“That’s all life is. Tending to what’s around you.” She smiled at him, eyes full of kindness. “In one of your emails, you said the best part of the military for you was helping folks, remember?”
He nodded and recognized a weed, quickly pulling it out. “A couple of years ago, my unit got to help rebuild a bridge for a village. It was the fastest path for them to reach a water source for their crops, so it was really important.”
“You did good.” Grammy bent and examined a vine. “That’s what I mean about tending to what’s around you. You just have to be kind, help where you can, and take care of yourself. If you see a weed, pluck it out. If there’s an injured vine, nurse it back to health.”
“What if I make mistakes?” He asked.
Grammy’s laugh echoed across the bog. “Oh, you will. We all do. Maybe you won’t recognize a weed right away, and let it flourish in your garden. Eventually, you’ll know its true nature. You just need to learn to do better after the mess-up. That’s how everyone learns.”
“So, mistakes aren’t the end?”
“Nope. They’re learning experiences. The end only comes when you stop tending to your garden.”
“You make it sound simple.”
“Oh, it is simple. It’s just not easy.” She patted his cheek again. “Very few things are. Now, after we finish here, we’re going to visit my granddaughter Janelle’s greenhouse. She’sgoing to show you how to tend to the flowers she grows. They sell well this time of year.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Walker crouchedbehind the kitchen island in a stranger’s house, trying not to laugh. Across the room, Janelle stood on a chair, carefully adjusting the last piece of fishing line.
“Is it too much?” she asked, head tilted in consideration. Her curly brown hair was gathered atop her head, and she wore leggings, mud-covered work boots, and a large T-shirt printed with the wordsSometimes I wet my plants. Her purple cat-eye style glasses gave her a vintage look. Grammy’s granddaughter was an odd one, to say the least, and Walker absolutely, one hundred percent loved her.
“I have no idea what we’re doing,” he finally answered her, shrugging.
“It’s not enough,” she answered, humming to herself. “Malcolm Reed spent years pranking us Wilsons without our knowledge. Do you know how many times I got blamed for one of his jokes?”
“I do not.”
“This is basically community service.”
“Sure.”
Janelle climbed down and put the chair back where it belonged. “Tomorrow, you can help me switch up the plants in my cousin’s flower bed. Right now, there is beebalm next to Noah’s hosta plants. I’m going to sneak in a fern. It will look horrible.” She cackled. “Of course, I’ll fix it next week, but until then, he’ll have to live with it.”
“I’m not sure that’s the prank you think it is.”
Janelle gave him a pitying look. “You’re new to this, Walker. Don’t worry. Big sister will help you learn the way.”
“I’m older than you. Plus, Grammy told you to show me how to tend to the flowers the store sells. Not whatever this is.”
She ignored him and surveyed their work.
The living room lights were off except for a single lamp in the corner. The coffee table had been moved slightly, so it would feel off to poor Mal. On the couch sat a life-sized figure made of pillows and blankets, dressed in an old hoodie. A baseball cap shaded its “face,” and under the brim, Janelle had taped a printed photo of a screaming squirrel.
To top it off, a Bluetooth speaker was hidden behind the curtains, queued to play a low, ominous whispering sound effect, and tied to the front door handle was a thin fishing line that ran all the way to Janelle’s hand.
The lock clicked.
They both froze.
“Positions,” Janelle whispered, ducking behind the island with Walker.
The door creaked open. A visibly pregnant man stepped inside, juggling a grocery bag and his phone.
“I love you too,” the man said into his phone. “I’ll see you tonight.” He tucked his phone into his pocket and looked around. “Why is it so dark? I thought I left the light on.”
He nudged the door closed with his foot. The fishing line went taut in Janelle’s hand.
