Page 10 of Baja
“You would be correct. I wasn’t born with a green thumb. I can’t even keep a cactus alive.” Ophelia shakes her head. “I could really use your help. Only if you’re up for it.”
Lorelei jumps up and down. “Yes, Ms. Alice, will you help me with my flowers? Please! I want to have the prettiest flowers in the whole world.”
“I would love to help you!” I tell her.
Ophelia’s shoulders sag with relief. “You are a lifesaver, Alice. Really.”
I wave my hand at her. “It’s no trouble at all.”
My attention is turned back to Lorelei. “What do you say we go pick out some flowers.”
“Do you think they have pink flowers?” Lorelei asks.
“Oh, they do. Come on.”
Over the next hour, I help Lorelei and Ophelia pick out flowers of all colors, soil, mulch, hoses, a sprinkler, and gardening tools. Then Lorelei insists on getting a pair of rubber boots like she’s seen me wear when I work in the greenhouse. She even convinces Ophelia to get a pair, too. I can tell gardening is not Ophelia’s thing, but the woman would do anything to make her granddaughter happy.
Once we finish, Shelly says, “I’ll have Cole load your stuff on the trailer and drop it off at your place.”
“Thanks, Shelly. I won’t go straight home, so tell him he can leave everything beside the greenhouse.”
“Will do, hun.”
I wave goodbye to Shelly as I climb into my truck. Turning to Ophelia, I let her know I’ll follow her to Mystic’s place to guide them through getting everything set up.
Fifteen minutes later, we pull up to Mystic’s house, and I park behind Ophelia.
“Thank you again for coming out here to help.”
“No thanks necessary.” I smile. “What do you say we unload this truck and get started?”
Already in her boots, Lorelei rushes to the back of the truck. Over the next few hours, we prepare the soil in the flower beds and plant every flower picked out.
Mystic has a beautiful, lush green lawn, but it needs landscaping.
“Well, what do you think?” I look at Lorelei, who has dirt smudged all over her face and clothes.
“I love it! I can’t wait for Daddy to come home and see.” Lorelei looks at her grandmother. “Do you think Daddy will like it?”
“Are you kidding?” Ophelia taps Lorelei on the nose. “He’s going to love it. Why don’t you go inside and clean up while I fix iced tea and a snack.”
“Okay!” Lorelei rushes off inside the house.
I can’t help but smile. “I had a good time today,” I tell Ophelia. “It reminded me of when Sukie was little, and we’d garden together.” I shake my head. “It seems like forever ago.”
“Yeah.” Ophelia lets out a sigh. “They grow up fast. Before you know it, your kids are having kids. And who knows, maybe Sukie will make you a grandma soon.”
I can’t help but smile at the thought of Sukie and Harlem having a baby. “I look forward to that day.”
“Something tells me they won’t make you wait long.” Ophelia laughs. “Those kids are crazy about each other.”
“I’m glad Sukie has Harlem. She deserves to be happy.” My smile slips as my thoughts drift back to not so long ago, before Harlem came into my daughter’s life. I remember how people treated her and how lonely she was—all because of me.
Ophelia touches my arm. “Hey, are you okay?”
I shake off my self-loathing. “Yeah, yeah. I’m good. Just lost in thought, is all.” I pull off my dirty gloves. “I should probably get going.”
“Wait, I can’t let you go without at least feeding you first. How about a cold glass of tea and a sandwich? It’s the least I can do for all your help today.”
