A wholesome queer story collection with romance, friendship, self-love, families and more. Grab a warm cup of soup, pull up a blankie, and enjoy some top-shelf cheeseball reads :) (Completed!)
Standing in the sunlight, sweat slipping down her forehead, Dalina took a deep breath, filling her chest with the scent of turned earth. Looking up at the blue sky and dazzling sun, she leaned on the garden hoe and smiled. The city garden plot between the church, the hair salon and the market was halfway planted and it wasn't yet lunchtime. Normally, the spring planting weather was rainy and cold, and the bright, beautiful sunny day was a gift.
Returning to the hoe, Dalina struck something hard with her next stroke, sending sharp vibrations up the haft. Wincing, she massaged her hand. Taking a handkerchief from her pocket, she dabbed the sweat around the tudong scarf over her hair and straightened her sun hat. Leaning in, she jabbed at the dirt gently, looking for what she hit.
"Where are you...?" she murmured. Then she hit it again—a large rock. "Hmm." Setting the hoe aside, she knelt in the dirt, scooping her fingers into the soil to find the rock.
"Need some help?"
Dalina looked up. A bald man stood on the edge of the garden, his blue jeans and red baseball hat streaked with dirt.
"No, thank you." She smiled. "I'm okay."
"Are you sure? Let me help." He took a step, about to cross the edge of the garden, when Dalina scooped the rock out of the dirt. It was a chunk of asphalt, she discovered, and even larger than she thought; about the size of her head. Looking around, she saw a chunk of the surrounding parking lot was missing, about the size of the errant rock.
"That's a big one!" The man marveled. "You're a strong gal."
Dalina chuckled. Setting the asphalt fragment on the wood edge, she gave it a pat like an old friend and straightened up and took up the hoe again.
"I could finish that up for you, if you want." Taking off his baseball cap and running the back of his arm over his sweaty forehead, he raised his eyebrows at her. Dalina saw his gaze travel down to her sneakers, up her cotton pants, long tunic, and linger on the tudong around her head and neck. "You look a little warm in those clothes."
She blinked and kept her smile from slipping. "So do you."
"Oh." He chuckled at himself and pulled at his sweaty t-shirt. "Yeah. Sure is a hot one."
"Good day for planting." She started working the soil again.
"Are you new to the garden?" the man asked.
"No." She worked through a tough root. "This is our third year."
"'Our'? Is this your family plot?"
"Yes," she said, not looking up.
"Where are you from?"
She was focused on the dirt, and he couldn't see her roll her eyes. "Here."
"No, like where are you from?"
Sighing, she slung the hoe, hard, into the root. "Here." The root snapped, clearing the row. "I've lived here my whole life."
"Oh. Sorry. That was stupid." He propped a boot on the wood border. "Maybe I can get you a water? Or a soda or something? As an apology?"
Dalina looked up with a wry smile. "Actually, I'm having lunch with someone in a few minutes."
"With your family?"
She nodded. "Uh-huh." Her head tilted when she heard the bell on the back door of the market. A woman exited, holding the hand of a meandering toddler and carrying a paper sack with her other hand. The toddler made small steps across the parking lot as the woman gently steered her around potholes and cracks.
Dabbing her forehead again, Dalina smiled as the pair approached. "Hey, Yu."
The woman smiled back as she scooped the little girl into the untilled half of the garden plot. "Hey, you."
"Can I get you girls—" the man began.
Yu slipped an arm around Dalina's waist and pulled her closer. Planting a kiss on her cheek, her nose, and her lips, Yu smiled at her. "Got you a sandwich, Sweet Bean." She pulled a wrapped sandwiched from the bag.
Dalina smiled and kissed her again. "Thank you, Bun Bun."
"Oh."
Dalina turned back, catching the realization on the man's face. She smiled, leaning down to adjust the sun hat on the little girl's head. Straightening up, she pull Yu closer, bumping their hips together with a grin. "My family."
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Author's note;
Sometimes you just want to have a little visit with a happy family in some warm weather and sun :)
Pop in again next Monday for another Cute, Cozy, Queer Story !
Also, tell me this picture isn't THE CUTEST THING?? IT IS. Thank you so much Luna! Pop into her Instagram @gargoylette for awesome, adorable artwork and commissions!
