Community Gardens (Community Garden Series Book 1) (3 page)

Joan tugged her thin
sweater as she crossed the asphalt parking lot. The morning was
unseasonably cool for April, but she wouldn't complain. It beat the
sweltering heat that hit the Gulf Coast every summer; sometimes
unbearable heat that wilted plants and kept people indoors.

When
she reached the school, she headed along the wide corridor toward
Principal Stone's office. She remembered Della Stone as a small woman
with a dimpled smile that wore floral print dresses. Near the office,
she heard laughing. She glimpsed through the glass door and saw Cal
Reardon, the athletic director for Sand Hill Cove Elementary. He was
focused on Della and her beaming smile. She hesitated and wondered
what
could be so pleasant before a parent-teacher meeting.
She
remembered when she could smile at a handsome man, but quickly
reminded herself that those days were over. Even so, that didn't mean
they were over for everyone else. She drew a silent breath.

Della
glanced up then motioned for Joan to join the meeting. “Hello,
come in and please have a seat with us.”

The
wooden chair looked bleak and felt cold when she sat down. Suspecting
bad news, Joan hesitated for a moment.

Della
leaned against her microfiber chair. “I know you're busy, so
I'd like to get straight to the issue at hand. I've had several
reports from teachers about Zack. He's just not fitting in well with
the other students.”

“My
son? There must be a mistake.”

“I
understand your concern, but first, let me give you his iPhone. He
was playing games during class.” Della's smile didn't budge,
but she lowered her voice. “Ms. Louen, he is very quiet and
frankly hasn't socialized well this year.”

“Zack?”
It was difficult to believe her son wasn't socializing. She knew he
could be quiet, but he was taught to be polite and listen. “I
don't understand. I know he's quiet but that doesn't mean he's not
sociable.”

Joan
glanced at Cal and wondered why he was invited to the meeting. Her
son had no interest in sports, especially team sports. And Cal was
supposed to be leaving the school at the end of year, according to
Blaine.

As
if reading her mind he said. “I'm coaching a spring league
baseball team and I'd like Zack to join. He's sharp and would be a
boon for the team.”

Afraid
that Zack might get attached to a coach that was leaving, she said,
“he's not big on team sports.”

“Exactly,
so this may help him feel like he's part of the school.”

“Even
before his father passed away, Zack wasn't much on sports. He loves
dogs, cats and computers.”

“So,
let's give something new a try.”

“How
long does the season last?”

“Batting
practice starts today. Then it's two days a week for three weeks.
After that, eight more weeks of Saturday games at Hanly Park.”

“That's
three blocks away. Same time every year?”

“Every
year in April, before summer league.”

Joan
paused.
Should I ask him if he's retiring like everybody says and
risk sounding like gossip?
Since today was not a good day to be
labeled a gossip, she decided not to ask. Instead she gave him
another excuse. “But he likes helping in the store on Saturday,
my busiest day.”

“Could
we schedule a work routine around the morning games?”

“Well,
it sounds promising,” she hesitated. “I'll work on the
schedule and let you know.”

Cal's
grin widened as if he had won a prize. “That's great and I hope
you'll help him get interested in baseball. It's a lot of fun.”

She
doubted Zack would get near a ball field. Even so, she stopped
debating with Cal. It wasn't worth the effort to discuss baseball
with a coach that could abandon his team. “Whatever Zack
decides, I appreciate your help.”

* * *

After
the meeting, Joan hurried back to the nursery. Mental exhaustion
weighed on her like a heavy winter coat. She yearned for the
stillness of the nursery. There, she could tune out problems and
focus instead on creating blooming baskets and colorful bouquets.
Just the act of mixing potting soil could sooth jangled nerves. When
she opened the door, the new plant smell enveloped her as if she just
sat in a spring-fed pool. She drew a long breath and marveled at the
rows of plants in different stages of development. This room was a
snapshot of her old biology degree put into action. The dream of
running a garden center lay before her. She leaned in, turned on the
water and cupped a hose.

She misted a table full of pepper plants. These were special peppers,
sprouted from the seeds of of locally grown peppers. She had become a
seed saver, collecting and storing heirloom seeds whenever she could
find them. Eventually, she hoped to have a collection of heirloom
seeds for all the plants she grew.

As
she worked, memories of the morning's conference mingled with the
mist.
Did I overlook something in Zack? He's so tenderhearted and
smart, just like his father.
Joan recalled how attentive Zack's
father had been, when he was home.

She
tried to recall a time that Zack had been unsociable, but couldn't.
Zack had even befriended Benny for awhile. But after Benny threw a
tantrum when he failed to beat Zack at Xbox, the friendship cooled.
She wondered if she had failed Zack by returning to Sand Hill Cove.

She
moved back to Sand Hill Cove to recapture the memories of her life
with Chris. They'd met at a jazz fest in Town Park. He'd come with
friends from the Air Force base. She'd come with friends from the
biology lab. As they began to talk, the festival noises faded until
they only heard each other. Three months later they married and a
year after that, Zack was born. Their life was active and happy. That
all changed when the Air Force moved them to Colorado. Six months
after the move, Chris was on a test flight when his plane crashed,
killing him instantly. After his death, she was determined to return
to Sand Hill Cove and live near her in-laws. Their compassion and
comfort kept her alive. And they needed to be near Zack, their only
grandchild.

The
only family she had was a brother who lived in Michigan with his wife
and daughter. After Joan's parents died in a car accident, they
rarely spoke. Even so, her brother had visited after Chris died. But
they had become strangers, making it difficult to comfort each other.
He rarely traveled and had no desire to venture beyond Michigan or
his secure job with the utility company. She imagined he would stay
with the company until retirement or illness forced him out of work.
After they left, she knew it would be a long time before Zack would
see his uncle again.

And
then there was Roz, her best friend who had convinced her to quit
studying and go to the jazz fest the day she met Chris. Without her
prodding, she would still be in the lab. There would be no Zack or
happy memories of Chris. Roz treated Zack like her adopted son. Not
only did Roz look after him, Wilson, her husband, loved his new
fishing buddy. Even her daughters, Chloe and Lindsey, watched after
him like a little brother. She recalled the excitement in his eyes,
when he saw how the girls had decorated his room. Replicas of his
favorite planes; biplanes, B-52, and F-16, hung from the ceiling. A
game station, fully equipped with an Xbox, LEGO Star Wars and
RockStar, sat on a desk near the window.

Zack
hadn't complained about school. He just loved to play Xbox or help
her in the store. He ran errands for her especially if he got to
sprint across the park or pass the French Bakery and look in the
window at the small cakes.

She
determined that Zack was not an outcast. Instead, it was the other
way around. He wasn't interested in sports. He was curious about how
things work. She knew he would be standoffish until he found someone
who shared the same interests.

She
decided to talk to him about the baseball team after dinner. To
sweeten the discussion, she planned to make his favorite dessert,
banana pudding. She knew it would take a dessert to get him in the
mood to talk about baseball.

With
the decision made, she sprayed a final mist over the peppers and
rewound the hose. It was time to call on Roz again. This time though,
it wouldn't be to watch the shop.

Joan
tapped the speed dial button on her phone. When Roz answered she
asked, “who makes the best banana pudding?”

Roz
laughed. “Okay, do tell, what are you up to now?”

“Well
after we talked...”

“Oh,
this has something to do with me?”

“Well,
no.” Joan collected her thoughts. “Here's the deal. I've
decided to talk with Zack about baseball.”

“So
this has to do with Cal talking you into putting your son on a
baseball team?”

“No.
I just thought it might be worth a try. Even though it's unlikely,
what could it hurt to at least give it a chance?”

“Bribery.”

“No
flexibility.”

Roz
chuckled. “Smart lady you are. Best banana pudding? The French
Bakery. And while you're there, please check out the courtyard we
need to fix up. I think we should use formal urns, rounded boxwood,
yellow pansies and emerald moss.”

“Thanks
creative one, I'm on my way.”

After
her trip to the French Bakery, Joan set the table for dinner.
Imagining Roz's courtyard design took her mind off the morning
conference. It also gave her time to rehearse the discussion she
would have with Zack after dinner.

She
heard the front door open, and headed toward the shop.

“Hey
mom, I got picked for the baseball team!” his face beamed red
with excitement.

“Really?”

“Can
you believe it? Dr. Reardon, made me assistant coach.”

“No
kidding?”

“Yep.
First practice starts now. Can I go?”

“Of
course. Dinner first?”

“Can
I eat on the way?”

Joan
watched her son's grin grow wider. “I wouldn't want you to miss
your first practice.”

He
leaped up the stairs to change clothes. After she microwaved his
chicken tenders, he bounded down the stairs barely giving her time to
wrap his dinner. She handed him his sack as he jogged out the door.

“Thanks
Mom, love ya.”

Joan
watched her son jog across Town Park. She hadn't seen him this happy
since they'd left Colorado.

When
he dropped from site, she headed back to the kitchen.

“Well
what is up with that?” she murmured into the bowl of banana
pudding setting untouched on the kitchen table. “Who will I
need to sweeten up first? Zack when coach leaves; or coach, to get
him to stay with the team.”

The next morning Joan
woke to the sound of birds singing outside her bedroom window. Last
night, Zack had come home and gushed about batting practice. He
showed her what it was like to swing a bat and catch a ball in a
mitt. To celebrate, they had splurged on banana pudding until he ran
out of stories. He was so overjoyed, he'd promised to get himself to
school in the morning so she could sleep in.

She
pushed aside the blue comforter that had kept her warm and sleepy.
She was grateful for the extra hour of sleep, but it was time to get
up. The day ahead would be busy. First, she had to discuss the
blueprints she'd drafted for Holden's Books with Blaine. Next she had
to help Roz open the store. Then after school, she had to help Chloe
and Lindsey get the pepper plants transplanted and ready for sale and
there were dozens of them.

But
before she started work, Joan wanted to inspect Zack's room. She
needed assurance he had gotten himself to school. When she peered
inside his room, she noticed his backpack was gone. So far, the
morning was off to a great start. Next, she headed downstairs to the
kitchen. She checked the refrigerator. The lunch she'd prepared the
night before was gone. He had successfully gotten himself off to
school. Confident he was securely on his way, she started the coffee
and headed for the shower.

After
breakfast she walked across Town Park toward Holden's Books. The
sweet scent of lilies clung to the cool air. The park was deserted.
The white gazebo, used for weddings and public events, stood empty.
Only the surrounding azaleas were blazing in shades of vibrant reds.

On
Main Street, she passed City Hall, the oldest building in town. Above
the oak doors, the words 'Sand Hill Cove 1758' were etched in the
gray stone. Sara's family had built the stone fortress when they
founded the town. And since that time, a Deaux had held an official
city position whether mayor, alderman, or council member. Sara
continued the tradition as mayor and still used the building for city
business. But unless Sara had children soon, she would be the last
Deaux to carry on the tradition.

Joan
forgot about the Deaux family history when she eyed the two sculpted
urns that stood guard at Holden's entryway. She scratched the surface
of the urns revealing, dry lifeless soil. Just as she slipped the
dirt between her fingers, Cal and Sara stepped out of the shop. They
were so immersed in discussion, they hadn't noticed Joan until Cal
almost stumbled over her.

For
a moment, the silence felt strange, like an artificial plant mixed in
a bouquet of live roses. Cal's eyes gleamed with surprise. Sara
pressed her hands over her tailored jacket. Cal finally broke the
silence. “Well hello,” he said. “What brings you
here today?”

Joan
shook his extended hand. “A new contract to liven up Holden's.”

“Good
for you. By the way, how did last night turn out?” Sara's eyes
shifted from Cal to Joan. “I mean after batting practice.”

“Zack
was thrilled. He showed me everything he learned. How did you
encourage him?”

“He
encouraged himself, I believe.”