AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Perhaps,” I murmured, then stared straight at Evan. “Just remember that when Hunter comes home. If Aiden deserves a second chance, so does our brother.”
Evan took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, his gaze turning toward the horizon where countless stars glittered like jewels. “I’ll try,” he promised quietly. “For you, I’ll try.”
“Try for you too.” As we raised our glasses, I hoped the tide was turning in our favor—that the storms of the past could give way to calmer waters ahead.
For all of us.
Chapter Six
Aiden
The air buzzed with the energy of Saturday morning commerce, bringing a smile to my face as I strolled along the central walkway of the weekly farmer’s market on Dove Key. Locals and tourists alike mingled in the narrow aisles formed by stalls overflowing with vibrant produce, handmade crafts, and fresh seafood straight from the boats moored near mine. May had always been one of my favorite months in the Keys, and today was a chamber of commerce day.
“Morning, Doc Mitchell!” a sun-leathered fisherman I’d seen several times in my clinic called out as he hauled a cooler filled with snapper onto his icy display.
“Looks like a good catch, Tom,” I replied, my voice tinged with the warmth this tight-knit community drew out of me. A community I was now a part of in a way I’d never been as a boy.
I moved through the crowd, taking in the scents—the salty brine of the sea mixing with the sweet aroma of ripe strawberries and the sharp tang of freshly baked sourdough from Mrs. Linley’s bakery stand. In the background, the sound of a fiddle blended with children’s laughter near the playground, crafting a song of simple pleasures.
Then my feet stumbled to a halt. Stella stood not ten feet away. She was at a flower vendor’s booth, her fingers delicately tracing the petals of an orchid. I’d seen no hint of her since the debacle in my office two weeks ago, and that only made her appearance before me more striking. Sunlight caught in her dark hair, adding bright highlights, and her smile held the effortless charm that had once undone all my defenses.
“That one is hardy enough for the restaurant,” the vendor said to her.
“They’re all so beautiful. I can’t decide!” Stella laughed, the sound tinkling like wind chimes caught in a gentle breeze.
I hesitated and shifted from foot to foot, torn between the safety of distance and the magnetic pull of her presence. My hands found the pockets of my shorts, seeking something to ground them. There was so much I wanted to say, to ask. Go on, talk to her, the little voice in my head urged, but doubt weighed my shoes down.
She was now holding the orchid up to the light, examining its roots as a furrow of concentration etched her brow. The expression was familiar, one that signaled her deep focus and attention to detail. I squared my shoulders and took the first step toward her.
“Morning, Stella,” I called out softly as I approached, not wanting to startle her this time.
The plant froze in her hands. She slowly turned, and a hint of pink crept over her cheeks. “Hi, Aiden.” Her blush deepened when our eyes met.
“Looks like we both had the same idea this morning.”
She licked her lips quickly, her eyes darting around. “This is a great farmer’s market.”
“I wanted to apologize for the shock back at the clinic,” I spoke softly enough that we couldn’t be overheard, ever mindful of privacy concerns as I scratched the back of my neck awkwardly. “That wasn’t exactly how I imagined we’d… you know, run into each other again. I wasn’t sure if you were still around here until I saw your name on my charting system.”
She breathed a sigh, but it was softened by a slight twitch of her mouth that made my tight insides unclench a little. “It’s okay. That situation wasn’t your fault. Or mine, for that matter. It was just a coincidence—a really horrible, embarrassing one. And I should apologize for pushing you out of your own exam room.”
“I really am sorry. I’m well aware of how awkward that situation is for women.”
She turned to face me fully, her eyes holding mine. “Can we just move on from it? Pretend this is the first time we’ve seen each other again?”
“I’d like that. You look great.”
Her eyes dropped to the pot in her hands. “Thanks.” Her mouth remained open for a moment, then she shut it. As if she was going to say more but changed her mind.
I nodded to the flower she held. “Still can’t get enough of orchids?”
That brought a genuine smile to her face, and the air suddenly became warmer. “Yes. I still love them. Though this shopping trip is a bit less happy. We had two plants disappear from Orchid and I’m searching for replacements.”
“Orchid thief on the loose?”
“Seems so.” Stella shrugged, her eyes scanning the array of flowers before us. She picked up an orchid with delicate pink blooms. “I’m just hoping these new ones won’t vanish into thin air as well.”
Her gaze lingered on the flower in her hand. “This one could be a contender. The orchids that went missing were part of the public display on the wall outside the entrance. So the replacements have to be hearty varieties, since they’re out in the weather.”
