“If I don’t do it myself, it will not be a romantic gesture, Lil. But I appreciate this help. You have no idea.”
“Well, you forgot something. This one will without one doubt, wake up, right in the middle of your romantic night.”
“He’s sleeping well now.”
“It’s inevitable, honey. If a baby so much as senses his or her parents are canoodling, they wake up just a-screaming with a fever and vomiting all over the crib. Mark my words, leave him with Basil’s folks after you go eat dinner there.”
Herb realized she was right. Sage had a sixth sense anytime they were having alone time. “You’re right. Well, if I can get Basil to leave him with his folks, it’ll be a miracle, but I’ll give it my best shot.”
For that, he got a wink from his friend. “Good.”
He felt like something was missing, and he knew why. He was unsure about the entire thing. Somehow, he knew he’d mess it up.
Why was he so unsure? Well, it was likely because their first courtship was a mess. The problems with his house and learning to be an herb farmer were almost catastrophic.
“Honey, you will take to each other like old hats. Remember why this little one is yours. Remember how smitten you were when you met. I remember, and I’m an old lady with an old brain that don’t remember why I walk into a room usually. Those eyes, full of love, of promises, you’ll remember that right off, once you can concentrate on that beautiful man o’ yours without this one screaming for your attention.”
Herb sighed as he thought of Basil. When he opened the door, and Basil was standing there, the first look at him made him weak in the knees. With those dark eyes and little smile, Herb would never forget that. “He made my whole life so much better. I miss him, and that’s weird to say, being we live together and see each other every single day.”
“I remember that, honey. You get so caught up in the life you all dreamed of that you forget why you dreamed it. Remember it, and soak it in for the night. Remember all those moments before you actually got him you daydreamed about kissin’ him that first time.”
He made seven lists that night before Basil came to bed. They were all stuffed in the drawer in the nightstand, and Basil thankfully didn’t notice how stressed and excited he was about his plans. He got under the covers, kissing Herb quickly. “How’s my man?”
“Missing his man.”
“Sorry. I’m so sorry, honey. It’s been crazy today. That heater in the greenhouse finally gave out. And it’s about to snow.”
He hadn’t thought of the weather. “Snow?”
“It snows here, remember?”
Herb just got stuck wondering which of his plans would suffer from it, but he found that none would. They weren’t spending the evening in the park. They’d be in their home.
“Okay, well, it’s good, I mean, white Christmas, right? Snow and roasting chestnuts and all that stuff.”
Basil’s dark eyes narrowed at him. “Excuse me? When have you ever roasted chestnuts?”
“No, I mean, no, but…”
He was blowing it and he knew it.
“You’re being weird. What did you do?”
Jumping like he was poked, he then laughed nervously. “What? Why are you asking me all these questions?”
Basil suddenly yawned and lay down on his pillow. “I’m too tired to interrogate you tonight, but you are telling me what the heck is wrong tomorrow. I don’t think I can take it tonight.”
He was relieved. “Yeah, okay, goodnight, baby.”
“Goodnight, weirdo.”
Herb leaned down and kissed Basil softly, and found Lila was right. With that one kiss, he remembered everything. And suddenly, he was soft and in love like the first time he realized he loved Basil.
The next morning, he readied Sage and was gone before Basil got up, leaving the coffee pot made again and ready for him. He’d written a note, letting Basil know they’d talk later, but he didn’t plan on giving Basil that chance.
The first stop was at his in-law’s house. Basil’s mother, Michelle, let him into the house, and he followed her to the kitchen, where smells wafted that made his stomach ache with hunger. “Mom, it smells heavenly in here.”
After taking Sage from him, she explained, “Baking cookies, pies, and breads. I made banana bread last night, if you’d like a piece.”
