And the story continues..........

Chapter Two

Izzy

I’m on my knees splitting tulip bulbs when I hear male voices coming from Miss Alice’s backyard.

“What’s that?

 Putting down my spade, I pull off my garden gloves, and tiptoe to the fence so I can peek through a split in the boards.

“Look Miss Alice, someone’s in your backyard.” Well, it isn’t really her yard anymore, but it will always be hers in my heart. She died three years ago at the age of ninety-seven and the house went into a long probate.  

She was my friend and the only one who knew my secrets.

I see two men and from the way they’re acting, they must be the new owners. They both have dark hair and look alike, probably brothers.

 “I wonder what they think of your yard?” I say to Miss Alice. I know she isn’t really here, but I’ve been talking as if she is ever since she died.  And I hate to admit this, but sometimes I swear she answers me.

I love to garden, and I loved Miss Alice. I bought this house after everything happened. She took me under her wing and became my best friend.  There was no way I was letting her garden go to fallow. I’ve been sneaking through our hidden gate and taking care of it ever since she passed.

I smile with pride as they walk around the fruit trees. There’re the lemon, peach and cherry trees I planted in Miss Alice’s honor right after her death along with a large orange tree she planted herself many years ago.

The men move closer to where I’m hiding, and I get a better look at them. God, they’re handsome. 

The one wearing the toolbelt is older but much better built. He looks like he goes to the gym. His arms are huge and tattooed. His black hair has silver strands running through it and his short beard has patches of white. My book friends would call him a silver fox.

 The other one has a fuller clean-shaven face, no visible tattoos and a much softer build, even a bit of a beer belly.

The younger one picks an orange and holds it to his nose. “Wow, it’s like an orchard back here. This yard is just perfect. Lucky you.”

 “I can’t believe the money this is going to save me. It’s perfect. It just needs a new fence.” Toolbelt guy says as he runs his hand through the windchimes hanging from the tree he’s standing under causing a gentle tinkling sound.

His voice is deep and reminds me of …  my vision blurs as a memory of Steve, down on one knee asking me to marry him- pops up.  My legs weaken, and I grab the fence for support. “Please, not now.” My mind is full of memories best left locked away.

 Remembering hurts.

 I force myself to slow my breathing and take deep breaths in and out.   “Get it together, woman,” I mouth and shake my head trying to lose the mental pictures and clear my eyes before they fill with tears. It works, and thankfully, the memories fade.

Toolbelt guy walks to the porch on his way back inside. “I just wish I knew who to thank for keeping this yard so beautiful.”

“Well, Miss Alice, I guess this is it.” I sigh as I push away from the fence. “I’m no longer needed to care for your garden.”

Back on my knees I work on separating my tulips. Just as I finish replanting them along my walkway, my doorbell rings at the front of the house.

“I can’t believe this. First, people in Miss Alice’s house and now the damn door.”

My regular delivery guys never ring; they know to place my packages in the large chute next to my front door. Only strangers ring my bell. The last time it rang it was a shady looking guy dressed in wrinkled clothes offering home repair. When I asked for his business card…he frowned and walked away.

 I’ll just ignore it. Whoever it is will go away.

It rings again but this time someone also yells out, “Hey, is anybody home?”

I rush inside. Moving as quietly as possible, I cut through the dining room and peek out the front window.  It’s the men from Miss Alice’s house.

“I wonder what they want?”

I walk to the door and call out. “Who is it?”

 “It’s your new neighbor. I bought the house next door. Can I speak to you for a minute?”

 It’s the deep-voiced toolbelt guy. The cute older one.

Nervous, I open the door about a quarter of the way and make sure the screen door is latched before opening the main door a bit wider. I stand back in the shadows so they can’t see me. “You bought Miss Alice’s house?”

“If you mean the house next door,” he points to his left, “then yes, I bought it yesterday.”

“It is a lovely house. Congratulations.”

Carelessly I mutter, “They seem nice, don’t they, Miss Alice.”

Tool guy looks at me sideways, “Did you say something?”

Damn, he heard me.

“Sorry, I was talking to myself. It’s bad habit.”

He’ll think I’m a crazy person if he knew I have conversations with Miss Alice all the time.

 “Hey, no problem.” He laughs and runs his hand through his hair. “How rude of me, I didn’t introduce myself. My name is Joe Romano, and this here is my brother, Matt.”

“Nice to meet you.” I do not offer my name.

He tries to reach for the door handle.

I quickly step back stammering, “Don’t p, p, please.”

“Okay, Okay.” He looks concerned as he raises his hands above his head in surrender and takes a step back.

Matt speaks up. “He didn’t mean to scare you. Sorry.”

“Yeah, I was just gonna shake your hand. Nothing more.” Joe adds.

“It’s, It’s okay. I’m just jumpy. Sorry.”  

“Listen, I have a favor to ask.” Joe points at the space between my home and his. “May I rent your driveway for a few weeks, so I can have a large dumpster here during demolition?”

“My driveway?”

He shakes his head. “Yeah, it would really help me get done quicker.  With my only off-street parking being in the back alley, using your driveway would be much easier. Otherwise, I’d have to get a permit from the city to park it in the street.”

My driveway? I don’t have a car to park there, so why not? Miss Alice would want me to help them. “I guess so. I never use it.”

Joe gives me a big smile. “Oh wow. Thanks. That will really help.”

There’s no way I’m taking money from this guy. Miss Alice would say it’s not the Christian thing to do.  “Please just use it… I won’t charge any rent.”

“Sweet! So, kind of you.”

Matt turns like he’s leaving so I go to close my door. “B, bye.”

“Wait.” Joe calls out. “You never told me your name.”

What can it hurt, they seem nice. “Izzy.”

“Well, thanks for being so kind, Izzy.”

He turns to leave and then twirls back around. “One more thing. Do you know who’s been caring for the backyard?”

I turn my head away so they can’t spot the smirk on my face. “Nope. No idea.”

Before he can ask me anything else, I close the door.

“He seems nice, Miss Alice, doesn’t he?”