Page 39 of Finding Basil
That night, as he lay in bed, he let himself picture it. They were sitting on the porch with a dozen grandchildren all playing in the yard, and one girl asks Herb how her two grandpas met. Hewould tell her of how he moved from the city and, right away, he met the love of his life and knew almost instantly that he wanted to be with Grandpa Basil for the rest of his life.
He suddenly dreamed of having kids and watching them grow, standing alongside Basil, laughing, handing down warnings for their kids to eat their vegetables, because vegetables were so important.
He’d watch their walks down aisles to graduate, to marry, and Basil would cry big tears next to him, but Herb would be the one going through the most tissues as he cried himself dehydrated.
And the little girl would listen and likely smile before running off to lie with her siblings and cousins, and Basil would reach across and take his hand.
Dreams like those weren’t his thing. He didn’t daydream of princes and wedding cakes. Not until Basil, that was. With Basil, Herb was allowing himself to dream about things that Herb would have never thought could happen.
The night was cool with the window letting in the breeze, and he fell asleep smiling. He didn’t ever remember doing that before Basil came into his life.
Chapter Ten
Hespentthemorningout in the greenhouse planting with Lila, since Basil had to help his family with a few things.
Lila, for all her grumpiness, was a funny, warm person.
“You and Basil seem to be getting along well.”
An automatic smile came to his lips when Basil’s name was mentioned, and of course, she noticed. “Look it that! Got quite the crush.”
“Crushes are for schoolboys, not men.”
“Then you better read up on your division, because you look just like a little kid hunched over his homework.” Dusting her hands on her jeans, she said, “Listen, he’s the best guy I know, and I’ll for further. Best person I know. Loves his family, works hard, listens when someone knows more than him about something, and that’s not something you find anymore. I’m an old woman, and I’ve seen my share of people, and men, in particular, hold a little affection for me. Most are no good, thinkwith their peckers, and always think they know better about anything from car engines to the weather.”
“I agree. Most people I know, well, they can’t hold a candle to him.”
“That’s why I sent him over that day. Wouldn’t have if I thought you were a piece of horse shit like most.”
“You sent him over to set us up?”
She placed the last dome on the mint and nodded, “oh, yeah. I saw what he went through, trying to help that Steve. Steve ain’t a bad guy, now, don’t get me wrong. Having something messed up in your head don’t make you a bad person. But some can’t be helped, not until they’re good and ready. And he won’t be until he loses everything. It’s like people in their bottles and into dope. Until they’re ready, no one can talk ‘em out of it, whatever it may be for them.” She sat on a stool and dusted potting soil into a bucket as she whispered, “And until their ready, they can do a helluva lot of damage to those that care about ‘em.”
“Sounds like you have experience with that.”
“Don’t we all? We all have that person who tore us into ribbons. It might not be their fault, but it don’t hurt any less for that.”
Herb couldn’t push her to say more, and she didn’t offer it. “I hate to think of Basil having been hurt at all.”
“Good. Don’t be the next one to do it. He’s a good boy. Treat him like a king, like he deserves, and don’t ever piss off his family. He’s…their pet, I guess. He was sickly when he was born, and everyone just fretted over him terribly. Grew up to be fine and healthy, but that sticks with a family. Being afraid for a child bleeds over into everything that child does from then on.”
“I can imagine. Lila, thank you for introducing us. I just met him, and yet I can’t imagine a day without him now.”
“Romantic cuss, aren’t ya?”
“Not before this,” he admitted, laughing.
Lila handed him a cylinder of tomato seeds and said, “Monday, I’ll start you on your personal plants for you to grow just for yourself. We’ll section off a place in here for now, then we’ll get a piece of dirt behind the house for next spring.”
“Sounds great. Thanks a lot, Lila.”
“Don’t be telling people I’m nice. Ruin my reputation.”
“My lips are sealed.”
After placing every candle he had around the bedroom, he scrubbed the house from top to bottom and then started planning the meal he’d cook for them. Nothing heavy, nothing greasy, and nothing that would keep him in the kitchen too long.
He settled on marinated chicken thighs, steamed broccoli with almonds and lemon, and a small spinach salad.
