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Jasmine’s head moves back and worth.“I don’t think she’s a strong enough person to stand up to him...even when it comes to me.”
“I get why you don’t go home.”What she described is no one’s idea of home.“What I mean is that it’s not surprising that you don’t visit your mom and stepfather.And I think you’ve done a pretty great job of creating a home for yourself.”Using my plate, I motion to the walls around me.
She eats another slice of pizza before continuing.“I call my mom once a year on her birthday.She has my number, but she never calls me.And I’ve learned to be okay with it.”
“Now I understand why your eyes glistened with tears when Mrs.Grindle went on about how they’ve adopted you.”
A soft laugh escapes, and she covers her mouth.“Yeah.That’s why I don’t complain about the overprotective stuff.Their hearts are in the right place.”
I’ve shunted our first encounter to the back of my brain, but her invisible comment has an image of her from that night front and center.Of all the women at the party—and there were tons—she’s the one who caught my eye...even before I sensed trouble.
“Hearing your story explains a lot.Your happiness is inside, and it shows.Also, you aren’t invisible to me.”
A blush colors her cheeks.“Your attention was fun and different.Definitely not what I was used to.”She sets her plate aside.“This good-looking cowboy was flirting with me, and I wasn’t even sure what to do.”
“Good-looking, huh?”
Her laugh is the reward for my silly question.
“I’m glad you think so.”I trail the side of my thumb on her cheek bone.“I’m starting to understand why gardening is so popular.”
More laughter bubbles out of her, and that’s when I meet her lips.If it isn’t possible to bottle it up, I’ll capture it with a kiss.But with her delightful laugh, it’ll take way more than just one peck.
After class on Wednesday,I follow Jasmine home.She’s been busy planting, and I want to see all the little plants in the garden.Really, I want to see the excitement in her eyes and the smile on her face, but it’s a package deal.
When I step up onto her porch, she turns and gives me a quick kiss as if it’s a normal, everyday occurrence.It makes me want to show up at her door every day.
“I can’t wait for you to see the garden.It looks so good.I still need to add a mulch layer to the top, but I’ll do that tomorrow morning.”
“So you found everything you wanted to plant?”
She pushes open the door.“Yes.The nursery had a great variety, and—get this—they are looking to add more staff.The owner and I chatted, and I’m interviewing next week.Can you believe it?”
“That would be perfect.I know you’d miss working with kids, but the nursery is so much closer.”
“One of the reasons she’s so excited to talk to me is because they’ve been wanting to add a series of gardening classes for kids during the summer.How incredible is that?”She brushes hairs out of her face after setting her bag down.“I’m still a bit shocked.It seems too good to be true.”
“All the things you love wrapped into one.”
Grinning, she nibbles her lip.“Come see.”
We walk out back.Little green plants are evenly spaced in the three boxes.Some plants are tiny and close to the ground.Others are taller and tied to a stake.And in the last bed, there is a trellis down the center with plants on each side.
“Tomatoes and bell peppers are in here.For these tomatoes, I’ll need to put something in I can tie them to as they grow taller.The plants will be taller than me before the frost hits.”She moves over to another bed.“And in here I have squash.It’s mostly different varieties of summer squash, but I planted some winter squash in here as well.”
“You’ll have to teach me what’s what.When I hear squash, I think of the mushy yellow stuff my mom used to make.”I lean close and whisper, “It wasn’t my favorite.”
“Have you ever had it in a pie?It’s so good.I’ll make you one when I harvest a batch.”
“Pie soundsinteresting.”
“Right?But it is good.I promise.”She continues through her garden, talking about each plant, telling me how it will grow and what she can make with it.Her enthusiasm for growing stuff is contagious, and I’m eager for the first harvest.But there is a lot of work before we get there.Joy radiates off her as she talks about plant varieties and days until harvest, and a realization, the kind that warms the chest and tightens the throat, floods me.
I love this woman.
Easing up beside me, she loops her arm around mine.“And in the spring, we can plant a whole new batch of vegetables.”
“I love that plan.”For now, that’s all I dare to say.It’s only been days since our first kiss.Even if I don’t need more time to decide, she might.And I’ll be around until she does.
