I see Ezra stepping through the crowd, weaving toward me in an intentional way. Beside him walks a woman I don’t recognize, but he introduces her casually to others as they pass.
“Levi!” he greets when he finally reaches me. “Perfect timing. This is Delilah Greene. She runs Alston’s Nursery over in Wellsboro and mentioned wanting to support community initiatives. Who better to connect her with than Stonevale’s favorite flower guy?”
Delilah extends her hand, a kind, weathered smile pulling softly at the corners of her mouth. Her gray hair is pulled back in a soft braid, her eyes sharp but kind behind simple wire-frame glasses. “It’s wonderful to finally meet you, Levi. Ezra speaks so highly of your work.”
Heat rises in my cheeks. “Ezra may be biased, but I appreciate it.”
She huffs a laugh. “I doubt he’s exaggerating. Tell me aboutthis garden of yours. What’s the heart of it? Every garden worth its roots has one.”
I glance toward Hayden, who’s now leaning against the bar.
“It’s about creating space,” I explain. “When I first imagined the community garden, it was just a patch of earth and a hopeful idea. But as it grew, it became something bigger. Something important. We’ve all lost something in Stonevale. But the garden isn’t just about healing, it’s about growing through it. It’s about taking what hurts and planting something new. Something beautiful.”
Delilah’s gaze is thoughtful. “That’s a very tender way to look at it.”
I smile. “Well, gardens have a way of teaching you patience, compassion…the value of making space for grief to become something else. That’s why I believe in this project. It’s not just a garden, it’s…” I pause, searching for the right words. “It’s a promise.”
She tilts her head, intrigued. “A promise?”
I nod. “That even when you lose something, life still finds a way to bloom.”
“You have something special here, Levi. I’d be honored to support it however I can.”
Relief eases into my chest. “Thank you, Delilah. That truly means a lot.”
She smiles, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “We have a lot of eager local growers. It’d be nice to support something new in Stonevale.”
I nod, catching sight of Hayden returning from the bar, two glasses in hand. Beside me, Ezra cracks some easy joke, and I laugh without thinking. His hand finds my shoulder in a quick, familiar squeeze.
Hayden’s posture tightens, shoulders squaring.
I smile at Delilah, forcing lightness into my voice. “I’d love to talk more about this, Delilah. We should grab coffee. Next week?”
“Absolutely,” she replies. “I’d love that. Come by the nursery after and walk the rows with me.”
Ezra squeezes my shoulder again, and when Hayden reaches us, handing me a glass, his eyes zero in on where Ezra’s hand rests.
“Hayden,” I say quickly, pulling him closer with my voice, “meet Delilah Greene. She runs a nursery in Wellsboro and just made my day by promising to help with our garden project.”
Hayden’s tension softens just enough and he extends a hand to Delilah. “Lovely to meet you, Delilah. I’m certain your support will make a world of difference.”
She takes Hayden’s hand. “Lovely to meet you.”
There’s a smile curving at Hayden’s lips. “The pleasure is very much mine.”
“And, Ezra, this is Hayden Harlow,” I say, not really able to ignore the introduction. “Hayden, Ezra runs the supply store.”
Ezra smirks, extending his hand. “Good to finally meet you.”
Hayden takes it, polite yet guarded. “Likewise.”
Ezra’s eyes move between us. “Well, I’ll let you two get back to it. Good luck tonight, Levi.”
“Thanks, Ez,” I murmur.
Hayden watches them leave, his shadows curled protectively at the ready, then turns quietly back toward me.
“I’ll be right back,” he says, voice tight and clipped, like he’s withholding a thousand thoughts at once.
