
TOMATOES IN
THE SUNSHINE
Alistair sat on a lawn chair,
watching Ahnna planting some new tomatoes. They'd bought large plants at the
Greenery to replace the ones drowned by the flood. Alistair had been helping but
a coughing fit had sent him to the chair a few minutes earlier.
"I'm feeling rather useless," he sighed, dropping his gloves on the grass beside
the chair.
"They also serve who only sit and watch," Ahnna smiled. "Besides, you're still
recovering. I'd rather you be busy doing that. I enjoy planting tomatoes,
anyway. The leaves have such a unique, odd smell, but I like it somehow."
"I'm glad the Greenery wasn't flooded," Alistair commented. "That would have
been a great loss."
Ahnna nodded. "And Joimus. I can't believe how close she came to being killed."
Alistair shook his head. "Such a peaceful place, the Glen, for the most part.
Yet life is like that and the vagaries of it find us no matter where we are."
"I found you," Ahnna said, turning to look at her husband, her eyes filled with
light.
He got up, walking back to her, sitting in the grass near her side. "Chair was
too far," he murmured. "I need to be closer to you."
"Good," she replied, "I like you near."
"From what I hear," he continued, but now with his hand on her leg as she
planted, "the Glen is growing. New people all the time. I must get around and
meet them."
"All in good time, my love. Everyone knows you are still getting well."
"After the spectacle I made of myself in church, they do," he smiled ruefully.
"You did no such thing!" she protested. "You were simply trying too hard too
soon. They all understand."
He sighed, looking at her with an undisguised yearning in his eyes. "There are
other things I think I may be ready to try."
"Why, Reverend!" she laughed. "Whatever do you mean?"
He leaned more closely toward her, turning her face completely to his. Without
replying, he let his lips drift, warm and soft, over hers.