Page 191 of Seasons of Love
I swallow it like a thirsty child, needing to know everything my parents can’t tell me themselves.
Before we take the sandwiches out for everyone, I invite Brian to have dinner with me, Ellis, and Florrie later.
Surprisingly, he doesn’t decline the offer.
We set up a table under the pop-up shelter with sandwiches, chips, and other finger foods. It seems enough to feed a battalion, but we’ve had so many people turn up to help that I grab a sandwich for myself before they’re all gone.
I look around for Ellis but don’t see him anywhere.
Vera, Florrie’s friend, tells me the truck with the flowers has turned up, so I go over and ask them to unload them next to the church in the shade.
After watering them to make sure they survive the heat, I go over my basic drawing for where each flower bed will go.
Tomorrow, once the soil has been turned over and additional nutrients added, I’ll be able to plant the flowers. We already have volunteers to take turns maintaining the flower beds and pulling the weeds as they try to grow back.
If the mayor doesn’t decide to keep the playground after all this effort from the community, there will be collective heartbreak.
The gate to the cemetery is open, so I go inside and look for my mother’s grave.
The rosebush I keep for her in a stone pot needs deadheading, so I sit next to it and remove the dead rose heads to promote fresh growth.
“Hey, Mom. Sorry I haven’t been here in a while. It’s been a little crazy, but I guess you know that already, right? Sara is so grown up. Well, as grown up as a ten-month-old baby can be. She can walk when she’s holding on to things now. I’m sure it won’t take long until she’s walking all on her own.”
I put all the deadheads in a small pile to drop in the trash outside.
“I have so many questions and doubts, Mom. I wish you were here so I could talk to you. Brian spoke to me today. For a while, it was like Dad was back. Even the way Brian talks is how I remember Dad talking.”
I sigh. “Anyway, I was nearby, so I wanted to see you, but I have to go. Keep an eye on us as always, okay? Love you.”
I place a kiss on my palm and run my hand over the stone.
By the time I’m back, Ellis is still nowhere I can see, but with Florrie in charge of task giving, who knows what she’s got him doing.
By late afternoon, when everyone is packing up to go home, I’m exhausted but also excited to plant the flowers tomorrow.
“Hey, Tyler, have you seen Ellis? I haven’t seen him all afternoon.”
“He got a call earlier and left. I thought he’d be back, but I haven’t seen him.”
“Okay, thanks.”
I wash my hands under the water fountain Anne’s husband managed to bring back to life and reach out for my phone. There are no missed calls or messages. I dial his number, but it goes straight to his voicemail.
Florrie has finished packing her mission control desk, as she calls it. A lot of stuff will remain here overnight, such as the pop-up shelter.
“Florrie, can I borrow your car to pick up Sara from Alice’s place? I can’t get hold of Ellis.”
“Sure, honey. I’ll get home and start dinner. Brian said he wanted to grab some old photos for you, so he’ll come over later.”
“Okay. I’ll see you soon then.”
I park in Alice’s driveway, half expecting to see Ellis’s car there, but it’s not.
My gut tells me he’s okay, but my brain is worried.
I rush up to ring the bell. Max answers the door.
“Hey, Milo, come on in. Alice is just changing Sara’s diaper.”
