Future Landscaping

You know what? I quit. With that thought rolling around in my head, I stared at the crowd and told the biggest lie of my life.

“I would love to, Auntie May.”

He looked between us once more and said, “it's either her or me...”

Turning to me he smiled, “or we can try to do the job together if you will have me as your partner...”

Not in thousand years. Work with him? Never. Once was enough!

“No, thank you. I can do this, not a problem.” Yeah, right. The problem was I had no idea how to do this small job as they called it, but I had to.

The voice at the back of my mind kept calling; I quit. I could not allow him to take over again. I had left town because I had to get away from him. The warm touch upon my arm captured my attention. The speckled pale hand of my aging great aunt held my attention, twisting my hand and stomach even tighter.

“Join together, this job will shine with the work you two could accomplish. Think on it tonight and come tell me in the morning over breakfast.”

The word breakfast nearly had me choking on the bile that was suddenly at the back of my throat. Eating was an impossible thing with him near.

“I will drop in after lunch and see what you have decided, Lindsey. I need to drop in on a friend now. He said he needed a hand with something. See you all tomorrow.”

I held Aunt May’s hand, caressing the thin skin over her frail bones. The longer I gazed at her hand the louder the silence became. Dad cleared his throat. Mom shushed him. Auntie Karen sighed and shifted in her seat sighing again then groaned. She did not have auntie May's ease to just sit and observe as she was doing now.

“I know, dear,” she whispered in my ear.

Know what exactly? Did she know the man had driven me away? Did she know at one time I had only wanted to impress him?

Looking up at my family and finding them staring at me, concern flooded their eyes. Once again, I was in the spotlight, under scrutiny. To run or not to run?

Glancing at Aunt Karen and felt her burning gaze stronger than the others. That expression held more of a knowing smirk, then concern. Squirming under her gaze I decided to hide in the bathroom to catch my breath alone.

“Excuse me for a few I need to use the bathroom.”

Crossing the lawn to the paths in front of Auntie May’s home I paused. At the intersection I could go right and head out of town but turning left would take me to the house.

It took a few seconds to realize I was utterly and completely lost. Defeat was my only option. I could never go against anything auntie suggested. This time was like any other. I would work with him. But only because she had asked.

After dinner I decided to go to bed. Laying under the comforter, sleep avoided me. I wanted to sleep, needed to sleep to stop my mind from fretting over doing a job with Marcus. Only now it was swirling out of control. Running for higher ground sounded safe. Only here I was, in over my head because I could not let auntie down.

Being the grandmother sort, especially when I was growing up through the teen years I visited her often. She gave me good advice and warm hugs. Her house was home away from home as it still was. Now that mom and dad had downsized to a tiny home I stayed with her every time I came to see family.

Aunt May and I had discussed creating a garden with waterfalls, water channels zigzagging back and forth downhill. Flowers and trees were to line the path leading to a pond at the bottom. The pond would hold koi and a bridge.

We had dreamed big. It had not been created, just a beautiful vision remained. Until now. Now she thought I could make that dream real. Me, the interior designer. I have never done landscaping only gardening when younger.

Three years ago, I started a project on the front lawn. It was to be a gazebo surrounded by roses and other shrubs. It would have been my first outdoor design. I was finishing the final touches to the stonework when Markus strolled in and took over.

He had wanted me to do it his way, saying he was there to help. Only he held firm that his way was the best way. We had a blowout. I don't even remember what it was about. I had apologized to Aunt May and left town within two days. Marcus had tried to speak with me when I visited a year later. Not having any of it, I froze him out. Quickly taking the hint or hit the stone wall I threw his way he silently kept his distance.

The completed project did not look like what he said to do but more like what I had envisioned. Auntie must have insisted to follow my design. She had loved it nearly as much as I did. I have never asked her though.

Auntie May was getting frail, and this was a dream of hers. The time had come to face Marcus and actually speak to him and work alongside him. It was going to be pure hell. I had to swallow my pride and help build her dream backyard. This was no longer about him but Auntie May.

Coming to the conclusion I would do anything for her; I felt lighter inside. I knew I was doing the right thing. Feeling better I fell asleep.

The morning arrived too soon. Foggy brain and stiff back, I dragged my feet on the way to breakfast. Pausing in the archway to the breakfast nook, I watched Aunt May sipping her tea while gazing out the window. The gentle upward curve to her lips and the dreamy expression in her eyes could only mean she was in a visioning the new landscaped backyard.

“Good morning, Lindsey. Come, sit.”

“Good morning, Auntie. Thinking of your future morning view?”

“Absolutely. I am so eager to see it. Resting these old knees as I sit on the bench beside the koi pond. Oh, the pleasure it will be.”

Wrapping her hands over mine as soon as I sat across from her, she sighed.

“I know you don't get along well with Marcus, but he'll be a strong helping hand to build this area. Only you have the plans firmly planted in your brain and only you can show him how it is to be done. He is very good at bringing such dreams to life. I truly hope you two will last long enough without a major blowout. I do see some fireworks sparking once in a while, it's only natural.”

Swallowing down the urge to tell her exactly what I thought of him I decided to drink coffee. The heal all boost I drank all day long.

“I'll be right back. I gotta have coffee.”

“You drink too much coffee. You should try apple juice or tea even.”

Making a yuck face I left the room. I would need a soul full of coffee because in five hours I would be facing “him”.

“Well, that is another thing you have in common with Marcus, dear.” The frail voice carried through the doorway in volumes.

“Pardon me, Auntie?” I could not have heard her correctly. Needing to confirm what she had said I forgot to pour the coffee and spun on my heel.

“Oh dear, you startled me. You couldn't have poured your coffee that quickly or am I losing track of time?”

“Your internal clock is still running perfectly. Never have I ever seen a person keep track of time as you do.” Kissing the top of her head I then asked, “what is this about having something in common with him?”

“Actually, you two have several things in common. Just look past your stubbornness. You might see him better, or at least see where he is coming from. I think I enjoy his company because I miss you while you were away working. He is a lot like you.”

I knew I was staring, but I lacked the comprehension on how she thought he could be a teeny weensy bit like me. Conflicting emotions rolled through me, and a shiver escaped. This notion hurt somehow.

“I hope you aren't coming down with something. Go get that coffee and warm yourself up. Then come and tell me about your next work project.”

Lunch hour came too fast. Having spent the last two and a half hours envisioning and mapping the backyard I had lost track of time. I love doing this sort of thing and I have gotten into a jam or two being late for an appointment. Becoming part of the finished idea was all consuming sometimes. It was hard not to invest so much of myself, these ideas and plans were parts of me.

The soft tones of great aunt May's voice pulled me from myself. Blinking to clear the fog from my eyes, I jolted as they cleared. Right before me at the bottom of the slope stood two figures. One towered over the other. They had snuck up on me in plain sight, or they would have if I had been focusing on the present.

“See what I mean? I swear she goes into a trance. Mind you, I think I have seen that look upon your face a time or two in the past. Auntie gazed at Marcus with the same knowing look she gave me often.

Emotions flickered across his face, unreadable but a tiny bit vulnerable. Breathing in deep he smiled at her aunt. “The gazebo I suppose. It was a trying thing to follow Lindsy’s vision with no blueprints.” Shifting his gaze until he was meeting my eyes and winked. “Perfection is tough to create.”

Choking on a sharp reply that just did not seem to fit his comment, conflict strangled me, and I began to cough. To make matters worse a stray thought topped the rest.

The man had appeal.

“Oh no, you cannot be coming down with something. Shivers now the cough. How do you feel? Would you like to do this another day?” Wrapping her arm around my shoulders, togging me close I felt her love flow into me. Her touch was always so calming. Today was no exception.

“I'm fine, auntie. I most likely need to drink. I see I've been down here a while.”

“I forgot. Marcus can help you with that.”

Glancing at her I raised my gaze to meet his. He held something out to me. Comprehension was slow in coming, maybe I was coming down with something.

“Black, as you like it.”

How? Why? Knowing how I drink my coffee was strange. Or maybe auntie May had told him. Either way, why did he want to remember? It had been three long years since I had spent anytime around him.

“I noticed, seems you're wondering. I'd head for the coffee and you would be there getting a cup every time. I think you met my coffee intake then.”

“Oh.”

I took the cup feeling the heat sink into my fingers. I needed that warm brew to sink into my blood. Testing the temperature I sipped. I sighed as the heat settled in my stomach. Ahh, strong black brew.

A rumble rolled in his chest and satisfaction left his features as he watched me.

“Strong. The way I like it. The beans are roasted locally”

“You made me a cup?” The words fell from my lips.

Man, he had appeal! All hot man, like his coffee,

“Sure. It’s just as easy as making one for myself.”

“Thank you. It’s perfect,” breathing in the aroma was almost as good as the taste.

“You’re welcome. So…where should we start? I'm here to follow your lead. You are leading the show, or I should say, tell me what you need from me.”

“That’s my cue to head back to the house. I'll rest a while. Be good, dears.” Turning back to them the darling lady had to put it out there, “this evening I want to see two heads together not butting.”

Chuckling, Marcus stated he had grown to love her as an aunt. The warm and tender look he gave auntie May only twisted or untwisted my heart a little.

Dang, his appeal grew more.

Either I am sick or dreaming but I am seeing a different man entirely.

“First, I must state that this is Auntie May’s dream. I have built the vision in my mind, and we are to follow this through to the finished project. Second, I will not have you telling me on how to do my job. We will share the workload. You have the knowledge on how to bring a dream to reality in landscaping.”

“Absolutely. One thing,” he paused and turned away, his hand rubbing the back of his neck firmly. Swinging back to me, he stared at me. His deep blue eyes held sorrow. “I am sorry for the way I treated you. You made me realize I had been completely unfair. I had not meant it the way it sounded. I wasn’t good at suggesting things. I usually just told the crew on how I wanted the work to be done and carry on. Over time May has been here for me when I need a listening ear.”

“Thank you. Can we start afresh?”

“I would love to. Please describe the the overall plan. I know we can create great things together.”

As I explained the landscaping goals I felt an internal pull towards Marcus. This could be the start of wonderful things.