“I can pay for it, Zander.” It still seems strange to me to let him pay for things. We’ve only known each other for a brief time.
“I know,” he acknowledges, “but I’d like to pay this time.”
Looking at him, I can see that he really wants to contribute. “Okay, but I’m buying the seeds and transplants.”
“Done. Let’s get going.” He smiles.
We follow Zander out to the truck, and Bay suggests inviting the guys over to help. I agree, so he texts everyone as Zander drives us to the building supply first. I follow Bay and Zanderas they grab what we need for the beds and irrigation without my input, which I appreciate. We stop at the landscape supply company next, where they let me wander as long as I want. Zander prompts me by asking questions about the various composts and soils available. It helps me to pick out a compost and soil mixture to be delivered later today.
The other guys are waiting on the back porch when we get back. “Sunshine, I need a hug,” Seb exclaims, coming over to the truck. I give him his hug, not tensing at all this time, then say hi to everyone. “So we’re building a veggie garden today?”
“Yeah, if you guys don’t mind helping. I’ve got soil being delivered later today.”
“We’re on it, Sunshine,” Seb smiles.
“We need to set up a mitre saw in the backyard. Grab the drills and 3-inch screws,” Bay instructs. “We’re building 4x4 and 4x8 beds. I’ve got the drawing in my pocket.”
The guys all disperse to the garage. E grabs the mitre saw and extension cord. Nick and Bay both grab a tool belt, drills, and screws. Seb and Zander grab the lumber with my help.
“Summer,” Bay says. “Can you tell me where you want the beds?”
“Um, your drawing was good. Let’s do that.”
“Okay,” he smiles patiently, grabbing the piece of paper and offering it to me. “Turn it in whatever direction you want.”
I look at the paper. “How about placing the long beds on the right and the square ones on the left?” Yay, I decided without panicking and under pressure. I don’t want to explain to everyone that I’m having trouble doing that. Bay wouldn’t have noticed an issue at the landscape company with the way Zander was prompting me.
“Great. I was thinking we could build the beds and then set them in place and use spray paint to mark the corners, lift them back up, then use the rototiller between the marks to get the soil ready?”
“That will work, yeah.” Bay is a planner, it seems. He’s obviously good at fixing but seems equally adept at creating.
“Okay,” Bay says, turning to the guys, “who wants to do what?”
Zander offers to do the cuts. Seb and E will mark the placement and roto till. I offer to carry the lumber back and forth and assist as before.
“That leaves me and Nick to put the boxes together with Summers’ help then,” Bay decides. He gets Nick to help him set aside 12 of the 8ft boards. Just cut the rest in half, Z. Cut the 2x2 pieces at 10.5 inches long.”
“Got it. Let me grab some safety glasses.”
Nick marks out 4ft lengths on the boards while Bay marks the 2x2 pieces. Zander comes back and offers me a pair of safety sunglasses. I pick up the marked boards and hand them to Zander. After we have a pile of cut pieces, I switch to help Nick and Bay hold the lumber to screw together. Then I move over to helping Seb and E position the beds where I want them. I move between everyone, helping where I can, and it only takes a few hours to build all the garden beds. As E finishes tilling a bed, we all help remove the grass clumps left behind.
“Let’s stop for lunch,” Zander calls, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
“Thank god, I was wasting away,” Seb dramatically exclaims, pretending to faint like a damsel in an old movie.
Smiling, I head into the house to my bathroom to wash up. When I get back to the kitchen, I find the guys lined up outside the powder room. “You can use the bathroom in the hall,” I offer.
“Thanks, Sunshine,” Seb hollers as he rushes past the rest of the guys.
E comes into the kitchen as I’m looking through the fridge. “Any ideas, Summer?”
“There’s chicken and steak in the freezer,” I offer.
“How about a chicken pasta salad?”
“That sounds good. I can thaw out some baked goods fordessert.”
“Great. I’ll start cooking the chicken and pasta. Can you chop up some veggies?” E asks.
