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Audrey watched the young family moving in next to her. The neighborhood was filled with modest sized homes, perfect for young families or aging adults. Most homes were thin Tudor style homes while others were modern ranch. The Lots were larger in size than many in this part of Oregon. She and Joel moved here 15 years ago, after they were married. They had so many hopes and dreams back then. Joel was starting a new business, his own insurance company. Audrey had just been promoted to Branch manager at the bank. At 25, the two were starry eyed with hopes of making a modest living, using their garden space to can their own vegetables, and start a family in the next 5 years.  That seemed so long ago.  Two years into their marriage, Audrey had her 2^nd miscarriage. Joel had been so supportive of her sadness, her feelings of being a failure, and her doubt as to whether or not she wanted to try again.  For her 27^th birthday, Joel decided he was going to make her dinner by himself.  He wasn’t great in the kitchen, but he wanted to pamper her.  When he didn’t make it home by 5 pm, she was slightly frustrated. When 6 rolled around, she was worried. She tried to call his cell phone several times to no avail.  Finally, at 6:30 she got the call that changed her life forever. Joel had slipped on some ice and went over the embankment 5 miles from home. A driver noticed his brake lights in the ditch and called for help. Joel had died on impact.  Audrey hadn’t touched her garden since and never went on a date. Her life was a constant cycle of waking up, going to work, coming home, and keeping herself busy until she fell asleep. She lost interest in everything that she once loved.

As Audrey sat on her porch, she watched the new neighbors settle into the house next door. The family appeared to be a couple in their mid-forties and a girl who looked around 12 or 13 years old. Audrey, never having raised children herself, found it difficult to judge the girl’s exact age. Still, seeing the family together stirred a deep sense of grief within her, as she wondered what her and Joel’s own daughter might have been like.

The young girl was a delight to observe; helpful with the boxes, laughing freely, and skipping playfully through the yard. At one point, Audrey caught a snippet of the girl’s conversation with her father; she thought she heard the girl say, “Mom would have liked this yard.” Audrey was confused, as the woman moving boxes looked very much like the girl’s mother. She dismissed it as a misunderstanding and went back inside.

Once indoors, Audrey wandered to the back of her house and gazed out the window at her once-beloved garden. She had not tended it since Joel’s death. Although she tried a few times to revive her passion for gardening, each attempt left her feeling numb. What once brought her happiness now felt like an empty routine, so she stopped trying altogether.

A few weeks had passed since the new family settled in next door. One morning, as Audrey was heading to work, she noticed the young girl outside on the front sidewalk, engrossed in drawing with colorful sidewalk chalk. As Audrey approached, the girl sprang up and hurried over to her.

“Hi, I’m Meg. Short for Megan, but my mom always called me Meg. I’m 12—I just had a birthday last week.” The words tumbled out quickly. “My dad wanted it to be special since my mom used to make a big deal of birthdays, but now that she’s gone, it’s all up to him.” Audrey was taken aback by how much the girl shared in such a brief moment, but Meg continued, undeterred. “I know I talk a lot. My dad tells me I share too much, but my therapist said it’s good to get it all out. By the way, my dad’s name is Levi.”

Audrey introduced herself, and, recalling her earlier assumption, asked where Meg’s mother was—she had thought the woman helping with boxes was Meg’s mom. Meg explained gently that her mother had died of cancer two years ago. Her aunt, Kendra, sometimes helped out her dad. “My Aunt Kendra is younger than my mom by two years. She and my uncle Josh live about an hour away. My cousins are a little younger than me, but I have fun when I get to go stay with them.”  Audrey told Meg how sorry she was about her mom and told her she needed to get to work.  Before leaving, Meg said she noticed a raised box out in the back of Audrey’s yard. “Do you ever grow anything in it?” asked Meg.  “I used to, but I don’t anymore,” said Audrey. Meg asked her why and Audrey, who would have been irritated with anyone else asking this, smiled at the innocent little face and said, “Because it’s too painful for me”.  When Meg asked why, Audrey told her about Joel. Meg looked genuinely sad, and much more mature than she ought. “Well, we both have something in common”, Meg stated as she turned to go back into the house.  Audrey nodded and started to get into the car.  Meg turned around quickly and yelled out, before entering her home, “If you ever want to start the garden again, I would love to help”. Audrey smiled, nodded her head slightly and got into the car.

She could not stop thinking about Meg and how mature she was for her age. She felt a pang of guilt, and she thought about how she was so consumed in her own grief that she failed to notice that Meg’s aunt had left and it was only Meg and her dad. How painful it must be for him, Audrey thought. Here he is raising a teenager by himself and fresh into his grief of losing his wife. Audrey wondered how Meg was so poised for a girl that just lost her mom two years prior. She wondered how long her mom had been sick, what the family structure was like, and why they moved here. As Audrey walked into the bank, unlocking the door with a coworker, as the other employees waited outside, as was standard in banking safety, she went through the safety checks, ensuring there had not been break-ins and pushed the thought of her new neighbors to the back of her mind.

When Audrey returned home from work, she noticed Meg’s dad, Levi, planting bushes in the front yard. As she approached, Levi came over to introduce himself. He offered his hand, then quickly removed his garden glove before extending it again. Audrey shook his hand, introduced herself, and apologized for not being neighborly sooner.

Audrey mentioned that she had already met Meg, prompting Levi to laugh. He acknowledged Meg’s outgoing nature, explaining that she was not shy about making friends or sharing her story. Levi hoped Meg hadn’t been a bother and told Audrey that Meg had been talking about her since returning from school, mentioning a desire to garden together someday.

Audrey recounted her conversation with Meg from that morning and expressed her condolences for Levi’s loss. Levi shared that his wife, Kayla, had battled breast cancer for five years, which eventually spread to her spine, liver, and lungs. Kayla had been a strong woman, preparing Meg for life without her by planning her funeral and choosing scripture passages, songs, and photos. The family spent hours reminiscing and sorting through pictures, finding the experience both cathartic and therapeutic.

Audrey, without thinking, invited Levi and Meg over for dinner. She quickly clarified, suggesting they could simply have lemonade outside if that was preferable. Levi accepted the invitation, saying Meg would appreciate some female company and a change from his usual dinners. They agreed to keep things simple and planned to get together the following Friday night for homemade pizza they could all make together.

When Friday night arrived, Meg approached Audrey with a hopeful question. She wondered if they could start working in the garden together, mentioning that with spring underway, it was the perfect time to begin. Hearing this, Levi gently reminded Meg that it might not be polite to push the subject, especially since Audrey had previously shared her reasons for stepping away from gardening. Over the course of the week, Audrey and Levi had seen each other several times near their mailboxes, exchanging brief but meaningful conversations. During these moments, Audrey had confided in Levi about Joel’s passing and how it had led her to withdraw from activities she once loved, like the garden.

Understanding the situation, Audrey reassured Levi that Meg’s request was welcome. Turning to Meg, she agreed to start the garden again. Audrey took the opportunity to explain the effort involved in bringing a garden to life: the persistent weeding, the careful tilling of the soil, the thoughtful planting of seeds, and the patience required as sprouts slowly emerged. She described the importance of fertilizing and watering, painting a clear picture of the process. Meg listened intently, her excitement growing with each detail, eager to begin their journey together in the garden.

The following weekend, Audrey and Meg found themselves side by side in the backyard, kneeling in the soil as they pulled weeds from the garden bed. The quiet companionship between them was comforting, each absorbed in the shared task. After several minutes of silent work, Meg broke the silence. “My dad seems into you,” Meg remarked candidly. The statement caught Audrey off guard, causing her to pause mid-weed, her cheeks flushing with surprise. “Why would you say that?” Audrey asked, looking over at Meg. Meg explained, “Because he is more animated when he is around you. He hasn’t looked at another woman since my mom passed away. My mom made him promise that he wouldn’t let life pass us by and that he would eventually find a Christian woman to start dating.” Audrey took in Meg’s words, letting them settle deeply without responding right away. After a moment, Meg continued, “Are you?” Audrey, still processing, replied, “Am I what?” Meg clarified, “A Christian. If you and my dad are going to date, you have to be.” Audrey smiled gently, assuring Meg that nobody had mentioned dating. She explained they were simply being good neighbors and enjoying the beginnings of a new friendship.

Audrey went on to share that she used to be a Christian—perhaps she still was—but she had stopped attending church after Joel died. It had become too painful to endure the way everyone looked at her. Meg listened and nodded, offering a knowing smile. She confided that she understood exactly how Audrey felt; at her old school in Medford, she had experienced the same thing. Her therapist had explained that people often don’t know how to respond to others who are grieving, and sometimes they just say dumb things. At this, both Audrey and Meg laughed softly, finding comfort in their shared understanding and the honesty of their conversation.

When they finished pulling the weeds, Audrey asked Meg if she would be free the next weekend to till the soil and start planting. Meg asked if they could do it in the evenings after school because she was spending the weekend back in Medford with her cousins. “That is a deal”, Audrey replied. “When will you and your dad be back in town”, Audrey asked.  “Oh, my dad isn’t going, my Aunt Kendra is picking me up Thursday night, dad received permission for me to miss school on Friday as long as I took my homework along and turned it in Monday.”  Audrey saw some kind of smirk on Megs face as she told Audrey he would be all alone this weekend.

Throughout the week, Meg and Audrey worked on the garden. A few times, Levi made an appearance and brought them water. He hung out with them and enjoyed hearing the two get to know each other. On Wednesday evening as they finished up. Meg gave Audrey a big hug and told her she would miss the garden and their talks. She looked into Audrey’s eyes and told her she was appreciative of Audrey agreeing to share her garden and her friendship.  Audrey grinned and told Meg she was happy to restart the garden and get to know her as well.

Thursday evening, after Meg and her aunt pulled away, Audrey saw Levi walking to her house. He asked if he could return the favor of dinner this weekend. Levi warned her that he only had a few dishes that he could make. Audrey laughed and agreed to have dinner Friday evening.  She asked if she could bring a bottle of Chardonnay. Levi agreed and they set a time for 7 pm.  Audrey had butterflies in her stomach thinking about it, but she chastised herself for it and quickly started doing house chores.

The weekend seemed to pass in the blink of an eye. Levi prepared a simple spaghetti dinner for himself and Audrey, while she poured a glass of wine to accompany their meal. As they sat together, Audrey remarked that she seldom drank, and Levi agreed that is was the same for him. Audrey found herself wishing she had brought a bottle of red wine to better complement the spaghetti, but Levi reassured her that he wouldn’t have known the difference when it came to pairing wine and food.

They enjoyed their meal, each limiting themselves to just one glass of wine. After cleaning up the dinner dishes, they moved to the porch, settling in for two hours of relaxed conversation. When the clock struck 10 PM, Audrey announced that she should head home. Levi, not wanting the evening to end, asked if they could meet again the next day to finish the wine and share some snacks. Audrey agreed, and their conversation continued until 11 PM that night. During their time together, Levi invited Audrey to attend church with him on Sunday. Though hesitant, Audrey decided it was time to return to the fellowship of church. After the service, they went out for coffee and bagels, extending their conversation into the afternoon. They talked for hours, until Levi realized he needed to get home before Kendra brought Meg back. As they parted, Levi took Audrey’s hand and expressed how much he had enjoyed the weekend. Audrey, nervous yet honest, agreed—the weekend had indeed been wonderful and seemed to have slipped away all too quickly.

Audrey reflected on the first months of her relationship with Levi and how she quickly bonded with Meg. Four years later, she watched Levi give Meg a final driving lesson before her bureau visit. Audrey and Levi married after one year, which felt both rushed and natural. Audrey treasured her close connection with Meg, who appreciated that Audrey wouldn’t try to replace her mother. Levi and Audrey openly discussed Kayla and Joel, acknowledging their loss. They admired what they’d overcome, and their blended family felt genuinely right. Kendra and Audrey also got along well, which Audrey considered a blessing.

When Audrey and Levi married, they thoughtfully decided to settle into Audrey’s house, as it offered just a bit more space than Levi’s. Together, they set about making the home their own, nurturing both old traditions and new beginnings. One of their first projects was transforming a bedroom into a charming, garden-themed suite for Meg. Meg and Audrey decorated the space to reflect Meg’s love for gardening, making it a cozy retreat that celebrated their shared passion. Each spring, Audrey and Meg continued tending to their garden, just as they had started together. Their teamwork extended beyond the planting and weeding; they also took pride in canning the vegetables they grew, preserving the flavors of their harvest for months ahead. Meg’s knack for both gardening and canning became more evident each year, and the process became a treasured tradition for both of them.

Their family grew by one more when they welcomed a rescue dog into their home; a quirky mix of beagle, yorkie, and golden retriever. The dog’s unique appearance was a source of delight, and Meg quickly chose the perfect name: Allspice. With Allspice joining their daily routines, the family’s life together felt complete, filled with laughter, shared work, and the comfort of new bonds.  The garden was truly the epicenter of new growth, new beginnings, and love in bloom again.