Chapter 14 #2
"It'll slow down in the fall when everyone goes back to school. Then pick up again around Christmas," Marshall said, flipping a pancake on the griddle. "January to April is the busiest time. Although summer is still steady."
"What are your plans for the day?" I asked him.
"I'm helping Shep with the butterfly garden."
"Can I help?" I asked them.
Marshall grinned. "Sure, why not?"
I liked this life we'd built together. It couldn't last forever. I had a job, and Hayden had school and her mother. Soon, Marshall would be working with his family again. Things would change. But right now, it was perfect.
We finished eating and getting ready before driving to the center where we got to work. Hayden joined the kids in the woods clearing the path. I helped in the butterfly garden, carrying and measuring wood.
Marshall explained everything they were doing as we did it.
When we took a break, Marshall asked Shep, "How's Grandma's house coming?"
"Eh. It's slow going. I only work on the weekend, and then I'm just tearing things out."
"When do you plan to put it back together?" Marshall asked.
"I don't know what to pick for design. I asked Kinsley to help me, but she's been busy. Something to do with her landlord. Things are constantly breaking, and he won't fix them."
"Kinsley's the admin at the office now that Luna left?" Marshall asked.
Shep nodded. "That's right. She's a single mom."
"She good with design?" I asked.
Shep put a toothpick in his mouth, chewing it. "She says she is. She's always researching things and suggesting options to the team."
"Why isn't she working in that field then?" I asked.
Shep's forehead creased. "She said the admin job is steadier for her and her daughter."
"Well, if she'll help you out, that would be good," Marshall said, drinking the rest of his water and dropping the bottle into the bag we'd brought to collect our garbage.
He nodded. "Yeah, we'll see."
"Let me know if you need help with the house. I have some free time," Marshall offered, his shoulders tight.
"That would be great actually. Everyone else is busy with their significant others or, in Dalton's case, his baby." Shep threw the toothpick aside and opened a bag of chips, shoving a few in his mouth.
"I'm happy to help. I've missed a lot over the years."
"You're here now. That's all that matters."
Shep's comment was nice.
Marshall stretched his neck. "I''d love to show Hayden the house. It's her history too."
"Come by anytime."
I liked that Shep was so accepting of Marshall's return. But then again, he was younger when Marshall took off. He probably didn't have the same expectations that Hudson did. He didn't feel betrayed when he left.
A woman pulled up in an older-model truck, the lettering indicating she was from the local gardening shop. When she reached us with a tray of flowers, she said, "These are sure to draw the butterflies to your garden."
"You work at the garden shop?" Shep asked the woman as he grabbed the cardboard container from her, setting it on the ground.
She wiped her hands on her jeans. "Actually, I'm the owner. Willow Flynns."
His brow raised. "I didn't realize a woman owned it."
Willow nodded. "Flynns' Gardens has been in my family for generations."
Shep inclined his head. "You know what you're doing with these plants then? This is supposed to be a butterfly garden when we’re done."
Willow nodded. “These plants provide everything the butterflies need throughout their life cycle. You need sun, a water source, nectar plants for the adults, and host plants for the caterpillars. You’ll want to avoid pesticides and provide shelter from wind.
Shep blinked at her. “You’re hired.”
The ends of Willow’s lips curled up. "I can stick around and help you with placement if you have the plans."
"I have the design." Shep pulled a folded piece of paper out of his pocket.
Willow nodded. "This arrangement will work nicely. You'll be able to arrange seating through the garden to give people the maximum view of the butterflies when they come."
Willow guided us where to put the flowers and peppered us with facts on how to take care of them. At some point, the kids finished the path and joined us.
"I'll take notes so that we'll know how to take care of the garden," Hayden said.
"You'll need to make sure it's watered. This is the most important time for growth," Willow said from her knees where she was patting the dirt around a milkweed plant.
"I can do that, and I'll leave the directions with the front counter staff so that everyone is aware of the care required," Hayden said, impressing me with her diligence.
Willow wiped the sweat from her forehead, leaving a streak of dirt. "This is going to be so nice when you're done. Phyllis has done a great job with the grounds."
"We built the gazebo, and the flower beds in the front and the back. Now she wants to build more walking paths so visitors can enjoy the property more easily," Shep said.
Willow stood. "Are you okay now? I have some floral arrangements I wanted to drop off in the main room, lobby, and a few other areas."
"We've got it," Shep said, and Hayden asked, "Can I help you carry the flowers in?"
Willow waved her hand at the other kids. "I could use a few of you."
The teenagers followed her to her truck.
"I'm going to get rid of some of this debris," Shep said as he gathered the leftover wood and carried it to his truck.
"Hayden's really responsible," I observed.
"I think she likes volunteering," Marshall said, "and I'm proud of her."
I nudged his shoulder with my arm. "You should tell her that. Everyone likes to hear what people think of them."
"I think I will. She's a good kid."
"That's partly due to your relationship with her, you know? You're an important figure in her life even if you weren't always physically present."
"I'd like to think so. But the bulk of the praise goes to her mother. She was with her for the first thirteen years."
"And now you'll be with her too." His life was moving forward in leaps and bounds.
He was happy here with his family. I wish I could have a sense of that same belonging that he did.
My grandmother lived here, but my parents moved to Maine a few years ago to get away from the heat.
My family was spread out. I didn't have a reason to stay here, unless Marshall could be that for me.