Page 178 of In at the Deep End

The last of the planting was almost finished, the roses had been pruned, and with any luck there would be another flush of flowers before summer was over. The lawn was looking the worse for wear, but that was the inevitable result of weeks without rain. With the hosepipe ban still in place, there was nothing Matt could do about it except wait.

This was Britain. In a few weeks they’d all be complaining about solid downpours.

Thank God the water feature simply recycled the same small quantity of water. A shiny copper ball sitting in a shallow basin, water bubbling out of its top. It produced a pleasant trickling sound that always had a calming effect whenever Matt sat near enough to hear it.

The housewarming was right around the corner, and once that was over, there would be little reason for him to keep coming back. The thought should have been a relief.

It left a strange feeling of emptiness in his chest.

The patio door opened, and Owen stepped outside, coffee mug in hand, his silver-streaked beard catching the morning light.

Matt lifted a hand. “Morning.”

“Morning.” Owen smiled.

The warmth in his voice, the familiar pleasure that seeing him always brought… It was enough for everything to feel normal again.

Matt walked towards him, expecting the usual greeting without really thinking about it. A hand on his arm, a quick kiss before complaining about the state of the flowerbeds or asking how the dissertation was going.

This morning, Owen merely lifted his mug. “I made you coffee.”

Matt glanced towards the patio table, where another mug sat waiting. “You’re spoiling me.”

“I’ve been doing that for weeks.” There was a teasing note in his voice.

Matt relaxed. “True.” He picked up the mug and took a sip. Exactly how he liked it. He grinned. “This is why I keep coming back.” He took the mug with him and wandered back to the steps.

Owen laughed. “I thought it was my sparkling personality.”

“That too.”

For a moment, it was easy to believe nothing had changed.

Then Owen turned towards the flowerbeds. “We should probably finish those before it gets too warm.”

“We?” Matt picked up the trowel he’d left on the patio wall.

“I thought I’d get my hands dirty for once. You know, get in practice for when you’re no longer around.”

Matt tightened his fingers around the trowel. There it was, a little reminder that this had always been temporary.

He forced a smile. “You make it sound as though I’m abandoning you.”

Owen rolled his eyes. “I’ll survive.”

“Barely.”

He laughed.

Matt walked over to the flowerbed. He knelt on the parched grass and took a good look around him. He estimated the job would last two more weeks.

He’d known from the beginning the garden would eventually be finished. That summer would end and he’d search for a job.

So why did the thought of it suddenly feel like something was being taken away from him?

“Can I garden in these?”

Matt glanced at Owen’s shorts. “They’re your hanging around the house shorts. They’ll do just fine.”