In A Twinkling (Larry Stylinson)

December 19 - Sunday

Part 18 recap...

Louis had been grumpy all day, and his Nan asking questions he didn't want to answer about what had happened between him and Harry and what he truly wants from his future hadn't helped, but it did give him pause for thought...

Louis wanders through the garden centre, not here for any specific reason other than to get out of the house. The weather is shit, snow falling heavier and blanketing the world around him, making gardening off limits for now. He'd tried to focus on other tasks around the house and had knocked a few off the list, but the rest are major jobs like painting the hallway, and clearing out the loft, and he just couldn't muster the energy for those today.

He's meeting Niall and Liam for dinner at the pub later, but he had a few hours to kill and didn't want to be left with his thoughts (or take up crocheting as his Nan had unhelpfully offered), so he'd gotten in the car and popped into town for some groceries and then gravitated to the garden centre as he so often does.

He just feels so calm and at peace here, amongst the plants and the water features, and the smell of dirt and the floral bouquet of thousands upon thousands of flowers. They were simpler times when he worked here, before uni, before his life had taken a path that led him towards the city and far away from home, before his career had become his primary focus.

He drags his trolley around the herb section. He hadn't meant to buy anything but he can rarely help himself, his haul today including some new long planters for a window-sill herb garden he wants to set up in the kitchen-diner, an array of seedlings, and cute little wooden stakes with the names of the herbs painted in green on the cream background.

He wants to be surrounded by plants, always, the freshness of new life grounding him and reminding him of the wonder of nature. His mind drifts as he picks up a new watering can, pink flowers adorning the buff metal. Maybe this is what he should've done with his life, following a path to horticulture, but it's too late now. He made his choice and he's satisfied with it. He is. He's good at his job, he's a valued member of the team, and sure, it doesn't necessarily make him happy all the time, but that's not how jobs work. At least not when you're a grown up.

"A herb garden?" Beth says, appearing beside him. He'd chatted to her on the way in before she'd had to run off to take a delivery out back, but he's glad of the interruption to draw him from his thoughts.

He wraps an arm around her shoulders and she leans into him. "Yeah, for the window in the kitchen. Figured it was a good indoor project given the crappy weather."

"Definitely. How's Gracie doing?"

"Yeah, she's good. In fine form as always."

"How's her hip?"

"The cold is hard, but it's not too bad, all things considered."

"She must be loving having you back for the holidays."

"Yeah. I think so. Lots of jobs to do 'round the house," he says and slides his arm off Beth's shoulder to lean down and pick up a couple of pots of thyme. "Any news on the sale of the centre?"

Beth sighs and starts straightening up packets of seeds on a large, spinning floor stand that's quite a bit taller than she is. Louis sets his little plants in the trolley and then steps around to the other side of the stand, fixing up the seed packets that are higher up and out of her reach.

"We've met with a few commercial estate agents from the city, but haven't signed with anyone yet. They're all such sharks. And their fees! Oh my," she says with a shake of head.

"Do they think it'll go to a conglomerate?"

Her shoulders slump and she nods. "Yeah. Could do. Or a property developer, which seems to be the most likely scenario at this point. It's a bit demoralising."