Page 1 of Petals and Plot Twists
Chapter One
Sophie
If my lifewere a romantic comedy, I’m not sure I’d be the main character.
I have more of a quirky sidekick vibe. Bubbly, supportive personality. Big hair. A treasure trove of funny anecdotes—mostly dating mishaps—to make the main character feel good about her own life and prospects.
Idowant to fall in love. More than anything. I just haven’t figured out the secret. I haven’t figured out how to capture that main character energy.
Or maybe the problem is that I haven’t found my hero. If he’s even out there at all.
These are my thoughts as I slide my trowel through a planter of beautiful black dirt, scooping out a row of holes just the right size for the bright pink petunias I picked up at the nursery this morning.
Petunias don’t really have main character energy either. They’re incredible flowers. Easy to grow and a great complement to other plants since they come in so many colors. But they’re never going to be the showstopper. The main feature.
They’re a sidekick.
Just like me.
I add the petunias to the planter, covering their roots with soil, then slip off my gardening gloves. I’ve been working in the rooftop garden at The Serendipity all afternoon, and my back aches from the effort. But I wouldn’t trade the feeling.
There’s a lot to love about the quirky apartment building in Serendipity Springs that I call home. The grand winding staircase. The crown molding and original wood floors. The beautiful courtyard with a pool and a gorgeous fountain. But the rooftop garden is my favorite.
As a landscape architect, I spend a lot more time behind a desk than people usually think, particularly working for Leonard Trowbridge and Associates. Junior designers in the firm rarely have the privilege of being on site when plants are going into the ground. Or being outside at all. I mostly work from home, aside from a once-a-week in-person meeting at the office, and I spend ninety-nine percent of my working hours on the computer, creating designs, doing research, and outlining plans.
But my undergrad degree is in botany, so tending the rooftop garden has become a magical kind of therapy for me. When I’m close to losing my mind and I need a dose of sunshine, I leave my first-floor apartment and come upstairs to garden. I get my hands dirty. I cultivate. I create. And the perk is that I get to do it on The Serendipity’s dime. The garden is a community space, and lots of residents come up to enjoy it on a regular basis. Especially now that winter has surrendered to a gloriously warm and beautiful spring.
Everyone knows it’s my job to make the space beautiful. And itisbeautiful.
Narrow concrete planters full of colorful annuals line the perimeter of the garden, bracketed by larger planters full of hardier trees and perennials that can withstand Massachusetts winters. A rose trellis supports heirloom roses, and a second trellis arches overhead, draped in wispy purple wisteria. Fairy lights adorn the entire space, giving the garden a cozy, magical feel, especially at night.
I pull out my phone and take a photo of the newly filled planters, then text it to my best friend, Peter.
His response comes through almost immediately.
Peter
Incredible. As always. The petunias look especially good.
Sophie
My petunias say thank you. Are you hungry? Are you home?
Peter
Yes to both. Just got home.
Sophie
Perfect. Can I come over? Maybe we can figure out dinner together?
Peter
So what I’m hearing you say is: Peter, can you feed me please?
Sophie
You know me so well.
