The bouquet of white orchids traveled up, up into the air. The sea of single women parted, leaving Samantha Russo in the middle as the prime target of the bouquet. A wave of embarrassment swept over her as her mother’s words echoed in her head. I’ve arranged the bouquet toss, so that Tracey will aim it directly at you. What she had left out was that everyone would clear out of her way.

The day had started off innocently enough. Her younger sister, Tracey, looked like an angel in her flowing gown of white as she walked down the aisle to her high school sweetheart. With the wedding date set in September, the weather in Virginia could be unpredictable. Everyone had prayed for a warm, sunny day, and they had gotten it. The natural beauty of the lake and its surrounding park made it the perfect place for the wedding and reception.

Vases full of roses, carnations, and chrysanthemums in different shades of orange, yellow, and purple sat on white pedestals throughout the park. Ice sculptures, although dripping, miraculously managed not to disappear under the heat of the sun. It was exactly how her sister had imagined her wedding day. Only one word described it. Perfect. Until now.

Samantha caught the bouquet and ran off the dance floor, seeking a place she could hide. How could her mother and sister humiliate her?

“What do you think you’re doing?” her mother asked, chasing after her. “A cute single guy caught the garter. He has to put it on your leg.”

“No. Just no.” Samantha kept walking until she got to the cover of the woods.

Samantha knew why her mother was angry. It wasn’t just the embarrassment of having her run from the dance floor. No, her mother was frustrated. She wanted grandchildren and had always vowed that, by the time she turned sixty, both of her daughters, happily or not, would be married, and she would be a grandmother. Samantha, however, refused to cooperate with her mother’s plans.

“How could you, Mom? You made me look desperate. Poor Samantha Russo. She’ll never get married.”

“I thought I was helping.” Her mother patted her dark brown hair. Her chignon was sprayed stiff, not one hair out of place.

“A bouquet will not get me a husband.” She leaned against a tree, thinking of all the blind dates and fake meetings her mother had set up. All Samantha really wanted was to be left alone. What had happened four years ago had cured her of ever getting married. She had been about to walk down the aisle when suddenly she’d become the subject of Lincoln Falls’s scandal of the century.

“What will? I’ve tried just about everything.” Her mother touched the back of her hand to her forehead and grabbed Samantha’s shoulder. “Do you understand the trauma you’ve put me through? I think I might faint.” Geez. Her mother could have been an actress.

Samantha rolled her eyes. “You’ve got to stop.”

“But—”

She shrugged off her mother’s hand. “I don’t want you to do this anymore.”

“You haven’t dated anyone, and you’re not getting—.”

“I know how old I am. Did you know the average age for marriage is thirty-five? So, at thirty-two, I’m still below the average.” She was sure she’d read that somewhere, but her mother would never look it up anyway.

“There’s no way that’s true,” she said, shaking her head. “But it doesn’t matter. All I want is for you to move on. It has been four years.” 

Samantha refrained from rolling her eyes. “I have moved on, and I’ve decided I don’t want to get married.” Her mother’s face fell, and Samantha decided she couldn’t kill all her mother’s dreams. “Maybe that will change someday. I don’t know.”

“Are you okay? I swear this was all Mom,” Tracey said as she joined them in the woods.

Samantha turned to her sister. “I’m fine. Mom—”

“Is looking out for you,” their mother finished.

“I know you are doing this out of love and frustration, but you need to let me live my own life. You can’t live it for me. Trust me when I say I’m okay. Please, no more bouquet tosses. No more blind dates. No more tricks.”

“You have to give Samantha the chance to figure out what she wants.” Tracey shooed away a bee.

“There’s no harm in having a little fun,” Mom said, waving off Tracey’s comment.

“The blind dates haven’t been fun. The family dinners that include some random friend’s son haven’t been fun.” She grabbed her mother’s hands as she took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “You’re afraid I’m going to be some old spinster. If it happens, that’s my choice. Let me decide what my future will be. Please, no more meddling.”

“Have it your way,” her mother said. “I just want to see you happy. Look at your sister. Doesn’t she look happy?”

Samantha turned to see Tracey glowing as she looked at her new husband, Matthew. “You should go. Spend time with your husband. Matthew looks lost without you.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I can handle Mom.”

Samantha watched Tracey as she approached her husband. The smile on Tracey’s face could have lit up the town square. Her heart ached as Matthew tucked one of Tracey’s blonde tendrils behind her ear. It was a tender moment between lovers, and she’d be lying if she said she wasn’t a little envious.

Afraid her mother would be able to read her thoughts, Samantha put a smile on her face. “I’m happy too.” She wasn’t, but she would never admit that to her mother. If she did, her life would become a living hell. It was bad enough her mother was trying to marry her off to any single guy she came across.

“You don’t look happy.”

“Mom, she’s happy for crying out loud,” Tracey said as she joined them again. This time, she had Matthew in tow. “Didn’t she say she’s happy? Now, are the two of you joining us? Matthew and I would like to cut the cake.” 

“Can’t you see I’m worried about Samantha?” 

“Mom, I’m fine. Don’t get excited, but I’ve been dating someone.”

“You have? You said you didn’t want to get married.” Her mother’s eyes widened, and she crossed her arms, daring Samantha to contradict her.

“Dating doesn’t equal marriage,” Samantha said.

“Then what’s the point?” Her mother stared at her as if they were playing a game of who would blink first. “Well? Who’s the mystery man?” her mother asked. 

Samantha had to think fast. Who could she be dating? She scanned the crowd, looking for anyone who could help her. Then her eyes locked on the man she knew could save her. Cord Bennett.

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