barely had a chance to see what had been uncovered in the front yard. I walked to the end of the porch and started down the steps toward the cutting garden. I was surprised to find massive white flowers growing all along that end of the porch. They looked up at the full moon. Night blooming flowers? How lovely.
The moon made the whole yard shimmer with silver and blue light. The workers had uncovered several raised beds that must had been used for herbs or cutting gardens. They’d already started replacing the old, rotted wood with fresh planks. It was then, however, I noticed that something unusual had been uncovered at the center of the space. Held aloft by three metal poles was a massive old cauldron. It had been completely overgrown, hidden by the foliage.
“Now, where did you come from?” I asked, spying down into the cauldron.
Apparently it had collected some rainwater because when I looked inside, I was surprised to see my own face, framed by the starry sky, looking back at me. Startled, I gasped and stepped back, giggling at myself.
A cool wind swept across the garden, kicking up with it the sweet smell of flowers. I looked back into the cauldron again, and this time I was truly surprised. Reflected on the mirrored surface of the water wasn’t my face, but that of Mrs. Aster.
“Welcome home,” she whispered in a thin voice, smiling softly at me. But then it seemed she touched the surface of the water, distorting the image.
“Too much pumpkin beer, and meeting the guy of my dreams, and Halloween week are doing weird things to my mind. Goodnight, Mrs. Aster. Thank you very, very much for the home. I’m headed to bed before I spy the Great Pumpkin or something,” I said then turned to go inside, my skin completely covered with goosebumps.
As I headed back inside, the cool wind whipped across the garden once more, carrying with it the strong scent of jasmine and a soft whisper in the breeze that sounded like someone had said, you’re welcome.
Chapter 14: Julie
That night, I slept on Mrs. Aster’s old couch only to wake up to the sound of workmen on the roof. I definitely needed to figure out a way to thank Mrs. Row for everything she’d done for me. It was like the whole town had turned out to welcome me, for better or worse. So far, despite my visit from Aaron Hunter, it was turning out to be for better.
I rose groggily, grabbed my overnight bag, and headed to the bathroom. I dressed in my cutest denim overalls and got to work. Pulling my hair back in a twist, I washed up, stopped in the kitchen to make a quick cup of tea, then headed out on the front porch.