Page 22 of Until We Weren't

“Do you remember that doctor’s office that had three separate buildings?” Faith said. “Mr. Galloway let us come up with our own designs, but we could only use the plants he had in stock.”

“Sure, I remember,” Destiny said. “Your crew had the building on one end, mine was in the middle, and the crew Mark was on had the other end. I don’t remember who was leading that team. Do you?”

“What I remember is using most of the flowering plants we had on hand and you didn’t like that very much,” Faith said.

Destiny furrowed her brow and tried to think back to that particular project.

“Destiny?”

“I’m thinking, Faith,” she said. “Give me a second.” She narrowed her gaze and tried to bring up an image of the doctor’s office in her head. “Wait a minute. That was the last project we did.”

“It was the last job I did,” Faith said. “I don’t know about you.”

“I remember,” Destiny said. “I tried to get you to trade plants with me because I thought the flowering plants would look better in the middle.”

“That’s right. But I wanted them for my section so it would stand out more.”

“Right. Your bed was overshadowed by a big tree.” Destiny shrugged. “You wouldn’t trade with me, so I used something else.” She wasn’t sure what the significance of this memory was, but she could tell it was important to Faith.

“The next day Mr. Galloway was going to judge the beds,” Faith said. “Whoever won that competition was going to get to design, build, and complete that apartment complex bid he’d just won.”

“Right.”

“But you fixed it so your team would win,” Faith stated.

“What?” Destiny said, confused. “I fixed it? No I didn’t!”

Faith scoffed. “You didn’t move all the flowering plants to your bed so Mr. Galloway would award you the project?”

“Move the plants? What are you talking about, Faith?” Destiny’s stomach fell and she could see anger and hurt on Faith’s face even in the darkened room.

“I knew you would deny it,” Faith said, her voice strained. “That’s why I never talked to you about it.”

“Deny what?” Destiny said, sitting up on the bucket.

“Just tell the truth, Destiny. I have proof!”

Destiny’s brows flew up her forehead. “Proof of what?”

“The night before Mr. Galloway was to judge our beds,” Faith said, “you pulled up the flowering plants in my bed and transplanted them to yours.”

Destiny wasn’t sure she heard Faith correctly. “Transplanted them? No, I didn’t.” She was trying to think back to what they were doing at that time, but it had been three years ago. Snippets of the doctor’s office, planting, and laying mulch were coming back to her. What did they do after work that day? When Destiny couldn’t bring up the memory, she looked up at Faith.

“What’s this proof you’re talking about?” she asked. “I can assure you, I have never taken plants that were in your beds and moved them to mine.”

“You not only sabotaged my design, you’re a liar as well,” Faith said.

Destiny bristled at the accusation. She’d never do anything like that much less to the woman she loved.

“Watch this and try to lie your way out of it,” Faith said, holding out her phone.

8

Faith handed Destiny her phone. A video was pulled up on the screen. She watched as Destiny viewed the video. Faith could see confusion on Destiny’s face, but not guilt.

“What is this?” Destiny asked, standing up and sitting back down next to Faith.

“Here,” Faith said, reaching for her phone. She started the video again. “That’s my end of the doctor’s office. You are digging up the flowering plants then taking them out of the frame to your part of the project. You’ll notice you go back several times until you’ve taken them all.” She let the video continue. “I can’t believe you didn’t even rake the bed or smooth it out. You just left the gaping holes where the plants had been. But then again, the uglier you make it the better. Right?”

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