Mr. Sullivan counted out one dollar and fifteen cents for the produce. She glanced at the grocery list, knowing she could afford only the flour and lard. She had hoped there would be some extra for sugar so her mother could make her a cake.
She left the store with fresh supplies in her crate and the little bit of money in her pocket. She put her parcel on the passenger seat and got behind the wheel. The engine did not start right away, forcing her to wait before she tried to coax it to life again. As she waited for some of the gas to settle out of the carburetor, the Carters’ Pontiac rushed past.
She searched for Miss Olivia but saw only Dr. Carter. He had a sour look on his face, and judging by the direction, he was headed to Charlottesville to see patients. He would be gone for hours, likely all day.
If Sadie had a lick of sense, she would go home and mind her own business. But she found herself thinking about the greenhouse and Miss Olivia. It seemed only right to thank her for the magazines. Before she knew it, she was driving out toward Woodmont.
Fifteen minutes later, she paused at the twin pillars. But before she could talk herself out of driving on down the road, she pulled into the driveway. She drove around the side as she always did and parked at the kitchen entrance. She rubbed damp palms against her pant legs and then got out of the truck. She climbed the back steps and knocked on the kitchen door.
Mrs. Fritz’s gaze narrowed, as if she did not trust her eyes. She hurried to the door, drying her hands on her white apron.
“Morning, Mrs. Fritz,” Sadie said with as much cheer as she could muster. “I come to thank Miss Olivia for the magazines.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. And if the doctor were to find you here, he would call the sheriff. It took all Miss Olivia had in her to keep him from having you carted off to jail.”
“I didn’t mean to hurt anyone,” she said, her voice tight with emotion. “It was an accident.”
Mrs. Fritz shoved out a sigh and pulled her inside. “I know it was. Miss Olivia is just real delicate when it comes to having babies.”
“Is she doing all right?”
“Thankfully, she’s off that laudanum. It helped with the pain, but she slept all the time. I was glad to see her quit it. She now spends a lot of time in her greenhouse. In fact, she’s there now.”
“So all the plants have arrived?”
“They have indeed. She planted most of them by herself. The doctor didn’t want her to work so hard, but she said she would go crazy if she didn’t have something to do. The more that greenhouse thrives, the better she seems to get.”
“A bit like magic.”
“Well, I don’t know about magic, but something good happens to her when she’s in there with her plants.” Mrs. Fritz looked over her shoulder to make sure they were alone. “Run on down there quick, and give her your thanks personally. I know she would appreciate the kind words. The doctor ain’t supposed to be back until after supper.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Fritz.”
Her sour expression softened. “Go on now.”
Sadie ran out the back and down the path toward the greenhouse. When she rounded the corner and saw it, her breath caught in her throat. The leaves on the trees had turned orange, yellow, and brown. They had thinned, allowing more sunlight on the glass dome. It sparkled like the diamonds in the magazines.
It was now filled with pots bursting with plants. Miss Olivia would know the proper names, but Sadie had no idea. Most had an odd look that did not resemble anything close to an apple tree or a tomato plant, and the delicate blossoms were shades of rich purples, yellows, and reds.
She opened the door and was struck by the humid air, which was at least twenty degrees warmer than the outside. There was no sign of Miss Olivia as she walked down the row of plants, letting her fingertips brush against the lush leaves. At the back of the greenhouse, she stared out into the woods. This space was another world, so separate from the life she lived.
She reached in her pocket and removed the truck key. And before she really thought, she carved her name into the glass. She