Saving Rain

by Kelsey Kingsley

By March, the interior was looking decent. It wasn’t done—the kitchen was still in desperate need of an overhaul with its shit-brown cabinets and peeling Formica countertop—but it was passable as a home. And with the snow starting to melt and the days beginning to warm, I figured it was time to start planning what I was gonna do outside. Noah had ideas too. “You should have a garden,” he declared as we stood outside together, assessing the exterior and what little land I had to work with. “Mom’s always wanted a garden, but she doesn’t have time.” “So, why should I have one?” I challenged despite agreeing with him. I had loved gardening when I was at Wayward, and the idea of growing my own food sounded better than paying for it. Howard liked to jack up the prices on produce—likely to fund his wife’s addiction to fancy clothes and purses—and I wasn’t making enough money to regularly cover my desire for fresh veggies. “Because I like tomatoes,” Noah replied simply. I crossed my arms over my chest and eyed him with a raised brow. “So, let me get this straight. You want me to have a garden because you like tomatoes.” He nodded and stuffed his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “Yep.” “And what do I get out of this deal?” “I guess you can have some, too, if you want.” “Oh, okay,” I said with an amused snort. “Sure. Sounds like a plan.”