Swapping a Broken Heart for a New Start novel Chapter 1243

Audrey forgot all about her sparklers and leaned in, drawn to the vibrant blooms in front of her.

“Walter, just now you said this greenhouse belongs to your mom. Did she really grow all these flowers herself?”

Walter smiled. “Yeah, she takes care of everything here.”

Audrey’s eyes sparkled. “Leda is incredible. Every single flower looks amazing, and the whole place smells so good.”

It was rare to see her get this excited about anything. Walter put down his sparkler and raised his eyebrows, teasing, “Want a tour? I can show you around and tell you about all the flowers.”

“Absolutely!” Audrey’s eyes lit up even more.

Walter knew his mom’s plants like the back of his hand. Playing tour guide for Audrey was a breeze.

As he effortlessly rattled off the names and details of the flowers, Audrey looked genuinely surprised. “How do you know all this? I bet even the florist would have a hard time remembering everything.”

Walter laughed softly, sounding a little resigned. “When I was in middle school, my mom would drag me in here every weekend to help her with flower arrangements. She said it would make me more patient and well-rounded. I wasn’t that into it, but after all these years, I’ve picked up a thing or two. I even built this greenhouse for her and helped her pick out the plants…”

When he was a kid, Walter had been a total whirlwind, always up to something. He’d take apart anything he could find at home, acting like he was inventing something new. The problem was, he never managed to put things back the way they were, so the house was always in chaos. Leda loved her son, but his endless antics left her with headaches. Eventually, she had no choice but to find ways to keep him occupied and calm him down.

Audrey couldn’t help but laugh. “You must’ve been such a handful growing up.”

She hadn’t expected to get to know this new side of Walter tonight. The man who usually seemed so mature and put-together had this secret talent. Suddenly, she looked at him with hope in her eyes. “Can you make a bouquet for me? I want to see how you do it.”

Walter looked at her, a little taken aback. “You really want one?”

“I do!” Audrey nodded eagerly. “And I got you a Christmas present, by the way.”

She reached into the pile of fireworks and pulled out a neatly wrapped bag. Inside was a scarf, blue and white, the colors bold and bright.

“Okay then.” Audrey’s eyes curved with her smile, and she really did as she was told, settling in nearby. “I’ll just wait right here.”

Walter nodded and got to work, picking out several different flowers with his shears and laying them on the table. After about half an hour, the bouquet and all the little greenery were ready.

Standing at the table, sleeves pushed up, he focused intently on arranging each flower. The greenhouse had everything he needed, even special wrapping paper just for bouquets. His mom had great taste, and there was a whole selection to choose from. Walter finally picked red and white paper, perfect for Christmas and simple enough not to distract from the flowers themselves.

He adjusted each bloom until it was just right, then started trimming the stems.

Audrey sat across from him, watching quietly. His tall frame, the strong lines of his arms, and his hands—long fingers, elegant even with gloves on—made the whole scene look like something out of a painting. Walter moved with such focus and care, it was impossible to look away.

His serious expression, the way his lashes cast shadows on his cheeks, the quiet confidence he gave off—it made Audrey’s heart skip a beat. The more she watched, the more she liked him. She couldn’t help herself; she snapped a photo with her phone and posted it online with the caption, “A guy who’s totally focused is the most attractive—especially when he’s making a bouquet just for me.”

It didn’t take long for comments to start popping up under her post.