Page 81 of Fire Harbor

“Not a problem. I’ve done my due diligence. I needed the walk anyway. And like I said, getting a good look at your garden is a plus.”

“Would you like a tour?” Linus asked.

“I was hoping you’d offer,” Cora admitted with a wink. “I do love growing things, but I kill more than I get to thrive.”

“That was me before I met Lake,” Linus conceded. “But look at us now. We’ve added more raised beds for the basic vegetables and created additional room for pumpkins and watermelons.”

“Why don’t you stay for lunch?” Lake offered, tucking the envelope inside her denim overalls. “I’ll throw together a bacon and egg potato salad served with a soft Italian loaf of bread.”

“Really? That sounds lovely.”

“Then it’s settled. I’ll get started on the food while Linus gives you the grand tour.”

While Linus showed off their hard work, Lake stayed busy in the kitchen. She boiled the red-skinned potatoes and the eggs, cooked the bacon until crispy, and mixed up the sour cream and mayonnaise dressing. She brewed sweet peach tea and cut the bread into thick slices. When all that was done, she set the table on the patio with cloth napkins and what she called her “picnic” plates—an apple-green set of melamine dishes with daisies that looked right out of the 1970s that she used for outdoor eating.

Under the canopy of a bright green umbrella, with a soft fragrant breeze wafting around them, they ate their meal while Cora recounted all her disastrous garden adventures.

“I’m embarrassed to say that I didn’t know most vegetable gardens needed six to eight hours of sunshine. I once spent a fortune on tomatoes and didn’t pay attention to the label. I planted them all in the shade. I bet they didn’t get more than two hours of sun all day long. Caleb certainly took me to task over that one.”

Lake nodded with a chuckle. “My first time planting tomatoes, I expected a bushel basket. What I got was a bowlful of scrawny fruit because I planted them too close together. The simple tomato can be such a thorn in the side of any gardener. Caleb knows that. Any time you need help, just ask. And remember, there are dozens of gardening books in the library that will give you guidelines to follow.”

“I have trouble germinating seeds, too,” Cora confessed. “I just finally gave up on getting anything to grow. Now, I go into Murphy’s Market and plunk down my money like a normal person and buy produce that doesn’t die if I look at it wrong.”

After lingering over their meal for a good hour, Cora stood up and dusted off her dress. “I’ve overstayed my welcome. I tend to do that these days. Anyway, thank you both for the wonderful lunch and tour. I must say, your garden is truly impressive. I’d love to have you both over to my house for dinner next week.”

“We’d love that,” Lake replied with a smile. “What are you doing tomorrow for Memorial Day?”

“I’m going to the parade, of course, but after that, I’m working on a quilt for my sister.”

“Patchwork or embroidered?” Lake asked.

“Patchwork. I love using pieces of old fabric, creating a design of squares or triangles, and turning them into unique quilts. I call them my pieces of art.”

“Could you show me how to quilt someday?”

Cora’s eyes lit up. “I’d be delighted to pass on what I know. You name the date. Set aside a Saturday and we’ll work all day.”

Lake smiled. “Deal.”

Cora bid them farewell and made her way back toward the gate, disappearing around the corner of the house.

Linus turned to Lake, his eyes filled with affection. “That was nice of you to ask her to lunch. I think she might be lonely.”

“We should get her together with your mom.”

Linus raised a brow. “Now, why would we do that? That’s like putting a viper in with a baby kitten. I thought you liked Cora.”

Lake swatted his arm. “Stop saying stuff like that about your mother. Annette’s not a bad person.”

“I didn’t say bad. But you haven’t seen her when she sets her mind on something—like grandkids.”

Lake’s eyes went wide. “Grandchildren?”

“Yep. How many times do you think she’ll bring that up while learning to quilt?” It made him wonder what his life would be like in the future with two women crafting, cooking, and doing stuff together. “My mother is pushy, while Cora seems even-tempered, reasonable, and rather mellow.”

He glanced over at the dogs snoozing at the end of the patio. “Can you believe Derrick tried to poison the dogs with a lethal combination of arsenic, strychnine, and thallium?”

Lake let out a sigh. “I still can’t believe it. Who does that sort of thing? What am I saying? He murdered how many innocent victims?”

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