Make Me Over_ Getting Real - Leslie Kelly [18]
This one was glassy and huge, steamy water coverin’ the walls, probably from whatever plants were growin’ inside. She wanted to see them. Wanted to see green plants and springtime in this place that was covered with a pretty—but lifeless—blanket of snow.
Tori had a green thumb. Some of her earliest memories were of pullin’ weeds with her mama in their vegetable garden. On days when she needed to be alone—away from family and the track and the feelin’ she was missin’ something—she liked nothing better than to spend hours in the garden. She’d kneel down in the dirt, her fingers in the earth as she coaxed the little sprouts of peas or green beans, and she’d forget her troubles for awhile.
“Wonder if they got weeds in greenhouses?” she muttered, thinkin’ she had a lotta troubles she’d like to forget this mornin’.
It was worth a look-see.
Opening the door, she stepped in almost sideways, keepin’ her back to the inside and her face to the wall. She wanted to see everything all at once, not just bits and pieces as she came in. So after carefully pushin’ the door shut, she clamped her eyes closed. She kept them that way as she swiveled on her heel to face the room.
Her skin reacted right away to the difference in the inside air, so odd after bein’ outside. It felt thick and wet, heavy as it went down her windpipe. And hot. But it also smelled so sweet, of earth and flowers, that she couldn’t help just standin’ there, suckin’ it in for a spell.
Finally, when she was almost light-headed with the deep breaths of earthy air, she opened her eyes.
And froze.
“Jeezum crow,” she whispered.
Her jaw dropped open as she stared around in wonder, feelin’ like a little kid lookin’ at pretty wrappin’s on a roomful’a Christmas presents. All ablaze with lights and colors and shiny, glittery decorations.
Lordy, she’d never seen a prettier sight. Huge clumps of green plants filled the place. Row after row of palmy lookin’ things, graceful and slim, almost bowin’ to each other under a soft breeze comin’ from an overhead fan.
And the flowers…“Oh, mercy,” she whispered, entranced by the brilliant hues. Red and orange and a yellow so pure it looked like the petals had been dipped in sunshine.
Nothin’ simple like daisies or roses, these flowers were all jaggedy and strange but still perfect. Bloomin’ in exotic shapes and points, but so darn lovely, they took her breath away.
“My, oh, my, it’s like God’s own garden,” she whispered.
“It is, isn’t it?”
Almost leaping, she blinked and peered around the corner of a big old plant with spiky-lookin’ orange flowers that almost looked like birds’ heads. Her heart tripped over itself, flutterin’ all inside her chest, when she saw who’d spoken. “It’s you.”
“We’ve got to stop meeting like this,” Drew said with a wide smile.
“Let’s don’t.”
He chuckled. “I see I wasn’t the only one who got an early start today.”
“I can’t stay abed once the sun’s in the sky,” she replied, wonderin’ if fate had brought her out here this mornin’ so she could see him one more time before she left.
Drew stepped out from behind the plant, until he stood next to her. He’d taken off his jacket, it was so warm in here, and had it slung over his shoulder. A tiny bit of moisture—sweat, or humidity—shone on the sunken-in part of his throat. Tori suddenly had the strangest feelin’. Her mouth went dry, wonderin’ how that little spot of wetness would taste if she leaned over and licked it right off of his skin. Salty, she’d bet. Salty and sweet and absolutely delicious.
She finally got her attention off the shiny skin and forced herself to look around the greenhouse. Unfortunately, the flowers weren’t near as nice to look at.
“I never seen so many beautiful plants,” Tori said.
Drew stared around, too, and nodded. “I haven’t, either.” Then he turned his attention solely to her. “Why are you out here? Shouldn’t you be getting ready for breakfast?”
“I could ask you the same question.”
He shrugged. “I wasn’t invited.”
“That ain’t very polite.”
“I don’t mind. The director wants to