The Chocolate Garden (Dare River Book 2)

by Ava Miles

  Annabelle climbed onto Tammy’s lap and met her eyes. “Can we see them, Mama? The chocolate fairies? Do they have brown wings?”

  Tammy’s heart warmed at the belief shining in Annabelle’s eyes, which looked just like they did when she wrote her list to Santa each year. “No, baby, but we can see the chocolate they give us and smell the magical chocolate dust, which is contained in flowers like the chocolate-scented daisy.”

  Rory leaned forward and touched Annabelle’s arm. “It’s like fairy dust, Annabelle.”

  It touched Tammy’s heart the way he was helping them create this story for Annabelle, even if he was too old to believe it himself. She forced back the tears that burned at the corners of her eyes and smiled at him.

  “Yes, that’s exactly right, Rory.”

  He raised a shoulder. “I read it somewhere.”

  John Parker hugged him with one arm.

  Annabelle bit her lip, and Tammy waited for her to work it out in her mind.

  “So, no bad men can ever come to Mr. McGuiness’ house because the chocolate fairies will keep everything safe?”

  Tammy’s throat closed with emotion. It had worked. Her heart settled back into a quiet place of rest.

  “That’s right, Annabelle,” Rory said before she could answer. “Look at the flower. You just can’t see the chocolate fairies that live inside because they’re so little. Right, Mama?”

  Annabelle immediately reached out a hand to gently caress the petals. “Wow. That is so cool. I can’t wait to tell Uncle Rye and Aunt Tory and Granddaddy and Aunt Amelia Ann.”

  When John Parker reached for her hand, Tammy grasped it tightly and felt gratitude well up inside her for him.

  “Annabelle, we’re going to plant a whole bunch of chocolate plants in our chocolate garden today.” Hope bloomed inside her, as sweet as the first rose in springtime. “And it’s going to be the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen.”

  Annabelle stared into the dark blossom, changing the angle of her head “Can I help, Mama? Maybe then I’ll see the fairies.”

  Tammy caressed her hair. “Yes, I want you to help, but remember, you can’t see the fairies, baby. They’re so small, they’re nearly invisible. You can only see the chocolate under your pillow.”

  Annabelle grinned and shimmied in place. “I can’t wait until tomorrow morning and the morning after that and the one after that.”

  Tammy would have to make them brush their teeth more. That was all there was to it.

  Wanting a moment alone with Rory, she said, “Annabelle, why don’t you and John Parker run inside and pour us some of Mama's lemonade?”

  “Okay,” she replied, grabbing John Parker’s hand. “Aren’t we lucky, Mr. McGuiness? We have chocolate fairies, and we’re their family. We’re going to get chocolate every day!”

  “We sure are, princess,” he said, swinging her into his arms. “Let’s grab that lemonade.”

  When they left, Barbie trailing behind them, Rory didn’t move. He just stroked Bandit and touched his medal, now hanging from his collar.

  Tammy stared at her son, her little boy who was so grown up, yet still so sweet. She thought of how he’d promised to be Tory’s family last year when he learned all hers had died. He’d always been more man than boy. While she grieved for his innocence, she glowed at his heart.

  “You’re a good boy, Rory, telling Annabelle about the fairies. I wasn’t sure if you’d believe the story.”

  He lifted a shoulder. “I’m going to be in second grade, Mama.”

  She grabbed him in a hug. “Well, I’m sure glad you could be a help. I want Annabelle to feel safe, Rory. And you too.”

  “I know, Mama. She told me yesterday she doesn’t want to be a baby anymore, wetting her pants and crying all the time.”

  Her eyes burned with tears. When had that happened? It must have been when the kids were in the tree house while she was ordering the plants. Well, her kids were sharing things with each other, and she was grateful for that.

  “What about you? Do you feel safe here, Rory?”

  He ducked his head into her neck. “It makes me feel good knowing Mr. McGuiness has a gun and that all the dogs are here with us. That’ll keep the bad man away. If he finds us.”

  She put her hands on his small shoulders and waited until he looked up. “The bad man won’t find us here, Rory. He only wanted to steal some of Uncle Rye’s things because he’s famous.”

  “But what if he wants more of Uncle Rye’s things and thinks we have some?”

  It broke her heart how much he continued to think this through. “The bad man would be stupid to come again. The police are looking for him. Haven’t you found that it’s hard to get away with the same thing twice?”

  His mouth tipped up, and he slowly stood, flashing her a smile, looking like a little boy again. “You know I never get into trouble, Mama. Now Annabelle. She’s a pistol.”

  Her mouth tipped up at that. He didn’t get into trouble. Honestly, she’d give anything to see him sneaking sweets or telling a white lie every once in a while. It would be the bellwether of a normal boy, which he was growing into.

  “Yes, she’s a pistol, but I still love you both.”

  He studied his shoe then. “Mama? Do you think I could have a piece of chocolate every night too, even though I don’t believe in the fairies? I mean…we want Annabelle to think the chocolate fairies are real, right?”

  Oh, how her heart filled with love for him, as endless as the blue sky above them. “Of course, you’ll get some chocolate. How about one right now for being such a sweet boy?”

  His shoulder lifted wryly. “I’m growing up, you know.”

  She tapped him on the nose. His consternation reminded her of Rye as a boy. “Yes, I do know. Why do you think we keep you around?”

  He grinned. “Because I have good ideas. Aunt Tory says so.”

  She found herself chuckling and stroked his damp hair, reveling in the smell of his boy sweat. “I think you do too. Let’s go sneak some chocolate from John Parker’s special stash. We can tell Annabelle that it’s a welcome gift from the fairies.”

  He reached for her hand. “We should get some for John Parker too.”

  “You’re right. It’s his favorite food.”

  As they walked to the house, she swung Rory’s hand playfully and grinned at him, and he did the same.

  All seemed right in their world again.

  Chapter 32

  Gardening was a hot, dirty, sweaty job, but Annabelle kept them entertained by referring to Tammy’s bags of cow manure as “poop sacks,” wrinkling her nose, and mooing like she was an animal in Old MacDonald’s farm. Darn it all if that little girl didn’t have John Parker doubled over laughing.

  Like a puzzle, Tammy had spent hours laying the plants out in a pattern that took into account height, seasonal, and color considerations. Chocolate plants needed bright-colored companions to make their dark foliage pop, she’d said, and he and the kids had sipped lemonade and played with the dogs until she arranged everything as she wanted it.

  After Tammy showed him how deep to dig the holes for the various plant sizes and how much perlite and manure to add, they started to work independently. Rory helped him, and Annabelle helped Tammy.

  Each plant was more beautiful than the last, and before putting it in the ground he’d check the tag for the name to tell Rory. The Chocolate Soldiers, with silver green leaves bordered with a dark tint, were the boy’s favorite. John Parker’s favorite was the Intrigue Canna, with burgundy and green leaves. Tammy said it would eventually grow taller than him and produce orange flowers. Then there was the Hot Cocoa rose in a muted brownish-red color, which he couldn’t wait to pick for Tammy once they bloomed.

  They wiped perspiring brows as they worked. Tammy switched the kids to water from lemonade since the temperature was near ninety and muggy as hell. When the kids grew tired, she sent them inside to cool off and watch a movie while she and John Parker continued to plant.
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  Even after planting for five hours, there were still more plants left than John Parker could count, so he rested back on his heels and popped the top off his bottle of water to drink deeply. Who would have thought one large bed would demand this many flowers?

  “How about I call my mama, stepdaddy, and sisters and have them come over tonight and help us plant?” It was nearing four o’clock now, and they’d all be getting off work soon. “Maybe even Amelia Ann can swing by later. I know she works late.”

  Tammy’s brow wrinkled under the giant straw sunhat she’d plopped onto her head before pulling on her red gardening gloves and going to town. My, she made a picture, on her knees in the warm dirt with another showstopper plant in her hands, this one with lime green and chocolate foliage.

  “I don’t know. We can always keep going tomorrow. I have to do some other client work in the morning, but I can get up early and finish that.”

  It would mean something, having his family come over to help. They both knew it. Patience, he reminded himself. “Tammy, I’m sure my family would love to help, but if that bothers you…”

  “No, you’re right. I’m being silly. Please invite them. I’ll take a break to check on the kids and text Amelia Ann. I usually can’t reach her when she’s at work, but she’ll let me know if she can come when she receives my message.” When she stood, she placed a hand to her back and stretched, and if his mouth hadn’t already been dry from the heat, it would have gone dry from his desire for her.

  He pushed up from his own serpentine row of plants and crossed over to her. “Back hurt?” he asked. “I know mine does. This is a lot harder than it looks.” And with this new respect for people who worked on the land, a few song lyrics were rolling around in his mind.

  She nodded, and he took off his gloves and pulled her close, moving his hand down to rub the lower vertebrae of her back. Her moan indicated he’d found a good spot, and he continued his slow massage as she lowered her head to his chest.

  “It’s wonderful though, don’t you think? Every time I plant a garden, I feel like I’m doing something that lasts, making the world more beautiful.”

  “What you’ve done here brings me the same awe as when I see the mountains or the ocean.” He tipped her chin up. “And you’re making my world more beautiful just by being around me.”

  Everything was changing in his life because of her and the kids, and his body tightened as he thought of all the other ways he wanted to become closer with Tammy.

  “I should go inside,” she said and popped up on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek.

  That spontaneity…dash it all if he didn’t like that.

  He fished his phone out of his back pocket and dialed up his mama and his sisters. As he’d expected, they all agreed to come over. Of course, his mama said they would bring BBQ so they could eat together. John Parker had missed a few of their family get-togethers since the incident at Rye’s house. They’d understood his desire to stay close to Tammy, but it would be nice to catch up in person.

  Two hours later, everyone was seated at the giant patio table in his new outdoor dining area eating ribs, coleslaw, collard greens, fried pickles, fried okra, French fries, and baked beans. His sisters sat across from him, Tammy, and the kids, while his mama and stepdad were the bookends. Amelia Ann hadn’t arrived yet. Annabelle told everyone about the chocolate fairies, and the McGuiness women got all choked up over the story.

  The mosquitoes had come out with a vengeance, so he found some spray and passed it around the table. After the table was cleared—a group effort—everyone headed out to the garden to start working. His mama and sisters exclaimed over the plants.

  “Tammy, I don’t think I have ever seen plants more unique or beautiful than these. Isn’t God’s handiwork amazing?” his mama asked and patted his back as she fell to her knees beside him and got started right quick, already digging with the trowel she’d brought. “I don’t plant anything in my own yard except for a few pansies and geraniums, but this is making me think I’ve been missing out.”

  “Uh-oh,” Shelby said. “Sounds like we might be helping Mama plant a garden before we know it.”

  “I’d be happy to help you,” Tammy volunteered, and his heart burst in his chest at that.

  As they planted, the kids played with water guns, squirting each other and the dogs, causing them to bark and run off. Both of them were laughing, and the sound felt so good and right after hearing them cry in fear so much lately.

  Tammy checked everyone’s work, especially when Susannah asked what to do when the dirt fell off one of the plants after she took it out of its plastic container. As a manager, Tammy was both polite and eagle-eyed, catching him when he’d forgotten to tear the roots apart on one plant before inserting it into the hole and covering it with loamy soil.

  The crickets came out, and the fireflies too. Shelby, ever the tomboy, started flinging the earthworms she’d uncovered in her digging at Susannah and Sadie, making them scream like the girly-girls they were. Rory and Annabelle shouted then, and he looked over his shoulder to see Amelia Ann walking toward the kids, still dressed in the white linen suit and matching heels she’d no doubt worn to work.

  After greeting her niece and nephew, she held their hands and listened as the kids talked a mile a minute about the garden. As they approached, John Parker could hear Annabelle describing the chocolate fairies again and the chocolate that was going to be put under her pillow every night.

  “It sounds like something really special is happening here,” Tammy’s sister said. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get here earlier. Tammy, it was faster for me to come straight over. Can I borrow some of your clothes?”

  Tammy rose and kissed her on the cheek. “Sure thing, sugar. Annabelle, can you help your aunt?”

  “Sure! Come on, Aunt Amelia Ann.” And off the two of them ran.

  “I want to help plant that tree,” Rory said and knelt beside John Parker and his stepdaddy, Dale, who were digging a massive hole for the maroon-leafed specimen. “What kind is it?”

  “It’s a weeping maple, the tag says.”

  “The leaves look like the purple lace in Grandmamma’s Spanish fans,” Rory said.

  Dale paused for a moment, leaning on the shovel. “It sounds like you might end up a poet or songwriter like our John Parker here.”

  Rory beamed, and even John Parker felt the answering glow of being referred to in that manner by the quiet man he loved and respected.

  When twilight descended and it became hard to see, Tammy called it a night. They had about twenty some plants left, which they could easily finish tomorrow. John Parker stepped back for a moment to study the shape of the garden as the sprinklers began to soak the area with water, nourishing the plants.

  As a garden, the expanse of land truly was a showstopper, butting up against the bubbling water feature Tammy had already installed. The chocolate-brown trellis the purple-flowered chocolate vine was already curling around was a proud signpost, punctuating the beauty of the plants with structure, as did a few carefully chosen trees. Curvy benches flanked the front and back of the garden, giving spectacular views of his property, while the two red Adirondack chairs were nestled in the center, making him long to sit a spell.

  Tammy might not have used words to create her poetry, but she created it just the same.

  The adults made their way to the house, where the kids were watching a movie. Mama took his hand and slowed her pace, letting the others precede them. In the dim light, it was hard to miss her soft smile.

  “She’s a good woman, John Parker, and she and the children will heal here. God blessed you with a beautiful story about the chocolate garden. I hope you’ll let me use it when someone in my flock needs to make their children feel safe again too.”

  He took her hands in his. “And if you need any help with planting them a chocolate garden like we’ve done here, you just let me know.”

  “I can always count on you. I’m just glad Tammy is coming to
realize she can count on our family. Your love for each other makes her one of us, even if she’s still a little cautious about receiving help from outsiders. I was the same way, so I understand her need for space. You just watch. Your relationship is going to flourish like those plants we put in the ground.”

  It was a funny thought, but it made an implicit kind of sense to him that his relationship with Tammy might not have showy blooms yet, but soon it would. In the near future, they would kiss in public and walk through the garden after dinner holding hands.

  “Thanks for coming, Mama. It meant the world to me.”

  “You know there’s no place I’d rather be than with my brood. But we need to say our goodbyes so you can settle the children into their beds. Tonight will be special for them, like waiting for Santa Claus, I expect. Only in the morning, it will be chocolate they’ll discover and not brightly wrapped presents under a tree.”

  He and Tammy hadn’t talked about chocolate duty, but he had snuck out earlier that morning to buy some chocolate he didn’t have in his cabinet. Annabelle was too smart by half, and he didn’t want her to suspect anything.

  When they entered the house, they joined the others in the kitchen. Susannah and Sadie were laughing with Amelia Ann while Shelby was telling Tammy and the kids about her latest fishing trip to Montana with her best friend. Annabelle had climbed onto her mama’s lap and was trying to keep her eyes open, and Dale was simply standing beside Rory, soaking it all in.

  After saying their goodbyes, John Parker, Tammy, and the kids stood on his front porch and watched the tail lights disappear. Once they disappeared into the night like fireflies’ ephemeral flicker, Annabelle said softly, “Mama, I want to go to bed so the chocolate fairies can start making chocolate.”

  Tammy kissed her cheek. “Let’s take a quick bath, and then I’ll tuck you both in.”

  When the kids fell asleep after just one of Rye’s songs that night, Tammy and John Parker rose and held hands.

  In her eyes, he knew she was as ready for the magic that lay between them as he was.