Chapter Four
Gigi, think you could handle the coffee crowd tomorrow morning? I’ll be here to set up, but I have a chance to work with Sophie at Blossoms. She really needs someone to help her out, and—” Chrissie turned and was pinned by what she and Lis used to secretly call Ruby’s death stare.
“Who you think be making the coffee before you?”
“I know you did, but . . .”
“There be no buts. You be at Blossoms when you supposed to be, and don’t be worrying about the store.” Ruby shuffled to her table, a book in her hand. “Wouldn’t hurt none if you baked up a little something for the early customers, though. Spoiled ’em. Seems they look for whatever treat you make.”
“I’d planned on it. There’s no reason why I can’t bake at night like always.” And set up the coffee to brew and the water for tea and take care of the earliest of the early before I leave for River Road.
You’ll always come first, Gigi. I promise. Whatever else I do, you come first.
• • •
WHEN CHRISSIE LEFT the store at 6:50 the next morning, the coffee was on its third pot, there were fresh tea bags in a basket, the pitchers had been refilled with milk, half-and-half, and 1 percent milk, respectively, and two trays of apple crumb muffins were displayed near the cash register. Her trip to Blossoms was held up several times because of the school bus she had the misfortune to be following, which made her three minutes late. She hoped Sophie wasn’t a stickler about such things, and she was grateful to find she was not.
“What would you like me to do first?” Chrissie asked after she arrived in Blossoms’s kitchen.
“You could start by making blueberry muffins.” Sophie looked relieved to see her. “The recipe is on the counter.”
“I have one in my head,” Chrissie told her. “All right?”
Sophie considered for a moment, then said, “Sure. Show me what you’ve got.”
Chrissie had the muffins mixed and in the pans in under twelve minutes. She turned to Sophie and asked, “What else?”
“You can mix up the pancake batter. But I’d like you to use my recipe for these. My customers are mostly repeat this time of the year, and they expect their pancakes to taste the same way.”
“Got it.” Chrissie followed Sophie’s pointed finger to the counter where the recipe awaited, and proceeded to mix the batter.
“You can leave it there,” Sophie told her. “We’ll pour onto the griddle from the mixing bowl.”
“Okay. Next?”
And on it went through the morning’s prep time, Sophie directing and Chrissie following orders.
At seven thirty, Dana arrived to admit the early risers, who came in for breakfast.
“Hey, you’re . . . I don’t know your name but you were here yesterday,” Dana said when she saw Chrissie taking the last batch of muffins from the oven. “Why didn’t you tell me you were going to be working here?”
“At the time I was eating lunch, I didn’t know I’d be here today,” Chrissie said. “And I haven’t been hired. Yet.”
When breakfast hours had ended, Chrissie could see the fatigue in Sophie’s face.
“Look, I hope this isn’t out of line, and I know you don’t know me very well, and if I were you, I’d be hesitant to leave my business in the hands of someone I’d only known a few months, but I think you should go sit for a while. Put your feet up, have something cold to drink, and just relax. I can get things prepped for the lunch rush.”
Sophie appeared to think it over. She’d spent the morning chopping vegetables for omelets, turning ground beef and herbs into burgers, making turkey chili, and rolling out dough for the quiches.
“You could keep an eye on the soups and maybe start prepping the salads until Joan comes in. She should be here in about”—Sophie checked her watch—“twenty minutes. Plenty of time for me to get my second wind.”
Chrissie warmed up the carrot soup that Sophie’d made the night before and added the cheese and veggies of the day to the pie crusts to bake the quiches. Joan came in right on time, and when she entered the kitchen, she was clearly startled to see Chrissie at the stove stirring the pot of soup. She stopped and stared at the newcomer.
“Sophie didn’t tell me she’d hired someone.” Joan was tall and apple shaped with short brown hair that feathered around her face. When she moved from the doorway it was to tie on a Blossoms apron over her jeans and white T-shirt.
“She hasn’t. Not yet anyway. I’m sort of on trial.” Chrissie turned to face her. “I’m Chrissie Jenkins, by the way.”
“Joan Allen. Nice to meet you.” Joan brushed past her. “Now, let’s see what else we’ll need for lunch.”
They were going over the menu together when Sophie returned to the kitchen.
“Thanks. I feel almost like a new person.” She directed the comment to Chrissie. “Not quite new, but it’ll do. The first of the lunch crew is in the house, guys. Let’s get this done.” She went to the cooler and removed the large container of beef she’d earlier mixed for burgers. “Oh, and Chrissie? The blueberry muffins were delish. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. And thank you. Glad you liked them.”
“There was just a touch of cinnamon in the batter. I liked that.”
“Good. I’m happy to make them whenever you like.” Chrissie took the pan of beef and began to make patties.
For the next three hours, the women worked tirelessly as Dana and a second waitress named Margarite brought in orders. Chrissie hadn’t moved that fast for that long since she’d left La Luna, and by closing time, her legs let her know how out of shape she was.
When Sophie said they closed at two o’clock, she meant two o’clock. Dana locked the door and turned the sign to the CLOSED side. The last customer left at 2:17. Dana swept the floor and tidied the dining area while Sophie, Chrissie, and Joan cleaned the kitchen.
“Let’s grab a cup of coffee while we look over tomorrow’s menu,” Joan said after they’d finished emptying the dishwasher for the third time.
“Water for me, please,” Sophie said. “On second thought, make it iced. I’m dying. My body thermostat is out of whack today.”
“Why don’t you go back out there and sit down while you have your water,” Chrissie suggested.
“I want to get the menu worked out for tomorrow and make sure we have all the ingredients on hand.”
Chrissie went out into the dining room and returned with a chair.
“Sit, please. You look like you’re about to fall over.” Chrissie pointed to Sophie, who sighed. Then sat. Then smiled.
“Thank you. My thighs ache.” She rubbed them with both hands. “You’d think I’d be used to all the standing and walking. All of a sudden, it’s as if my legs forgot I’ve been doing this every day for two years.” She paused. “Except for Sundays and Mondays.”
“You close two days every week?” Chrissie leaned on the counter.
“If I didn’t, I’d never see my husband, even though his business is right next door. I decided after six months of working every day that enough was enough. I wanted my business to be a success, but it had to be on my terms. I wanted to have a life. I wanted time with Jason before we started a family. And now I’m so glad I took that time for just us. I have a feeling it’s going to be a long time before it’s just the two of us again.”
Dana poked her head into the kitchen.
“Margarite left at three, and I’ve finished cleaning up,” she told Sophie. “We need new flowers for the tables, though. The old ones are pretty beat. Want me to stop in at Petals and Posies and see what they have this week?”
“That would be great, thanks, Dana.” Sophie rested her head back and closed her eyes. “Remind them they give us a nice discount in case whoever’s working the counter forgets again.”
Joan set a glass of ice water in front of Sophie and handed a mug of coffee to Chrissie.
“Okay, so for tomorrow . . .” Her eyes still closed, Sophie rattled off the next day’s menu. “Check the fridge and just make sure we have enough greens for salad.”
Joan opened the cooler door and brought out the large bin of greens. “Getting low, Sophie.” She held it up so Sophie could see.
Sophie took her phone from her pocket, punched in a number, and while it rang, took several sips of ice water.
“Clay, it’s Sophie. How’re you fixed for greens this week? And is there enough asparagus for me? It’s on tomorrow’s menu . . .”
She finished working out the details of her purchase, then disconnected the call. One by one, she went over the list for the next day, and they checked the ingredients.
When they’d finally finished, Sophie said, “Chrissie, could you stay for just another few minutes?”
“Sure.” Chrissie took her time removing her apron, which was in need of a wash after she’d spilled a little carrot soup.
“I guess I’ll see you tomorrow, Sophie.” With a glance and a quick wave toward Chrissie, Joan left.
Chrissie heard the front door open, then close, and the restaurant fell silent for a few minutes. Sophie sat with her eyes closed again, her dark hair falling out of the neat bun she’d had when she’d arrived that morning. Finally, she opened her eyes and said, “Want to do it all again tomorrow?”
“I’d love to,” Chrissie told her.
“I’d like to try you out for two weeks. I’ll pay you by the hour. I don’t mind saying I’m impressed with what you did here today. In a strange kitchen, working with recipes that you hadn’t tried before, not knowing where anything was—you held your own. I just don’t want to make a decision based on one day, if that’s all right with you.”
“It’s fine with me. I enjoyed it. It felt good to be back in a working kitchen again. I didn’t realize how much I missed it.”
“Even without being familiar with the way I do things?”
Chrissie shrugged. “Not so different from the way I cook, actually. In the last place I worked, I had shelves arranged in pretty much the same manner as you have here. I used the same spices. The recipes are different, but not so much so that I stumbled. A few things I do differently, yes, but you’re the boss.”
Sophie smiled weakly. “A tired boss.”
“How far along are you, if you don’t mind my asking?”
“Almost five months. We hadn’t wanted to spread the word too soon because we lost our first one in the third month.” An unmistakable sadness crossed Sophie’s face like a shadow. “Jason thinks I pushed myself too hard last time, and maybe I did. This time, I’d planned on working my regular schedule through the end of my sixth month, then I thought I’d taper off a bit, let Joan take over a lot here in the kitchen.” Sophie smiled. “Joan had other plans. So—”
“So you need a plan B. I’d like to apply for that spot. I’m good at what I do, I’m organized, I can think on my feet, I—”
Sophie held up a hand to stop the flow of words. “I think you’re probably all those things. I’ll check your references, and if they turn out the way I’m sure they will, and you do well over the two weeks, we’ll talk about a more permanent position. Are you all right with that?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Did you bring your résumé with you?”
“I did.” Chrissie opened her bag and removed the envelope she’d prepared the night before. She hesitated for a moment before handing it over. She knew she’d have a lot of explaining to do.
“Is there a problem?” Sophie asked.
Chrissie bit her bottom lip. If she’d listed all her previous employers and Doug contacted one of them, even at this late date, there was the possibility he could discover where she’d gone. There was always the chance someone clueless about her situation would answer the call, and he’d learn that a restaurant in St. Dennis, Maryland, had called for a reference.
So she’d written down the information for La Luna only along with the cell number of Rob’s partner, Jim.
She handed the envelope to Sophie, who took out the single sheet of paper, looked it over, then eyed it suspiciously. “I thought you said you’d worked in several places.”
“I did. But I only trust this one.” Chrissie sighed, and said simply, “Bad ex-boyfriend. Rob—he owns La Luna—is the only person who knows where I am. The other places—I don’t trust them to not tell my ex whatever he wants to know.”
“You think he’s still looking for you?”
“I don’t know if he’ll stop until he finds me. Not that he loves me,” she hastened to add, “but I think he sees me leaving as some sort of challenge. He might want to ‘win’ by finding me. Just to prove he can.”
“Rob can corroborate your story?”
Chrissie nodded. “You can call him right now while I’m sitting here. But you have to call his partner, and he’ll call Rob, and Rob will call you back.”
“Seems a little convoluted for a simple phone call.”
“Not if someone overhears the conversation and passes on whatever they might hear. I don’t want Doug to ever find out that Rob knows where I am.”
“This man is dangerous?”
Chrissie sighed, and told Sophie the entire story.
“So yes, he could be dangerous, but only to me.” Chrissie watched Sophie’s expression change, and knew immediately what she was thinking. “He’s only interested in finding me, Sophie, and since only Rob knows where I am, that’s not going to happen. He’d hurt me, yes, but he’s not interested in hurting anyone else. Rob, maybe, for covering for me and giving me the means to leave.” Without going into too much explanation, she added, “A little financial boost.”
“He can’t trace your phone?”
“Tossed into a trash can at a rest stop on the New Jersey Turnpike.” Chrissie smiled. It had felt so good, so liberating, to have dumped that phone. She wondered how many times it had rung since then, and if anyone had picked it out of the trash to answer it.
“You could understand why I might be concerned about someone coming into my restaurant—which is also my home—looking to do harm.”
“I do. Of course I do. But I don’t know how he’d find me. I covered my trail, and he has no reason to look for me here. But I can see you’re distressed, and with the baby coming . . .” Chrissie sighed. “Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all.”
Sophie nodded slowly, apparently as conflicted as Chrissie. “I don’t think I can hire you under the circumstances. I don’t think I’d feel comfortable. I’m so sorry.”
“It shouldn’t take you long to find someone permanent. If today was any indication, this would be a great place to work.”
“Today was actually pretty slow.”
“Well, good luck. And thanks.”
“Did you really just thank me after I said I wouldn’t hire you?” Sophie pushed herself out of the chair.
Chrissie could have told her how much it had meant to her to be amid the hustle and noise of a working kitchen again, to be with people who enjoyed cooking and were good at it. She’d felt alive in a way she hadn’t felt since she’d left La Luna. But she couldn’t get the words to come.
“Yes,” she replied. “Thank you.”
She picked up her bag and was at the door, her hand on the knob and just about to unlock it to leave, when she heard the kitchen door open with its soft squeak.
“Chrissie, I’m sorry. I really like you and I like the way you work. I wanted this to happen, for both our sakes. I’m so torn over this. You probably know I’m a former lawyer. I was a prosecutor when I first got out of law school. I’ve seen things . . . cases where an ex has used unbelievable means to find someone. I took cases like yours to trial, I put guys like him in prison, and I—”
“You don’t have to explain. It’s all right. I understand. I do.” Chrissie forced a smile for Sophie’s benefit. “I guess I’ll see you around St. Dennis.”
She could tell Sophie wasn’t happy about having to let her go. But she had her family and her customers to think of. Even though Chrissie believed it could never happen, there was no way Doug could ever find her here, she could understand Sophie being uneasy.
She drove back to the island, comforting herself with the knowledge that she had the store and its early morning crowd of watermen to take care of. She knew that Emily Hart, one of the old women on the island, ran a sort of under-the-radar restaurant. Maybe she could use some help.
Tom’s truck was in front of the porch when Chrissie pulled into the driveway. She drove around it and parked behind the store and went in through the back door.
“Tom, did you find the stack of boxes I left near the cooler?” She dropped her bag onto the counter next to the cash register.
“I did. All loaded up. I got your invoice for today right here.” He held up the clipboard.
“Show me what we’ve got here.” Chrissie noticed Ruby at her table reading the newspaper as if she’d known her great-granddaughter would be there to deal with the delivery. She’d barely raised her eyes from the page she was reading.
Chrissie got Tom squared away, then grabbed a bottle of water from the cooler and walked over to the table.
“Busy here today?” she asked as she sat next to Ruby.
“Pretty much. Same as always early, quieted down till about eleven, then picked up some. Busy for a time this afternoon, now be the lull.” Ruby folded the newspaper. “How be you, Chrissie?”
She wanted to say that she was fine, but she wasn’t fine, so she said nothing. Her hands were folded in her lap, and she stared at them. Before Chrissie could tell Ruby about Sophie letting her go, she reached out to pat Chrissie’s hand and said, “She be coming around, no need to fret, girl.”
“What do you mean?”
“You go on upstairs now, take a good long shower, rest just a bit,” Ruby said, ignoring Chrissie’s question. “Then come back down here and cook up that piece of rockfish Alec dropped off. Go on with you now.”
A hot shower had been just what Chrissie needed, Ruby had been right about that, and a quick nap had been restorative, but she woke feeling just as down as she’d been when she left Blossoms. She’d really liked the restaurant—liked the pace, liked the food, liked the ambience of the place. Still disappointed, she made her way downstairs to start dinner.
By six thirty, they’d finished eating. Throughout the meal, Chrissie’d tried to be upbeat, but her heart wasn’t in it, and she knew Ruby saw through her. She finally broke down and told Ruby everything.
“Should I have not told Sophie about Doug, Gigi?” Chrissie asked.
“That be your truth, Christiana, and that’s what you need be telling. Can’t change what be.”
“I know, but maybe a little less of my truth will land me a job. Then again, with Sophie being pregnant, and her having prosecuted guys like Doug for doing just what he did to me, I guess I can’t blame her for being afraid to have me around.” She got up and began to clear the table. “Maybe I should go to Grace and tell her everything and see if she thinks it would be problem at the inn. Not my first choice, but beggars can’t be choosers.”
“No need to beg, girl. Things be righting themselves.”
Chrissie finished clearing the table without further comment. She’d just started to load the dishwasher when she heard the bell in the store buzz.
Ruby had always locked up the store at seven, but she’d had a loud doorbell installed in case one of the islanders really needed something.
“I have it,” Ruby called to her.
Chrissie could hear Ruby’s sneakers shuffling across the floor, then the opening of the front door. It was still early enough that it wasn’t unusual for one of the locals to stop by. She heard voices—Ruby’s and several others—so after she turned on the dishwasher, she went into the store to see what all the chatter was about.
Ruby sat in her chair at the table, and Sophie sat across from her. There were two men with their backs to Chrissie. Besides Owen, she recognized Gabriel Beck, St. Dennis’s chief of police.
“What’s going on?” she asked as she approached the group. She walked up behind Owen and placed her hand on his back.
“When were you going to tell me about this crazy man who might be coming after you?” Owen turned to face her. “You think you could have mentioned it?”
“It’s not a problem, Owen. No one’s going to come after me. He can’t find me.”
“Sophie’s not so sure.” He nodded in Sophie’s direction.
“Really, this wasn’t necessary, Sophie. I told you I’m okay with your decision—”
“But I wasn’t okay with it. It bothered me on so many levels. It bothered me that you’d been treated like that, and it bothered me that I hesitated to hire you because of him. I discussed it with Jason and he agreed it isn’t fair. Not fair that this guy got away with his abuse of you, and not fair that you’re being punished because of his actions. So we talked to Beck, and he had some thoughts on the subject.”
The chief of police nodded. “I need to know about any potential threats to anyone living in my town.”
“Beck, I don’t think there’s a threat.” Chrissie outlined the steps she’d taken to hide her whereabouts.
“Good for you,” Beck said. “You did a great job of covering your tracks. But the fact that you took such pains tells me you’re not one hundred percent certain he won’t keep looking.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Can you tell me honestly that you think he’s forgotten? ’Cause my experience with this type of personality tells me he hasn’t.”
“No, he hasn’t forgotten, but like you said, I covered my tracks. He isn’t going to find me.”
“What I want you to do is give me his name, a physical description—a photo would be better—what kind of car he drives, license plate number. I’d like to have it on record. If he’s still looking for you, and if he should somehow stumble onto the Cannonball Island connection, I want to have a file on him.” He smiled reassuringly at Chrissie. “And I never forget a face.”
“I thought about a protection-from-abuse order,” Sophie said, “but then he’d know where you are, so that’s obviously out of the question.”
“Look, I appreciate the concern, I really do. I still don’t expect this to be a problem, but I’ll give you any information that you need, Beck. You’re right. Better to be safe than sorry.” She turned to Sophie. “I’m embarrassed that you were the one who thought to bring it to Beck’s attention. I guess I should probably have told him.”
“Or me. You should have told me.” Owen poked her in the side.
“Can you understand why I didn’t want everyone knowing what an idiot I was? That I was so weak it took me years to stand up for myself?” She willed the tears not to spill down her cheeks.
“You’re not weak, Chrissie. As a matter of fact, I have a whole new respect for you, that you were able to walk away as cleverly as you did. That took strength and smarts.” Owen put his arm around her and hugged her. “We just want to make sure that if this guy ever figures things out, we are ready for him.” He tilted her face to his and stared into her eyes with steely resolve. “We’ll take him down, Chris.”
“Thanks,” she whispered, a lump forming in her throat. “And thank you, Sophie.”
“You can thank me in the morning by making some of these for my customers.” Sophie held up one of the apple crumb muffins Chrissie’d made that morning. “They’re delicious.”
“Wait, you want me to come in tomorrow to work?” Chrissie wasn’t sure if Sophie was asking for her to work, or merely to bake.
“Tomorrow, and for the next two weeks as the rest of your trial period, then after Joan leaves, if all goes well, and I’m sure it will, you’ll be hired full time. ” Sophie stood. “I’m sorry I didn’t think this through as thoroughly earlier today. I was just sort of blindsided. I had no idea . . . anyway, I want you to work with me.”
“I’ll be there. Thanks for giving me a chance to prove myself.” Chrissie could have hugged her.
“Don’t forget the muffins.” Sophie walked around the table to give Ruby a hug. “Thanks for the snack.”
Ruby smiled and patted Sophie on the arm. “You come back and see me in the spring. We be planting lots of herbs for your kitchen and flowers for your tables.”
“I’ll take you up on that. See you, Chrissie. Owen. Beck.” Sophie headed for the door.
“I’ll walk you out,” Beck told her. He turned to Chrissie. “You get me the information, I’ll take it from there. And don’t forget the photo.”
“I think they all were lost when I ditched the phone I took them on, but I’ll see if I can find something,” Chrissie told him. “And thanks.”
“Of course.” Beck looked at Ruby. “You really should have your own police force on the island, Miz Carter.”
Ruby smiled. “Now, why would we be needing our own when we have you, Gabriel Beck?”
He laughed, and caught up with Sophie, who was waiting for him at the door.
“Maybe we should have our own police,” Owen said after Beck and Sophie left.
“Never did before, son. Don’t see no reason to change things.”
“Gigi, we don’t even have a town government,” he reminded her.
“Don’t have a town, neither, boy. It’s just the island, same as it’s always been.” She hoisted herself from her seat. “See you take a few of those muffins home to Cass. I know she favors them.”
“Why were any left over from this morning?” Chrissie asked.
“Figured we’d be having company, by and by. Always hospitable to have something to offer.” She walked toward her apartment. “Night, Owen. Thanks for stopping by.”
“Thanks for calling me, Gigi.” He kissed her on the cheek as she passed by.
“Wait, she called you . . .” Chrissie frowned and turned to Ruby, who hadn’t missed a step. “How did you know to call him?” she asked.
“I told you she’d be coming ’round, didn’t I?” Ruby kept walking. “I told you not to fret. Should be payin’ better attention when I be talking to you . . .”
Chrissie rubbed the back of her neck. “I’m never going to get used to her. Honestly, Owen, I’ve been here for months and she still surprises me. What does she know and when does she know it?” She shrugged.
“No rhyme or reason that I can tell.” He stood in the doorway. “And this from someone who sometimes knows things himself.”
“I hope you’re kidding. The last thing I want to be thinking about is whether or not that eye is in our DNA.”
“Not kidding. I do try to ignore it, though. I don’t want to know things. I just want to live my life and love my family.” He gave Chrissie one last quick hug. “That includes you, kiddo. You know I’d do whatever I had to do if this guy shows up.”
“I know. Thanks.”
Owen stepped outside, then, before she closed the door, said, “Don’t forget to give Beck the info he asked for.”
“Got it. Thanks again.” She watched him walk to his car, then shut the door and locked it.
Chrissie heard another door open, then close. She went through Ruby’s apartment and to the screen door that led to the back porch.
“I thought you were going to read for a while.” Chrissie went out and sat in the rocking chair next to the one Ruby occupied.
“Why you be thinking that?”
“Well, you have that new thriller to read.”
“It’s a good one, yes.” Ruby’s chair began to rock slowly. “I be going back to it soon enough.”
Chrissie rocked along at the same pace as Ruby.
“It’s a really pretty night,” she said. “Lots of stars, and it’s quiet enough to hear the waves hitting the shore.”
Ruby merely nodded and continued to rock.
“I guess it’s going to be time to plant up that garden of yours soon,” Chrissie said. “I guess you’re thinking about what you want to plant this year.”
“No, I be thinking about those perennial flowers that already be pushed out of the ground. I’m pleased to see my old friends come back around again this year.”
“Where are your flowers?”
“The Shasta daisies be here.” Ruby pointed to a bed that ran along the fence. “Pinks be there, too, and peonies. They be in bud already. Hollyhocks over there close to the house. Roses along the fence. Be real pretty here come summer.”
“When do we plant new stuff? And what do you want to plant, Gigi?”
“I be about to ask you the same thing.” Ruby rested her head, her eyes fixed on the stars. “What do you want to grow?”
“Whatever you like. It’s your garden.”
“That garden be ours, not mine. I just asked you what you wanted. What do you like to cook? What do you like to eat?”
Chrissie took a few minutes to think it over. “I like to cook with herbs. Thyme, tarragon, chives, sage, rosemary. Oh, and curry, and parsley, and I love different kinds of mint. And tomatoes—I love the varieties. So versatile. Lettuces. Eggplant. Summer squash. Melons. Cucumbers. Green beans, definitely. Golden and white beets, maybe. Carrots for sure.”
“Might have to make the garden bigger, but that be fine. You want to plant all that, best get busy. Seeds on sale at the hardware store in town right about now. Heard Clay Montgomery has seedlings left over, might be he’ll sell you a few. Hoes and rakes and trowels in the shed out back. Best get busy.”
Ruby stood suddenly. “Lettuces be cool crops. You want them in now. Plan for the weekend. Monday be the day to plant. The weather be just right, spring being late this year, even if it be May already.”
She went inside, leaving Chrissie alone on the porch to contemplate her garden. Tomorrow after work she’d stop at the Montgomery farm and see if Clay had any plants to sell, then see what she’d need to pick up at the hardware store. She’d had a garden when she was young, and she’d loved it, so she welcomed the chance to grow some of her favorites.
Tomorrow she’d begin by choosing her plants, and then she’d figure out how much bigger the garden would have to be to hold it all. It made her happy to know she’d have this bit of ground to work on her own. Growing things had always seemed both empowering and soothing to her. Empowering because you were tapping into what she thought of as the life force, watching seeds become plants that would eventually bear fruit or flowers, and soothing because the time you spent in the garden was quiet time to enjoy nature.
The very thought of it energized her. She went inside, singing “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” and after saying good night to Ruby, went upstairs to make her list of herbs and vegetables to buy and to sketch out where in the garden she’d plant them.