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“Looks like I’m all yours.” I follow my grandmother back to the old Ford Truck that used to belong to my grandfather.
“Great. I hope you’re ready to get your hands dirty. Anna doesn’t get to garden like she used to, but the old herb garden is still there. I brought some fresh parsley and cilantro starts. The last batch didn’t make it through that heat wave we had a few weeks back.”
Of course, my grandmother’s herbs would have survived just fine. The woman has the greenest thumb I’ve ever seen. Me, on the other hand? I have trouble keeping the sturdiest of house plants alive.
“What else are you bringing?” I ask, looking at the tall basket that sits on the floorboard of the truck when we reach it.
“The usual. Eggs, tomatoes, some zucchini.” She shrugs like it’s no big deal. She’s single-handedly producing at least seventy percent of the produce my family eats, plus all the eggs we need.
“Between that, the herbs, and the bread, she won’t have to go to the store this week.” I climb in and put the basket in my lap. It’s heavy, brimming with produce.
“That’s the plan. I know she misses her own garden.”
“How is Miss Anna?” I ask.
“She manages. To be honest, I don’t know how much longer she’ll be able to stay at the house.” My grandmother shakes her head, and we both grow quiet as we make our way across town.
“What’s Joe doing here?” I say to myself when I spot his red Mustang in the driveway.
“Same as you, I would think. Spending the afternoon with his grandmother. This isn’t going to be a problem, is it?” My grandmother looks at me carefully.
“Of course not. We work together. And we are still friends.” I shrug and hop out. By the look she shoots me, my grandmother doesn’t believe a word I said.
“Fiona?” Joe looks as surprised as I felt a moment ago when he opens the door and finds me standing on the porch, holding a large basket.
“Joe, it’s good to see you. I promised your grandmother I would stop by. I hope you don’t mind that I talked Fiona into tagging along.” My grandmother brushes past him and walks inside, leaving the two of us to trail behind.
“Can I take this from you?” Joe asks, reaching for the basket.
I hand it over and laugh when he almost drops it, surprised by the weight. “Careful, there are eggs in there.”
I follow him into the kitchen, and we busy ourselves putting away my grandmother’s care package.
“You don’t mind, do you?” I ask, handing him another dozen eggs.
“Mind what? You showing up here? Of course not.”
“Good. I guess you decided to spend a little extra time with your grandmother too?” I ask.
“That’s part of it. Kate, her daytime companion, is home with her sick niece. Summer flu, I think. I figured I’d help while I’m in town.” He shrugs, his eyes hooded, and I think there’s something he isn’t telling me.
“It can’t be easy. Seeing her like this.”
“It’s not. But she’s making the best of it. I’m glad she’s able to stay here. For now.”
“What are you two lovebirds doing in there?” my grandmother calls from the living room.
I shake my head and look at Joe apologetically.
“Don’t worry. Mine is just as bad. You’ll see. I’m right behind you. Coffee?” he asks, and I nod. After the lunch I had, I’m going to need a little extra caffeine to make it through an afternoon spent working in the garden and chatting about dead people I never met. “Yes, please.”
“Not too late for the real stuff?” he teases.
I wave him off and join our grandmothers in the living room.
We spend a nice hour chatting and drinking good coffee.
“Fiona, how have you been? I hope my grandson is treating you well.” Miss Anna looks at me over her coffee cup, and it’s all I can do not to spit out the hot liquid in my mouth.
