Wander and Roam (Wander #1) Read Free Page B

hours. I know it’s lonely in the gardens by yourself, so feel free to join him.”
    Lonely sounds lovely. “Actually—”
    Sage blurts out, “I can’t have people butting in on my practice time. How will I focus?”
    We look at one another. My cheeks warm, and he stares down, looking absolutely chagrined.
    He runs one hand through his shoulder-length hair. “I’m sorry for being so rude. My practice time’s the one time of the day—the only time, actually—that I need to be sort-of selfish.”
    “I don’t mind. Being alone in the gardens sounds pretty nice, actually.” I glance at Sage again. “So, what exactly do you practice?”
    Susan clears our plates. “I’ll let you finish this conversation as you head to the gardens. And Abby, it’s so nice to have you with us.”
    Zachary peeks his head out from behind her and makes some of his cute baby noises. I hadn’t even noticed him throughout breakfast.
    “Finally awake? We need to change your nappy.” She removes her wrap, skillfully bringing him from her back to her arms. “Come on, sweetie. Let’s get you dry.”
    “Ready? I’ll show you the way to the gardens from here.” Sage holds out his hand to help me up. I ignore it, standing myself. When I peek at him, I can’t miss the disappointment that flashes across his face. He hides it as soon as he notices me looking. I’m doing it again, spreading my misery to all those around me. It’s how I ended up friendless and alone at school. Pushing everyone away.
    The last fight I had with my parents focused on this issue. My mother’s reprimand echoes through my memories. Your misery doesn’t give you license to make everyone around you miserable.
    “Is this the first time you’ve done this?” I force myself to smile.
    He glances back, probably surprised by the brightness in my tone. “Done what? WWOOFing or traveling across the world?”
    I shrug. “Either one. They’re both firsts for me.”
    “Yeah, I’ve never done either before. I wish—” His voice falters, and he looks away. “I wish I had done more during high school. They offered a foreign exchange program where you could live in Europe for the semester, but I was too busy hanging with my buddies.”
    “Well, you’re what—only twenty?”
    “Twenty-one,” he says.
    “There’s plenty of time still to see the world.” I gesture around the farm. “This could be your first trip of hundreds.”
    “Yeah, I guess.” He doesn’t meet my eyes. “The gardens are just up ahead.”
    Large, raised beds fill the front half of the gardens, while neatly cultivated rows line the back. When I finally enter, climbing, spreading, growing things of all kinds surround me. I spend the first fifteen minutes wandering around and exploring each bed.
    Tall green plants spill out of their wire cages. Their pencil-thin stems brim with bright, red tomatoes. Fragrant plants, short and leafy, fill in the tomato bed. When I place my nose to one, the aromatic scent brings to mind pesto. Basil. I pass fragile-looking vines laden with green beans, squat spreading vines with bright yellow flowers, and thick, flowering broccoli.
    Sage kneels to examine a mystery bed filled with plants with wide green leaves and red stems. I can’t figure out what they could be. “What do you think?”
    “Amazing. Why don’t more people have gardens back home?” I spin around. “Seeing so much growth and life everywhere feels healing.”
    Sage stares at me intensely. “I know just what you mean.”
    “I think I’m going to like volunteering here.” I can’t remember the last time I’ve thought in terms of looking forward to something. For so long, I only had things to dread.
    Sage spends the next hour teaching me about each of the plants. Most of the plants I know, but I don’t always recognize them in their natural form. By the time he finishes his tour, I can identify many of the plants in the garden, although I still have no idea how to care for any of them.