Epilogue
JASMINE
* Three Years Later *
“ A bit more to the left, maybe.” I walk slowly around the area, then nod. “Perfect, thanks. Now the rest can just go in an arc in between.”
As I point, my beautiful emerald rings catch the light, making me smile. I love it when I can wear all three of my rings at once. When I’m working at the shop, I usually just wear my wedding band and keep the other two on a chain around my neck, just as Alex suggested.
“No problem, boss,” Chad grins as he and Brendan get to work digging the holes for the cedar shrubs.
Normally I would help them, but my overprotective husband has forbidden me from lifting a finger to do anything other than point these days.
Alex comes out the side door of the building to check out the new patio. “Geez… This is bigger than it looked in the sketches.”
“Yes, because this is real life,” I giggle, as he wraps his arms around me. “And don’t worry, I only hauled half of these huge patio stones myself.”
“Grrr.” He cuddles me close. “Not even one, baby. You know the rules.”
Alex only started giving me rules when I got pregnant seven months ago. I’m mostly playing along since he’s clearly a bit obsessive about keeping me safe and healthy.
He looks around. “Where are the flowers going?”
I point to the west. “The line of tall cedar hedges will curve around the west and north to block the wind. Then the flower beds will curve around to the south, to catch the sun. Don’t worry – they’re all low-fragrance flowers.”
“Why does that matter?”
My fingers fiddle with the buttons on his dress shirt. “Fragrances throw off the taste of the food. If people are having lunch out here, their food should taste like it was intended to.”
“I love that you’re so anal retentive about plants.”
“I love that you’re relaxed enough to let your employees have this fantastic lunch area. They deserve some fresh air after being cooped up in those sterile outfits. I also love that you’re making us my favorite sausage penne for dinner tonight.” My eyelashes flutter up at him.
“Oh, I am, am I?” he chuckles, rocking me slightly. “Anything you want. But while I’m cooking, you need to choose the wallpaper for the baby’s room. The decorators are coming next week.”
Obviously, we are doing the baby’s room with a jungle theme. I’ve already filled our house with plants, plus put in a huge herb and vegetable garden out back.
Alex loves it. I’m always finding him puttering around in the back garden, carefully snipping herbs for pasta sauce or picking some spinach for his morning smoothie. He swears he doesn’t have a green thumb, yet he’s become a wonderful vegetable gardener with my guidance.
Digging in the soil together has helped me understand him as well as helped him learn about the fun of getting dirty. We’ve both grown so much.
And now, we’re going to have our own little sprout to nurture.