Chapter Four
846 Words
A Second Chance at Us
Chapter Four — The Garden
By Saturday morning, I had convinced myself that I needed a distraction.
So when Mum asked me to help with the garden, I said yes before she could finish the question.
Anything was better than sitting around the house thinking about William.
At least, that's what I told myself.
The sun was warm, and the garden smelled like freshly cut grass. Mum was trimming the roses while I pulled weeds from around the flower beds.
“You're unusually quiet,” she said.
“I'm concentrating.”
“On weeds?”
“Very difficult weeds.”
She laughed.
“You've always been a terrible liar.”
I looked at her.
“Why does everyone keep saying that?”
“Because it's true.”
Before I could answer, the back door opened.
William stepped outside.
He had a toolbox in one hand.
“Mum, where do you want this?”
“Put it by the shed.”
He nodded.
Then his eyes found mine.
“Morning, Penny.”
“Morning.”
He smiled.
I immediately returned my attention to the flower bed.
Mum noticed.
Of course she did.
“William, why don't you help Penny?”
I looked up.
“I don't need help.”
William smiled.
“Apparently, you do.”
Mum walked away before either of us could argue.
I sighed.
“You planned that.”
“Planned what?”
“Helping me.”
“I didn't.”
He crouched beside me.
“What are we doing?”
“Pulling weeds.”
“Sounds exciting.”
“It is if you have an interesting life.”
He laughed.
For several minutes, we worked in silence.
It wasn't uncomfortable.
Actually, it was strangely easy.
Like the years between us hadn't happened.
William reached toward a stubborn weed.
“Here.”
He pulled it free.
“You're showing off.”
“Maybe.”
I smiled.
He looked at me.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You're staring.”
“I was thinking.”
“Dangerous.”
I laughed.
He smiled again.
Then the smile slowly disappeared.
“Penny?”
“Hmm?”
“Are you happy?”
The question surprised me.
“Why are you asking?”
“I don't know.”
He looked toward the garden.
“Maybe because I missed so much.”
I sat back on my heels.
“You don't have to make up for it.”
“I know.”
“William, you had your own life.”
“I know.”
“Then stop blaming yourself.”
He looked at me.
“You always did that.”
“Did what?”
“Tell me when I was being stupid.”
I smiled.
“Someone had to.”
He laughed softly.
Then his expression became serious again.
“I missed being here.”
“You're here now.”
“Yeah.”
He looked around the garden.
“It's different.”
“How?”
“Everything feels smaller.”
I smiled.
“Maybe because we're older.”
“Maybe.”
A breeze moved through the trees.
William leaned back against the trunk of the old oak.
I sat beside him.
We stayed quiet for a while.
Then he said, “I still miss her.”
I didn't need to ask who.
“Ava was supposed to be here.”
His voice was barely above a whisper.
“We were supposed to get married. Buy a house. Have children.”
I swallowed.
“I'm sorry.”
“I keep thinking about all the things that aren't going to happen.”
I looked at him.
“You loved her.”
“More than anything.”
“I know.”
He rubbed his hands together.
“I don't know who I am without that future.”
“You don't have to figure it out today.”
He looked at me.
“You always make things sound simple.”
“They aren't simple.”
“No?”
“No.”
I smiled sadly.
“But sometimes you just have to take one day at a time.”
He studied my face.
“Where did you get so wise?”
“I grew up.”
He smiled.
“You did.”
Something about his voice made me look away.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then William said quietly, “I'm glad you did.”
My heart skipped.
I pretended not to notice.
“I'm going inside.”
He nodded.
“Okay.”
I stood and brushed the dirt from my jeans.
As I walked toward the house, I glanced back.
William was still sitting beneath the tree.
He looked peaceful for the first time since he'd returned.
And I realized something.
Maybe he hadn't come home because he was ready to move on.
Maybe he'd come home because he needed somewhere he could finally breathe.
I wanted to be that place for him.
But a small, frightening part of me wanted to be something more.
And that was the part I didn't know how to silence.
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