Like yesterday at work, when I didn’t storm into the burning house myself to get the resident out. The women and men from the fire department did a great job with the rescue, in their protective gear and with their expertise.
And like now, when I stop at a red light, activate the hands-free system, and call Mom.
‘Jaden? No, don’t say anything, I’m enjoying this moment before you realize you called me by accident.’ Mom’s laughter comes through the line.
‘Hi, Mom.’
‘So you accidentally hitcall Momand didn’t hang up right away…,’ she says, amused. ‘You haven’t started doing drugs lately, have you?’
I guess that’s fair punishment for avoiding her since Camee’s death. ‘Not today, for a change,’ I reply.
The light turns green, and I hit the gas.
‘Are you on your way?’ Mom asks.
‘I’m driving…’ My voice threatens to crack, I clear my throat. ‘I’m driving to the house.’
On the other end of the line, it stays quiet just a fraction too long. ‘So you’re finally selling it, very good, that’s long overdue anyway,’ she then chatters, putting on a cheerful tone.
‘No.’ I overtake a cyclist, the tools in the trunk rattle. ‘I’m going to renovate it and with the garden…’
‘Nonsense,’ Mom cuts me off, as if I’d made a joke. ‘Sell it, that’s for the best, believe me. Out of sight, out of mind.’
I knew she would say that, and I also know what reaction she’s expecting from me now. ‘Lilly didn’t want it to be sold. She wanted me to be happy in that house in her place,’ I answer anyway.
Silence again. ‘Oh dear, honey, there’s someone at the door, I have to go,’ she suddenly gushes.
For a moment I consider telling her that I didn’t hear a doorbell ring, but then I let it go. At least I tried. ‘I understand.’
‘I’m sorry, we’ll talk another time, okay? Come over for dinner.’
‘Sure, I’ll…’
And she’s already hung up. Another sigh leaves my mouth, I put on my blinker and turn into Governors Court.
Nyla is waiting by the house and waves at me. Gardening gloves and safety goggles dangle from the front pocket of her jeans, her feet are in rubber boots. A shopping bag sits on the ground in front of her. I study her, trying to see whether yesterday’s tightness is still in her. She hesitated. There was something that worried her. Is she afraid of the physical strain, or of catching an infection?
I park the car, get out, and kiss her in greeting. ‘Hey,’ I murmur softly against her lips. ‘I brought you something.’ Expectantly, she raises her brows and I walk around the car to pull the straw hat out of the trunk. ‘So you don’t get sunburned,’ I say, and set it on her head.
‘Thanks.’ Her eyes shine. ‘Okay, where do we start?’
I grab a pair of loppers and manual hedge clippers from the car and hand both to her. ‘We’re taking this garden back from the wild.’
‘On it,’ she says, and stomps off in her rubber boots.
Absentmindedly, I watch her go and try to imagine what this garden might look like one day. Mom insists I should sell the house, but it’s right to keep it. Will Mom and Dad come visit me here someday?
Nyla turns to me. ‘What’s keeping you?’
‘Coming.’ Absentmindedly, I grab the electric hedge trimmer with one hand and the bags for the clippings with the other.
When I reach Nyla, she looks me over. She definitely notices that I’m brooding. ‘Step by step, at our own pace.’
I shake my head. ‘That’s not it.’
‘Then what is it?’ She tests the pruning shears on one of the thinner branches and snips it off. ‘You seem so… I don’t know… thoughtful.’
I break up the branch Nyla just cut off. ‘On my way here I talked to my mom on the phone.’
