Chapter 19 #4
“Um, we can start going through the gardening boxes and maybe someone can check the tools to see if they’re still usable?
” Nick and Bay immediately head over to the tools, so the rest of us open the gardening boxes we set aside earlier.
The first few boxes contain old planting trays, pots, and labels.
The next box I open has gardening journals from Mara and old seed catalogs.
I remove the old catalogs and set them aside.
Closing the box back up, I take it downstairs and set it inside the door so I can read the journals later.
Looking outside, I see the sky has darkened in the last few minutes.
I read about strong thunderstorms occurring in the spring, so I watch the sky for a few minutes as the wind picks up.
Turning around, I see Bay and Nick coming down the stairs with the rototiller and a bunch of other tools.
“Nick? I think it’s going to storm, and you don’t have the cover on the Jeep. ”
He looks up at me and then gazes outside.
“Shit,” his deep voice rumbles, rushing past. He quickly jumps into the driver’s seat, parking the car in the empty bay before the rain starts.
Getting out, he closes both garage doors.
“Thanks,” he mutters, not making eye contact, as he passes me and heads back to Bay and the tools.
If I wasn’t paying close attention, I would have missed his thanks altogether.
Okay, then. I go back up the stairs to sort through the rest of the boxes with Seb and E.
Thunder begins, sounding like a predator growling at its prey, as flashes of light filter through the back loft window.
As the storm rolls through the area, a large crack echoes, causing me to jump nearly out of my skin.
Several booms within seconds of each other, powerful enough to feel like they’re shaking the garage, follow, resulting in my jumping again.
Seb thinks it’s hilarious. E whacks him on the back of the head, but it does nothing.
He apologizes for laughing, but I know there’s no malicious intent there.
We find a few more journals, more seed catalogs, pots, seeds, trays, and a box full of small tools.
“You know, these old seed catalogs might be worth something, Sunshine. Maybe the botanical gardens would like them if you don’t,” Seb suggests.
“Yeah maybe. Let’s gather them in one box and place it with the journal box. Grab the box of tools too, please.”
I take the last few journals downstairs as Seb grabs the seed catalogs and E takes the box of tools. Setting the journals aside, I peek outside to see the sun shining again, so I go to hit the garage door button. Several “Nos” are yelled behind me, so I stop and lower my hand, turning around.
“You don’t want to do that,” Bay says, coming over to me. “After a storm, the humidity and heat go crazy.”
I look at him in confusion. “What do you mean? Thunderstorms clear the air.”
With an amused smile, he gestures for me to follow him out the side door.
I follow curiously, stepping outside. I’m barely able to suck in a lungful of air.
“Oh my god,” I say and turn right back around into the garage.
Seb and E find it hilarious, as Nick smirks.
“How was I supposed to know that?” I say in exasperation.
“Storms clear the air where I’m from. It’s a soup bowl out there! ” I exclaim.
“Welcome to the South, Sunshine,” Seb chuckles. “It doesn’t look like we’re gonna be able to do any outside work today.”
Bay grabs the rototiller and brings it to me. “I’ll take this home to repair, if that’s okay?”
“You fix things?” I ask eloquently.
“Yeah, my dad is a mechanic, so I’ve been fixing things my whole life,” he shrugs.
“Well, thank you. I would appreciate it.” I give him a sincere smile.
Nick comes over with a broken shovel and rake. “New handles,” he grunts at Bay, and Bay nods.
Zander and Troy enter the side door as Bay loads up the tools in the Honda.
“Hello boys, how is everyone?” Zander asks. A round of goods and fines echo back. He looks over at me. “Are you doing alright, Summer?”
“Yeah, we finished with the stuff upstairs. I’ve got a box of Mara’s journals, a box of old seed catalogs and tools. The rest of the boxes were seed-starting supplies. Bay plans to fix the rototiller and a few handles.”
“That’s great. I’m sure you’ll find valuable information in the journals. You should take those into the house. So, what is everyone doing now? Troy and I have the wedding figured out.”
Nick hops into the driver’s seat of the Jeep. Talkative guy, that one. E waves goodbye and gets in the passenger seat.
“Seb, you should go with them. I have more things to do at the office,” Troy tells him.
Seb looks at me with a frown until it morphs into a grin. “I’m coming in for a hug, Sunshine. Prepare yourself!”
Troy and Zander open their mouths to protest, but Seb already has his arms wrapped around me as he picks me up off the ground.
I tense at first, but it doesn’t actually freak me out.
I hold my hand up to Troy and Zander, who are heading my way, to let them know I’m okay.
Looking around, I see E smiling at me, Bay shaking his head, and Nick has his eyes narrowed on where Seb’s arms are wrapped around me.
Ok then. Seb places me down, jumping into the back of the Jeep. “Bye Sunshine! Call me later!”
Zander opens the garage door, and they drive off. Bay leaves for the Honda while Troy goes to his SUV. We all wave goodbye as Zander and I turn off the lights, close up the garage, and I carry the box of journals into the house.
“I’m going to unpack these onto a bookshelf in my room, if that’s okay?”
“Sure thing, Summer. I’m going to turn on some football,” he says as he heads over to the couch.
I walk back to my room, setting the box on the floor by the dresser.
Opening it up, I grab each journal and check the date inside the cover.
I line them up on the middle shelf from oldest to newest. I set the box beside the front door to take out later and tell Zander I’m getting a shower.
Afterwards, he cooks us breakfast for dinner.
We enjoy some eggs and sausage biscuits on the island.
“How are you doing after Hurricane Seb and the guys today?”
“I’m actually alright. Surprised I didn’t freak out when Seb hugged me.” The tension didn’t completely leave my body until he put me down, but it wasn’t half as bad as I would’ve expected.
“Me too, but I’m glad. He’ll be a good friend to you. He knows everyone at the school, and he’s very loyal.”
I nod. “So, what’s the plan for tomorrow? Do you need to work?”
“No, unless there’s a crisis. I asked the guys to come over on Wednesday to build the back deck railing. I’ve got nothing else planned. We can hang out here unless you’d like to go somewhere.”
Lying in bed that night, I go over all the changes today brought.
I met a new group of friends, all of whom seem really nice, well, except Nick.
I don’t have a read on him yet, whether he’s just quiet or has an issue with me, or he could just not like anyone.
I was hugged by someone I hardly know, which was tense but nice at the same time.
I have a feeling Seb will keep me constantly entertained.