Page 31 of The Leaving Kind

As an attempt to divert Victor’s attention, it was a good one.

“Funny you should mention the trees.” Victor took the bright green block Billy held out to him and mimed juggling. Billy quickly retrieved another two blocks. “I had someone all set up to put them in the ground for me, but he’s MIA. Or is it AWOL?”

“I guess it depends on whether you had a contract for the work.”

Victor began flipping his three blocks, one after the other. Billy instantly clapped and cooed. Victor cooed back before smiling in Sage’s direction. “He’s so much like you at this age.”

Sage grinned at his son. “I get the impression he’s quieter and nicer than I was.”

“Maybe a little. Give him time. I mean, with a name like Billy, he’s bound to have some rough edges.”

“Are you ever going to give up on your campaign to rename my son Basil?”

“Never. And if you clone yourself again, I’m going to insist you reconsider herbal alternatives to whatever conformist drivel you and Ashni come up with.”

Chuckling, Sage said, “If we do end up with a girl, Ashni is all for Marjoram. She didn’t like Basil. Said it would make him sound old before his time, and I agree.”

“Cardamom, then. You could have called him Card!”

“Wasn’t your other suggestion Dill? So cruel.”

“Are you insulting all the Dillards on this planet?”

“Apparently so.”

“You should have just gone with Bergamot and been done with it.”

Still chuckling, Sage pushed up off the couch. “Got any soda? Can I get you anything?”

“There’s still some in the fridge from the party. Grab me a can?”

One by one, Victor caught the blocks he’d been juggling and handed them to Billy, who made an adorable attempt to toss them in the air. His coordination was about three years off, but he’d get there. Then, apparently bored with toys, Billy pulled himself up using the nearest chair and began what would likely be the first of multiple circuits of the living room. He’d been cruising for a couple of months and had recently graduated to actual steps between furniture. Victor found the whole process as amusing as he had with his kids.

Sage returned with two cans of soda, a box of apple juice, and a bag of chips. “Have you checked the hole out back for your garden guy?”

“Hole?”

“There’s a great big hole at the end of the patio.”

Unfolding his legs, Victor got to his feet. “Ugh, remind me not to sit cross-legged. I am not as young as I used to be.”

“No kidding.”

“Rude!” Victor tottered out of the family room on stiff legs.

He had managed to walk normally by the time he reached the kitchen. As usual, the patio door was unlocked. He opened it and stepped out. And, there, at the end of the patio, was the hole.

It was in the right spot. Victor definitely wanted a tree there. But why was the hole so large? It could accommodate two trees, easily. Also, why wasn’t there a tree in the hole? Or even close to it?

What he really wanted to know, of course, was where his gardener was.

Victor pulled out his phone and looked for Cam’s number. The only one he had was for Shepard’s Tree Farm. Well, it was Saturday. They’d be open, wouldn’t they? Then he remembered that Cam had accepted the landscaping work independently.

He put his phone away.

Sage stepped out onto the patio, leading Billy by the hand. Billy tugged free and tottered toward the first piece of furniture.

“Best not let him get too near the hole,” Victor said. “We might lose him forever.”