Page 11 of All Inn Thyme
I want things I can’t have with him.
Rain tapsagainst the roof of the garden shed as Evan steps inside and wipes his boots on the mat.
“What’s all this?” He looks around, amused at the jungle I’ve created in the laundry room.
While my plants everywhere make sense to me, I realize to others it looks like something someone would make a meme out of. The crisp, pungent smell of tomato vines and fragrant herbs permeates the air. The plants have been getting big. It’s crazy how fast they grow under the lights, and it makes me even more excited to see how they thrive when I get them in the ground.
I remember when I told Bradley about my interest in gardening books and magazines. He hated any time I found something that made me happy, when the focus wasn’t fully on him, and his reactions were enough to deter me from bringing it up. I began to hide my interest in gardening, and I never planted anything in my old home. My old life.
As Evan wanders down the rows of starter plants, I start to feel nervous he may think I’ve gone overboard and be upset about the mess. I know he won’t react like Bradley did, but I still don’t want him upset at anything I did.
“I’m sorry…” I stammer. My heart races and my stomach drops, panic engulfing me. “I can find somewhere else—” I freeze as I stand at a table full of spray bottles to replenish my cleaning cart.
He turns to face me. “No. This is incredible, Mel. There’s… just so many. I’m seriously impressed.” He scratches his beard and looks around some more. “What do the different colors mean?” he asks, trying to decipher the map I drew indicating the different colored popsicle sticks I use to mark each variety.
I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. “These are different varieties of heirloom seeds. I bartered mostly for them in local garden groups,” I tell him proudly. “We have several kinds of all of the plants, actually.”
Evan scratches the back of his head and says, “You have quite literally outgrown the garden shed,” he says. “Beth told me this was amazing, so I had to see it for myself.”
I laugh at his pun. “I’m trying to use my space wisely.”
“Yeah, but these are only going to get bigger. You need more space.”
I do need more space. Luckily, I’m just starting the seeds and getting them ready to be planted outside when it’s warm enough. When I have the greenhouse up and going, that will help tremendously.
“I’m just grateful to have a place to stay,” I say quietly. “You’ve done so much for us, Evan.”
“Well, you’ve done so much for the inn, Mellie. Having you and Kase here has been great. I never have to worry about anything with the housekeeping. You go above and beyond. That takes a lot of stress off everyone. What you do here really matters, and we’re so grateful for you.”
“Thanks,” I say, ducking my head down to hide my face. I’m not much of a crier, but my love and gratitude for Evan has always run deep. He’ll never know how much he means to me and Kase.
If it wasn’t for my neighbor across the street from our old house, Mitch, we’d never be here at the inn. Mitch saw things that worried him—rightfully so—and did something about it. The first time Mitch contacted me was when Bradley and I were in the front yard watching Kase ride his scooter. Bradley was enraged that I was wearing shorts outside and accused me of trying to get Mitch’s attention with my bare legs. He knocked me down and kneeled over me, screaming with his fist ready, and when he saw Mitch watching, he pretended to hug me and whispered in my ear bitterly, “You better act right, whore.”
After that, Mitch made secretive yet bold moves to check in on me and Kase, letting it be known that when we needed his help, he’d be there. And when the day came that we did need him, he got us out and took us to his Marine buddy Evan Harper. And this life we live now, here with Evan and this found family, is something I’ll never take for granted.
He looks around. “Where’s Kase?”
“He’s upstairs with Caleb, watching a movie.”
I’m so grateful Kase has Caleb. I’ve felt so guilty about the way we’ve had to hide out and change everything about ourselves and our lives. Kase has been a good sport about it all, but I know that things have been hard for my little man. We’ve both been healing and finding a new normal here, but we’re both happier by leaps and bounds.
The boys alternate between hanging out here at our loft and at Allie and Logan’s neighboring farmhouse, which is just a short ATV ride away. I picked up an older ATV with two booster seats in the back, making it easier to get the boys back and forth and to get around the grounds.
“Maybe it’s time to think about something bigger for you guys.” Evan stuffs his hands in his pockets.
“What did you have in mind? You want us to find a place in town?” I start to feel panic creep in. I don’t have enough money saved up to get my own place yet or proper identification to rent anything. Does Evan want us to move? Where will we go?
As if sensing my panic, Evan holds his hand up. “No, that’s not what I meant. Do you know the bunkhouse by the pole barn, between here and Logan and Allie’s property?”
“The one out by the gardens?”
“Yes. Maybe you and Kase could think about moving out there. You could be closer to the gardens and use the pole barn and have more room for your… jungle.”
I snort. “It’s not a jungle, Evan. And hopefully my greenhouse will be finished soon so I can move things into there, as well.”
“Oh, it’s a jungle. Do you know how tall some tomato plants can get?” he deadpans.
I grit my teeth and shake my head. “I mean… no. I’m learning everything via YouTube and Google.”
