She nodded, wondering where he was going with this.
“Sunflowers turn according to the position of the sun. In other words, they chase the light.” He squeezed her hand. “You might already know this, but there is another fact you probably do not know.”
Jake bent and plucked a bloom from its tall stem. “Have you ever wondered what happens on cloudy and rainy days when the sun is completely covered by clouds? You’d think the sunflower withers or turns its head towards the ground. You’d be wrong.”
He tucked the bloom into her hand. “Instead, they turn towards each other to share their energy. Nature’s perfection is amazing. And, it has so much to teach us…don’t you think?”
He paused, searching her face as if trying to reach the part of her that was still walled off. “I’m not saying everything gets fixed just by being with someone. Yet, when you’ve got a special person by your side, it makes the weight of things a little lighter. We’re all a little scared, Capri. But we don’t have to be scared alone.”
He took a step closer, his hand brushing hers lightly, offering connection without pressure. “I’m not asking for anything you’re not ready for. But don’t shut me out because you’re afraid of what could go wrong. Let me in—just a little. You might find things aren’t as heavy when you’re not carrying them all by yourself.”
Capri stared at the sunflower in her hand, blinking back tears.
Jake’s words lingered, gentle and grounded, weaving through her doubts. She had spent so long convincing herself she was better off alone, that the weight of her life was hers to bear. But here he was, offering something she hadn’t realized she needed—someone to stand beside her, to share the load.
Her father, her stepdad…even her mother had left her. But she didn’t have to be alone. She could let Jake in and let things take its course. Yes, she could get hurt again, but the risk might be worth it.
Slowly, she lifted her gaze to meet his, the warmth in his eyes undoing her last bit of resistance. Taking a breath, Capri stepped forward, closing the small space between them. She reached for his hand, her fingers lacing through his with calm certainty. “Let’s see where this goes,” she said softly, feeling her heart pound steady as if she were finally stepping into something she didn’t need to control.
And as Jake’s mouth slid onto hers, for the first time in a long while, she felt like she might be ready to stop running.
When he finally pulled back, Capri lifted her head, her fingers still entwined with his, feeling like that sunflower—turning slowly toward the sun, finding the courage to reach for the light despite the shadows behind her.
28
The sound of laughter and the clinking of glasses filled Capri’s newly built patio as she carried a platter of deviled eggs to the rustic wooden table. The smell of pine and fresh-cut grass hung in the air, mingling with fresh raspberries plucked from her mother’s patch. Capri had to admit, everything looked perfect out here, with the sun filtering through the trees and casting warm, dappled light across the new wooden planks.
Reva, Lila, and Charlie Grace sat around the table, their faces glowing in the soft afternoon sunlight. Capri smiled as she joined them, setting the deviled eggs down on the table, her excitement barely contained.
“Okay, Capri, you’ve been grinning like the cat that swallowed the canary all afternoon,” Lila said, raising an eyebrow. “What’s going on?”
Capri laughed, feeling the excitement bubble up inside her. “I might have some news to share,” she said coyly, picking up one of the eggs and biting into it, savoring the moment.
Reva leaned in, her eyes narrowing playfully. “Spill it, Capri. We’re dying over here.”
Capri met Reva’s gaze, then winked, her lips curling into a secret smile. “Well, you know how we talked about cracked eggs?”
Reva’s eyes widened in realization, and a knowing smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “Oh, really?” she teased, leaning back in her chair and crossing her arms. “So, you’ve decided to be okay with a few cracks?”
Capri nodded, uncertainty tightening her chest as the words slipped out. “Jake and I...we’re moving forward. Slowly, but I’m not holding back anymore.”
A chorus of squeals erupted from the table. Lila nearly knocked over her iced tea, and Charlie Grace reached across to grab Capri’s hand, squeezing it tightly.
“Oh my gosh! Capri, this is huge!” Charlie Grace said, her eyes wide with excitement. “I didn’t think you’d admit it, but look at you, all in love!”
Capri blushed. “I wouldn’t go that far. But...I’m giving it an honest shot. Jake...well, he’s different.”
“Different in all the right ways, I bet,” Lila added, her grin widening. “I’m so happy for you, Capri.”
Reva, who had been silently watching the exchange, raised her glass of tea and smiled. “To moving forward, cracks and all,” she said, her voice warm with pride.
Capri lifted her glass in return, her heart lighter than it had felt in a long time. They clinked glasses, the sun high in the sky, casting a bright glow over the patio. For the first time in what felt like forever, Capri wasn’t looking over her shoulder at the past. She was finally stepping into the light—and it felt good.
As the happy conversation flowed around her, Capri leaned back in her chair, glancing at the new patio furniture Jake had surprised her with. She smiled to herself, realizing how much had changed in just a short time. Maybe things weren’t perfect, maybe she wasn’t perfect, but sitting here with her friends, with a future that didn’t feel so frightening anymore, she couldn’t help but feel hopeful.
And for now, that was enough.
The conversation slowed, and Reva straightened in her chair, her tone shifting. “I’m so happy for you, Capri. But while we’re all together, there’s something we need to talk about. You all know the government’s mandate to retrofit the city buildings after the earthquake? Well, the town’s finances are tight—really tight.”
