Page 116 of The Matchmaker Club

22

The Reed Garden

The five of us stood at the end of the trail looking back at Lainey. We were waiting for her big reveal.

“This is my first attempt at doing any kind of landscaping design like this, so go easy on me.” She wrung at her hands, twisting her fingers like a wet dishrag.

“I’m sure it will be beautiful,” Charlie said.

She let out a deep breath. “Okay. Let’s do it.”

We all followed her down the path, and I couldn’t help but feel an ache, wishing Lucas was here with us. Lainey was ecstatic about the news, but my grandmother didn’t seem as happy as I thought she would be. She seemed more concerned about his leaving than anything else.

Grandma wrapped her arm around mine and whispered in my ear. “No matter what it looks like, we have to support her.”

“I know.”

But it turned out that we didn’t have to pretend anything. The garden was amazing.

The arched awning was carved into two sunflowers, one on either side, looking up at the sun. From the moment we crossed the stone threshold, it was like entering some magical and enchanted place.

There were two trails when you stepped through, and there was a distinct feeling that, if you picked right, one of them could lead you to your destiny. Each track looked basically the same, but with subtle differences. On one trail, wooden butterflies hung from tree branches that shaded hedges and wildflowers. Over the other, wooden dragonflies floated and swung through the breeze. While most everyone else took the butterfly path, I followed the dragonflies. So did my grandmother.

We walked along the gravel and were led to a small patch of sunflowers that my mother had planted years ago. There were two large statues of wooden dragonflies among them, appearing as if they were guarding the flowers.

My grandmother held a hand over her mouth and sucked in a deep breath. She didn’t need any words. We both knew this was a tribute to my mother. Lainey was leaving a piece of her in this garden, so we’d not be forgotten.

“It’s perfect,” I whispered.

My grandmother took my hand in hers. “I think my daughter has finally found herself.”

The others joined us to observe the path they hadn’t picked first. Lainey looked to my grandmother with a heavy but hopeful heart.

My grandmother cupped her cheeks. “It’s beautiful, just like you.”

Lainey and Grandma hugged as if they hadn’t seen each other in years.

It was at this moment that I knew what I would write to her.

Dear One Last Hope,

I know that it hurts at times when you don’t have what you wish for.

Maybe the man you admired from afar doesn’t see you in the way that you would like him to. Or perhaps there are nights in bed when you feel lonely, wishing that someone understood you and knew your innermost secrets without judgment. Someone you could trust with your heart.

I will not lie and tell you that I know it will happen for you. But I can tell you this: You are loved.

Love comes in many forms. It may be in the embrace of family or a friend… and they see you in ways a stranger could never know.

If I could give you what you most wanted, I would, because I can’t think of a more beautiful and deserving person to have her one wish.

When my mother died, you helped raise me without complaint. I can’t begin to tell you all of the wonderful memories I have of you from my childhood. You were the mother and sister I had when she couldn’t be there. I don’t think you could ever know just how much that means to me.

I want to tell you I love you, Lainey. Thank you for the garden. I think Grandma was right. You found yourself.

Love always,

Taylor