Page 14 of The Brit and the Bridesmaid
“This is Abby Grover,” Matt said. “She’s something of a plant expert, and I told her about your tomatoes.”
To his credit, Barney didn’t give any indication the two of them had spent a few evenings talking about Abby. “Did you also tell her that the spots weren’t my fault?”
Abby spoke before Matt could. “In my experience, tomato spots are seldom the gardener’s fault.”
“That’s the truth.” Barney emphasized the declaration with a quick nod of his head. “If you can save these stubborn plants, you’ll be an expert in my book.”
Abby’s smile was sincere— not the fake, patronizing smile too many people gave the elderly. Everything about her felt that way— honest, real.
They passed through Barney’s flat, past furniture he’d probably had for as long as Matt and Abby had been alive. Matt had only been inside Barney’s place a couple times, but it was always neat and tidy. Barney was that way with his garden as well. The spots on his plants probably bothered him most because it wasn’t up to his standards.
“I put the plants over here that have the problem,” Barney said as they reached the balcony. “I didn’t want them too close to the others, just in case it’s insects.”
Abby knelt in front of the plants, looking closely at them. “You were smart to move them. I think it is insects.” She carefully turned over one of the leaves, eying the underside. She looked up at Barney. “Do you have a sheet of paper and some kind of magnifying lens?”
Barney nodded eagerly. “I have a lens for reading the morning paper.”
“Perfect.”
He made his way back inside.
Matt sat on the ground next to her. “What do you need the paper for?”
“I’m going to write the bugs a letter, asking them nicely to leave Barney’s plants alone.”
She spoke so seriously, without even the smallest twitch to her lips. For just a moment Matt didn’t realize she was joking. Then her smile spread. She had a great smile.
“That’s how professionals deal with insects?” He let his amusement and doubt show.
“Insects are very polite. They wouldn’t ever, you know, talk smack at a soccer match or anything like that.”
He chuckled. “You had a few choice things to say as well.”
Her smile grew to a grin. “Mostly because we were far better than the rest of them.”
“We were, weren’t we?” He hadn’t had that much fun playing football in a very long time. “We play almost every Sunday. You should come.”
The smallest show of a blush touched the skin behind her freckles. “Maybe I will.”
I hope so.
“And thanks, again, for doing this for Barney. He doesn’t get out much anymore, and these plants are his life, just about.”
Her gaze went to the sliding door and the living room beyond. “Does he have any family?”
“His wife died a few years ago, and his children all live out of state. He and I sort of adopted each other— I don’t have any family here either.”
She looked back at him again. “That’s really sweet.”
He couldn’t think of anything to say. The softness in her brown eyes made it impossible to think at all.
Barney rejoined them, handing Abby the paper and magnifying lens. She shook a leaf over the paper then studied the tiny specks that landed on it with the lens. The specks moved.
“Spider mites.” She folded the paper over the bugs, pressing it tightly. “Do any of your other plants seem infested?”
She and Barney spent the next half hour meticulously going through his entire balcony garden. Matt didn’t know enough to offer any insights, but he thought he did a good job following directions and retrieving the things they asked for.
After checking the last of Barney’s plants, Abby broke the bad news. “The mites probably arrived on one of your plants, but there are signs of them on all of them now.”
