She gave herself a small shake. Time to regroup. "Let's call it a day. Want to stay for supper?"
He started to the door and reached for his coat. "Not tonight. I have plans."
"Can't they wait until after you eat?"
"I'll probably be leaving early for the next few days. Don't worry about cooking for me. I'll grab something in town."
She pressed her lips together to keep her thoughts to herself. Would he be taking Lynn to Nancy's Restaurant again tonight? She followed him to his truck. "Will you be here tomorrow?"
"There's work to do, isn't there?"
She nodded.
"See you in the morning then." He started his pickup.
Midu fretted on her walk back to the house. The day hadn't gone as she'd hoped it would. By the time she changed into her comfy clothes, she was in a foul mood. She made herself a quick, cold meat sandwich and settled on the couch. Nothing on TV interested her, so she reached for her Kindle. Thankfully, soon, she found herself immersed in Jorg's world as she read Prince of Thorns. Jorg's acid observations of the world and its people fit her mood. At eleven, she pulled the afghan off the back of the couch and stretched out to read. The alarm on her cell phone went off at seven, and she groaned awake. Her back and shoulders were stiff from falling asleep on the couch.
After a quick shower, she started to arrange her hair in an updo, then thought better of it. What difference did it make? Kyle would wonder what was wrong with her. She grabbed some toast on the way out of the house and grumbled on her chilly walk to the greenhouse. The temperatures were climbing, but the air still felt raw. The snow had melted, forming puddles of water and lots of mud. She threaded her way around them.
Kyle's pickup was already parked near the door. She wanted to jostle him out of their usual routine somehow, but maybe later. For the moment, she yearned to fall back into their easy companionship. Time to finish the lettuce rows. She gave Kyle the packets for red, leafy lettuce and she took the spinach seeds. They spent the next two hours, working in silence. This time, though, it didn't feel friendly. It felt like she and Kyle were both harboring secret thoughts that festered inside them. She was relieved when they finished their sections and walked to the house for a quick sandwich.
They sat across from each other. Kyle would surely make some kind of small talk, but it didn't happen. He grunted most of his answers or gave one or two-word responses when she made an effort. Okay, maybe working was better. At least, they didn't just sit there, uncomfortable. When it was time to return to the greenhouse, Kyle took the arugula seeds and Midu the Bibb lettuce. Little by little, they worked until all the greenhouse beds were finished.
Midu glanced at her watch. Maybe it was time for another tactic. She gave one of her most beguiling smiles. "We put in a full day. I'm making Kashmiri chicken for supper. Want to stay?"
Kyle glanced at his watch, too, and shook his head. "Sorry, I told Lynn I'd swing by her place tonight. She put a chuck roast in the oven. I'd better go. She was making a pecan pie for dessert—one of my favorites."
Midu frowned. So Lynn was a cook. "I thought you liked apple pie."
"I do, but not as much as pecan." He started for the door. "What's on the agenda tomorrow?"
"I thought we'd start the other early spring vegetables—peas, carrots, radishes…."
"Sounds good." Before she finished, he gave a wave and was on his way.
Midu kicked at an empty seed packet that had fallen. Well, wasn't Lynn just too special? How did she know that Kyle's favorite was pecan pie?
A tiny voice answered, Maybe she asked him. Had Midu ever asked Kyle what his favorite foods were? She doubted it. When they first met, he was a hired hand and she'd ask him if he wanted to stay for supper. She didn't think of him as a guest, didn't give a thought about what he might have preferred. She just offered whatever she had on hand. And he'd seemed happy with that.
Midu squirmed. Lynn treated him special. Who wouldn't like that? What did Gino always tell her? "Don't settle for cheap shoes." No, not that--he ran a shoe shop. He said that to everyone. He told her, "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach." But Gino was Italian. And now that she thought about it, he did almost all of the cooking for Evelyn and Bridey, so what did he know?
She sighed. Obviously, food wasn't a sure-fire answer, but it couldn't hurt to put forth some effort. She tried to remember. What were Kyle's favories? He usually ate whatever she made and complimented it, but was he just being polite? He didn't like to call attention to himself, but now she wish he'd have said something.
She thought about the July Fourth carry-in at the town park each year. Kyle always looked forward to Nancy's potato salad, and he'd buy barbecued ribs from one of the food stands at night. She'd never made either one of those, but they couldn't be that hard, could they? She went online and looked up recipes. Doomed. She was doomed. There were more barbecue recipes than people who lived in Emerald Hills and just about as many versions of potato salad. How could she be sure she made his favorite kinds?
Maybe he'd notice that she made an effort, and that would be enough. She drove to the grocery store and bought everything she needed. She spent the rest of the night cooking. Ribs needed two hours in the oven, and potato salad took a while to make, too. She even simmered homemade barbecue sauce ahead of time, just in case. And while that cooked, she made the Kashmiri chicken.
She went to bed that night with a smile on her lips. Kyle would know she'd broken tradition and appreciate it.
They worked in the far greenhouse the next day. Midu carried containers of the chicken with her for them to have for lunch. Kyle looked surprised when she brought a picnic basket with her.
For the first time ever, she felt self-conscious around him. "I had lots of leftovers last night," she said. "We might as well use them up."
He didn't argue. When it was lunch time, he watched her unload the containers of food, wrapped in newspapers and foil to keep them warm, and settled on a stool across from hers at their cramped work table. "I should have told you ahead of time that I wouldn't be around for suppers. I didn't think about how much food you'd waste, eating by yourself."
She forced a smile. "It won't go to waste if we eat it for lunch. Can you stay for supper tonight? I made something special."
He frowned. "What did you make?"
Trying to keep the smugness out of her voice, she said, "Barbecued ribs and potato salad."
He stared. "You went to a lot of bother. You usually have me grill for you in the summer."
Midu wasn't sure how to answer. Did she tell him that she wanted to impress him? Would he like that or would it aggravate him? She shrugged. "I made these in the oven. It was too messy outside to grill, but I got hungry for them."
"You?" He wasn't buying it. "I've never seen you eat a rib."
"There's always a first time."
"Have you ever made potato salad before?" It sounded like an accusation, like he suspected she was trying to poison him.
She raised her chin. "I can read a recipe."
He laughed, and a smile blossomed inside her. She loved the sound of Kyle's laughter. "I'm game. I'll call Lynn and let her know I can't make it tonight."
The smile sagged. "Are you going to be spending lots of nights at her place?" The words didn't come out like she'd intended them to. They sounded wrong.
His eyebrows rose. "Probably. I'm going to stay on for as long as it takes."
It? What it? Installing her cupboards…or more? Midu sighed. "So I shouldn't count on you for supper for a while?"
He finished his lunch and resealed the plastic container she'd brought it in. "Maybe we should take a break for a while. We've lived in each others' pockets for so long, maybe it's time to change our routine."
She choked on the rice she just swallowed. He had to stand up and pat her on the back, and she had to drink half of her bottle of water to get herself back together again.
"Are you all right?" he asked.
"Fine." But she wasn't. She felt like a jigsaw puzzle where someone switched around all of the pieces and nothing quite fit.
He nodded. "I'll help you pack the lunch things up, then let's finish up here. I'll take the rows of peas if you take the radishes."
Seeds. Who gave a damn? Her thoughts ground to a halt. She did!
They spent the rest of the afternoon, working. Midu was careful to envision each, little seed pushing its head above the soil and thriving. When they finished, Midu trudged to the house to put the ribs in the oven to warm, then she hurried back to another greenhouse to help Kyle. They were starting eggplants and squash in here. They stopped at five, and Kyle followed her to the farmhouse for supper.
When they opened the front door, the aroma of barbeque filled the rooms.
Kyle inhaled deeply. "Boy, that smells good." He went to the kitchen and began setting the table.
"The potato salad's in the refrigerator," Midu told him. She added green beans to a skillet to sauté. She couldn't help it. She added a touch of garlic and curry, too. At the last minute, she went to the pantry and came back with a chocolate cake on a pedestal.
Kyle blinked. "Cake too?"
"Chocolate's your favorite, isn't it?"
He looked sheepish. "It's right after carrot cake."
Midu felt her happy bubble sag. "Let me guess. Lynn made that for you."
He had the grace to look uncomfortable. "I've eaten a lot of desserts lately."
"I can't eat the whole thing myself." She glared at the cake.
"No need to." He visibly made himself rally. "I always have room for chocolate."
He worked too hard on the save for her to ruin it. She motioned to his plate. "Let's eat."
Kyle bit into the potato salad and gave a quick nod of approval, but she'd noticed his first look of surprise. "Good stuff."
She tasted it, too. "It's not like Nancy's."
"Hers has boiled eggs in it," he said.
She poked at her food. "Hers has more flavor."
"It needs salt." He shook a healthy amount on his potatoes.
She grimaced. She silently watched as he picked up a rib and bit into the meat. "It's falling off the bone," he said. "Really tender."
She tried hers. Not too bad. Not as good as the Smoke Pit's, but not too shabby, either. Her shoulders relaxed. The potato salad might be bland, but the rest of the meal was decent.
Kyle made an effort to make small talk. He told her that his mother had called him last night. His parents were going to travel to Oregon this summer. "They want to see Crater Lake."
"What about your brother?" she asked. "How's he doing?"
Kyle hesitated. "He and his wife are expecting. They'll have a little boy in late Fall."
Midu almost dropped her fork. So that's what had started this. Kyle's brother was younger than he was. He'd married two years ago, and now he was going to have a child. Kyle must feel like he'd been left behind.
Kyle looked at her, his expression suddenly serious. "Do you ever want children?"
She stared. "I haven't really thought about it."
"You're turning thirty soon, aren't you?" Kyle never asked questions that were this direct, this personal.
She put a hand to her throat, feeling threatened. "I need to meet someone and get married before I worry about kids."
"Are you feeling anxious about that?" he asked. "Thinking maybe it's time?"
"Are you?"
"Yeah, I am." He didn't look away, but held her gaze.
She sucked in her breath, nervous. If he was going to tell her that Lynn was a likely prospect, she didn't want to hear it. "From what I've heard about your parents, they're probably excited about having a grandchild."
It was a cop out, she knew. Kyle knew it, too. He grimaced before answering. "Yeah, Mom went on and on about it." He concentrated on his food. "I like whatever you did with the green beans."
They were heading to safe territory again. How many times had they done that? And was it always her fault? No wonder Kyle was tired of her. She squared her shoulders. "Do you want kids?"
He looked up again. "I'm two years older than you are, so yeah. I'm ready. I don't want to be too old to enjoy them."
She picked at the hem of her long-sleeved shirt. "You're thinking about getting married first, right?"
No smile. A direct stare. "Kids do better with families. So do parents."
She took a deep breath. What would he do if she proposed? It wasn't a leap year, but women didn't just sit back and lose men without taking a shot at it, did they? She licked her lips, ready to test the waters, when a pain exploded in her side. She gasped and pressed a hand to the spot. It shifted to her back and settled in for a long stay. Perspiration covered her forehead and upper lip. She felt nauseous.
Oh, Lord, nothing like ruining the moment by throwing up. She smashed a hand against her lips and raced for the bathroom. She stayed in there a while.
When she came out, Kyle was on his feet, pacing. "Are you all right?"
"Pain." She bit out the word. "Hurts."
He reached for his cell phone and called their doctor. Their. That word again. But Emerald Hills wasn't big enough to sport too many general practitioners. Kyle explained what had happened and handed the phone to Midu to answer more questions.
"He wants to see me," Midu said when she finished. "I can drive to the clinic."
"You're not driving anywhere." Kyle tugged on his coat and handed Midu hers. "I'll take you."
Kyle had her bundled into his pickup and was on his way before she could calm her stomach. She gripped her knees on the drive to the far side of town. She really didn't want to make Kyle pull over so she could heave on the side of the road.
Kyle put an arm under her elbow and hurried her into the waiting area. A nurse looked up and said, "Doc's expecting you. Go on in."
Kyle didn't leave as Doc poked and prodded. Midu thought it would never end, and she had to hustle to a restroom before the end of their visit. When she returned, Doc shook his head.
"It's the hospital for you, girl. We'll do a few tests, but I'm guessing your gall bladder doesn't want to stay with you much longer."
Midu gaped. "But I'm healthy."
"Kyle said you were fine until you ate barbecued ribs. He said every time you eat something spicy, you pay for it," Doc said.
Midu stared. How had he noticed more about her than she did herself?
"You didn't feel good the last time we had chili for supper, remember? And when I made you buffalo wings, you could only eat a few."
Doc nodded. "Grease and spice are sure clues. Let's check you out."
Before Midu could protest, Kyle gripped her elbow again. "It's always good to have answers. This way, you'll know."
It was a short drive to Emerald Hills' west side, and before she knew it, she was going from one lab to another. When Doc came to see them again, he shook his head. "It's a hospital gown for you, my girl. No use waiting. I'll operate in the morning." He grinned. "You got lucky. We have open beds. Most people have to wait for an invite."
"That's lucky?"
He chuckled. "Life just keeps getting better. Tonight, you get to chug the clean-out potion."
When they wheeled her to a room, she opened her mouth to protest, and Kyle glared. "Don't even start. You're not going home, and you're seeing this through."
He knew her too well. "But this is one of our busy times. We need to…."
He interrupted. "We need to get your gall bladder out. Then you'll be healthy. One thing at a time."
She grimaced. "That's one of your favorite sayings."
"For good reason. Just ask Thea. Life has certain patterns. You and I have reached a turning point, but we'll talk about that later."
She groaned. She didn't know which hurt more—her gall bladder or the thought of losing Kyle. She'd never known she could feel so miserable.
Kyle bent to kiss her forehead. "Doc says you should get some rest. Your prep starts early tomorrow. I'll be here to wave you off."
"To the operating room?"
He smiled. "It's the last time I'll see you with a gall bladder."
"Smart ass."
He laughed. "Maybe they'll pull your hair up to keep it out of their way, and you'll look as sexy as you did for the kids."
He was pushing his luck. She glared. "I tried to look nice that day."
He rubbed a finger over her cheek. "To me, you're always beautiful."
Oh, Lord. Her heart stopped. It was a good thing she was in a hospital, in case she was about to die happy.
"I'll see you in the morning." His lips pressed against her forehead one more time, and he was gone.
She was too excited to calm down to sleep. Kyle had called her beautiful. She'd replay the words over and over again in her mind. And then a nurse strode in the room. "Now the fun starts. You need to clean out your system. This will help." She placed a gallon of some kind of fluid on the cart by the bed, along with a glass.
Midu sighed. This was going to be a long night.
By the time she'd visited the bathroom for the last time, Midu was exhausted. She crawled into bed and tried to recall her last conversation with Kyle, but she couldn't form any coherent thoughts and soon drifted to sleep.
Noises woke her. Wheels rolling in the hallway. A cart clattering into her room.
She opened her eyes to see Kyle hovering close by.
"It's just about show time," he said.
She smiled. She felt groggy, but the world always looked better when Kyle was near. He squeezed her hand when they rolled her away.
She vaguely remembered the recovery room and then Kyle waiting for her when they wheeled to her own bed. He took her hand, and she smiled, and then her eyes closed again. Her mind wandered in swirls of odd thoughts. She pictured raising her hospital gown to see bright, gold threads zigzag across her body in a crazy quilt pattern. Thea Patek patted her hand and said, "Don't worry. Each zigzag is just a journey, but they're ugly as sin." Kyle leaned over to inspect them and shook his head. "See? I knew it. She zigs where I zag." Midu started to protest. "No, when the threads are removed, I can change. We can follow the same pattern."
A nurse woke her, coming in to check her vitals. Kyle was still there. Midu sighed when she saw him. "Thanks for staying."
Kyle started to answer when Doc swung through the door. He grinned when he saw her awake.
"Well, young lady, you came through that with flying colors, but I'm not happy with one of your labs, so we're keeping you here a bit longer. No worries, though. You'll be feeling better in no time."
She didn't believe him. Even on pain meds, she felt crappy. "How long will I be here?"
He raised an eyebrow. "For you, one more night. That way, you won't be in a greenhouse before you should be."
When Midu didn't protest, Doc grinned. "I'll enjoy this while I can. Once you feel a little better, you'll be bugging me to go home." He turned to talk to the nurse a minute before he gave her a wave. "Stay out of trouble, and you might want to be careful what you eat for a while until you see if it agrees with you."
When Doc and the nurse left, Kyle came to stand by her bed. He wore a pinched expression. She had a momentary twinge of guilt. She'd coerced him into eating supper with her last night. How could he leave for Lynn's house when she'd gone to so much bother, making food she knew he liked? And that led to her rush to the hospital, and he was too good of a friend to ditch her here.
She studied his tired face. She doubted he slept much last night. No nurse gave him a shot to knock him out. He probably wanted to see Lynn and go to bed. No! She rearranged those thoughts, separating them from each other. But she did feel guilty, keeping him here. "Why don't you go home and get some rest? You deserve a little time to relax."
He studied her. "Are you trying to get rid of me?"
"No, but I've monopolized all your time. I appreciate your being here for me, but I'm fine now."
"And what if I want to stay?"
A nurse swooshed into the room and answered before Midu could. "Patients rest better when they're left alone. This young woman could use some sleep."
Kyle grimaced. "You're telling me that she'd be better off if I left."
The nurse gave a knowing smile. "In the nicest way possible, yes."
Kyle ran a hand through his soft hair. "Fair enough, but I'll be back later tonight." He looked at Midu. "Do you want me to bring you anything?"
"My Kindle?"
He nodded. "I'll see you later."
Midu sagged against the pillows when he left. He was probably going to Lynn's house. She wondered how close he was to finishing her cupboards. If he'd be working on those today. Maybe he had more important things to take care of.
She frowned at the nurse, and the woman raised her eyebrows.
"Don't give me that look. You do need your rest. He'll be back. Just wait and see."
With a sigh, Midu closed her eyes. What did the nurse know? She didn't know that Midu had been a giant dumbass, taking Kyle for granted all these years, and now she might lose him. Before she could fuss more, though, she was asleep.
The rest of the day blipped by in bits and pieces. Sometimes, she was awake. Sometimes, she wasn't. And the rest, she was groggy.
After supper, there was a quick knock on the door and Kyle stepped into the room with Lynn and a thin, thoughtful-looking man. Lynn's brows crinkled with worry.
"I hope you're up for a visit. Kyle thought you might like company. He hasn't stopped talking about you. Greg didn't pace this much when I delivered Ginny."
Midu frowned. She glanced at the man by Lynn's side. "Are you Greg?"
The man nodded. "We haven't met yet. Lynn moved to Emerald Hills ahead of me to get her shop ready, but I can't leave Indianapolis until the semester's finished."
Maybe the nurse gave her too strong of a shot. Midu's brain couldn't keep up. "I'm sorry. I don't understand."
Greg smiled. "I got a job, working on computer software at I.U., but I can't start until I finish up at the Indy regional campus."
Her head felt muddled. It must have shown.
Lynn smiled. "You know, we've never really been introduced. I bought Dan's jewelry shop in town and came here early to get things ready for tourist season. This is my husband, Greg, and he got hired at the university in Bloomington, but he and our daughter, Ginny, can't move here until their school year's finished. They only came to visit today."
Midu blinked. Lynn's husband. A daughter. Lynn was married. She scowled at Kyle. Why hadn't he told her? Then she couldn't stop the smile that blossomed on her face. Lord, Lynn must think she was an idiot. She tried for normalcy. "How old is Ginny?" she asked.
Lynn glanced at her husband. "Depends on if you ask her or us. Six, going on thirty."
"You'll have to introduce her to Bridey," Kyle said. "They're the same age."
Midu nodded. "In Bridey's mind, she rules the world. But then, she's definitely the center of the universe for Gino and Evelyn."
Kyle took her hand and stroked it gently. "How are you doing? We don't want to wear you out."
"Never better," she said. And it was the truth. Midu felt happier than she had for days. She turned to Greg. She liked this man. He'd married Lynn and made her unavailable. "You should meet Tana's Nate. He works at I.U., too. They own the Sweet Shoppe."
They were making small talk when an aide carried a bouquet of flowers into the room—daisies, her favorites and jasmine, reminders of home. Her mother always bought jasmine. The pitcher that held them was peacock blue, her favorite color. The aide handed her the attached card, and Midu read, "With love, Kyle."
She blinked back tears. Maybe the anesthesia made her more emotional. "They're beautiful."
Kyle grinned. "Almost as nice as the ones we grow." Midu had a jasmine in her small, personal greenhouse. And they always had daisies blooming in their perennial beds. He looked at Lynn. "Where's Shortie? Did you ditch her at the shop?"
"Thea Patek's daughter let her stay at their bakery with her. They were making pie crusts when we left. We can't leave her there long. Ginny will want to move in with them. That girl has a sweet tooth."
Greg glanced at his watch. "We only stopped in to say hello and introduce ourselves to you. Maybe Kyle will relax now that you're feeling better."
Lynn reached for Greg's hand, and they left. Kyle came to stand beside the bed.
"You gave me quite a scare," he said.
Midu grimaced and decided to go for it. "Then it's mutual. You scared me, too."
"Me?" Kyle looked surprised.
"I didn't realize Lynn was married. I thought you were spending time at her shop because you were interested in her."
Kyle stared. "Haven't you listened to one word I've been saying lately?"
"Yes. You said that we were reaching a turning point, that you were ready to get married and have children. I thought you were thinking of Lynn."
He rubbed his forehead. "I must not be good with women. I was trying…."
She interrupted. "I want it to be me."
He looked totally caught off guard. "But you always told me that I wasn't the one, that your produce…."
"Thea told me that no one can use their own magic in their own lives. I've been waiting for something that will never happen."
He sighed. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small, narrow weaving and held it up for her to see. "I only needed the answer to one question, so I only asked Thea to weave me one, small part of my life...."
Midu covered her face with her hands, and Kyle stammered to a stop.
"Don't you want to know what it means?" he finally asked.
"Not if it means I'm losing you."
Very quietly, he said, "It means I'm in love with my best friend, and that's the way it's supposed to be. We're right for each other, if I can just convince her to stop listening to produce and start listening to her heart."
Midu's hands fell to the bed. She studied his face. "So…."
"We're meant for each other. I'm destined to marry a girl with no gall bladder."
She reached for him and winced. Someone cleared a throat behind them. Kyle swung to see a nurse giving him a severe look.
"This young woman…." the nurse began.
"Don't interrupt him now!" Midu cried. "He has to ask me."
The nurse frowned. "Ask you what?"
Midu waved away her question and turned to Kyle. "If you don't ask me, I'm asking you."
Kyle's entire face lit with happiness. "We wouldn't want that. I'd better get to it. Midu, will you marry me?"
"Yes!"
The nurse smiled. "I'll give you two fifteen minutes, and then I have to come back for vitals. But nothing makes a patient heal faster than happiness."
Kyle reached for her again, and Midu buried her head against his shoulder.
"I don't want to wait. I want to walk into a church or go to the justice of the peace and tie the knot."
Kyle frowned. "What about your parents? Your family?"
"They can come for the reception."
"But we've waited this long…."
"I can't wait another minute. Your family?" she asked.
"Will be happy for me. They've known how much I want this for a long time."
"And you never told me?"
He grew serious. "All you ever talked about was how your produce would let you know when you met the right one."
She could feel her expression fall. He was right. "I'm sorry."
"I'm not. With Thea's life map, we know for sure. There's no guess work involved. And I wouldn't have cared. I'd have grabbed you and held on, no matter what your produce said."
She did cry this time. Emerald Hills was full of magic. This time, hers hadn't worked for her, but Thea Patek's had. And what difference did it make? Magic was magic. And Kyle was hers.
(Midu's Magic is the last novella in the Emerald Hills series).
He started to the door and reached for his coat. "Not tonight. I have plans."
"Can't they wait until after you eat?"
"I'll probably be leaving early for the next few days. Don't worry about cooking for me. I'll grab something in town."
She pressed her lips together to keep her thoughts to herself. Would he be taking Lynn to Nancy's Restaurant again tonight? She followed him to his truck. "Will you be here tomorrow?"
"There's work to do, isn't there?"
She nodded.
"See you in the morning then." He started his pickup.
Midu fretted on her walk back to the house. The day hadn't gone as she'd hoped it would. By the time she changed into her comfy clothes, she was in a foul mood. She made herself a quick, cold meat sandwich and settled on the couch. Nothing on TV interested her, so she reached for her Kindle. Thankfully, soon, she found herself immersed in Jorg's world as she read Prince of Thorns. Jorg's acid observations of the world and its people fit her mood. At eleven, she pulled the afghan off the back of the couch and stretched out to read. The alarm on her cell phone went off at seven, and she groaned awake. Her back and shoulders were stiff from falling asleep on the couch.
After a quick shower, she started to arrange her hair in an updo, then thought better of it. What difference did it make? Kyle would wonder what was wrong with her. She grabbed some toast on the way out of the house and grumbled on her chilly walk to the greenhouse. The temperatures were climbing, but the air still felt raw. The snow had melted, forming puddles of water and lots of mud. She threaded her way around them.
Kyle's pickup was already parked near the door. She wanted to jostle him out of their usual routine somehow, but maybe later. For the moment, she yearned to fall back into their easy companionship. Time to finish the lettuce rows. She gave Kyle the packets for red, leafy lettuce and she took the spinach seeds. They spent the next two hours, working in silence. This time, though, it didn't feel friendly. It felt like she and Kyle were both harboring secret thoughts that festered inside them. She was relieved when they finished their sections and walked to the house for a quick sandwich.
They sat across from each other. Kyle would surely make some kind of small talk, but it didn't happen. He grunted most of his answers or gave one or two-word responses when she made an effort. Okay, maybe working was better. At least, they didn't just sit there, uncomfortable. When it was time to return to the greenhouse, Kyle took the arugula seeds and Midu the Bibb lettuce. Little by little, they worked until all the greenhouse beds were finished.
Midu glanced at her watch. Maybe it was time for another tactic. She gave one of her most beguiling smiles. "We put in a full day. I'm making Kashmiri chicken for supper. Want to stay?"
Kyle glanced at his watch, too, and shook his head. "Sorry, I told Lynn I'd swing by her place tonight. She put a chuck roast in the oven. I'd better go. She was making a pecan pie for dessert—one of my favorites."
Midu frowned. So Lynn was a cook. "I thought you liked apple pie."
"I do, but not as much as pecan." He started for the door. "What's on the agenda tomorrow?"
"I thought we'd start the other early spring vegetables—peas, carrots, radishes…."
"Sounds good." Before she finished, he gave a wave and was on his way.
Midu kicked at an empty seed packet that had fallen. Well, wasn't Lynn just too special? How did she know that Kyle's favorite was pecan pie?
A tiny voice answered, Maybe she asked him. Had Midu ever asked Kyle what his favorite foods were? She doubted it. When they first met, he was a hired hand and she'd ask him if he wanted to stay for supper. She didn't think of him as a guest, didn't give a thought about what he might have preferred. She just offered whatever she had on hand. And he'd seemed happy with that.
Midu squirmed. Lynn treated him special. Who wouldn't like that? What did Gino always tell her? "Don't settle for cheap shoes." No, not that--he ran a shoe shop. He said that to everyone. He told her, "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach." But Gino was Italian. And now that she thought about it, he did almost all of the cooking for Evelyn and Bridey, so what did he know?
She sighed. Obviously, food wasn't a sure-fire answer, but it couldn't hurt to put forth some effort. She tried to remember. What were Kyle's favories? He usually ate whatever she made and complimented it, but was he just being polite? He didn't like to call attention to himself, but now she wish he'd have said something.
She thought about the July Fourth carry-in at the town park each year. Kyle always looked forward to Nancy's potato salad, and he'd buy barbecued ribs from one of the food stands at night. She'd never made either one of those, but they couldn't be that hard, could they? She went online and looked up recipes. Doomed. She was doomed. There were more barbecue recipes than people who lived in Emerald Hills and just about as many versions of potato salad. How could she be sure she made his favorite kinds?
Maybe he'd notice that she made an effort, and that would be enough. She drove to the grocery store and bought everything she needed. She spent the rest of the night cooking. Ribs needed two hours in the oven, and potato salad took a while to make, too. She even simmered homemade barbecue sauce ahead of time, just in case. And while that cooked, she made the Kashmiri chicken.
She went to bed that night with a smile on her lips. Kyle would know she'd broken tradition and appreciate it.
They worked in the far greenhouse the next day. Midu carried containers of the chicken with her for them to have for lunch. Kyle looked surprised when she brought a picnic basket with her.
For the first time ever, she felt self-conscious around him. "I had lots of leftovers last night," she said. "We might as well use them up."
He didn't argue. When it was lunch time, he watched her unload the containers of food, wrapped in newspapers and foil to keep them warm, and settled on a stool across from hers at their cramped work table. "I should have told you ahead of time that I wouldn't be around for suppers. I didn't think about how much food you'd waste, eating by yourself."
She forced a smile. "It won't go to waste if we eat it for lunch. Can you stay for supper tonight? I made something special."
He frowned. "What did you make?"
Trying to keep the smugness out of her voice, she said, "Barbecued ribs and potato salad."
He stared. "You went to a lot of bother. You usually have me grill for you in the summer."
Midu wasn't sure how to answer. Did she tell him that she wanted to impress him? Would he like that or would it aggravate him? She shrugged. "I made these in the oven. It was too messy outside to grill, but I got hungry for them."
"You?" He wasn't buying it. "I've never seen you eat a rib."
"There's always a first time."
"Have you ever made potato salad before?" It sounded like an accusation, like he suspected she was trying to poison him.
She raised her chin. "I can read a recipe."
He laughed, and a smile blossomed inside her. She loved the sound of Kyle's laughter. "I'm game. I'll call Lynn and let her know I can't make it tonight."
The smile sagged. "Are you going to be spending lots of nights at her place?" The words didn't come out like she'd intended them to. They sounded wrong.
His eyebrows rose. "Probably. I'm going to stay on for as long as it takes."
It? What it? Installing her cupboards…or more? Midu sighed. "So I shouldn't count on you for supper for a while?"
He finished his lunch and resealed the plastic container she'd brought it in. "Maybe we should take a break for a while. We've lived in each others' pockets for so long, maybe it's time to change our routine."
She choked on the rice she just swallowed. He had to stand up and pat her on the back, and she had to drink half of her bottle of water to get herself back together again.
"Are you all right?" he asked.
"Fine." But she wasn't. She felt like a jigsaw puzzle where someone switched around all of the pieces and nothing quite fit.
He nodded. "I'll help you pack the lunch things up, then let's finish up here. I'll take the rows of peas if you take the radishes."
Seeds. Who gave a damn? Her thoughts ground to a halt. She did!
They spent the rest of the afternoon, working. Midu was careful to envision each, little seed pushing its head above the soil and thriving. When they finished, Midu trudged to the house to put the ribs in the oven to warm, then she hurried back to another greenhouse to help Kyle. They were starting eggplants and squash in here. They stopped at five, and Kyle followed her to the farmhouse for supper.
When they opened the front door, the aroma of barbeque filled the rooms.
Kyle inhaled deeply. "Boy, that smells good." He went to the kitchen and began setting the table.
"The potato salad's in the refrigerator," Midu told him. She added green beans to a skillet to sauté. She couldn't help it. She added a touch of garlic and curry, too. At the last minute, she went to the pantry and came back with a chocolate cake on a pedestal.
Kyle blinked. "Cake too?"
"Chocolate's your favorite, isn't it?"
He looked sheepish. "It's right after carrot cake."
Midu felt her happy bubble sag. "Let me guess. Lynn made that for you."
He had the grace to look uncomfortable. "I've eaten a lot of desserts lately."
"I can't eat the whole thing myself." She glared at the cake.
"No need to." He visibly made himself rally. "I always have room for chocolate."
He worked too hard on the save for her to ruin it. She motioned to his plate. "Let's eat."
Kyle bit into the potato salad and gave a quick nod of approval, but she'd noticed his first look of surprise. "Good stuff."
She tasted it, too. "It's not like Nancy's."
"Hers has boiled eggs in it," he said.
She poked at her food. "Hers has more flavor."
"It needs salt." He shook a healthy amount on his potatoes.
She grimaced. She silently watched as he picked up a rib and bit into the meat. "It's falling off the bone," he said. "Really tender."
She tried hers. Not too bad. Not as good as the Smoke Pit's, but not too shabby, either. Her shoulders relaxed. The potato salad might be bland, but the rest of the meal was decent.
Kyle made an effort to make small talk. He told her that his mother had called him last night. His parents were going to travel to Oregon this summer. "They want to see Crater Lake."
"What about your brother?" she asked. "How's he doing?"
Kyle hesitated. "He and his wife are expecting. They'll have a little boy in late Fall."
Midu almost dropped her fork. So that's what had started this. Kyle's brother was younger than he was. He'd married two years ago, and now he was going to have a child. Kyle must feel like he'd been left behind.
Kyle looked at her, his expression suddenly serious. "Do you ever want children?"
She stared. "I haven't really thought about it."
"You're turning thirty soon, aren't you?" Kyle never asked questions that were this direct, this personal.
She put a hand to her throat, feeling threatened. "I need to meet someone and get married before I worry about kids."
"Are you feeling anxious about that?" he asked. "Thinking maybe it's time?"
"Are you?"
"Yeah, I am." He didn't look away, but held her gaze.
She sucked in her breath, nervous. If he was going to tell her that Lynn was a likely prospect, she didn't want to hear it. "From what I've heard about your parents, they're probably excited about having a grandchild."
It was a cop out, she knew. Kyle knew it, too. He grimaced before answering. "Yeah, Mom went on and on about it." He concentrated on his food. "I like whatever you did with the green beans."
They were heading to safe territory again. How many times had they done that? And was it always her fault? No wonder Kyle was tired of her. She squared her shoulders. "Do you want kids?"
He looked up again. "I'm two years older than you are, so yeah. I'm ready. I don't want to be too old to enjoy them."
She picked at the hem of her long-sleeved shirt. "You're thinking about getting married first, right?"
No smile. A direct stare. "Kids do better with families. So do parents."
She took a deep breath. What would he do if she proposed? It wasn't a leap year, but women didn't just sit back and lose men without taking a shot at it, did they? She licked her lips, ready to test the waters, when a pain exploded in her side. She gasped and pressed a hand to the spot. It shifted to her back and settled in for a long stay. Perspiration covered her forehead and upper lip. She felt nauseous.
Oh, Lord, nothing like ruining the moment by throwing up. She smashed a hand against her lips and raced for the bathroom. She stayed in there a while.
When she came out, Kyle was on his feet, pacing. "Are you all right?"
"Pain." She bit out the word. "Hurts."
He reached for his cell phone and called their doctor. Their. That word again. But Emerald Hills wasn't big enough to sport too many general practitioners. Kyle explained what had happened and handed the phone to Midu to answer more questions.
"He wants to see me," Midu said when she finished. "I can drive to the clinic."
"You're not driving anywhere." Kyle tugged on his coat and handed Midu hers. "I'll take you."
Kyle had her bundled into his pickup and was on his way before she could calm her stomach. She gripped her knees on the drive to the far side of town. She really didn't want to make Kyle pull over so she could heave on the side of the road.
Kyle put an arm under her elbow and hurried her into the waiting area. A nurse looked up and said, "Doc's expecting you. Go on in."
Kyle didn't leave as Doc poked and prodded. Midu thought it would never end, and she had to hustle to a restroom before the end of their visit. When she returned, Doc shook his head.
"It's the hospital for you, girl. We'll do a few tests, but I'm guessing your gall bladder doesn't want to stay with you much longer."
Midu gaped. "But I'm healthy."
"Kyle said you were fine until you ate barbecued ribs. He said every time you eat something spicy, you pay for it," Doc said.
Midu stared. How had he noticed more about her than she did herself?
"You didn't feel good the last time we had chili for supper, remember? And when I made you buffalo wings, you could only eat a few."
Doc nodded. "Grease and spice are sure clues. Let's check you out."
Before Midu could protest, Kyle gripped her elbow again. "It's always good to have answers. This way, you'll know."
It was a short drive to Emerald Hills' west side, and before she knew it, she was going from one lab to another. When Doc came to see them again, he shook his head. "It's a hospital gown for you, my girl. No use waiting. I'll operate in the morning." He grinned. "You got lucky. We have open beds. Most people have to wait for an invite."
"That's lucky?"
He chuckled. "Life just keeps getting better. Tonight, you get to chug the clean-out potion."
When they wheeled her to a room, she opened her mouth to protest, and Kyle glared. "Don't even start. You're not going home, and you're seeing this through."
He knew her too well. "But this is one of our busy times. We need to…."
He interrupted. "We need to get your gall bladder out. Then you'll be healthy. One thing at a time."
She grimaced. "That's one of your favorite sayings."
"For good reason. Just ask Thea. Life has certain patterns. You and I have reached a turning point, but we'll talk about that later."
She groaned. She didn't know which hurt more—her gall bladder or the thought of losing Kyle. She'd never known she could feel so miserable.
Kyle bent to kiss her forehead. "Doc says you should get some rest. Your prep starts early tomorrow. I'll be here to wave you off."
"To the operating room?"
He smiled. "It's the last time I'll see you with a gall bladder."
"Smart ass."
He laughed. "Maybe they'll pull your hair up to keep it out of their way, and you'll look as sexy as you did for the kids."
He was pushing his luck. She glared. "I tried to look nice that day."
He rubbed a finger over her cheek. "To me, you're always beautiful."
Oh, Lord. Her heart stopped. It was a good thing she was in a hospital, in case she was about to die happy.
"I'll see you in the morning." His lips pressed against her forehead one more time, and he was gone.
She was too excited to calm down to sleep. Kyle had called her beautiful. She'd replay the words over and over again in her mind. And then a nurse strode in the room. "Now the fun starts. You need to clean out your system. This will help." She placed a gallon of some kind of fluid on the cart by the bed, along with a glass.
Midu sighed. This was going to be a long night.
By the time she'd visited the bathroom for the last time, Midu was exhausted. She crawled into bed and tried to recall her last conversation with Kyle, but she couldn't form any coherent thoughts and soon drifted to sleep.
Noises woke her. Wheels rolling in the hallway. A cart clattering into her room.
She opened her eyes to see Kyle hovering close by.
"It's just about show time," he said.
She smiled. She felt groggy, but the world always looked better when Kyle was near. He squeezed her hand when they rolled her away.
She vaguely remembered the recovery room and then Kyle waiting for her when they wheeled to her own bed. He took her hand, and she smiled, and then her eyes closed again. Her mind wandered in swirls of odd thoughts. She pictured raising her hospital gown to see bright, gold threads zigzag across her body in a crazy quilt pattern. Thea Patek patted her hand and said, "Don't worry. Each zigzag is just a journey, but they're ugly as sin." Kyle leaned over to inspect them and shook his head. "See? I knew it. She zigs where I zag." Midu started to protest. "No, when the threads are removed, I can change. We can follow the same pattern."
A nurse woke her, coming in to check her vitals. Kyle was still there. Midu sighed when she saw him. "Thanks for staying."
Kyle started to answer when Doc swung through the door. He grinned when he saw her awake.
"Well, young lady, you came through that with flying colors, but I'm not happy with one of your labs, so we're keeping you here a bit longer. No worries, though. You'll be feeling better in no time."
She didn't believe him. Even on pain meds, she felt crappy. "How long will I be here?"
He raised an eyebrow. "For you, one more night. That way, you won't be in a greenhouse before you should be."
When Midu didn't protest, Doc grinned. "I'll enjoy this while I can. Once you feel a little better, you'll be bugging me to go home." He turned to talk to the nurse a minute before he gave her a wave. "Stay out of trouble, and you might want to be careful what you eat for a while until you see if it agrees with you."
When Doc and the nurse left, Kyle came to stand by her bed. He wore a pinched expression. She had a momentary twinge of guilt. She'd coerced him into eating supper with her last night. How could he leave for Lynn's house when she'd gone to so much bother, making food she knew he liked? And that led to her rush to the hospital, and he was too good of a friend to ditch her here.
She studied his tired face. She doubted he slept much last night. No nurse gave him a shot to knock him out. He probably wanted to see Lynn and go to bed. No! She rearranged those thoughts, separating them from each other. But she did feel guilty, keeping him here. "Why don't you go home and get some rest? You deserve a little time to relax."
He studied her. "Are you trying to get rid of me?"
"No, but I've monopolized all your time. I appreciate your being here for me, but I'm fine now."
"And what if I want to stay?"
A nurse swooshed into the room and answered before Midu could. "Patients rest better when they're left alone. This young woman could use some sleep."
Kyle grimaced. "You're telling me that she'd be better off if I left."
The nurse gave a knowing smile. "In the nicest way possible, yes."
Kyle ran a hand through his soft hair. "Fair enough, but I'll be back later tonight." He looked at Midu. "Do you want me to bring you anything?"
"My Kindle?"
He nodded. "I'll see you later."
Midu sagged against the pillows when he left. He was probably going to Lynn's house. She wondered how close he was to finishing her cupboards. If he'd be working on those today. Maybe he had more important things to take care of.
She frowned at the nurse, and the woman raised her eyebrows.
"Don't give me that look. You do need your rest. He'll be back. Just wait and see."
With a sigh, Midu closed her eyes. What did the nurse know? She didn't know that Midu had been a giant dumbass, taking Kyle for granted all these years, and now she might lose him. Before she could fuss more, though, she was asleep.
The rest of the day blipped by in bits and pieces. Sometimes, she was awake. Sometimes, she wasn't. And the rest, she was groggy.
After supper, there was a quick knock on the door and Kyle stepped into the room with Lynn and a thin, thoughtful-looking man. Lynn's brows crinkled with worry.
"I hope you're up for a visit. Kyle thought you might like company. He hasn't stopped talking about you. Greg didn't pace this much when I delivered Ginny."
Midu frowned. She glanced at the man by Lynn's side. "Are you Greg?"
The man nodded. "We haven't met yet. Lynn moved to Emerald Hills ahead of me to get her shop ready, but I can't leave Indianapolis until the semester's finished."
Maybe the nurse gave her too strong of a shot. Midu's brain couldn't keep up. "I'm sorry. I don't understand."
Greg smiled. "I got a job, working on computer software at I.U., but I can't start until I finish up at the Indy regional campus."
Her head felt muddled. It must have shown.
Lynn smiled. "You know, we've never really been introduced. I bought Dan's jewelry shop in town and came here early to get things ready for tourist season. This is my husband, Greg, and he got hired at the university in Bloomington, but he and our daughter, Ginny, can't move here until their school year's finished. They only came to visit today."
Midu blinked. Lynn's husband. A daughter. Lynn was married. She scowled at Kyle. Why hadn't he told her? Then she couldn't stop the smile that blossomed on her face. Lord, Lynn must think she was an idiot. She tried for normalcy. "How old is Ginny?" she asked.
Lynn glanced at her husband. "Depends on if you ask her or us. Six, going on thirty."
"You'll have to introduce her to Bridey," Kyle said. "They're the same age."
Midu nodded. "In Bridey's mind, she rules the world. But then, she's definitely the center of the universe for Gino and Evelyn."
Kyle took her hand and stroked it gently. "How are you doing? We don't want to wear you out."
"Never better," she said. And it was the truth. Midu felt happier than she had for days. She turned to Greg. She liked this man. He'd married Lynn and made her unavailable. "You should meet Tana's Nate. He works at I.U., too. They own the Sweet Shoppe."
They were making small talk when an aide carried a bouquet of flowers into the room—daisies, her favorites and jasmine, reminders of home. Her mother always bought jasmine. The pitcher that held them was peacock blue, her favorite color. The aide handed her the attached card, and Midu read, "With love, Kyle."
She blinked back tears. Maybe the anesthesia made her more emotional. "They're beautiful."
Kyle grinned. "Almost as nice as the ones we grow." Midu had a jasmine in her small, personal greenhouse. And they always had daisies blooming in their perennial beds. He looked at Lynn. "Where's Shortie? Did you ditch her at the shop?"
"Thea Patek's daughter let her stay at their bakery with her. They were making pie crusts when we left. We can't leave her there long. Ginny will want to move in with them. That girl has a sweet tooth."
Greg glanced at his watch. "We only stopped in to say hello and introduce ourselves to you. Maybe Kyle will relax now that you're feeling better."
Lynn reached for Greg's hand, and they left. Kyle came to stand beside the bed.
"You gave me quite a scare," he said.
Midu grimaced and decided to go for it. "Then it's mutual. You scared me, too."
"Me?" Kyle looked surprised.
"I didn't realize Lynn was married. I thought you were spending time at her shop because you were interested in her."
Kyle stared. "Haven't you listened to one word I've been saying lately?"
"Yes. You said that we were reaching a turning point, that you were ready to get married and have children. I thought you were thinking of Lynn."
He rubbed his forehead. "I must not be good with women. I was trying…."
She interrupted. "I want it to be me."
He looked totally caught off guard. "But you always told me that I wasn't the one, that your produce…."
"Thea told me that no one can use their own magic in their own lives. I've been waiting for something that will never happen."
He sighed. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small, narrow weaving and held it up for her to see. "I only needed the answer to one question, so I only asked Thea to weave me one, small part of my life...."
Midu covered her face with her hands, and Kyle stammered to a stop.
"Don't you want to know what it means?" he finally asked.
"Not if it means I'm losing you."
Very quietly, he said, "It means I'm in love with my best friend, and that's the way it's supposed to be. We're right for each other, if I can just convince her to stop listening to produce and start listening to her heart."
Midu's hands fell to the bed. She studied his face. "So…."
"We're meant for each other. I'm destined to marry a girl with no gall bladder."
She reached for him and winced. Someone cleared a throat behind them. Kyle swung to see a nurse giving him a severe look.
"This young woman…." the nurse began.
"Don't interrupt him now!" Midu cried. "He has to ask me."
The nurse frowned. "Ask you what?"
Midu waved away her question and turned to Kyle. "If you don't ask me, I'm asking you."
Kyle's entire face lit with happiness. "We wouldn't want that. I'd better get to it. Midu, will you marry me?"
"Yes!"
The nurse smiled. "I'll give you two fifteen minutes, and then I have to come back for vitals. But nothing makes a patient heal faster than happiness."
Kyle reached for her again, and Midu buried her head against his shoulder.
"I don't want to wait. I want to walk into a church or go to the justice of the peace and tie the knot."
Kyle frowned. "What about your parents? Your family?"
"They can come for the reception."
"But we've waited this long…."
"I can't wait another minute. Your family?" she asked.
"Will be happy for me. They've known how much I want this for a long time."
"And you never told me?"
He grew serious. "All you ever talked about was how your produce would let you know when you met the right one."
She could feel her expression fall. He was right. "I'm sorry."
"I'm not. With Thea's life map, we know for sure. There's no guess work involved. And I wouldn't have cared. I'd have grabbed you and held on, no matter what your produce said."
She did cry this time. Emerald Hills was full of magic. This time, hers hadn't worked for her, but Thea Patek's had. And what difference did it make? Magic was magic. And Kyle was hers.
(Midu's Magic is the last novella in the Emerald Hills series).
