“And offering to cook for him,” June adds.
“Yes,” April raises her eyebrows. “That part. That isbonkers. How did we end up here?”
So I tell them.
About the whale rescue. About finding him at the station, planting hydrangeas. About him mentioning, almost casually, that he lost his mom too. That he keeps her gardens because it makes him feel close to her.
“That is fucking precious,” June clutches her chest, and April, for once, is silent.
I keep going. About mentioning hydrangeas being my favorite, and how they were Mom’s too. And then how I went on with my day, naming the whale, going to the grocery store, making plans for wine, pasta, andFriends—
“And I get home, and he’s on his knees planting hydrangeas by my front door.”
“Shut up.” April cuts in.
“Hold on, let me show you.”
I scroll through the pictures I took earlier and send them two.
June’s eyes go wide. “May, what the fuck.”
April completely loses it. “WHAT DO YOU MEAN this precious man lost his mom, so he keeps her gardens, and then hebuilds you onebecause you love hydrangeas because they remind you ofourmom?”
My own eyes sting now, and I blink rapidly, trying to keep it together.
“What did you say to him?” June asks. “Thanks for the flowers, want to have dinner?”
“No.” I let out a small laugh, then pause. “Okay, don’t judge me, and don’t forget—I am the black cat of the family, okay?”
They both stare at me, waiting.
“I got out of the truck,” I say after a moment. “I ran toward him, and I hugged him.”
“What?” they yell in unison.
April is still crying. June looks like her brain short-circuited.
“I may have cried a little too,” I admit, covering my face with my hand.
April shrieks, “WHAT THE FUCK IS HAPPENING?”
A worried voice comes from her side. “Honey? Are you okay?”
Max.
April sniffles. “No. Well—yes! May is in love with two men, and one of them planted a garden for her.”
Within seconds, Max is on screen, gently wiping her tears and kissing her forehead.
“I thought something happened to you.” His smile is soft.
June and I both audibly “aww”.
Max looks at the screen then. “Hey, girls. Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt. I just wanted to check on her.”
“Hi, Max,” June smiles.
“Hi,” I add. “And just for the record, I am not in love with two men.”
