Chapter Four

“I’d like to thank you for putting off your work to help me,” Renee sai d. “I wanted to start looking for the tree on my own, but Miss Dee said that would be a bad idea.”

“You’re welcome. Miss Dee insisted I help, so here I am.” Parker shrugged. “She’s right. If you don’t know the woods, you could get seriously lost.”

“She said the same thing, and I still think it’s nice of you to help me.” She looked at the woods around the property. “Does all this belong to Miss Dee?”

“Most of it. The rest belongs to the town. There are signs posted to say when you leave her area.”

They walked to the rear of the house. The tree line stood about a hundred yards back from the neatly trimmed lawn. A small, white, wooden gazebo with red and yellow mums planted alternately all around the base sat right in the middle, with a small shed in the far corner of the yard. A bird feeder stood by the back door with pale, blue-violet autumn crocuses around the base. Purple and orange pansies, silvery-green dusty millers with tiny yellow flowers, and pale pink dahlias surrounded the foundation of the house.

“It’s so pretty back here,” Renee said, twirling in a slow circle. “I love the flowers. Mums were always one of my favorites.”

“Thanks.”

She ran over to the gazebo and stood inside. A small bench lined the inside and looked to seat six people. “This is beautiful.”

He walked over at a slower pace. “Thanks again. I built it myself.”

“You have a lot of talent. It’s like a fantasy land back here.” She grinned. “Now that I’ve discovered it, I may never leave.”

She stumbled as she stepped out and fell right into Parker’s arms. “Sorry. I tripped,” she said, as she scowled over her shoulder.

A flush crept up his neck as he set her on her feet. “No problem. We’ll start at the tree line and work our way in.”

“Lead on.”

A man who knew flowers and blushed when he held her? Parker Callahan had to be the most charming, most interesting man she’d ever met. Back home, Wayne always seemed to have too much on his plate to spend a lot of time with her. Parker took the time, albeit with some reluctance, out of his schedule to help her. Would he want to get to know her better? Did she want him to? She hoped so because she wanted to know more about him.

A feathery breath tickled her ear. “Stop it,” she whispered.

He stopped and stared at her. “What did you say?”

“Not a word. A bug flew around my head.” She frowned as she looked to her left. “It’s gone now.”

“We can start here. There are several old oaks not too far in at this point.” He gazed at her. “Did your grandmother say if it had any kind of special marks to help you identify the right one?”

Renee hesitated. “Gran said it might be near a clearing or a creek.”

“It won’t be here, then. Let’s move a little farther down. There’s a small creek called Garland Run. It could be there.”

“I’m glad you know this area. You and Miss Dee are right. I’d be lost in minutes.”

He smiled a little and walked along the trees until a small path opened up. They stepped under the colorful autumn canopy of leaves, keeping a lookout for roots or rocks. Silence wrapped around them as Parker led her to where the small creek ran.

Renee listened to her grandmother whisper in her ear. The tree could be here or maybe over there. It could be on the other side of the B and B. She thought Gran wasn’t trying very hard to remember. Gran was a matchmaker from way back. Renee suspected her grandmother wanted her and Parker to spend a lot of time together. She smiled. Not that she minded.

“It looks like the right area, but I’m not sure.” She laid her hand against the trunk of an oak at least fifty feet tall. “Are there more oaks around here?”

“Plenty. We’ll head south for a bit then turn back to the house. Lunch time will be here before we know it, and I still have more work to do before I quit for the day.”

“Are you sure I can’t check the woods on my own?”

He stared at her like she’d lost her mind. “No. It’s too easy to get lost in there. I promise, first thing tomorrow, we’ll head back out.”

Renee craned her neck as she gazed upward. “I wish these trees didn’t all look the same.”

“They don’t. Even though they’re the same type, each one has its own personality.”

She walked closer to him and smiled as she folded her arms. “Are you a tree whisperer or maybe an elf?”

“No,” he said, faster than he intended. “No. I’ve studied trees and plants and all other types of nature. As a groundskeeper, I need to know what I’m looking at and what plants I’m working with. Not only are plants my job, they’re also my hobby. My brother has a florist shop just outside of town. I work with him down there sometimes.”

“It’s always good when your job and your hobby are the same thing.” She smiled. “Maybe I could see the florist shop after we find the tree. I love flowers.”

“Sure.”

They started off again, and Renee replayed his words in her mind. With his quick denial, she knew Parker had some kind of secret. Could it be as strange as hers? Each oak tree they approached, her grandmother would whisper “maybe” or flat out “no”. At this rate, she didn’t think she’d ever find the right tree. Who knew there were this many oak trees in one Minnesota town?

“I should’ve eaten more at breakfast.” She sat on a rock and rested her head in her hand. “This feels like it will take forever. Why would Gran want me to spread her ashes, and not leave me a single clue about the tree’s location?”

“We’ve looked one morning. You can’t give up after that.”

She gazed at him and rubbed her eyes. Was he glowing? No, that couldn’t be right. People don’t glow. It had to be a weird effect of the late morning sunlight. Taking a quick look at herself, she noticed she wasn’t glowing. Now she was sure there was something special about Mr. Parker Callahan. Questions for another day. With enough time, she’d figure it out. Maybe she’d get up the nerve to ask him about it.

She pushed to her feet. “You’re right. There’s no room for quitter talk on this quest.”

They headed back to the B and B in comfortable silence. As they approached the house, Renee laid her hand on his arm. “Can I buy you dinner tonight? It’s a thank you for taking time to help me.”

He stared at her hand, then smiled at her. “Sure. We have a diner in town. It’s not fancy, but the food is good.”

“Perfect. I’ll see you around six?”

He nodded and walked off.

Her grandmother’s ghost faded in. “There’s hope for you yet. You invited a man you hardly know to dinner. I’m proud of you.”

“Gran, please. It’s just what I said. A thank you dinner.”

Gran floated behind Renee as she walked inside. “So, you aren’t interested in him? He’s much better than what’s-his-name back home.”

“His name is Wayne and Wayne is a nice guy, but in a different way.”

Renee shut the door to her room and sat on the window seat. As she stared at the slope of the lawn, she thought about Parker and Wayne. The two were as different as night and day. Wayne was the complete urbanite with styled hair, custom suits, and designer shoes. Wayne made tons of money as a high-end accountant. It wasn’t really his fault he was so focused on his career and wanting to be successful. He wanted to prove himself to everyone, including her.

Parker worked outdoors and wore jeans, a T-shirt, a flannel shirt with the sleeves rolled up over it, and heavy work boots. He was Miss Dee’s groundskeeper and, well, he drove a newer model truck and his work clothes looked in good condition. He didn’t seem the type to need monetary success or to prove himself to people. His job had to pay pretty well, but Gran always said there was more to life than money.

“You look deep in thought,” Gran said, when she materialized.

“I remembered the advice you used to give me about there being more to life than money. I think I get it.” She turned to face her grandmother. “Wayne said when I get back, he had an important question to ask me. I think he wants to propose.”

“Are you sure? What do you think you’ll tell him?”

Renee nodded. “I’m sure, and I don’t know what I’d say. Lately, I’ve been having second thoughts about our relationship. I saw the jewelry store bag he tried to hide under the kitchen towels.” She pulled her legs up and wrapped her arms around them. “I should call to let him know I’ve haven’t met any crazy people here yet. Parker and Miss Dee are nice.”

“Why hasn’t he called you? You did say he would call this morning.”

“I bet he got busy and forgot. Again.”

She looked out the window and smiled when she saw Parker come around the side of the house. He carried two huge bags of mulch, one on each shoulder. Handsome, strong, and a nice guy.

“You’ve got a smitten look on your face,” Gran said. “You know, maybe Wayne isn’t the one for you after all.”

“Maybe not, Gran.” Renee turned her attention back to Parker. “Maybe not.”

****

The space between Parker’s shoulder blades started to itch. Someone watched him, and he had a good idea of who. The urge to turn and look at her window hit him like a punch to the gut. Could Renee be the one for him? He shook his head. Lucas believed all those fairy tales about people being meant for each other, not him. He believed in the ground under his feet and the smell of the earth after it rained. He believed in the power of nature around him.

He ripped open one of the bags of cedar mulch and began to line the flower beds with it. The woodsy scent of cedar always took him back to his childhood when he worked in his mother’s garden. He emptied the bag and grabbed the other one. New mulch always made the flowers stand out. He eased a few weeds carefully out of the ground and transplanted them to the woods. Just because they weren’t part of his landscaping didn’t mean they were destined for the trash. Even little weeds needed love and care.

“Parker, why don’t you go talk to her? She’s obviously taken with you. She’s been watching you this whole time.”

The same ghost who always appeared when he wanted to make a point, popped in. He wore an early twentieth century sea captain’s uniform. He had a short, neatly trimmed beard that matched his dark hair. His ensemble included a black, Greek fisherman’s cap with a gray braid across the top of the brim, a navy-blue peacoat, and his dark gray slacks were tucked into knee high, black boots. He held a pipe in his hand as he studied Parker.

“I talked to her all day today, Captain, and I know she’s been watching me. She’s nice and I like her, but she won’t stay. Her grandmother passed away, and she’s here to spread the ashes. When that’s done, she’ll go home.”

“I know her grandmother passed away. We’ve had some wonderful conversations already, even though she’s just arrived.” The captain perched on one of the large rocks Parker had used to give the garden some personality. “Renee would stay if you gave her a reason to. You need to stop being so reticent when you talk to her, my boy. You can get her to open up more if you do.”

“Thanks. I’ll keep it in mind.” He rolled the empty mulch bags into a tight ball and looked at the ghost. “Will you come to the ritual on Halloween this year?”

“I might. Could be my year to go to the other side.” He winked. “Then again, I might stay to give you some more of my sage advice. I know you can’t do without it.”

He grinned. “If you say so, Captain.”

The ghost vanished as, once again, Parker’s cell phone vibrated in his pocket. He groaned when he saw the number. Lucas again, for at least the tenth time today. He knew his brother and knew it wouldn’t be important. He’d call him back later. He had to get ready for dinner with a beautiful lady.