Steady (Indigo)

by Robinson, Ruthie

  “I have enough to live on for a while until I can find another job. I mean, I like my job, it’s okay, but I think I would like to try something different, try going out on a limb, test myself,” she said. She watched as Colburn looked at Charles, and then turned back to her.

  “Katrina,” C said, “we promised your parents to always look after you if something happened to them, and we have. Colburn and I have thought about this long and hard. We don’t have any heirs by blood, and as you are our only heir, we are giving you the business. We made the changes to our wills about two years ago. We were waiting for the right time to tell you. This seems like it to me.”

  “That’s right, you can quit any time you wish, start a business, fail, start another one. Or you can come and work here with us. I know you can’t tell it by looking at us, but we are getting old. Can’t get around like we used to,” Charles continued.

  “Speak for yourself. We had even thought one day of starting a landscaping branch of the business, but with what we have here, we didn’t have the time. You could start it for us. You would be good at it, too. Look what you’ve done to the competition each year, and we would be here to guide you,” Colburn said.

  “I don’t know what to say,” she said, her eyes moving between them, tearing up.

  “You’ve got gardening in your blood, just like your family, and we are your family. Until we’re gone, we will always be here to look after you,” Charles said, watching her tears fall in earnest now.

  “Hey there, don’t cry. You know I dislike crying women,” Colburn said, reaching over and taking her hand in his, his actions belying his words.

  “Thank you,” she said, smiling through her tears. “I’m too old for anyone to look after.”

  “No, you are not, and that’s the end of that,” Colburn said. She left the table for a minute to compose herself and splashed some water on her face. They finished breakfast when she returned without further comment on that subject.

  The godfathers knew she needed time to process their suggestion. They hoped she would agree. They ate breakfast discussing the business and the upcoming garden competition. After breakfast they left to start working, and she stayed behind to clean up the kitchen.

  They really loved her, and sometimes, even with the adoption, it was hard for her to understand unconditional love. That was why she pushed back so, testing others so much. Why she hid herself, too. Up until she was ten, love had never been unconditional, and that had been the hardest part for her to overcome. Most times she didn’t feel she’d ever learn to accept love, to believe in it. She knew it intellectually, had seen it from her parents, but for some reason it had not sunk into her soul. It had always been easier to wait for the other shoe to drop than to trust that people would be there for her and wouldn’t desert her.

  What a gracious gift the godfathers had given her, even if she didn’t take them up on it. They’d shown her what she meant to them. It was a gift beyond measure. She stood at the sink, her tears finding their familiar route down her face, and she gave herself over to the comfort of having someone love her as much as her parents had.

  She spent the remainder of the day working at Abernathy and Co. There was always more than enough work to go around. She started out back, running the backhoe, loading up dirt and compost into trucks, large and small. A customer would pull up along a road, park, and hand over their slip, which listed the type of dirt or fertilizer or compost they wanted. She’d take her backhoe and scoop the correct amount and drop it into their trucks.

  While she worked, her thoughts turned to Will. She didn’t know what to do about him, especially in light of yesterday. He was silently and patiently working at overcoming her defenses, not pushing but not allowing her to run, either. He never said a word to her about it, but he called and sought her out constantly now. He was someone she could talk with. She liked him very much. Liked his energy, the way he took on challenges. They’d become friends. She’d shared more about herself with him, more than she’d ever shared with a potential romantic interest. Could this be more for her?

  She hadn’t had much luck with guys, but it was mostly her own fault because of her ingrained defensiveness. So should she or shouldn’t she try with Will?

  She later helped customers in the shop, sitting next to her Uncle C, a perfect ending to a perfect day. The ability to do something she loved every day appealed to her strongly, so she promised herself she would start making plans to take her life in a new direction.

  CHAPTER 12

  October

  The first Saturday in October found Katrina back at the garden bright and early, standing in the potting shed over the main table. The volunteers were scheduled to arrive at nine today, and she stopped by the local taco stand and picked up a bucket filled to the brim with tacos, a few juices, and some coffee. She was not above bribery, especially as the weeks of work had worn on. She swiped some fruit from the vegetable stand and added it to the array of other food items. She surveyed her buffet, pleased with the bounty.

  She wanted to make sure everything was in order, always cognizant of her volunteers’ time; just ‘cause it was free didn’t mean they could waste it. Arriving before Will wasn’t easy. He was always around, always early, had taken this competition business seriously. Her focus tended to slip away when he presented himself in front of her.

  She’d kept her mind from replaying too much of what had transpired between them. It had the power to push her over to his door, begging for more, and she wasn’t sure that’s where she needed to be. However, her doubts were slowly disappearing. Will the consistent was wreaking havoc on her fears, pushing them aside. He’d become a good friend. She spent an inordinate amount of her time thinking about him. She was coming to believe that he would be worth it.

  Since the food was ready, she found her backpack and dug through it for a copy of the plans. She took them with her and walked out toward the flower section. It was always good to check up, make sure they stayed on schedule. She was pleased with the progress they’d made; they were well on schedule. She hoped to have all of the water features up and running by month’s end. Next month was the restructuring of the pavilion to Will’s Eastern theme, and they needed to enclose his stone garden.

  She would order the rocks for the garden this week for delivery next Saturday. She saw some of the volunteers enter and she smiled and waved to them as she reached the main gate. They were headed to the back for food. She walked over to stand in the middle of the path leading into the gardens, looking over the two main trees that they would have to prune, as well as the multitude of shrubs tucked into beds that awaited pruning. There was always something that needed doing, but she was pleased with their progress.

  ***

  Second weekend

  Will entered the garden, looking around for Katrina. Today was rock-delivery day. It was a sad state of events that that had become exciting to him. The past month had been grueling work at the gardens, with Katrina turning into the taskmaster from hell. He thought he could give orders, but he’d had no idea. He knew now what the others had learned long ago: beware of Katrina when she approached you with a wide smile and wrapped her arms around you. It always meant more work. The funny thing was that she asked in a way that sounded reasonable at the time but made you kick yourself as soon as she walked away for agreeing.

  She had given up the professional routine, traded it in finally for friendship. One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind, he thought. He had no idea that he could be this patient. Hell, he’d never had to be, not with women, at least. This was a new experience for him, and he’d lost the desire for someone else a while ago; he wanted no substitutes. Wow, that was a powerful admission, but he was long past going back.

  Seeing her crying that night had affected him. She had an effect on him and had changed something internally in him that had been slowly changing, anyway. He wanted to know her, maybe even for keeps. His Katrina had been good at hiding, putting up roadblocks
. Not so much anymore; she was sending signals his way, or maybe it was wishful thinking on his part, his time away from sex making him delusional. He smiled at that.

  Thankfully, the digging was done; next came getting the ponds, waterfalls and streams built, lined, filled with water, and up and running. Speak of the devil, there she stood in the middle of the path, dressed in a large sweatshirt and jeans, work boots on her feet. When and how had a woman dressed in work clothes become such a turn on? He watched her for a second as she looked at something on her copy of the plans. He walked up behind her, waiting until she felt him at her back and turned around.

  “I knew you would be here early,” he said, watching the surprise and pleasure at seeing him reflected on her face. It did wonders for his confidence.

  “Yep, wanted to make sure we were organized and ready for the volunteers this morning.”

  “Are we?”

  “Yes, we are.”

  “Again, you’re very good at this,” he said, looking down into her eyes.

  “Thank you again,” she said, smiling back. Before she could finish getting the words out, he bent his head and captured her lips with his. He moved his hands to her waist to hold her still, giving her a quick but thorough kiss.

  Judging by her sudden gasp, he had surprised her; since she didn’t try to leave, he went back for more. Taking her lips again, her lips parted, her tongue seeking his this time. He pulled her closer, wanting more, but determined to be careful with her still, in spite of his need.

  She pulled back, breathing hard, a startled expression on her face.

  “Good morning, Will,” John said as he entered their area, coming from behind him. “Oh, good morning, Katrina. I didn’t see you standing there. I’m headed for the coffee. Katrina, do you have a moment to give me an update on our progress?”

  “Sure,” she said, stepping back and walking away from Will, glad for the escape.

  ***

  The next morning Katrina left home and headed to the garden again. She looked around her street, taking in the leaves that had fallen off their branches and wondering where the fall had gone. Between work at her full-time job, working at the gardens, and exploring preliminary ideas for her own business, she’d barely had time to make her weekly trip to the godfathers. No longer able to see them on the weekends, she started stopping at lunch or after work during the week.

  This was the last weekend of major physical labor. They were ahead of schedule, so she pushed on ahead to start giving the trees their new, bonsai-shaped haircuts. She was surprised by how much she liked the new look. With most of the major work completed on their section, many of their volunteers had to been reassigned to the vegetable section. Today she would be planting bamboo plants in an area next to the waterfall.

  She passed by Lola’s home, then the Sheppards’, noting the sports equipment that littered their front porch. Seven children—no way, Jose, she thought. She came upon Will’s home and glanced over. He was standing in his garage, next to his jeep, loading something into it. It looked liked tools to her. He glanced up, saw her approach, and gave her a big smile.

  She loved that smile; it was friendly, open, and promised fun, all of which she’d come to associate with him. He seemed to have moved up his game, letting her know that he wanted more; why the hell not change her game, too?

  She walked over and stood just outside his garage. “What do you have there?” she asked, looking into his back seat.

  “A statue of Buddha that was given to me by a friend of my sister’s,” he said, pointing at it sitting alone on the backseat, locked in, somewhat comically, with a seat belt. He looked thoughtful sitting there in the backseat. “The friend was looking to get rid of it, so I picked it up from him last week for the garden. Is that where you’re headed?”

  “Yep,” she said.

  “Want to ride over with me?” he asked.

  “Yep,” she said, smiling back at him. This was what she wanted. Him.

  “Hop in,” he said, walking around to open the door for her. “I’ve got one more load and then we’ll be good to go,” he said, walking away from her and back into the garage.

  She sat there watching him. He was looking good, as usual, in jeans and a T-shirt, his baseball cap turned backward on his head, his smile accentuating his sharp cheekbones and those beautiful eyes. She still put herself to sleep nightly watching her favorite nude video of him, feeling her mouth on his, his hands moving between her legs.

  “Whoo,” she whispered to herself, fanning her face. Slow down, Katrina. She watched as he walked back out, put the last load into his jeep, and got in. He looked over at her and smiled again. She did the same. He started his jeep and pulled out of his drive.

  She didn’t see him again until later that afternoon. She spent the morning moving native plants from one area to another. She went to the planting shed to retrieve the twenty or so one-gallon bamboo plants that had been delivered earlier in the week. She found a two-tiered cart and began placing them on it. She’d have to make two trips. She had put the last of the first batch on the bottom tier when Will walked in.

  “You need some help?” he asked, looking at her cart and over to the table where the remaining plants stood.

  “You could grab the other cart, and we can make one trip. Do you have something else you’re working on?” she asked, trying to remember what he’d been assigned.

  “I’ve completed my task for the day. Did anyone tell you that you were a tough boss?”

  “Yes, and no,” she said, smiling.

  “Where’s the other cart?” he asked, looking around for it. She pointed to the corner closet and followed him, admiring him as he walked over to retrieve it. She helped him load the remaining plants and they set off, making their way to the waterfall area. It was working beautifully.

  “I really like your designs,” she said.

  “Thank you,” he said. He followed her lead as she set the plants on the ground in the spots where they would be planted. Will picked up her shovel that she’d placed there earlier and pushed it into the ground.

  “Let me dig and you plant,” he said.

  “Because I’ve already dug about ten holes today, I’ll let you,” she said.

  Will dug a hole and she following behind, removing the plants from their container and setting them into the ground, filling in the hole with dirt. Three down, eighteen to go.

  “So how’s work?” she asked. “How are you taking not traveling?”

  “It’s not as bad as I thought it would be, this staying put business,” he said, smiling at her. “There is this assistant, this task-master from hell,” he said, moving over to the next hole, “that makes sticking around not so bad.”

  “Task-master from hell?” she said, sticking plant number five into the ground. “I’m not that bad.”

  “No, you’re not that bad. I’ve actually come to enjoy working here with the competition and with you,” he said, moving on, finding his hole digging rhythm.

  “Same here,” she said.

  “Speaking of out-of-town trips, I’ve got to fly out tomorrow morning, unexpectedly. Couldn’t be helped.”

  “It’s okay. We’re at a good place,” she said. They continued talking, moving on to the godfathers and her work, old familiar territory, until all the plants had been placed into the ground.

  “I just need to water them, and then I’m done for the day,” she said, walking to a spot in the garden where the hoses were kept.

  “We can take it easy for a while, coast a little, since the bulk of the major changes have been implemented. So, as timing goes, this is a good time for a trip,” she said, pulling the water hose from its hiding place in the ground and turning it on, moving it to soak the bamboo plants.

  “I’ll spend the next weeks reviewing our original planting schedule to make sure we haven’t missed anything,” she said. He watched her until she was done with the watering and then took the hose from her hand, putting it away. They began picking u
p tools, placing them on the carts and hauling them back to the equipment building. Will entered first and Katrina followed, bringing in the last of the load.

  “That’s it,” she said, handing the last tool to him. He grabbed it from her hand and put it alongside the others. She turned to leave, but he pushed the door closed, locking them inside. She turned to look at him.

  “What—” His lips found hers, cutting her off. She may have been surprised, but it quickly gave way to need. Hell yes, she thought. She opened her mouth and he wrapped his tongue around hers.

  She stood on her tiptoes for better access. He helped, lifting her, wrapping her legs around his waist. He pushed her back into the door with his body, holding her in place while his hands went in search of her breasts, working themselves under her shirt. He applied pressure, dragging a moan from her, before releasing one and moving his free hand downward, seeking out the zipper to her shorts.

  His hips began to circle hers, pushing himself into her firmly, and she moaned loud enough to wake the dead. Will pulled back enough to try and remove her shorts, pulling them down. One leg got caught on her boot.

  “Skip it,” she said, her breathing choppy as he placed her legs around his back, pushing into the junction of her thighs. They moaned again and Will stopped, looking around for a place other than the back of the door. He spotted a chair and set Katrina aside, pulling up short, staring at her standing before him partly naked, shorts bunched at the bottom of her right foot, hair escaping her ponytail, her mouth swollen from his kisses.

  He moved back to her and kissed her hard on the mouth, and then retrieved the chair and pushed it against the door. They didn’t need any uninvited guests. He sat down, but not before he’d unzipped his pants.

  Katrina walked over to stand in front of him, dragging her shorts along with her, laughing at how ridiculous she looked. He looked up at the sound of her laugh, his eyes roaming over her again, and she watched as a sexy, slow grin formed on his face.