Page 34 of A Curse On Black Lake
Killian walks over to my flower bed and drags his finger over the petals. “What do you do with these?” he asks.
I meet him by the bed and smell the marigolds growing large and full in orange and yellow. “Oh nothing. They’re a passion project of mine. I’ve always wanted to sell fresh flowers outfront, but it takes a while to establish a garden with the purpose of cut flowers.”
“Looks like they’re plenty established to me,” he says, reaching for the flower again.
“They are,” I sigh.
“Then why don’t you sell them?” he asks.
I hum and reach for a rose with thick, sharp thorns down the stem. I’ve always loved something about roses. Maybe it’s because they’re devastatingly beautiful and can draw blood. Almost like a reminder not to believe everything you see.
“I don’t know,” I whisper.
Killian doesn’t respond, and I find him staring at me.
My cheeks flush, and I look away.
“You should. They’re pretty,” he says.
I purse my lips and let go of the rose. What I don’t say is, I’m afraid no one will buy them.
“Anyway, let’s take care of this harvest and then head over to yours.”
He nods and follows me to the garden shears, and I grab us each a pair, with a basket for the herbs.
“Hold the mint here and check to see if there’s anything budding. Cut right above that. If anything seems to be seeding out, nip the tops and toss them. I’m trying to keep this section from seeding out before I’m ready for it.”
I spot a stem of mint where a bunch of baby leaves are beginning to grow. “See right—” My voice catches in my throat as our fingers brush, reaching for the same stem. My chest thuds. I don’t pull away like before, and neither does he.
“Like this one?” he asks.
“Yeah,” I say, oddly breathless.
“I can do that,” he says and stands up straight.
Brushing my hands over my overalls, I hand him the shears. “You do this row and I’ll do the other.”
He nods and starts at the other end. I find myself constantly peeking at him from under the brim of my hat as he carefully inspects each stem of mint to make sure he doesn’t cut something he shouldn’t.
I smile to myself, and my heart tears a little. Grams would have liked Killian. He might be stern and grumpy all the time, but I can feel his heart. It’s pure. You don’t meet many people like that these days.
Maybe you should show him yours.
“Y’all need to chill out,” I mutter and glance up at Killian. He’s looking at me with a question in his eyes, but goes back to his snipping.
You should tell him we are here.
“I would love not to scare one person who isn’t Grams, away.”
He will understand.
I laugh and try to swallow so I don’t weird Killian out anymore than I already have. “I highly doubt that.”
Do not underestimate him. He knows you better than he understands.
I roll my eyes and snip, moving a little faster than Killian because I’ve been doing this since I could hold a pair of scissors in my tiny hands. “It’s not like he’s going to save the world,” I whisper quietly.
No, he is not capable of that job. That plan was written long before. But together, you are capable of righting a wrong from long ago. You both will usher in new life.
