I was in the back room at the time, and she walked to me with cheeks redder than ever. Of course I panicked at her state, until she muttered, “Your baby daddy is fine as all hell, and if you don’t go out there I might climb him like a tree.” I told Lyndsey about the baby in a moment of anxiety. The words burst out of me and I couldn’t take them back. It is probably hypocritical to ask Liam to keep it a secret when I told her but if word got out on his end it could end up in the press. Lyndsey wouldn’t tell a soul and she is pretty contained. She is single so there isn’t a partner that could slip up. She doesn’t really talk to her family much any more. If Liam told his team I don’t know how tight-lipped they would be. Would they tell their families? Their partners? It would get too big too quickly. There is so much we have left to figure out before word gets out.

Safe to say I have that memory vivid in my mind. Even though it makes me laugh, her reaction is a stark reminder of something I can’t ignore. Any woman would be lucky to have Liam, and it would be so simple for him to find the next best thing. He travels so much and there are so many women that would offer themselves to him on a silver platter. It can be hard to imagine him always coming back to little old me and our baby.

One day I might have to accept another woman helping to raise our baby. A step-parent. It wouldn’t be fair of me to stop him from dating. He will find his true love eventually, and who am I to stand in the way? Selfishly, I hope it’s far in the future. I want him by my side for now, even if it is just for the moment.

Aside from Lyndsey, there are certain regulars at the shop that make my week brighter. I like to think I have become a staple of the community, not only because of the beautiful bouquets we sell but also because of how I designed the shop. It was a must for me to make this place as accessible as possible.

The shop is set up in two aisles that are wide enough for wheelchairs to comfortably pass between and the front counter is low enough that if someone is sat down they can still see over the top. At the end of the two aisles there are small bench seats for people who might need a break, and there is always a pot of coffee brewing in the winter for anyone who needs it. Making Bloom and Blossom as comfortable as possible not only for me but for people who are often overlooked was a large passion of mine.