As Time Unfolds by Barbara Zerfoss

Author:Barbara Zerfoss [Barbara Zerfoss]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781631957437
Published: 2021-11-14T16:00:00+00:00

On the other end of the phone, Holly sat at her desk with her mouth hanging open. She had no chance to ask Bethany a question. Her boss’s time was up.

CHAPTER 27

As a thank you for styling her hair, Bethany invited Sam to Lily Fields for dinner. Before they ate, the women took a walk to see the flower gardens that Nick’s crew transformed inside the long-neglected beds. With the lilies and roses in full bloom, Sam marveled at the varieties and colors, a full palette of whites, pinks, and crimson along with the native Turk’s cap lilies.

“Do you know the names?” Sam asked.

“This is the Jack rose.” Bethany pointed to the crimson and velvety rose at the bottom of the porch steps. “Nick DeLeon knows the names of all the rest.” Bethany liked pronouncing it like Day Lay Own. She didn’t say it with a Spanish accent as good as his, but the name flowed from her lips.

A butterfly landed on a lily and sucked pollen to fuel its wings. “My goodness. A monarch,” Sam exclaimed as she clapped her hands. “My favorite.”

“I guess that explains the name of your shop,” Bethany said, acknowledging Sam’s delight.

“Do you know about the flight monarchs take each year?”

“Don’t know much about butterflies,” Bethany said, walking toward another landscaped bed with Sam.

“The monarchs winter in Mexico,” Sam began. “In the early spring, it takes three to four generations to make it from Mexico to the US or Southern Canada. Once fall approaches, one single generation called the Super Generation flies all the way back to Mexico, up to three thousand miles. I learned about it in a movie.”

Bethany stayed attentive and Sam continued. “It’s critical to plant milkweed in your garden. Monarchs lay their eggs on or near milkweed because it’s the only food source for monarch caterpillars. No milkweed, no transformation into butterflies.”

“Maybe I should ask Nick to plant some milkweed?”

“My goodness, you must. Now, tell me about your date,” Sam said.

“The favorite restaurant was his house. Well, his garden behind his house where he grilled fish.”

“Whoa, that’s bold, taking you to his house on the first date.” Sam’s head cocked to one side, and her eyes opened wide.

“We never went inside. Entered the backyard from a path through trees on a street behind his house. The scenery was incredible, and it was lovely to hear the waterfall. He made the whole garden himself.”

“How did you two get along?” Sam asked.

“The conversation was easy. Well, until he asked deep questions.”

“Deep?” Sam looked at Bethany in surprise.

“He asked . . . Well . . . if I had all the time in the world, unlimited time, what would I choose to do? I had to think a while. I’m always short on time.”

“What did you say?”

“Crazy thing. I told him I would write. Crazier still, when he asked what I would do if I had limited time, I said I would choose to stay at Lily Fields. I couldn’t believe I said it. Don’t know where that came from.

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