Page 1 of Bloom
Prologue
Jersey
“What am I doing wrong?” I asked myself for probably the hundredth time over the past few weeks. And just like the first ninety-nine times, I had no answer.
I’d lived on this farm my whole life, just like many generations of my family who came before me. For over thirty years, I worked alongside my father, who taught me how to care for the land. As soon as I could walk, I was planting seeds, tilling the soil, and harvesting crops. I knew this land. But I had no name for this.
While there had been some lean years when production wasn’t what we hoped for, I had never seen anything like what lay before me; huge sections of blackened earth, as if it had been charred by fire.
But I knew that was impossible; living on this farmland, I would have seen the flames and smelled the smoke. I would have had to take action to put the flames out. A fire causing this damage was out of the question, as was everything else I could think of.
All I had was a mystery, and ever-growing concern. If I didn’t figure out the cause soon, it would be too late. All of my crops would die, and I would lose my home, my livelihood, and my family’s legacy.I need help.
Chapter One
Timber
I sighed as water trickled from my watering can to the soil of the fern hanging from my porch. Sure, I could enrich the dirt and grow my plants with a simple snap of my fingers, but something about caring for them by hand soothed my soul. Or at least, itusuallydid.
But today, and for the past couple of weeks, I just felt…off. Like I had an itch at the back of my brain that I just couldn’t scratch. At first, I thought it was my body signaling to me that it was time to move on. Since I’d come to Earth from the Elysian Fields, I rarely stayed in one place longer than a few months. It was impossible for someone to find what they were searching for if they weren’t actually moving and searching.
But for nearly a year, I’d called Rose Valley my home. I was surrounded by beautiful rolling hills, rich soil, plenty of sunshine, and smiling faces when I went into town. There was nothing here not to love. The only thing I was missing was the thing that brought me here in the first place, and thatwaslove. Like many other demigods, after hearing news that the sons of Poseidon, Hades, and Ares had found earthbound mates, I rushed here myself in hopes of finding the same.
And so, I traveled the world, helping the land and people who cared for it along the way, all while searching for my other half. As much as I loved this area, I craved my soulmate more, and I knew it was time to move on. But for some reason, the thought caused sourness in my stomach. And that feeling is what kept me here for so long.
I emptied the rest of my water onto the beautiful red hibiscus flowers that lined my porch. When I first moved into the rental home, the garden was neglected, lifeless, andshriveling. With some tender loving care, I’d brought it back to full blooming glory. I didn’t take the easy way out by using my gifts or powers. There was something special about using patience and gentility to assist the earth to do what it does best. Seeing the flora reawaken and thrive was the greatest reward I could imagine.
But reviving flowers by hand took time. So why were these red petals now becoming more vibrant before my eyes? Why were they fully unfurling, nearly doubling in size? It wasn’t just the hibiscus; all of the plants surrounding me brightened, vibrating in the soil.
My ears perked at a crunching sound in the distance. I looked towards the noise to find a blue pickup truck coming down my gravel drive. I didn’t know anyone who drove that kind of vehicle. I didn’t recognize the license plate or the face behind the windshield. My brain didn't know this person, but my soul did.
It was the reason why the plants were celebrating; why my heart pounded in my chest, and my blood warmed as it raced through my veins. This was the reason I couldn’t bring myself to leave Rose Valley; my mate was not onlyhere, but coming tome.
I looked down at my body and groaned before snatching off my daisy-printed apron and stashing it behind a bush. Given the choice, I wouldn’t have picked to meet my eternal love while wearing my remaining gardening clothes - worn jeans and a plain gray t-shirt. But I wasn’t about to step away to change. Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t; my feet were rooted to the ground with anticipation.
The truck came to a stop as I wiped my palms across my thighs, hoping to clear away any lingering soil. But when my gaze snapped up at the sound of a metal door closing, and my eyes landed on the man emerging from it, all of my worries disappeared, and my full attention was captured by a sight thatshamed even the most beautiful gardens and blooms in the universe.
My mate stepped around the front of his truck and the world stopped spinning, frozen in awe. The afternoon light danced across his sun-kissed skin, and glistened in his hair and eyes, both the color of freshly tilled earth. His jaw was square and smooth, and his shoulders were broad and strong, shifting beneath his flannel shirt, unbuttoned enough to give a glimpse of his smooth, chiseled chest.
“Are you Timber?” he asked in a deep, warm voice, and my eyes widened in surprise. He not only came for me, but he knew my name.
My voice was quiet and breathy when I replied, “I am.”
“I was sent to you.”
I understood Fate worked in mysterious ways, but I never could have expected this. How was he sent? By a dream? A message from the gods themselves?
“By Chuck,” he finished, and my eyebrows furrowed.
Chuck? Who the hell is that? There’s no god named Chuck.
“From Wagner’s Farm and Feed.”
Oh,thatChuck.
“He said you’ve helped him out a lot with farming needs.”
It was true; when I first moved into the area, I walked into Wagner’s to check out the store’s seed selection. But what I found was an aggravated customer griping at Chuck, claiming that the brand of fertilizer he’d recommended didn’t work as advertised. Poor Chuck, an older and even tempered man, was quickly becoming overwhelmed, so I stepped in and offered the customer some advice, while Chuck offered him a discount. Thankfully, the man left satisfied, and remained a loyal customer. I became friends with Chuck, and visited himoften to share tips and tricks, and give advice on new products. I enjoyed his company as well as being surrounded by his plants and supplies. Plus, his wife often visited the store with delicious homemade goodies, which was a huge perk.
