Page 46 of Call It Love

The sun was warm on my back as I tugged at a few stubborn weeds. Jordan worked beside me, pulling some dead leaves off the tomato plants. He didn’t seem withdrawn, just quietly content.

“You’re good at this,” I commented, sitting up and brushing the dirt from my fingers. “Have you done much gardening before?”

He took some time to answer, then nodded. “I used to help my mom.”

“What did she like to grow?”

“Just the usual stuff. Tomatoes, peppers, lettuce. She liked salads until…”

He didn’t need to finish.Until she grew too sick to stomach them,I guessed.

I didn’t want to push. “It’s nice to have someone to share this chore with. I’m sure you have lovely memories of helping her.”

For a moment, there was nothing. Then a single tear slid down his cheek.

My heart ached for him. “Honey, you don’t have to say anything,” I said, while offering what I hoped was a reassuring smile. “But if you want to tell me more about her, I’d love to hear it.”

He didn’t answer, just swiped his cheek quickly with the back of his hand and focused on the plant in front of him.

I didn’t press. I turned to the rosemary, thinning it out and pruning some wild growth.

“She liked to hum when she worked,” he blurted, his voice low, a mixture of pain and warmth. “Said it helped her concentrate.”

I turned my attention back to him but kept my tone easy. “What kind of music? Like the band on the shirt you wore?”

He gave a quick nod. “She’d listen to anything, actually. Just depended on her mood. Sometimes gospel. Other days alternative. A lot of stuff she grew up with.” He shifted so that he was sitting in the dirt. “We didn’t have a garden this big, though.” His eyes scanned over the neat rows of vegetables and herbs. “She wasn’t the best at it. But she liked flowers. She always had them hanging in baskets and in front of our house.”

I stored that tidbit to share with Chase. Maybe he could let Jordan help in the greenhouses more.

“What was her favorite flower?” I asked.

He looked thoughtful. “I don’t know. She liked anything colorful, especially purple or red, I guess. Bright colors.”

“Sounds like someone who appreciated life.”

Jordan continued to stare at the ground, then at me. His face was drawn. “She was a good mom. Is it bad that I don’t know her favorite flower?”

This kid was going to break my heart.

“No, sweetheart,” I said, keeping my tone gentle. “You know what made her happy. That you enjoyed spending time with her. You remember the important things. That’s love, and that’s what you’ll carry with you.”

He didn’t respond, but his jaw eased, and his shoulders dropped, and I had hope that he believed me.

Theclinkof the gate opening and shutting sounded, and I looked up to see Chase walking toward us.

“This is a surprise. I didn’t expect to find you guys out here,” he said with a grin. His eyes flicked to Jordan, then back to me, his forehead furrowed.

I shook my head slightly. “I’ll tell you later,” I mouthed.

“Hey, bud. Good to see you,” he said to the teen.

Jordan wouldn’t meet Chase’s eyes. “Just helping.”

Chase didn’t push. “You picked a good day. There’s chicken potpie on the horizon.”

I pulled out my phone and saw what time it was.

“I didn’t realize it was so late,” I said, standing to dust my hands. “I need to clean up before I get dinner.”

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