Page 1 of Until We Weren't

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“Those are doing well despite this heat.”

Faith looked up and smiled. “Hi, Mrs. Baker. How are you?”

“Oh honey, I’m just out enjoying this sunshine,” Mrs. Baker replied. “I’m glad to see you. I’ve told the boy who cuts the grass he’d better take care of these plants or you’ll be after him.”

Faith Fields was the owner of Lush Fields Landscaping. She had planted the grass and created the flower beds for this retirement home several years ago when she was working for another company, but she still stopped by occasionally to check on the plants and shrubs.

Faith chuckled. “Sometimes plants die, Mrs. Baker.”

“It’s been years since you’ve planted these and not one has died. The way you lovingly tend to the delicate plants to make sure they thrive makes me wonder if you give that kind of attention to other parts of your life,” Mrs. Baker said.

Faith was on her knees and stopped to look up at the older woman and smirk. “You know this was one of the first projects I was able to create and put in. It’s special to me and that’s why I come by to make sure I chose the right plants for this area. I want you to have something beautiful to look at on your daily walks. Besides, I get to see you.”

Mrs. Baker smiled. “Your friend from The Green Thumb came by earlier this week and checked on that very flower bed.”

Faith bristled and paused for a moment then she stabbed her small shovel into the earth around the vinca plant she was tending to.

“I still don’t understand why you two don’t come by together anymore,” Mrs. Baker said. “It seems to me you’d be finished a lot quicker with two of you.”

Faith pushed the dirt around the tender plants then looked up at Mrs. Baker. “You know why. We both have our own companies now and don’t work together any longer.”

“Yet you both still come by and check on these plants,” Mrs. Baker said, raising one eyebrow.

Faith sighed and tried to push down the knot that had formed in her stomach.

“Why is it again that you two opened separate companies? You did everything together to make this place beautiful,” Mrs. Baker said.

“Now, Mrs. Baker, it’s been years,” Faith said, standing up and dusting off her pants. “You know we had our own ideas about things and decided to go off on our own. Some things don’t flourish no matter how much attention you give them.”

“Mmhmm,” Mrs. Baker muttered, staring at Faith. “It seems to me that sometimes these plants get a little brown or wilt and you think they’re gone, but lo and behold there are still little shoots of green at the base. There’s still life.”

Faith put her hands on her hips and tilted her head. “When did you become a horticulturist?”

“I’ve watched these plants grow since you put them in, dear,” Mrs. Baker said.

Faith reached down to pick up her other tools.

“Some of them have withered, but you haven’t had to replace them because they keep coming back,” Mrs. Baker continued.

Faith looked into Mrs. Baker’s eyes and knew she wasn’t just referring to the plants.

“Sometimes plants aren’t the only things that wither,” Mrs. Baker said. “I live in a place where I see that happen every day. Hell, I experience it because of my age.”

“But you’re not,” Faith said with a smile. “You’re thriving.”

Mrs. Baker scoffed. “And your business is thriving, but are you?”

Faith smirked. “I’ll see you again soon, Mrs. Baker.”

“Think about it, Faith,” Mrs. Baker said. “It hurts my heart to see my friends wither away before their time.”

Faith smiled and walked back to her truck. The last thing she wanted to do was think about her friend as Mrs. Baker had called her. Destiny Green was the furthest thing from a friend. It made Faith’s stomach queasy that she ever let that woman touch her, much less trust her with her heart.

Mrs. Baker was right that they did work well together. As time passed they became more than co-workers and led their own teams within the company. Faith trusted Destiny with her ideas of how they could turn a piece of ground into something beautiful.

In turn Destiny befriended Faith and they began to spend time together outside of work. They had fun and Faith felt like she’d found a true friend. As their friendship evolved into more, Faith was hesitant at first. Her past was full of people who were supposed to care for her, yet always let her down.

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