“Well,Iwas thinking maybe in that house over there.”Ipoint toward the top corner of the field again. “Withyou?”
Polly’sbrow furrows.OhGod, is this too much, too soon?Doesshe thinkI’mpressuring her? “Imean,I’mnot trying to rush things, it’ll take a while to build a house.Andby then, hopefully…maybe…you might be ready to live with me?”
“Oh, of course,” she says, like it’s already a done deal. “ButI’mworried about what you’d do about work?”
“Ican commute.”Ipoint to another corner of the field. “Thoughtthe helipad could go over there.”
Shepulls away, eyes wide, head shaking from side to side. “Oh, no, you’re not having—”
Iplace my hand gently over her mouth. “Kidding.I’mkidding.”Shepunches me on the arm. “Icould stay in the city one or two nights a week, and work from here the other days.”
“Yeah, right.Sure, you’d be able to bear being away from the office.”Shelaughs and rolls her eyes. “Butthe workaholic is who you are.AndIlove you exactly the way you are.So, whatever works for you.”
“Andif you’d like to join the family business, you’re welcome to come and run theGrowTogetherinitiative.Ithas to be rolled out properly.Andthere’s no oneI’dtrust to do that more.”
“That’sa great offer.”Shetaps her chin and looks to the sky, as if deep in thought for a moment. “ButIthinkI’dlike to work on making a success of my own business, thanks.”
“Andthat would be great too.So, canIassume the answer is yes?You’dlike to live here.Andyou’ll have me?”
Sheflings her arms around me again. “Ofcourse,I’llhave you.”
“Metoo,”Gloriasays from the seat of her walker.
“Andme?”Carlysays. “Ican visit, right?”
EPILOGUE
Two months later
MAX
Theturnout for the grand opening of the inauguralGrowTogethercommunity garden inWarmSpringsis even better thanI’dhoped.
It’sa glorious summerSunday, and the crowd is abuzz with chatter and laughter.Anold guy is dancing with three little kids to the small brass band that’s set up in the corner.Andthere are long lines for the ice cream, coffee, and donut stands.Aswell as forGeraldMontgomery’swine stall,Lordhelp us.Allof which are free, courtesy ofYellowBarn.
Icouldn’t resist the chance to haveGeraldhere for old time’s sake.Pollylaughed when she saw him setting up and asked me when the llamas would be arriving.
Gerald’sbrought along his daughter’s roommate to help.Apparentlyshe’s a master’s student atNYUand needs every odd job she can lay her hands on to get by.She’scertainly doing a grand job working the crowd with trays of samples of his various flavor concoctions.
There’sa good press turnout too.Aphotographer from the local paper is wandering around snapping the festivities, and the sameTVcrew that coveredPolly’sprotest is back for the story’s happy ending.
“Thisis fabulous,Max,” my mom says as she admires a healthy row of lettuce. “Thebest idea you’ve ever had.”
I’mso glad my parents and brothers could be here today to see what we’re doing.Thewhole area’s now divided into individual plots where people can grow whatever they like.
“IfI’dknown all it would take for you to thinkI’dhad an amazing idea would be for me to buy a piece of land and give it away,I’dnever have bothered working my ass off to build a billion-dollar business.”Iwink at her. “It’sdefinitely fun though.”
“Andhere’s the wonderful woman who inspired it all.”Momclaps asPollyand her mother approach between two raised vegetable beds.Gloria’sleg is healed, but she still needs a cane for the time being.
MomlovedPollythe moment they met.Thefirst timeItook her home to meet my parents, they bonded over a shared love of soil and all things that grow in it.Mom’salways been an avid gardener, so she’s in her element enjoying her first summer working on the huge grounds of the new house.
Wespent yesterday there soPollycould meet my brothers, who were visiting for the weekend.
Theyoungest,Elliot, came up to helpMomout.Heinherited her green thumb.HisManhattanapartment and office—which is in my building—are overrun with plants.Prettysure he prefers them to people.
Connorwas there because he needed some peace and quiet for a couple of days after getting a rocket up his ass from the board of his company.They’remighty pissed that he was in the gossip columns yet again.Anowner who rolls out of bars at two in the morning latched onto a bottle ofJackDaniels, a cigarette, and a couple of models isn’t the greatest image for an educational toy company.
Buthe was definitely on his best behavior yesterday.Heeven washedMom’sbeloved old truck.He’sa good guy, when he’s not being a dick.
