Page 25 of Must Love Lavender and Little Lies
“It is,” she agreed, taking a bite. “This is Zarina’s handiwork.” She handed me a cup of tea and sat back onto the couch, leaning in beside me as I put my arm around her. She took a sip of her tea, then set the cup aside. Lifting her hand, she gazed at the engagement ring. “It really is beautiful. The stone… It captures the light so prettily.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
“I’ve never seen a stone like this before.”
“Tansy said it had just arrived new from Ironmist.”
“Then, she did make this for you…a custom order?”
“Yes,” I replied simply, then took a sip of the tea.
“It’s beautiful, the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen,” she said, picked up her cup of tea, polishing it off in one go before leaning back against me again, sighing contentedly.
The logs shifted in the fireplace, the fire crackling softly.
Juniper pulled up her feet onto the couch, covering herself with a throw blanket, and exhaled deeply. I felt more of her weight shift toward me, her hand casually resting on my leg.
“The tea made me sleepy,” she said tiredly.
“Rest if you want.”
“And leave you here with the rest of my cake? I don’t think so,” she said jokingly, but her voice sounded heavy with sleep.
She was quiet for a long time, and I thought she had already fallen asleep when she finally said, “I don’t think I’ll ever forget this day.”
I looked down at her, seeing that her eyes were closed. How lovely her long lashes looked, resting on her cheeks. Her face softened, and her body relaxed beside mine. Soon, I could see she had drifted off.
I shifted on the couch to make her position more comfortable, then relaxed as well, setting my cheek gently on the top of her head.
“This is what it would be like if we were really engaged,” I whispered, not realizing what I was saying until the words slipped out.
After a moment, Juniper replied, “I like it,” her voice barely a whisper.
And the heaviness of what that might have meant rested heavily on my heart as I, too, faded into sleep.
It was latewhen I finally woke. Moving carefully, I rose and took Juniper into my arms and carried her to her bedroom. Shemoaned softly in her sleep but didn’t wake. I lay her in her bed and then covered her, pausing a moment to watch her sleep.
She really was the prettiest person in all the world.
Everything in me urged me to crawl onto the bed with her and pull her into my arms and just rest.
Slow down, buster. She’s your friend. All this romantic nonsense is going to your head. It’s all pretend, remember?
“Junie,” I whispered. “Junie, I’m going to go now.”
“Mm…okay,” she said softly. “The basket is on the counter.”
“What basket?”
“With the pumpkins. Have Polly ring you up.”
I chuckled. Dreaming. “Good night, Junie.”
“Good night, my love.”
Her words made me pause.
Dreaming.
