“Right this way.” Sophie led her around the side of the house and through a gate to a fenced-in area that was far bigger than Brynna had expected.
“Oh, this is absolutely beautiful.” She looked over the raised beds and climbing berry vines and fruit trees and mounds filled with leafy plants.
“It’s pretty weedy.” Sophie bent down to pull a large dandelion from the path.
“It’s heaven on earth.” Brynna tugged on some crabgrass, then smiled at Lucy. “Do you know how lucky you are to have such a lovely garden?”
Lucy seemed to consider this. “Mom makes us work out here.”
“I don’t think of this as work.” Brynna picked up a spade. “This is a treat.”
Sophie laughed. “Well, hopefully you’ll still think so later. If you’ll excuse me, I need to get dinner started.”
“No problem.” Brynna was already weeding a raised bed filled with what looked like green beans and pea vines.
“Come on, kids,” Sophie called over her shoulder. Addison trailed after her, but Lucy remained behind, curiously watching Brynna.
“You really like to do this kind of work?” Lucy asked.
“It doesn’t feel like work to me.” As she weeded, Brynna talked about the healthy plants growing there and how it wasn’t fair for them to share the nutrients in their soil with weeds. “It’d be like if you and Addison were sitting down to a really good dinner and a bunch of hungry wolves walked in and sat down at your table. They’d gobble up all your food and you and your brother would go to bed hungry.”
Lucy laughed. “My dad wouldn’t let wolves in our house.”
“I know.” Brynna chuckled. “It’s just a silly story.” As she continued to pull out the weeds, she chatted with Lucy, and before long the little girl was pulling weeds too. They took turns making up a story about the Wicked Weed King and the Green Pea Queen and the battle they were fighting.
“My goodness!” Sophie said as she came over to Brynna and Lucy. “I can’t believe how much you’ve gotten done. Or that Lucy is helping.”
“We’re making up stories,” Lucy told her.
Brynna stood, smiling at Sophie. “Lucy is an excellent gardener. We’re having fun.”
“Well, it’s dinnertime and I’m hoping you’ll join us, Bree. We already set you a plate.”
Before Brynna could protest, Lucy had grabbed her by the hand. Tugging her into the house, Lucy insisted she wanted to sit next to Brynna, and together they scrubbed their hands in the bathroom. Then Brynna, with Lucy by her side, sat down at their table, holding back happy tears as they bowed their heads and Garth said a blessing. It had been so long since she’d felt like part of a real family. Even if this were a onetime event, she knew she’d treasure the memory for a long time.
Chapter 20
Brynna hadn’t participated in such an enjoyable meal like this since her own childhood. Sophie and Garth and their children were so easy and comfortable to be with. She felt like real family. Early in her marriage, she’d dreamed of this sort of thing but never got to experience it. But the meal was done now, and little Addison’s head was drooping so low it looked like he was about to do a face-plant into the pasta.
“Looks like someone is sleepy,” Brynna said.
“Two someones.” Sophie nodded to Lucy. “Tell Bree good night, baby girl. Time for you to get ready for bed too.”
To Brynna’s surprise, as Garth scooped up his son, Lucy came over to hug her. “Good night, Bree. It was fun telling stories in the garden.”
“Itwasfun.” Brynna patted her head. “You’re a very good gardener, Lucy.”
“Will you come back tomorrow?” Lucy asked, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
“If it’s okay with your mom.” Brynna stood and started to clear the table.
Sophie laughed as she led Addison down the hall. “No worries there, Bree.”
Brynna carried a stack of dishes into the kitchen and had just started to rinse when Garth came in to help.
“You’re a guest. You shouldn’t be doing this,” he told her.
“It’s the least I can do after such a great dinner.”
