Chapter 82 A Garden of Love
Blake: POV
This week has been the strangest blend of terrifying and wonderful.
After Olivia's fall and our night in the hospital, something shifted between us.
She was discharged the next day with a clean bill of health, but the scare left its mark on both of us.
She'd started letting me take care of her—like, actually letting me drive her places, not fighting me when I cook for her, and she even smiled now when I brought her ginger tea in the morning.
It was like watching a fortress slowly lower its drawbridge, one chain at a time.
This morning, I woke up before her as usual.
I've gotten into the habit of watching her sleep for a few minutes—the way her dark hair fans across the pillow, how her lips part slightly with each breath, the peaceful expression that replaces her usual guarded look.
It feels like a privilege, seeing her this way.
I slipped out of bed carefully, not wanting to disturb her. Pregnancy has been making her exhausted, and she needs all the rest she can get.
Downstairs in the kitchen, I started making her favorite breakfast—French toast with fresh berries and a side of crispy bacon.
She's been craving savory foods lately, and I've been more than happy to indulge her.
As I whisked eggs with cinnamon and vanilla, my mind wandered to the plan I've been secretly working on for the past few days. The proposal.
Not the hasty courthouse ceremony we rushed through, but a real proposal. Something worthy of Olivia.
My phone buzzed with a text from Marco, my head gardener at Bloom Haven.
[Rose garden is coming along beautifully, boss. Should be ready in another day or two. The pink variety you requested is blooming perfectly.]
I smiled, typing back a quick thank you.
Marco has been instrumental in helping me transform a section of Bloom Haven into what I've been calling "Rose Paradise"—a special garden I've been cultivating specifically with Olivia in mind.
The truth is, Bloom Haven itself was born partly because of her.
Back when we were kids, Olivia once told me she loved roses because they were "beautiful but thorny, making them hard to get close to."
At twelve years old, I thought that sounded a lot like her—stunning but guarded, keeping people at arm's length with her sharp wit and independence. That's when I first dreamed of creating a place filled with roses, just for her.
"What are you smiling about?"
I looked up to find Olivia leaning against the doorframe, wearing one of my t-shirts that hung to her mid-thigh.
Her hair was tousled from sleep, and she looked so damn beautiful it made my chest ache.
"Just thinking about work," I said, flipping the French toast.
"How are you feeling this morning?"
She approached the counter, accepting the mug of ginger tea I slid toward her.
"Better, actually. Whatever you put in this tea seems to be working."
"Secret family recipe," I said with a wink, though it was really just fresh ginger, lemon, and a touch of honey.
As we ate breakfast, I watched Olivia scrolling through emails on her phone, her brow furrowed in concentration.
Even in domestic moments like this, her mind was always working.
My mind drifted to the proposal I was planning.
I knew I had to do it soon—within the next day or two.
Not just because the rose garden would be at its peak bloom, but because of timing.
Girls usually love to look beautiful on their wedding day, and if we waited much longer, Olivia's belly would start showing.
At fourteen weeks, she wasn't showing much yet, but I could tell her clothes were getting tighter.
If I proposed now and we had the wedding immediately after, she'd still have that radiant, early pregnancy glow without feeling self-conscious about her changing body.
I had a feeling that if we waited until later in her pregnancy, she might not want a big wedding at all.
"I need to check on some things at Bloom Haven today," I mentioned casually.
"More landscaping projects?"
"Something like that," I said, trying to keep my voice neutral.
She didn't need to know that I'd spent the last month creating an entire sea of pink roses—thousands of them arranged in elegant patterns around a central gazebo where I planned to get down on one knee.
The same knee I should have gotten down on before rushing her to that courthouse.
Then, once she said yes, we could have the wedding of her dreams right away.
After breakfast, I cleared the dishes while Olivia went upstairs to get ready for her day.
I heard the shower running and smiled, my mind already racing with the details I needed to finalize.
The ring was ready—a stunning one-of-a-kind piece I'd commissioned specially, with pink diamonds arranged to echo the roses from our childhood garden.
The photographer was on standby. Even the weather forecast was perfect for the next two days.
My phone buzzed again—a text from Nathan, my brother.
[Heard you're planning something special. About time you did this right. Let me know if you need anything.]
I texted back a quick thanks.
Nathan had been surprisingly supportive once I explained my plans.
Despite our public personas suggesting otherwise, we'd always been close.
An hour later, Olivia came downstairs dressed for work in a sleek navy dress.
"I'll probably be late tonight," she said, grabbing her purse.
"Big project meeting."
"I'll pick you up," I offered automatically.
She paused, and for a moment I thought she might refuse—old habits die hard.
But then she nodded. "That would be nice, actually."
The fact that she accepted my offer without argument was another small victory.
A week ago, she would have insisted on taking her own car, maintaining her independence.
Now, she was letting me take care of her in small ways.
After she left, I spent the morning at Bloom Haven, checking on the final preparations.
Marco had outdone himself—the garden was absolutely breathtaking, with thousands of pink roses arranged in elegant patterns around a central gazebo.
The variety I'd specially cultivated was blooming perfectly, their soft pink petals catching the morning light like silk.
"She's going to love this," Marco said, joining me as I surveyed the garden.
"When are you planning to propose?"
"Tomorrow," I replied, my heart racing just thinking about it.
"Everything needs to be perfect."
"It will be," Marco assured me.
"These roses are some of the most beautiful I've ever seen. What are you calling this variety?"
I smiled, running my fingers along a perfect bloom.
"Olivia Roses."
Marco grinned. "Perfect name for a perfect flower."
When I looked at these flowers, my mind raced with possibilities.
I could picture Olivia's face when she saw them, the way her eyes would widen with surprise and wonder.
I could imagine getting down on one knee in the center of this rose paradise, finally giving her the proposal she deserved.
The Rose Paradise would be ready tomorrow, and I'd already started planning every detail of the perfect proposal.
I wanted to give her something magical, something that would show her just how much she meant to me.
Because while our marriage certificate might say we were already husband and wife, I wanted Olivia to choose me again.
Not because of the baby, not because it was convenient, but because she wanted me the way I'd always wanted her.
Just as I was finalizing the last details with Marco, my phone buzzed with a text from Alex.
[Hey man, can you meet up tonight? Need to talk. Daniel's been giving me the cold shoulder these days. I don't know why. He's barely speaking to me now.]