Cal stepped into the shop and put his arm around Bryony’s shoulders. “Back off, dudes and dudettes. Give her a chance to get through today before making plans for the summer.”

One by one the children hugged her around the waist and ran back to the counter for drinks.

“Everything’s free all day?” Cal asked.

“Payback for all the help,” Bryony answered.

Everybody had helped. Rick’s construction crew did the heavy lifting but, with Cal’s help, he hired high school students willing to work weekends in exchange for a decent wage and training in basic carpentry and finishing skills. Rudy used his vacation time to help paint walls and stain woodwork. Gloria, from the diner down the street, organized a crew of friends to help make the curtains and tablecloths with matching aprons. Dewey’s supplied the workers with meals and snacks to keep them moving.

The bell above the door rang again. Chuck and Charity Henderson walked in. Charity held out a ceramic pot with three kinds of plants. “The place looks wonderful, Bryony.”

After Bryony found a place to set the pot, the two women exchanged hugs. When they parted, Bryony turned to Chuck. “You feeling okay?”

“Never better.”

She and Chuck hugged. He looked strong, healthy. When Mitch announced his retirement, he recommended Cal fill his position, but Cal declined, supporting a more deserving educator, and the board voted unanimously to offer the promotion to Chuck.

Chuck pumped Cal’s hand. “The board approved the funding at last night’s meeting.”

“They did?” Cal said. “That’s great!”

Charity had worked with local businesses to tie the work study program to STEAM grants, and a committee of board members, administrators, and teachers were working on a strategic plan to shift to STREAM as soon as they could get buy-in from the teachers.

“Your job’s secure as long as I’m around,” Chuck said. “Will you stay?”

“Did you decide?” Bryony asked Cal. “Did you decide to buy the house?” When the owner decided to sell, he offered Cal first option. Was she ready to hear his answer? She wanted him to stay, but she knew now the depth of his commitment to his family. Whatever he chose, she wanted him to be happy. She steeled herself for disappointment.

“I made my decision a long time ago,” Cal said.

She held her breath.

He looked around, took a breath, said, “Well I was going to do this later, but—” and dropped to one knee.

Todd’s hand flew to his mouth. “Oh my gosh!”

Lillian beamed.

“What’s Uncle Cal doing on the floor?” Hell-Oh asked from the far corner of the shop. “Did he get an animal, too?”

“Hush, Helen,” Heidi said.

“Bryony, I’ll stay on whatever terms you’ll have me, but I think I’m ready to move beyond going steady.” Cal put his hand in his jacket pocket and pulled out a ring.

Bryony’s eyes darted to Heidi. “But that’s your mother’s ring.”

“She would have loved you,” Heidi said. Her eyes glistened.

Cal looked up, head cocked sideways, waiting for an answer.

Bryony put her finger on her lower lip and hummed deliberation. “Are you buying the house?”

“I know you have your eye on that kitchen,” Cal said. “But I have a different idea. What if we bump out the back of your house, redo the kitchen, and add a sun room with lots of plants? We could finish the upstairs so the kids would have a place to stay when they visit.”

She hadn’t been expecting the ring, but more than that, she had not been expecting this, his plan to make her home their home. She had never shared with him her abandoned idea about finishing the upstairs in the hope that there would be children someday. Now there were children, more children than she could have hoped for. She looked over at them, all playing together. A big extended family.

The bell above the door rang.

Mitch crossed the threshold. “Is all the free food gone?” he asked. Carol slipped in and stepped up to stand beside him.

“Hey, there’s my trivia partner!” Mitch said and started to move toward Mr. Parker, but Carol grabbed his arm and held him back.

The door opened one more time.

“We’re here!” Bryony’s father called out as he entered. “Better not be any pigeon in those little pies!” Bryony could see the teasing in his eyes. He would never know he’d eaten pigeon already, last Thanksgiving, the savory pie served with the main meal. He held open the door for Alma.

Her father’s eyes dropped to Cal, and a wry smile uplifted the curve of his lips.

“Mommy, I need to go to the bathroom,” Hell-oh called out, her strident voice followed by twittering laughter.

“What’s happening?” Mitch asked.

“I think that’s a little obvious,” Bryony’s father said.

Silence fell over the room.

Bryony looked down at Cal.

“Bryony,” he said. “Will you marry us?”

“Do I have to give up the class ring?” Bryony asked, her hand rising to the polished ring hanging on the chain around her neck.

Cal held up the ring clasped between his thumb and index finger. “You can have both.”

Bryony lowered her hand and spread her fingers.

Cal slipped the ring on her finger and stood to embrace her.

Everybody cheered. She looked around the room. Lillian and Rick leaned against the counter, their arms around each other’s waists. Abby and Mr. Parker sat in their usual spots, their smiles fixed on Bryony, their hands idle. For once, Etta’s computer was closed, and her eyes open to those around her. Heidi’s grandchildren had abandoned their game for a moment, their smiles expectant, exuberant. Her father, Alma, Mitch, Carol, Charity, Chuck, Cal Sr., Rachel, Rudy—nearly everyone had tears in their eyes.

Bryony pulled away from the hug and looked up at the man she would someday wed. “Yes, I will marry you, Cal Forster.”

The third scent Bryony would always remember was the fragrance of forever in Cal’s kiss.

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

Lifelong resident of Ohio, Lee Barber walked a long and winding road to fulfill her dream of being a writer. Along the way, she learned about the goodness, resilience, and creativity of all people. When she is not writing, Lee collaborates with others to tell life stories, end oppressive practices and policies, and generate beauty and order in the world. For her, romance is finding that place of hope, and falling in love is for people of all ages.