Page 35 of Courageous Demands

“ALEC!”

“What? I didn’t say a curse word…”

“You implied it – and I’m not the gardener here.”

“Oh, ho? Are we going with careers then, 'cause I will happily stand here with a hose while you try to plant the flowers with a gavel.”

“You’ve got a smart mouth, you know that?”

“With dumb ideas, yes…”

“Both of you – not another word! I’ll get the phlox and the daisies, you just be quiet and start digging. I want two rows of ten holes each, with each hole about three inches deep… NOW!” his mother barked out, and they both dropped back down to their knees, trowels in hand.

Willow started digging the holes as instructed, pressing her lips together and sweating buckets in the quickly setting sun, only to hear a soft chuckle. She looked to her right in disbelief and met Alec’s smirk as he shoved the trowel in the dirt beside her. He really did look tired. His poor face was covered in streaks of sweat and dirt from having obviously worked this entire afternoon. She wasn’t sure what it took to turn this much earth by hand, but if the trowel and her sweat were any indication? He had worked himself to the bone for her.

“Thank you,” she said softly, deciding to accept the ‘gift’ for what it was, no matter how hard they were laboring right now. Remembering Mary’s words, knowing that Alec wanted her to have something like what his parents had done meant the world… and in the grand scheme of things, what was a little hard work?

“You’re welcome,” he whispered quietly, his eyes dancing. “I do hope you like them. I know Mom loves her flowers, and well, I thought, maybe…”

“I already love the idea and can’t wait.”

“Maybe we can put in some others later… together.”

“I’d like that,” she admitted, only to rear back as a tray of flowers appeared before her face, shoved between them.

“This is phlox – and it’s a lovely little ground cover that gets tiny flowers. It will grow between the other plants,” Mary volunteered, shoving another package of flowers at Alec. “These are the daisies, and they will help a bouquet look full.”

“Ma, we were talking.”

“And that is how you start bickering,” his mother countered. “It’s best that you don’t, Mr. Smarty Pants. Now, back to digging.”

And Willow let out a little chuckle, accepting the plastic tray of phlox. Alec raised an eyebrow at her, taking his own tray.

“What’s next, Your Majesty?” he asked his mother, who promptly swatted him gently on the head. Alec stuck out his tongue, rolled his eyes, and collapsed in the dirt theatrically, causing her to laugh loudly as his mother immediately ran to his side, snapping at him.

“Quit acting up – and we both know that was barely a tap. You and all your drama, I swear. If there had been flowers under you, they would have been mangled and broken…” Mary was scolding him as Alec looked at Willow.

“Drama?” he mouthed. “Me?”

She nodded silently, laughing and biting her lip, thoroughly amused at this unexpected playful side to him. His mother swatted him gently on the head again, causing him to frown.

“I’m gonna call C.P.S., Ma…”

“You are not a child, you big whiny baby…”

“Told ya,” Alec grinned and winked at her, reminding Willow of his text message earlier.

“Look, would you just get to work, Alec?” his mother began, completely exasperated. “You can flirt with your girlfriend in a little bit when the job is done.”

“You think I should flirt with her?”

… And met Willow’s eyes.

Her heart turned over wildly in her chest at that singular look. Yes, things were certainly different between them, and while the innocence of their prior relationship had been tarnished, that spark and glow was still there.

“Depends on if she’s your girlfriend or not,” she whispered.

“I think she is, so long as she’s sure this time around and doesn’t mind me dragging my feet or learning how to do this along the way.”

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