Chapter 22
Thursday morning as I’m heading to the kitchen, I get a message from Bay that he’s fixed the rototiller and tool handles, offering to bring them by, and I happily accept.
I’m taking biscuits out of the oven when there’s a knock at the door.
Zander goes and lets Bay inside. “Morning, Summer,” he greets.
“Hi Bay. We’re about to eat breakfast. Care to join us?”
“Sure, if that’s okay?” He looks over at Zander, who nods.
“Great. Grab yourself some coffee while we fill some plates.” I grab three plates and cut open two biscuits on each and pass them to Zander. He scoops egg and sausage onto each biscuit, and we settle on the island to eat.
“I left the tools on the front porch for you, Summer.” Bay tells me between bites.
“Thank you for fixing them, Bay. What do I owe you?”
“Nothing, on the house. A cleaning was all the rototiller needed, and I had spare handles.”
“Are you sure?” Zander asks. “We can pay you for your time.”
“No need, really,” he smiles. “If you don’t have plans, I thought we could get to work on your garden today? We’re caught up at the shop, so I’m free.”
“That sounds like an excellent plan,” Zander answers. “What do you say, Summer?”
“Sure, that sounds good.” It's so nice of Bay to offer his help with the backbreaking work. I expected to spend the week alone, assuming all my new friends would’ve had plans this week. “Last chance before I dig up the backyard, Zander.”
Zander tells me to go for it, offering to do the dishes, so Bay and I walk out to the backyard.
I show him where the old vegetable gardens were and the water line sticking out of the grass.
“I’m thinking we’ll run water lines through the gardens.
So you don’t need to worry about watering manually,” Bay suggests.
“That’s actually a good idea.” It was rare that I had to water in Virginia, other than pots, since it wasn’t super hot outside and we had rain regularly. Despite the humidity, Bay tells me it doesn’t rain that often during the summer and the heat causes things to dry out quickly.
“Alright, are you thinking of raised beds or planting in the ground?”
“I’m not sure. Zander said there was probably enough lumber behind the garage for building raised beds. I used to grow veggies in them back home.”
“Then we can do that easily. Let’s look at the lumber.
” I follow him behind the garage, and we make piles of all the different lumber that’s available.
Bay makes a list on his phone, then heads into the garage.
“I’m checking inventory for screws and such to build the beds,” Bay explains.
“There is plenty here for what we need. Let’s go inside and I’ll draw up the plans I have in my head so you can see what I’m thinking? ”
“Sure, that will help. Thanks.” We walk through the back patio doors and enter the dining room.
“Hey guys. What’s up?” Zander asks, putting the last few clean plates away from breakfast.
“Can I borrow a pencil and some paper, Z? I’m going to draw out what I’m thinking for the garden,” Bay asks.
“Of course. Head into the office. Bookshelf cabinet on the left,” Zander tells him.
Bay comes back quickly and sits at the table and draws. He calls me over to sit beside him. “So I was thinking you’d need about a 4ft wide garden bed. That way, you can reach the middle from either side. Did you have a length in mind?”
“I had some 4ft x 4ft beds and some 4ft x 8ft beds before.”
“We can build both sizes. Is there anything else you need built besides the garden beds and irrigation system?”
“Um, no, not now. I’ll need to get some soil and compost to fill the beds, though.” I’m assuming the soil in the backyard is pretty good with all the plants and trees Mara has.
“There’s a landscape supply company down the road, Summer. They have soil mixes and compost they can deliver,” Zander comments.
“That works.” This is coming together quickly. It will be good for me to get back into gardening, though. Despite not having missed it in the past year, I have a feeling I will get the itch soon enough.
Bay finishes drawing, then slides the page over to me. “So there’s enough lumber for three long beds and six square beds,” he points to his diagram.
“Why don’t I drive you guys to the building supply company and landscape supply so we can get what you need?” Zander offers.
I nod. “Let me grab my wallet.”
I get up to go to my room, but Zander touches my arm. “Let me get this, please.”
“I can pay for it, Zander.” It still seems strange to me to let him pay for things. We’ve only known each other for a brief time.
“I know,” he acknowledges, “but I’d like to pay this time.”
Looking at him, I can see that he really wants to contribute. “Okay, but I’m buying the seeds and transplants.”
“Done. Let’s get going.” He smiles.
We follow Zander out to the truck, and Bay suggests inviting the guys over to help.
I agree, so he texts everyone as Zander drives us to the building supply first. I follow Bay and Zander as they grab what we need for the beds and irrigation without my input, which I appreciate.
We stop at the landscape supply company next, where they let me wander as long as I want.
Zander prompts me by asking questions about the various composts and soils available.
It helps me to pick out a compost and soil mixture to be delivered later today.
The other guys are waiting on the back porch when we get back. “Sunshine, I need a hug,” Seb exclaims, coming over to the truck. I give him his hug, not tensing at all this time, then say hi to everyone. “So we’re building a veggie garden today?”
“Yeah, if you guys don’t mind helping. I’ve got soil being delivered later today.”
“We’re on it, Sunshine,” Seb smiles.
“We need to set up a mitre saw in the backyard. Grab the drills and 3-inch screws,” Bay instructs. “We’re building 4x4 and 4x8 beds. I’ve got the drawing in my pocket.”
The guys all disperse to the garage. E grabs the mitre saw and extension cord. Nick and Bay both grab a tool belt, drills, and screws. Seb and Zander grab the lumber with my help.
“Summer,” Bay says. “Can you tell me where you want the beds?”
“Um, your drawing was good. Let’s do that.”
“Okay,” he smiles patiently, grabbing the piece of paper and offering it to me. “Turn it in whatever direction you want.”
I look at the paper. “How about placing the long beds on the right and the square ones on the left?” Yay, I decided without panicking and under pressure.
I don’t want to explain to everyone that I’m having trouble doing that.
Bay wouldn’t have noticed an issue at the landscape company with the way Zander was prompting me.
“Great. I was thinking we could build the beds and then set them in place and use spray paint to mark the corners, lift them back up, then use the rototiller between the marks to get the soil ready?”
“That will work, yeah.” Bay is a planner, it seems. He’s obviously good at fixing but seems equally adept at creating.
“Okay,” Bay says, turning to the guys, “who wants to do what?”
Zander offers to do the cuts. Seb and E will mark the placement and roto till. I offer to carry the lumber back and forth and assist as before.
“That leaves me and Nick to put the boxes together with Summers’ help then,” Bay decides. He gets Nick to help him set aside 12 of the 8ft boards. Just cut the rest in half, Z. Cut the 2x2 pieces at 10.5 inches long.”
“Got it. Let me grab some safety glasses.”
Nick marks out 4ft lengths on the boards while Bay marks the 2x2 pieces.
Zander comes back and offers me a pair of safety sunglasses.
I pick up the marked boards and hand them to Zander.
After we have a pile of cut pieces, I switch to help Nick and Bay hold the lumber to screw together.
Then I move over to helping Seb and E position the beds where I want them.
I move between everyone, helping where I can, and it only takes a few hours to build all the garden beds.
As E finishes tilling a bed, we all help remove the grass clumps left behind.
“Let’s stop for lunch,” Zander calls, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
“Thank god, I was wasting away,” Seb dramatically exclaims, pretending to faint like a damsel in an old movie.
Smiling, I head into the house to my bathroom to wash up. When I get back to the kitchen, I find the guys lined up outside the powder room. “You can use the bathroom in the hall,” I offer.
“Thanks, Sunshine,” Seb hollers as he rushes past the rest of the guys.
E comes into the kitchen as I’m looking through the fridge. “Any ideas, Summer?”
“There’s chicken and steak in the freezer,” I offer.
“How about a chicken pasta salad?”
“That sounds good. I can thaw out some baked goods for dessert.”
“Great. I’ll start cooking the chicken and pasta. Can you chop up some veggies?” E asks.
E and I work around each other getting lunch ready for everyone. The salad turns out fantastic as the guys and Zander demolish the food and dessert.
“What time is the soil being delivered?” Seb asks.
“They said early afternoon, so anytime now,” I reply.
“Let’s get the beds finished then,” Bay tells us, gathering his glass and plate to put in the dishwasher.
“If you guys are okay without me, I’ll clean up here, grab a shower, and get some prep done for the wedding Saturday,” Zander comments.
“Thanks for your help this morning,” I smile.
“Of course. See you guys later.” He waves, then walks toward his room.
The rest of us head back outside. Nick takes a turn with the rototiller as we continue to gather grass clumps. Shortly after we begin, there’s a horn beep. I look up to see a truck approaching the driveway. “I’ll direct them,” Bay offers and jogs towards the truck.