He didn’t ask her what was wrong. Instead, he knelt beside her, looping an arm around her shoulder. His voice was soft in her ear. “Let’s cover them up,” he said, scooping dirt into his hands. “Your brothers said you’re planting magic beans.”

“They won’t grow. Nothing will grow here. She’s right.”

“She’s not.” Gently, he guided her hand back to the dirt, and she let the seeds fall there. Together they covered them up. Her brothers had come around the side of the house by then, and they quickly noticed the tiny plot of upturned dirt.

“You planted without us?” Dylan asked, tilting his head to the side. His curls were wild. His eyes narrowed. “Why did you—”

“They fell,” Raven said, pushing to his feet, “but I think it’s better this way. Now they can grow up the side of the house.”

“Yeah!” Conner clapped his hands, coming up beside them. He was the youngest and the most likely to believe their stories.

But Jack didn’t. She was having trouble breathing, her stomach sinking at the thought of the seeds drying up in this cracked dirt. Even after the boys wove the hose around the side of the house and carefully watered their seeds, she was certain the beans wouldn’t grow.

She woke the next day to the sound of excited voices at the back of the house. When she came outside, she couldn’t believe the sight in front of her. The entire backyard had been weeded, the grass overturned, and little rows were being dug by two people in the early dawn light.

Raven and his dad.

“I heard you’re planting a garden,” Dr. Holloway said, squinting in the light. His crisp white shirt was rolled up at the sleeves. He was wearing black slacks and dress shoes, and Jack wondered if he even owned clothes for gardening. “We thought we’d help.”

Jack looked at Raven, then back to his father. Honestly, this was a brilliant move. Dr. Holloway’s family had helped found the town, and due to his wife’s recent passing, he was one of Rose Hollow’s most eligible bachelors. The man was handsome. The man was wealthy. If Raven had come alone, with that truck filled with flowers and seeds and fertilizer, Jack’s mother would’ve threatened to call the police. He would’ve been a trespasser. But Dr. Holloway was an opportunity, and the entire time he was there, Jack’s mom preened and blushed and brought him glasses of lemonade.