Page 22 of Love Grows

“Does Lucas work every Saturday?’ she asked.

“Yep. Every Saturday and Thursday afternoon.”

Kadee lowered her voice to a murmur. “Would you introduce me? I can’t do it myself. He’ll probably think I’m pathetic. I’ll stumble over words and things. I’ve heard him talking to the customers and he’s so smart, and I’m a nobody.”

My heart broke. “Kadee,” I whispered. “You’re not a nobody at all.”

“Nope. Definitely a somebody,” Benji piped up, joining our quiet conversation from where he sat next to me. He’d stopped raising his hand to speak which was a positive step. “I think your idea is excellent, Kadee. Lucas respects Angel and that means your introduction will transfer the respect across to Lucas.” He waved his hand to make his point, his bracelets jingling and clicking together. “Not that he’d only respect you because of Angel’s say so. He’ll work out how great you are all on his own. He seems like the sort of guy who would pay attention to people.” Then he gave a definitive single nod.

It was one of the longest passage of conversation that Benji had uttered in ages. He nodded again, his floppy blonde locks dancing about, then bent his head over his work.

Kadee and I made eye contact.

“What Benji said,” I answered quietly. Kadee had a fan club consisting of me and Benji and whether she liked it or not, we’d be waving pompoms at the edges of her bravery.

I was touched that Kadee wanted me to act almost as an old-fashioned chaperone. I tried to fulfil my duties when the teens had packed up and were heading to the door.

“Hey, Lucas,” I called, grabbing his attention. “Kadee was telling me that the Moreton Bay Fig would make an excellent addition to our nursery.” I smiled at Kadee. “AFicus macrophyllain miniature, right?”

Kadee took an enormous breath. “Absolutely,” she said, the air in her lungs whooshing out. “It’s capable of being tamed and cultivated.”

Lucas nodded in thought. “It could, you know. What about the Port Jackson Fig?”

I took a small step back so that Kadee was on her own. I willed her on.

“I guess so. It’s more dense than the others.” She took a step forward, and I cheered internally.

Go, Kadee!

“I’m just going over to the azaleas to commune with the tan bark,” I said. “Safe sleeps, Kadee.”

Then I surreptitiously glided away.

Steph caught up to me when I’d rounded the corner.

“That was sweet. You’re rather lovely, Angel Whitlock.” She grinned and reached for my hand. “I’m glad you let that part of you show. Some people don’t and make others dig deep just to discover it.”

“That’s me. What you see is what you get,” I replied, and shrugged, swinging our joined hands.

“I like what I see.” Steph gave me a top to toe scan and I shivered with delight in all the best places.

I blushed.

“Why do you wish safe sleeps to the Bonsai kids?” Steph reached for my other hand. I liked hand-holding. It was intimate, as if our palms were having their own little tryst while the rest of our bodies could maintain a whole conversation.

“Those kids have an hour with each other on Saturdays. Hopefully in that hour their demons don’t sit on their shoulders and whisper horrible things. But the rest of the day? Those demons steal those kids, so why should the night take them as well?”

Steph blinked, her eyes glistening. “You are seriously wonderful,” she whispered, then leaned forward to kiss me.

ChapterSeven

Lemon Silver Cloud Bottlebrush

(Callistemon pallidus)

A very adaptable species as it can be found in all soil types and locations. It is a dwarf form of the larger wild Callistemon species, around head height when mature, although it can be trimmed to be even further smaller. Lemon Silver Cloud Bottlebrush has plum-coloured soft new leaves that age to silver-grey, contrasting with its small pale flowers.

“They wouldn’t be instructional videos, Angel.”

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