Chapter 26
“Is the job too big?” Aaron asked, as she studied the notes he’d made when he’d spoken with his customer.
Shannon read them again. “Update the front landscaping with new plants that work with the existing hedges. Tear out the side
yard plants and run grass to the fence line.” She looked at him. “They want to put play equipment there for their kids?”
“That’s what she said.”
“I don’t know that grass is a good solution. It would be safer to get those thick play mats instead. I was reading about the
ones that don’t absorb the heat, which is important here in the summer. They’d cost more than just putting in grass, but they
wouldn’t need any maintenance, like mowing or watering. We could leave the sprinkler system in place, but cap it at the main
line. That way if they ever change their minds and want to put the yard back in, they don’t have to worry about the sprinklers.”
They were in his trailer office, sitting at the small conference table. Aaron smiled as he relaxed back in his chair. “That’s
a great idea. She’ll love it. What about the rest of it? Can we do it?”
“We can. We have to have another conversation with the owners to clarify what they want to do with that side yard, but for
us it doesn’t matter which way they go. We’re perfectly capable.”
She picked up his phone and scrolled through the pictures of the front yard.
“The hedges are in good shape, and the house is really cute. I wonder if they’d be interested in us adding color every four or five months.
Just a few flats of pretty flowering plants.
I can work out some ideas and bids for that. ”
Aaron relaxed. “So we’re good?”
“We are. This is going to be a fun project.”
“Only because you’re going to help me with it. I couldn’t deal with this on my own.”
Her stomach immediately twisted with nerves as she recognized the opening she’d been waiting for. While her plan wasn’t complete,
she was far enough along that she felt comfortable talking to him about it. Assuming she could grow a pair and find the courage.
“I want to talk about that,” she said, pulling her tote from the chair next to her. “About us and the business.”
“Sure. What’s up?”
She told herself Aaron loved her and that they worked well together. She had to trust him and trust herself to handle whatever
he had to say when she was done.
“I’ve finally figured out what I want to do with my life, careerwise.”
His eyes brightened. “Yeah? Good for you. Tell me.”
“I want to work with you.”
She watched him as she spoke, looking for signs of concern or annoyance. Instead he grinned at her with obvious delight.
“You do?”
“Yes, but I want you to hear me out because I’ve been coming up with a plan.”
“I’m listening.”
She pulled out the brochure for the technical college, then opened her laptop.
“I want to get my AAS in environmental horticulture. It’ll take two years, but I think it’s smarter in the long run than just
getting a growing certificate.”
She opened Excel and walked him through her spreadsheet.
“I still have the rest of my college fund, so the tuition is pretty much paid for. I have savings. I can start in September, which means I can give my mom plenty of notice before I quit. I figure while I’m in school I can work for you or get a part-time job if you’d rather.
” She looked at him. “What do you think? I mean, I know it’s your business, so maybe you don’t want me—”
He stood and pulled her to her feet, then hugged her tight. “You’re amazing,” he said, his arms strong and steady, just like
him. “You’re trusting me with your future.”
She kissed him. “I’m marrying you, so that’s pretty much a given.”
“That’s different, Shannon.” He drew back a little and took her hands in his. “You’re trusting me with everything. I want
this. I want us working together. We’ll be great. You know a different side of the business. When you get your AAS, we can
talk about expanding.”
She nodded. “I want to start looking for a freelance landscape architect. Once we have someone we trust, we can look for bigger
projects. I can be the point of contact and handle all the details of that, while you take care of the physical work.”
Happiness flooded her, making her giddy. There was so much to do, so much to look forward to.
“I don’t know why I didn’t think of this before,” she told him. “It makes sense for us to work together.”
“It’s been on my mind,” he admitted. “But I didn’t want to push or anything.”
“You were afraid I’d say yes and then regret it.”
His expression turned sheepish. “Maybe a little.”
“Because I couldn’t stand up to my mom.”
“You’re not big on confrontation.”
That understatement made her laugh. “You think?” She flung her arms around him. “You and me, mister. For always.”
“You got that right.”
Ava looked at the woman sitting across from her in her office at the foundation. Cindy had a fresh tan and looked rested, but there was still a hint of sadness in her eyes.
“How are you doing?” Ava asked, careful to keep her voice kind. After all, she’d been the one to shatter her friend’s heart,
or at least give her the information that had done the shattering.
“I’m better.” Cindy smiled at her. “Mostly. My emotions are still all over the place. One second I can’t believe Shannon didn’t
tell me about the engagement, the next I’m furious at her for being so selfish and hurting me, which is immediately followed
by me wondering why she felt she had to keep the secret. It’s exhausting.”
“Despite all that, you look good.”
Cindy laughed. “Thanks. Luis and I went to Las Vegas for a few days. It’s not a traditional lick-your-wounds kind of place,
but we stayed in a beautiful suite, saw a couple of shows and hung out by the pool. I’m not a gambler, so while he indulged
at the tables, I had several spa treatments.”
“That all sounds nice. He’s a good, good man. I’m glad you found each other.”
“Me, too.” Cindy sighed. “Do you know why she didn’t tell me?”
“She said she didn’t want to take away the spotlight from you and Luis being engaged.” Ava softened her tone. “She didn’t
tell me, Cindy. It wasn’t a moment of confiding. I was asking about her and Aaron, and she blurted it out. From the look on
her face, she was as surprised as I was, then she asked me to keep it quiet.”
“But you told me.”
“You’re my friend. I felt you should know.” Ava thought about all Cindy was going through. “Maybe I made a mistake in that.”
“No, I needed the information. Luis and I talked a lot about what happened. He says—” she cleared her throat “—he thinks I’m
overly involved in Shannon’s life. That I swoop in and fix everything.”
Ava was determined not to say the wrong thing. “What do you think?”
“That he might be right. You and I have talked about how I monitored every part of her life. Maybe she was afraid I’d take
over the wedding or something.” Cindy’s eyes filled with tears, but she blinked them away. “I know I wouldn’t, but maybe she’s
less sure.”
“Your daughter loves you. She has to be feeling awful about how she hurt you.”
“That’s what I tell myself. I always hated when I made my mom cry. It’s the worst feeling.”
Ava couldn’t relate. The nannies who’d raised her, well, they hadn’t been her family. Her only way to relate was when she’d
hurt Victoria by showing Shannon the memory box. She’d been sick with guilt. Just as awful, Milton had been disappointed in
her. Something she never wanted to have happen again.
“I think one of the hardest parts about having adult children is realizing we don’t know them as well as we think,” she said
slowly. “When they’re little, we can practically read their minds, but then they become adults and suddenly they’re able to
keep secrets. It’s disconcerting.”
“It is. I miss what it was like when Shannon was younger.” Cindy smiled. “I’d dress us alike more than I probably should,
but it was so fun. We were a team.”
“Victoria and I were never that, but I understood her. Milton gave me her screenplay to read.”
Cindy’s eyes widened. “What did you think?”
“She’s talented. Funny with an excellent grasp of character. The plot needs work, but it’s an amazing first draft. I know
she’s farther along in the story now, and I can’t wait to read it.” She smiled. “It’s autobiographical, as many first works
are, telling the story of her first location romance.”
She thought about the stark pain on the page, concealed by witty banter and an engaging setting.
“She had her heart broken, and we never talked about it. I knew she’d been going out with one of the actors and the relationship had ended but not the details.
At the time I thought she’d been the one to dump him, but it was the other way around. She never told me.”
The pain of that reality cut through her. “I knew after the fact because Milton had read the screenplay and mentioned it,
but it’s not as if she came to me for help.”
Cindy reached across the table and touched her arm. “Not just you,” she said gently. “She didn’t tell her dad when it happened
either. If she had, he would have said something at the time.”
“You’re right.” Ava hadn’t thought of that. “She went through it all alone. We would have been there for her.”
“Sometimes our kids don’t want us helping. Sometimes they want to do it on their own. As for your relationship with her, maybe
things with Victoria aren’t as bad as you tell yourself. Maybe it’s time to reframe the situation.”
Ava smiled. “Wouldn’t that be nice. And while we’re on the subject, my friend, what have you learned?”
Cindy straightened, and her expression tightened. “That Shannon didn’t trust me with something precious. I want to say that’s
all on her, but maybe it’s on me, too.”
“Or maybe you can just ask the question and then listen.”
Cindy managed a smile. “But that’s so rational and mature. I’d rather pout.”
“I think you like the theory of pouting more than the actual act.” She pulled her bag out of the bottom drawer of her desk.