When she moved to Willowbrook, she’d lost herself. Her first winter in the mountain town had been long and hard, but being shut in all those days, with only herself for company, taught her so much about herself.
Things she didn’t know when she was with Chris.
She puttered around the perennials section, pinching off the dead heads of spent flowers to give them a chance to bloom again.
Just like her.
Without glancing at a clock, the slant of the sun through the glass wall told her it was almost closing time. She was already looking forward to going home and reheating leftovers. Just then, she heard an engine outside and knew she had one last customer to serve.
Greenhouse time was different from everyday life—everything moved slower in here, so Fern did too. She drifted to the front counter in time to greet the woman as she entered, gripping the hand of her small son.
“Hello.” Fern offered a pleasant smile. After leaving behind her old life, smiling had felt foreign to her, as if her face muscles forgot how to work. Now, her smiles came as easy as breathing.
“Hi. I’m just looking for a few plants for my pots outside.”
“By the new swimming pool!” the little boy piped up, brown eyes bright with excitement.
Fern circled the counter. “A swimming pool? Wow. Can you swim?”
“Not yet, but I’m learning! Aren’t I, Mom?” He bounced up and down like he was full of fizz and someone shook him up.
His mother patted his head. “You’re getting better every day. Come on, let’s find some plants. It’s almost closing time, and the nice lady wants to go home.”
Fern waved a hand. “Take your time. No rush.” She moved back behind the counter, busying herself with emptying the wastebasket and tidying up.
A sudden shrill scream echoed through the greenhouse, and Fern jumped. Whipping toward the sound, her head filled with images of the young boy tripping over a hose or finding some sharp object to cut himself on.
By the time she rushed toward the sound, she was already mentally preparing to grab the first-aid kit. But the customer was chasing her son through a row of salvia and lavender.
“Alex! Stop right now! You can’t run in here!” The woman spotted Fern and tossed a wince her direction.
Fern took the other path and stepped right in front of Alex, stopping him in his tracks.
He blinked up at her. In those big eyes, his intention to run again shone brightly.
“I bet you’re bored in here. Are you bored looking at plants?”
“Wanna go home and swim.” He pushed out his lip in a pout.
His mother stepped closer, and Fern saw her chance to help.
“Would you like to help me water some plants? I have a little watering can just your size. As long as your mom says it’s okay.”
The boy bobbed his head fast, and his mother gave Fern a grateful look. “Thank you.”
“No problem. C’mon, Alex. Let’s get that watering can.”
She spent the next few minutes showing him how to fill the can, and how full to make it. Then she let him carry it to a row of dry plants. While he happily watered each one, he chattered on and his mother had time to select a few plants.
When they all met up at the checkout, the mother offered her a big smile. “Thank you for that. I knew I was pushing my luck bringing him here after daycare. He was so excited to get home and swim.”
“Oh, it was no trouble. Alex is almost better at watering the plants than me.” She beamed at the boy, who beamed back.
“Do you have kids? You’re great with them.”
Fern stumbled over the question. “No, I don’t have kids.”
She didn’t think she ever wanted them…not with Chris.
