Chapter 5

5

" T hat was nice of Destiny," Mark said. "Of all people to be coming by on that back road."

"She has a job at an apartment complex not far from the housing development," Faith explained.

"You know, when we ran into her at the nursery I thought I was about to break up a fight between the two of you, but today it felt more like I was interrupting something."

"I'm glad the trailer was empty when that tire decided to go," Faith said, ignoring his comment. "I'll take it by tomorrow and get the tire fixed."

"Do you believe in coincidence?"

"What?" Faith said, looking over at Mark.

"You haven't seen Destiny in a long time and now you've run into her twice in a matter of days," Mark said. "I'm not sure I believe in coincidences. I think the universe or fate or whatever you want to call it is stepping in to do something about you two."

Faith rolled her eyes and shook her head. "When did you become so philosophical?"

Mark shrugged. "You used to make fun of her name. Maybe there's something to it."

"Oh, so now you're saying she's my destiny?" Faith asked.

Mark raised his brows. "I've tried to keep my mouth shut about you two, but don't you think it's time you told her what she did?"

"She knows?—"

"No, she doesn't, Faith," Mark said firmly. "You may think Destiny knows whatever it is she did to make you leave, but she doesn't."

"Maybe she doesn't want to face it," Faith replied. "Did you ever think of that?"

"What!" Mark exclaimed. "Destiny Green has never been afraid to face anything. You two fed off each other's strength."

He wasn't wrong; they were quite a team when they worked together. Then when they had their own crews, it was fun to try and outdo the other. But Faith liked it best when their crews were working on the same project so she and Destiny could work together.

"I would never choose sides," Mark said, bringing Faith out of her musings.

"I know you and Destiny are friends, Mark. I wouldn't ask something like that of you."

Mark nodded. "You might think about it," he said. "She doesn't know."

Faith sighed, tired of this same conversation. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Mark shook his head and walked back to his truck. "Think about it," he said out the window as he drove off.

"I think about it all the fucking time," Faith muttered.

She had some kind of thought of Destiny every day. And when she didn't think about her, Destiny would show up in her dreams.

Faith went inside her tiny house and got a beer from the minifridge. She went back outside and sat in the chair on her little porch. The sun had set but the sky was still a dark red with streaks of orange.

She took a long drink of the beer and her thoughts wandered back to when she and Destiny first met. Faith had worked her way through college and graduated with a degree in horticulture. Her family had let her down for the last time when no one showed up for her graduation. A month before that she'd found out her girlfriend was sleeping with someone else on the nights they weren't together.

Faith had vowed to herself then that this was her chance to start over. She wouldn't depend on anyone for anything ever again. She worked as a florist for several years then became interested in landscaping. At thirty-four she'd started to work at Landscape Artists and loved her job. Not long after that Destiny came to work there as well.

They eventually worked on the same crew and there was something about Destiny that made Faith let her guard down. She was friendly, but she had a passion for the job that Faith could relate to. Destiny came from a corporate background and was used to being the boss, but not with Faith. She wanted to learn and had taken classes, but she was genuinely interested in Faith's knowledge, her expertise, and her ideas.

A smile played at the corner of Faith's mouth as she remembered Destiny's excitement when they talked about how they would design a project if given the chance. Faith could feel the respect Destiny had for her work and her ideas, but it was more than that. In reality, they were falling more in love every day.

Destiny had an ease about her, and persistence. She asked Faith out several times before she finally said yes. Faith knew Destiny could see the pain in her heart, but it didn't scare her away. She simply kept asking in her sweet gentle way until Faith could no longer refuse.

After that it didn't take long until they were spending every evening together after work and most weekends.

Faith remembered one particular night when she knew Destiny would always be in her heart. They were lying in bed and Faith had her arms wrapped around Destiny. They had just made love and Faith's hand was gently moving up and down Destiny's back.

"I was drawn to you the first day I saw you," Destiny said. "It wasn't love at first sight or anything like that, but you had something that pulled me to you." She raised her head and looked into Faith's eyes.

Faith smiled and let her continue.

"That's not completely true," Destiny said, running her finger down Faith's cheek. "I couldn't stop staring at your eyes." She smiled. "I love how they change color with the sun or when I kiss you like this."

Faith felt her heart flutter then quickly reach a staccato beat as Destiny's lips nibbled, pressed, and sucked hers. It felt like Destiny's lips were making love to Faith's just as their bodies had moments earlier. God, how she loved Destiny's kisses.

Destiny pulled away and Faith groaned. "Please don't tell me you kissed me like that just to see my eyes turn dark blue."

Destiny smiled. "I kissed you like that because that's when you let me into your heart. I can feel my love rush into your heart and you let it stay there."

Faith sighed at the memory. Little did Destiny know, her love was still in Faith's heart. Destiny saw past the hurt that lived in Faith's heart. It had taken Faith a while to let Destiny in, but when she couldn't keep her out any longer Destiny's love did indeed rush into Faith's heart. Once Faith stopped fighting it she found that Destiny's love helped to soften the scars. The pain didn't go away, it would always be a part of her, but Destiny's love changed it somehow. It wasn't as sharp, it didn't cut quite so deep.

Faith once thought of her heart like dry cracked earth that needed water. Destiny's love filled those spaces. It was the water that enabled Faith's heart to love again. Years later, Destiny's love was still there. It somehow survived in the desolate fractured expanse that was once again Faith's heart.

Faith finished her beer and thought back to what Mark said. "Come on," she said out loud. "She knows." She took out her phone and scrolled through her pictures and videos. "I have proof."

Destiny stared at her computer screen then scribbled into a notebook on her desk.

"What are you working on?" Monica asked.

"I'm making some notes about the office complex," Destiny replied.

"Oh, that's right," Monica said. "You're getting a tour this afternoon."

"Yep," Destiny said. "I want to get an idea of the layout of the buildings. It will seem much larger once I get there."

"Are you taking Jake or Claire with you?" Monica asked.

"No, Jake is busy finishing up our lawn clients in east Austin. The rain a couple of days ago pushed him behind. Claire's team is putting in flower beds at the apartment complex in Round Rock."

"I could go with you if you need someone," Monica offered.

Destiny looked up from her notes and smiled. "Thanks, Mon, but I can handle this myself."

"Hey, Jake told me the other day that you used to work at an office complex like that one," Monica said. "I'd forgotten all about your corporate life."

Destiny sat back in her chair. "That seems like a lifetime ago, but yes, I did work at a big business park like that. My degree is in business and I worked as an analyst for ten years before I couldn't stand the corporate grind any longer."

"How'd you get into landscaping?"

Destiny chuckled. "Jake and I were in high school together. He had a lawn mowing business in the summers and I worked for him."

"No way," Monica exclaimed. "How have I not heard this before now?"

Destiny laughed. "Several of our clients came from Jake's mowing business. When I decided to open my own landscaping company he's the first person I called."

"But mowing yards and doing the kind of landscaping we do aren't the same thing," Monica said.

Destiny nodded. "One day I was sitting in my office and looked out my window where a crew was putting in a flower bed. I was so tired of numbers and spreadsheets and it hit me that the job I really enjoyed was working outside in those yards. I did a little research, took a few classes in landscape architecture, and started a new career."

"Wow," Monica said. "So you got into this business because you love it."

"That's right," Destiny said. "I don't make near as much money, but I quickly learned money isn't everything."

"So now you're happy to come to work every day," Monica said.

Destiny smiled. There was a time when she was a lot happier to come to work every day than she was now. When she and Faith were working together, those were the best days. Happy days. A shadow of sadness fell over her face as she remembered those days with Faith. If she ever got the chance to work with her again, Destiny vowed she'd cherish each day and appreciate it.

"Hey," Monica said. "What's wrong?"

Destiny looked over at Monica and raised her brows. "Nothing."

"You look really sad."

"I was just thinking about another time," Destiny said, looking back at her computer.

"With Faith?"

Destiny cut her eyes over to Monica and sighed. "Faith and I shared a lot of happy times when we worked together, but that was a long time ago." She stood up. "Now, I'm sure it will take a while to tour the business complex, so I'll see you in the morning."

"I'll lock up the office and check with the crews before I leave," Monica said.

"Thanks, I appreciate it."

"Go win us that big job, boss."

Destiny chuckled. "This is just the beginning."

"You've got to start somewhere," Monica said.

"Okay then," Destiny said, chuckling at her exuberance. She got her things together and went out to her truck.

It was a twenty minute drive to the work site and Destiny couldn't help but think of Faith as she drove near her shop. She wondered if she got her tire fixed on the trailer and then chided herself.

"What do you care," she muttered. "It's none of your business."

Destiny sighed. Now that Faith was in her head she'd be there the rest of the day.

Her contact at the business complex had said they would give them a tour of the facility so they could prepare bids. Destiny knew Faith would be bidding on the project, but doubted they would be on the same tour. There were landscape companies from all over the state bidding on the large job.

She pulled into the parking area and immediately noticed Faith's truck.

"So much for not being on the same tour," she muttered.