The contractor popped another donut in his mouth. Jelly, this time. "What do you know about?"
"Books. Poetry." He lifted his shoulders, dropped them with a sigh. "The treatment facility I was at this summer had a gardening program. It was nice. Everyone tended their own piece of land."
Considering this, I shifted toward the ocean. Nate did the same. "And you learned something? From the gardens?"
"I learned that flowers and fruit are the last stages in a plant's life cycle," he answered. "That tons of growth takes place underground, where no one sees it. And that it might look like nothing is happening for so long that people wonder whether it's unhealthy or the soil isn't draining well or it doesn't belong in this climate, but that plant is busy gathering the strength to bloom. That's what I learned."
The contractor slammed his truck door shut and wiped his paws on the seat of his jeans. I raised a hand, waving him toward us. To Nate, I said, "I'll teach you what you need to know about mixing drinks and pulling pints. The rest of it is listening while someone tells you how their garden grows." I clapped him on the back. "If you stick around, that is."
Chapter Ten
Brooke
Covenants: The conditions agreed to in the process of financing debt, intended to protect the lender’s interests.
November
Annette:Let's go to the Galley tonight.
Brooke:This isn't a good night for me.
Annette:Tomorrow?
Brooke:Maybe not.
Annette:Come on…I realize it's not the swankiest spot, but we get to drink liquor and annoy JJ. That sounds like a great outing to me and we haven't been there in ages. Like, full months.
Brooke:I need to keep a handle on things around here.
Annette:Is everything all right?
Brooke:Yeah.
Brooke:No.
Brooke:I don't know.
Annette:It's okay, sweetie. We don't have to go out. I can bring some snacks and wine over.
Brooke:That works. Thank you for dealing with all my quirks.
Annette:Don't mention it. You deal with mine.
* * *
December
Annette:I regret to inform you that I am dead.
Annette:I've died.
Annette:Remember me fondly.
Brooke:This is fascinating for me because I'm usually the one coming out with outrageous comments and you're the one saying, Uh huh. Okay. Care to unpack that for me?
Annette:Please don't enjoy my death.
Brooke:Let's start with this. Why are you dead and how did you die?
