Chapter 7: 5| Sophie's Dilemma

Sophie didn't know how long she had been sitting there, alone in her room. The only light came from the single lamp on her nightstand, casting flickering shadows across the walls.

She hated it, but the only thought that echoed in her mind was Ethan.

Pulling her knees to her chest, she wrapped her arms around herself, as if trying to hold herself together.

Her thoughts drifted back to a time when the world seemed simpler, and her heart was unburdened by responsibilities. She couldn't help but remember her time with Ethan Sinclair—the mysterious, aloof boy who always seemed a step removed from everyone else.

Ethan had a presence that drew people in, yet he kept them at arm's length, never letting anyone too close. Sophie had admired him from afar, finding every excuse to be near him, hoping for just a moment to bridge the distance.

As fate would have it, they were eventually grouped together for a class project. At their school, projects were taken seriously, and this new shared responsibility meant spending hours working side by side. Their group also included her close friend and an outgoing boy who preferred to keep things lighthearted.

At first, Ethan had been reserved, speaking only when necessary, his responses short and to the point. Yet, Sophie found herself drawn to the calm steadiness of his presence. Despite his aloofness, there was something grounding about working together, a quiet rhythm to their shared efforts that she grew to appreciate.

She started noticing the small things about him—the way his eyes lit up when discussing a topic he was passionate about, or the rare but genuine smiles that broke through his cool exterior when something amused him. Those glimpses of his warmth had only made her fall harder, even if he never let anyone in fully.

But the worst memory came later. By their final year of high school, Sophie had known Ethan for almost two years. They weren't close, but they had built a comfortable, friendly dynamic. With college applications dominating every conversation and graduation fast approaching, Sophie felt a growing sense of urgency. If she didn't tell him how she felt now, the chance might slip away forever.

Sophie could still picture the library that day, quiet and filled with the smell of old books. She had rehearsed her confession a dozen times, determined to put her feelings into words. When she approached Ethan, his warm smile momentarily eased her nerves, giving her a flicker of hope.

But then she told him.

Her voice trembled as she admitted how much she liked him, how long she had been carrying these feelings. She still remembered the way his expression shifted, his piercing blue eyes turning cold and unreadable as her words hung in the air.

"Sophie," he said evenly, his tone cutting and emotionless. "I don't know what gave you that idea, but you can't have feelings for me. I don't like you, and I won't. You should move on and like someone else. I can never like you."

The words hit her like a blow, shattering every hope she had built up in her mind. She managed to keep her tears at bay until she was out of his sight, but the sting of rejection lingered for weeks, months, years.

After that day, Ethan seemed to avoid her entirely. She'd catch glimpses of him in the halls, but he never stopped to say hello, never even met her gaze. Guilt settled in her chest, twisting her heart. She felt as though she had ruined whatever tentative connection they'd had by making him uncomfortable with her confession.

Even so, she couldn't stop liking him. She hated herself for it, for still watching him from afar, hoping for something—anything—that would soften the memory of his rejection. But there was nothing, and by graduation, they were strangers again.

That should have been the end of it. Yet here she was, years later, with his name at the center of her life once more.

Back in the present, Sophie wiped away a stray tear. The idea of marrying Ethan Sinclair was overwhelming, almost absurd.

Out of all the men in the world, why did it have to be Ethan? And why—of all people—did it have to be her?

She had always imagined him marrying someone else—a poised, glamorous socialite, the kind of woman who belonged in his world.

Not her. Not a woman drowning in debt. Not a woman who had spent years trying to forget him.

"Ethan," she whispered his name, barely audible.

It felt strange on her lips, like an echo of something she had long tried to erase.

Could she really do this? Could she really marry him?

She didn't want him if he didn't want her.

But this arrangement wasn't about love, was it?

Sophie had spent most of her life being the grown-up—stepping up, making hard choices, doing whatever needed to be done. But even she had limits.

And love?

Love had always been her line in the sand.

The soft creak of Sophie's bedroom door pulled her from her thoughts. She glanced up to see Lily standing there, her sister's sharp eyes immediately finding the tear stains on her cheeks.

Lily didn't hesitate. She walked in, sat beside Sophie on the bed, and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"Are you okay?" she asked gently. Her voice was soft, but her concern was unmistakable. "Mom told me everything."

Sophie sighed, leaning into her sister's comforting embrace. "I don't know if I can do it, Lily... I just don't know if I can take that chance again."

Lily frowned, her brows knitting together as she searched Sophie's face. "I'm sorry we put this on you," she murmured. "But you still have feelings for him, don't you?"

Sophie froze.

Lily's voice was careful, but knowing. "That's why you've never really moved on. That's why—despite all the people who've chased after you—you haven't had a boyfriend, even though you're twenty-eight."

Sophie looked down, unable to deny the truth in her sister's words.

Lily exhaled, shaking her head. "I hate seeing you put your life on hold because of Ethan. But if he's the only one you want, then maybe..." she hesitated, holding Sophie's gaze. "Maybe this is an opportunity you can't miss."

Sophie looked down, unable to deny the truth in her sister's words. Lily continued, "I hate to see you not live your life because of Ethan, but if he's the only one you want, then this is an opportunity that you cannot miss."

Sophie swallowed hard, Lily was right. She had tried dating in college, after college. She had met good men, men who were kind, funny, and completely capable of loving her. But she could never love them back.

Not the way she had loved Ethan.

Lily squeezed Sophie's shoulder, her tone firmer now. "But listen to me," she said. "If you try this and it doesn't work, then you can walk away. You'll know you did everything you could. And maybe then... maybe you'll finally be able to move on."

Sophie let out a slow breath, a small, grateful smile forming at the edges of her lips.

She didn't know how open the Sinclair's were to divorce—she had never heard of one—but still, she appreciated her sister's words.

The thing was, Ethan was kind.

She knew that about him.

And despite everything, she believed he hadn't changed.

"I guess I just need some time, Lil," she said quietly. Her voice was steady, even as doubt still lingered. "To process everything."

Lily nodded, her expression softening as she stood. "Take all the time you need. You're not alone, Sophie. I'm here."

The room fell quiet, but the weight in Sophie's chest hadn't lifted. Lily must have sensed it, because a moment later, she barged back in, her eyes filled with determination.

"There's no point moping around here. Let's go back to the shop. Being around flowers will help you think better."

Sophie blinked at her sister, caught off guard by the sudden shift. "You think flowers can solve everything?" she teased.

"Flowers can solve a lot of things," Lily shot back with a playful grin. "Besides, I don't like seeing you cooped up in here."

Despite herself, Sophie felt her lips twitch into a smile. "Alright," she agreed. "Let's go."

Together, they made their way to the shop. As they pushed through the familiar doors, the scent of flowers wrapped around Sophie like a balm.

It smelled the same as it had when she was five, walking in hand-in-hand with her father.

And it smelled the same now.

Sophie moved through the shop, her fingers brushing softly over the petals of roses, lilies, and daisies. Each bloom seemed to whisper a story, a memory—her father's love for flowers, the lessons he had taught them, the joy they had shared in building this place together.

The shop was more than a business. It was family. A piece of her heart.

Lily busied herself with finishing a new display near the front window, her focus unwavering. Sophie watched her sister for a moment, a swell of gratitude filling her chest. If there was anything she could count on, it was this family.

Lily had always been her rock—the one who gave her a reason to fight when she wanted to give up.

"Do you remember when Dad taught us how to prune the roses?" Lily asked suddenly, breaking the silence.

Sophie smiled as the memory surfaced. "Yes. I still have the callouses on my hands to prove it. Mom was so mad at him," she started.

Then, together, they said in unison, "Every cut has a purpose. It's all part of learning."

Lily nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Dad was so cringe but he believed in us, Sophie. He believed in the shop and the future we could build together. This isn't just his legacy—it's ours too."

Before Sophie could respond, the door to the shop swung open, and Mia walked in.

She took one look at them and immediately knew something was going on.

"What's happening?" Mia asked, concern etched on her face. "You guys left the shop in a hurry. I was worried."

Sophie took a deep breath and explained everything—the proposal from the Sinclair's, her tangled feelings about Ethan, the shop hanging in the balance. Mia listened intently, her expression growing more serious with each word.

"Sophie, this is a huge decision," Mia said gently. "But you need to think about what's best for you. If you go forward with this... you have to be sure it's something you can live with."

Sophie looked between Lily and Mia, feeling the weight of their concern and the gravity of what lay ahead.

They were right.

This wasn't just about the shop.

It wasn't just about her complicated feelings for Ethan.

It was about her future.

"I've been thinking about that," Sophie admitted. "And it's not just about saving the shop. It's about me. I've spent years trying to move on from Ethan, but I haven't been able to. Maybe... maybe this is a sign that I need to confront those feelings. To see if there's still anything there."

Lily stepped forward, her eyes full of quiet encouragement. "Maybe it's finally time to give that love thing a try."

Mia nodded in agreement. "Exactly. And you're not alone in this, Sophie. We'll be there every step of the way."

A surge of determination settled inside Sophie's chest. She had spent so long avoiding this decision out of fear. But she wasn't afraid anymore.

It was time to face it—for her family, for Miller's Flower Shop, and for herself.

"Alright," Sophie said, her voice steady. "I'll do it. I'll marry Ethan. For Dad, for the shop... and for us."

Lily and Mia both smiled, relief and pride shining in their eyes.

Sophie knew this was just the beginning. Everything in her life was about to change. But as she stood in the shop, surrounded by the flowers and the people she loved, for the first time that day...

She felt at peace. She let out a breath and squared her shoulders.

"Let's get to work," Sophie said, a determined glint in her eye.

"We have a wedding to prepare for."

-------

Photo credit: Pinterest

Don't forget to vote and leave a comment 🩷🩷