NRoberts - G2 Black Rose

 There were pests and problems to guard against here, just as there were in life. When she caught signs of downy mildew or rusts, she snipped off the infected leaves, sprayed the plants. She checked air circulation, adjusted temperature.

 Any cuttings that showed signs of rot or virus were systematically removed and discarded. She would not allow infection here, any more than she allowed it in her life.

 It soothed her to work, and to remember that. She had cut Bryce off, discarded him, rid her life ofthat infection. Maybe not quite soon enough, maybe she hadn’t been quite vigilant enough, so even now she was forced to guard and control.

 But she was strong, and the life she’d built was strong enough to withstand these small, annoying invasions.

 Thinking of that, she finished her list of tasks for the day, then sought out Harper.

 She slipped into his grafting house, knowing he wouldn’t hear her right away, not with Beethoven soaring for the plants, and whatever music he’d chosen for himself that day booming in his headset.

 She took a moment, a moment that made her feel tender, to watch him work. Old sweatshirt, older jeans, grubby boots—he’d have been out in the field off and on that day, she realized.

 He’d gotten a haircut recently, so all that glossy black fell in a sleeker, more ordered style. She wondered how long that would last? If she knew her boy—and she did—he’d forget about that little grooming task for weeks until he ended up grabbing a piece of raffia to tie his hair back while he worked.

 He was so competent, so creative here. Each of her sons had his own talent, his own direction—she’d made sure of it—but only Harper had inherited her abiding love for gardening.

 She moved down through the tables crowded with plants and tools and mediums to watch him skillfully graft a miniature rose.

 When he’d finished the specimen, reached for the can of Coke that was always nearby, she moved into his line of vision.

 She saw him focus on her as he sipped.

 “Nice job,” she said. “You don’t often do roses.”

 “Experimenting with these. Thought we might be able to have a section for container-grown miniatures. Working on a climbing mini, and some ground-cover specimens. Want a Coke?”

 “No, thanks.” He was so muchher , she thought. How many times had she heard that polite, cool tone come out of her own mouth when she was irritated. “I know you’re upset with me, Harper.”

 “No point in me being upset.”

 “Point isn’t, well, the point, is it?” She wanted to stroke his shoulders, rub her cheek to his. But he’d stiffen, just as she would if someone touched her before she was ready to be touched.

 “You’re angry with the way I handled things last night. With the way I wouldn’t let you handle them.”

 “Your choice.” He jerked a shoulder. “And I’m not mad at you. I’m disappointed in you, that’s all.”

 If he’d taken his grafting knife and stabbed it into her heart, she’d have felt less pain, less shock. “Harper.”

 “Did you have to be so goddamn polite? Couldn’t you have given him what he deserved right then and there instead of brushing me back and taking it outside?”

 “What good would—”

 “I don’t give ashit about what good, Mama.” The infamous Harper temper smoldered in his eyes. “He deserved to have his clock cleaned, right on the spot. You should’ve let me stand up for you. But it had to be your way, with me standing there doing nothing. So what is the damn point?”

 She wanted to turn away, to take a moment to compose herself, but he deserved better. He deserved face-to-face. “There’s no one in this world who can hurt me the way you can.”

 “I’m not trying to hurt you.”

 “No, you’re not. You wouldn’t. That’s how I know just how angry you are. And how I can see where it comes from. Maybe I was wrong.” She lifted her hands to rub them over her face. “I don’t know, but it’s the only way I know. I had to get him out of the house. I’m asking you to understand that Ihad to get him out of our house, quickly and before he’d smeared it all again.”

 She dropped her hands, and her face was naked with regret. “I brought him into our home, Harper. I did that, you didn’t.”

 “That doesn’t mean you’re to blame, for Christ’s sake, or that you have to handle something like that by yourself. If you can’t depend on me to help you, to stand up for you—”

 “Oh, God, Harper. Here you are, sitting in here thinking I don’t need you when half the time I’m worried I need you too much for your own good. I don’t know what I’d do without you, that’s the God’s truth. I don’t want to fight with you over him.” Now she pressed her fingers to her eyes. “He’s nothing but a bully.”

 “And I’m not a little boy you have to protect from bullies anymore, Mama. I’m a man, and it’s my job now to protect you. Whether you want it or not. And whether you damn well need it or not.”

 She dropped her hands again, nearly managed a smile this time. “I guess that’s telling me.”

 “He comes to the door again, you won’t stop me.”