Blooming Into Life by Kristie Booker

Author:Kristie Booker [Kristie Booker]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Cricket Press
Published: 2024-05-13T00:00:00+00:00

15

Colleen

Friday afternoon, Colleen had a full hour until she needed to get the girls from school. Kory had been right when she said things would get easier. She’d accomplished so much without a nap, and still felt good. Thanks to Sandy’s magic, her hair lay in soft, shining waves. And while the manicurist buffed and sculpted her nails, she’d found an opportunity to return her mother’s call.

Amidst the chatter and laughter of the women around her, she could still make out the enthusiasm that bubbled up from her mother’s voice when she spoke about the upcoming feature on their family farm. The anniversary of her brother’s death weighed on her mom, just as it did on her. However, Colleen felt a rush of relief wash over her that her mother had something positive to focus on. As much as she wanted to be present for the filming day, she knew it would be hard to manage. Just as soon as school let out for the summer, she would take the girls for a visit. She wished she had more time to speak with her mom, but she had to pay the manicurist.

Upon arriving home, she parked and made her way to the front yard. There, the decaying evergreens in her window boxes had been replaced with lush blue hydrangeas and ivy that cascaded down the porch rails. Her landscaper, Pete, had filled each urn on either side of her front door with even more blue hydrangeas and ivy. She couldn’t help but smile at how her once decaying front porch had been rejuvenated by Pete’s talent. Gone were the decayed debris, replaced with a perfectly manicured lawn. The air was now filled with the aroma of cedar and sweet flowers, replacing the musty scents of dust and mildew that had lingered before.

Pete wiped the sweat from his brow with a red, worn handkerchief as he accepted a plate of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies from her good neighbor, Stephanie Wilson.

“Hi, Colleen,” Stephanie said, holding up a small black pot with one twisted stem. “Look what Pete gave me—it’s a cutting from his White Eden rose climber. I’m so excited! Now I need to get Lance to build me a trellis.”

Pete nodded and smiled; smears of chocolate spread across his teeth. He extended the plate towards Colleen.

“Oh, no thanks, Pete,” Colleen said as her stomach growled at the sight of the tempting cookies. But her mind flickered back to her dress. “Those are all yours. You outdid yourself—the yard looks amazing.” Colleen handed him a check. She wished she could pay someone to accomplish the weight loss and sculpt her body into the perfect size for her dress, as she did with her hair, nails, and yard. The week had been marked by noticeable changes—some evident, while others remained unseen.

Stephanie took measured steps toward the front porch. “The colors of all these hydrangeas are stunning,” she said before turning to Colleen. “Looks like you’re all ready for Mother’s Day.”

Colleen’s face dropped

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