Begin Again (20 page)

Maisie smiled. “Yes. He gave me a peony blossom out of his yard.”

The lady nodded and walked her over to a bucket of peonies in all shades of pink. “These would make lovely centerpieces on their own, and a bouquet of peonies and roses would be beautiful.”

Maisie picked up one of the huge flowers and the cold water from the bucket trickled down her hand. She waved the bloom under her nose and was immediately transported to their magical day at the zoo. “Yes, this is what I want!”

The little bell over the flower shop door jingled. Maisie looked up and waved Cady and Rose back. She handed Cady a light pink bloom. “I want these. And roses.”

Rose blushed. “Well, how can I argue with my namesake?”

Cady smiled. “Great choices. Now what colors?”

Maisie looked around at all the colors. How would she decide? She walked through the maze of flowers. Ryan's polo shirts popped into her head. “Bright colors. Ryan likes bright colors.

Rose nodded. “He does.”

The saleslady walked over holding light pink, bubble gum pink, and magenta peonies, then she picked up some lime green roses and stuck them between. She held up the makeshift bouquet. “Something like this?”

“It's perfect.” Maisie smiled.

“Beautiful,” Cady and Rose said in unison.

• • •

Cady dropped Maisie off at Ryan's clinic. She was holding a sample bouquet. She walked inside, and Alice raised her hand to greet her. “Hi, Maisie. Oh, those are so pretty!”

“Thanks! They're for the wedding. Is he busy?”

Alice came out from behind the desk to smell her bunch of flowers. “You may want to have a seat. He's in with Harper. They had a puppy brought in that was hit by a car. There wasn't enough time to take her to an animal hospital. Poor thing had no collar or microchip.”

Maisie's heart fell. “Oh my gosh. Will she be okay?”

“If anyone can help her, Ryan can.” She paused. “He shouldn't be too much longer. They've been in there a while.”

Maisie paced back and forth. What if Ryan couldn't save the puppy? He would be sad, and that would make her sad.

Alice looked up at her with worried eyes. “Are you sure you want to hang around? If you want to go down to the diner, I can send Ryan that way when he's finished.”

Maybe that would be a good idea. Maisie nodded and walked toward the door. Ryan came out with blood on his white coat. “Maisie?” He took off the lab coat and grabbed a fresh one.

“I brought a sample of our wedding flowers.” She held up the blooms and felt like an idiot. “Is the puppy … ” she couldn't finish the sentence.

Ryan smiled, “It was close, but she'll live. She lost a lot of blood and her tail. Now that I have her stabilized, I'm going to take her to the animal hospital so she can get the care she needs.”

Maisie relaxed her shoulders. “Thank goodness.”

“You can come with me if you want.”

She nodded.

He grabbed his keys out of a drawer. “Harper is loading her into my SUV now. She's sedated.” He looked over at Alice. “Good to have you back. See you tomorrow.”

Alice nodded. “Thanks and congratulations again, both of you.” Maisie handed her the bouquet. “Here, you can put these in some water and have something pretty to look at on your desk.”

“Aww. Thanks, hon.”

Maisie followed Ryan outside. She peeked in on the puppy with floppy black ears. She was black and white, marked like a cow. Her stub of a tail was covered in thick bandages. The way her mouth was shaped made her appear to be smiling in her sleep.

“She's so cute.” Maisie stuck out her hand and gently pet the puppy's soft head. “Let's keep her, Ryan. She needs a home.”

Ryan chuckled. “We can't bring home every stray that wanders into my clinic.”

“I know. She'll be the last one, promise.”

Ryan hugged her close. “I love you, Maisie Scott. Yes, you can have the puppy.”

“Thank you.”

“Loved the flowers by the way. Good job.”

• • •

Ryan pulled his SUV into Maisie's driveway. The work trucks were just leaving for the day. “Well, you better think of a name for that puppy, because she can come home tomorrow.”

Maisie smiled. “How about Happy?”

Ryan nodded. “I think that suits her face.” He laughed. “We're really outnumbered by pets now. Better add some kids soon to even things out.”

Maisie giggled. “Sounds like a plan.”

They got out and went inside. Maisie couldn't wait to see the progress on the basement.

She held onto the rail and went down. The drywall was completely up. It looked like a real room now. Ryan walked over to the far wall. “I see a big screen on the wall here and lots of family movie nights in our future.”

Maisie sat down on the floor, and Ryan sat down beside her. “I can see that future, and I like it a lot.” She got up and walked over to the paint cans. “Robin's Egg. That will be pretty.”

Ryan smiled. “Good, my sister brought it over.”

Maisie looked over at him. “You know when we get back from our honeymoon it's going to be hard to keep our sisters from taking over our lives, right?”

He laughed. “Yeah. We'll have to stand our ground. They have been great, though.”

“They have. At least my sister will have the baby to keep her busy.”

“And my sister has Doug — close enough.”

• • •

Lola walked around Maisie's house. “Wow, this place is really coming along. That was so sweet of Ryan to finish this basement for you.”

“Do you like the carpet?” Maisie asked, holding a sample up to the blue walls.

“Yes, it looks great.”

Lola went over and ran her hand over the carpet square. “I still can't believe Mr. Drake left us with all that money.”

Maisie nodded. “I know.”

“I was thinking about taking a break from college and using the money to travel around Europe. My parents think it's a mistake. What do you think?”

“I think you need to do what is right for you. Even though they want what's best for us, sometimes our parents don't
know
what's best for us. But I don't think you should make the decision lightly.”

Lola nodded. “Are you quitting the diner now that you don't need the money?”

“I hadn't really thought about it. Ryan and I want a family as soon as possible, so I suppose I'd stay until I have children. I want to be there every precious second with them that I can.”

“You're going to be a great mom.” Lola followed Maisie back upstairs.

“Such deep conversations we're having today.” Maisie laughed. “Speaking of being a mom, Happy is coming home today.”

“I can't believe you're getting another pet.” She laughed. “Remember that day at the diner when your sister brought in Boots? You wanted nothing to do with him.”

Maisie remembered. It had been at a bad time in her life, when she'd believed she would never feel happiness again. “It was either therapy or the hamster.”

• • •

Ryan stood in his black tuxedo at the end of the white runner. He already had tears in his eyes and Maisie hadn't even walked down the aisle yet. How would he keep it together? He looked out into the crowd of folding chairs and could see his momma dabbing her eyes with a tissue. He was about to get everything he ever wanted. Last night, when Maisie had told him they would be getting married at the zoo, he hadn't believed her. But now here he stood, next to the red panda exhibit. Jacob, Doug, and his daddy stood beside him. He looked over and saw a panda standing on its hind legs looking over at them. He laughed to himself.

Soft music started to play as Cady, Rose, and Lola walked slowly up the aisle, each carrying a peony in a different shade of pink. Ryan looked down and took a deep breath to compose himself before seeing Maisie.

The music changed, and everyone stood up to turn to look at the vision of beauty walking toward him with her daddy by her side. She glided in her gown with her bright red hair blowing in the breeze. His heart felt like it would burst with happiness.

• • •

Maisie's lips locked with her husband's, and the crowd cheered. Her handsome husband. They ran back down the runner as everyone tossed zoo-approved birdseed at them. She held on tight to Ryan's hand and knew she would never forget this day as long as she lived. They walked through the maze of animals to get back to Maisie's car, which had been decorated with flowers like a float in a parade. Everyone was headed to Ginger Snaps for the reception. After all, if it wasn't for the diner, they may never have fallen in love. Ryan helped her inside the car and closed the door.

Before turning the key, he kissed her deeply and looked into her eyes. “This is the happiest day of my life.”

She smiled with tears in her eyes. “Mine, too. And I have a feeling our happy days are just beginning.”

• • •

The diner was so pretty, Maisie couldn't believe her eyes. Lime green roses in vases decorated every table, and peonies were strung up on the walls. Platters of catered food lined the length of the counter. Some tables had been cleared for the bride and groom to have a dance.

“Ginger, it looks wonderful.”

She smiled. “I've never been more proud of this old place. You two have given it new life.”

Ryan took Maisie in his arms and held her close. They swayed back and forth.

“Hey, I haven't even started the music!” Cady shouted. Everyone laughed. Cady shook her head. “My sister has never been the patient one.”

• • •

Maisie lay next to her husband in the honeymoon suite. They had wasted no time ending up in this bed. Ryan moved a lock of her hair off her cheek as she looked into his blue eyes.

“I feel like if I blink, all this is going to disappear. Is it even allowed for a person to be this happy?”

She smiled. “It must be, because that's the way I feel, too.”

Ryan kissed the tip of her nose. “I guess we should get up and go see Venice.”

“Do we have to?” She giggled.

He sat up. “Well, we should. When people ask us about Italy, we need to be able to describe more than this hotel room.”

She smiled. “Google it.”

Ryan laughed and pulled her up. She stood naked in the daylight in front of him and didn't feel self-conscious. She felt beautiful.

“Come on. We're here for two weeks. There will be plenty of time to lie in bed. For some reason, I've worked up an appetite and need to eat.”

“Eating is overrated,” she said, reluctantly slipping on her yellow sundress and sandals. She grabbed her oversized straw hat to protect her delicate skin from the Venice sun.

They held hands and rode the elevator down to the grand lobby. They walked across the marble floors, and Maisie felt like a movie star. From being a waitress in a diner in Indiana to dining in Italy by the canal. Who knew? Eager to see everything, they took off on foot into the romantic city built on water.

Ryan swung her arm back and forth as they blended into the crowd. Lots of women wore big hats, so Maisie fit right in.

Ryan pointed to the water. “We have to ride a gondola on the Grand Canal.”

“Of course we do! And I'd like to see St. Marks.” Maisie looked around the city and admired its history. The buildings, made of brick and plaster and peeling paint, had intricate details like she'd never seen before.

Ryan pointed to a restaurant. “First we should get a bite to eat. We need to have strength if we'll be walking around all day.”

“Oh look, they have pizza!” She pointed across to a pizzeria.

Ryan laughed. “You want pizza for lunch and then a nice pasta dinner?”

“Sounds great.”

• • •

Maisie sat across from Ryan in the gondola as they glided across the water. As terrified as she had been of flying across the ocean, this view and experience was so worth it. She looked down at her rings sparkling in the sun. She closed her eyes and saw Luke. He didn't look transparent like ghosts in the movies do. He just looked like plain old Luke. His voice whispered in her ear. “I'm glad you're happy.” And then he vanished. She opened her eyes. She wasn't sure if she had just imagined what she saw, but it didn't matter. It brought peace to her heart just the same.

• • •

Maisie stopped at the drugstore on the way home to pick up their pictures of Venice. She planned on framing them and hanging them in the basement so they could remember their amazing honeymoon every day. She pulled in behind Ryan's SUV and got out.

Ryan opened the door for her, and Happy ran and jumped in her arms. “Look who's home!”

Maisie let the puppy lick her face then sat her down.

“I already took care of the critters and made dinner.”

She raised an eyebrow. “You made dinner?”

He looked over at the clock, “Yes, and it should be ready any minute.” The doorbell rang. Ryan laughed and walked toward the door. “And there's dinner.”

Maisie shook her head and crossed her arms as he carried a cardboard pizza box back to the kitchen. “I should have known you didn't cook.”

He grabbed a hot slice out of the box. “I can't be perfect, can I?”

She laughed and kissed him. “You're about as close as it gets!”

Thirteen months later, Maisie and Ryan stood over their daughter's crib, holding hands. The sunlight filtered through the nursery window as a soft, warm breeze made the thin white curtains flutter. Blossom, now four months old, watched her mobile go round and round as she kicked her feet happily. Berry Bear had found a home on top of her pink dresser, giving Blossom's nursery a slight fruity scent. Happy was curled up fast asleep under the crib, her favorite spot in the house.