Page 18 of Garden Daddy

“Is that a question or a statement?”she teased.The lilt at the end of his sentence had rendered it far more like a question than an opinion.

“I mean, it is interesting…”

“But you’re not really interested.That’s okay.”She leaned against his arm.“I prefer knowing your true thoughts, good or bad.”

Marcus looked around again, studying the walls.

“I think it’s just not really my thing.”

“Thank you for being here with me, anyway.”That was the point.It wasn’t his thing, but he was doing his best to make the whole experience enjoyable for her, despite his personal feelings about it.

“Of course.”This time it was his turn to squeeze her fingers, and Eden smiled back at him.There was no ‘of course’ about it, going by their past experiences, and they both knew it.But she was doing better at appreciating the changes he’d made without the bitterness of wondering why he’d waited until after she’d left.She was happy it had happened, even if it had taken longer than she’d wanted.

They’d spent the past few weeks getting to know each other again—without all the bickering and sniping that had characterized their interactions ever since their lives had collided for a second time.They’d done a lot of catching up about what they’d missed over the years.Eden had been surprised, but not shocked, to hear thatallof his old work friendships had fallen by the wayside after he’d stopped working.

She’d thought maybe a few would endure, but Marcus didn’t seem to be broken up about it.Then again, his whole attitude now seemed to be zen and going with the flow.He seemed to accept that their lives no longer intersected with his.Their interests had remained focused on work, and they didn’t have time for anything outside of that.

He didn’t say it, but she got the feeling it helped him understand how she’d felt about him and his relationship with the office during their marriage.

They’d had a few more scenes at the Outlands, too.

Eden had insisted on keeping the sex there for now.Was it one of the barriers she was keeping up?Absolutely.She knew it.He knew it.

Walking through the gallery, she was starting to feel like she might be ready to lower it.Yes, they were still in the ‘new relationship’ glow where things were shiny and bright, but it wasn’t as if Marcus had completely changed.He still worked hard.He just didn’t make the nursery his entire life, even though he owned it.

He took time off.He had hobbies outside of it.And friends outside of it, although technically, Owen and Andres wererightoutside of it in their food trucks.So, they were nursery-adjacent.But none of them spent all their time there.

She was starting to feel like this new Marcus wasn’t just real but as though he really was everything she wanted.

She was starting to fall in love again.

And hoping the fall didn’t completely decimate her this time.

Once they’d made their way through the current installation and stepped out into the sunshine, she felt the kind of happiness in her soul that always came from good art.Sighing, she closed her eyes and lifted her face to the sun to soak in some of the rays.All the good things.

“Ready for lunch?”Marcus asked, giving her hand a squeeze.Eden opened her eyes and beamed up at him.

“Sure.I’m starved.”

The words had barely left her mouth when his phone rang.Immediately, his hand went to his pocket, but instead of picking it up and answering it—what he would have done during their marriage—he pressed the side to turn off the ringer.Eden raised her eyebrows at him.

“If it’s important, they’ll leave a voicemail,” he said firmly.

Well, okay then.

They hadn’t taken more than a couple steps before it started to ring again.A little pit formed in the bottom of Eden’s stomach.This was all too familiar, but she tried to shove it away.

Marcus frowned, reaching into his pocket.He still didn’t answer it, but he was checking to see who it was, which was fair.That was two calls right in a row.It was probably something important.

“It’s the nursery,” he said, still frowning.Hesitating.

She knew if she wasn’t there, if they weren’t on a date, he would have answered immediately because he was the owner of said nursery.He was hesitating because shewasthere, and theywereon a date.

“Answer it.”She managed to sound mostly supportive and cheerful.After all, he had just taken her through an art installation he had no interest in.

“I’m sorry.It’ll be quick, I promise.”

Eden nodded her understanding, keeping her fake smile firmly planted on her lips, but Marcus surprised her again.He didn’t turn and walk away, phone to his ear, as he would have in the past.Instead, he stood right there, still holding her hand as he answered it, so she could hear the conversation.

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