“Hey, Ericka,” Micah called out, “let’s pick some of those lettuces and herbs and take them by Mrs. Godfrey’s place on our way home. I bet she could use some fresh food and visitors.” He turned to Karina. “She’s so active, for a septuagenarian. Probably going crazy being laid up.” Micah raised his sunglasses onto his head, revealing his warm eyes. “Thanks for coming, Karina, Stephanie. I hope we’ll see you again next Saturday?”

“I usually work on Saturdays,” Stephanie said, disappointed. “But I’ll try to bring back some mole after next weekend for Karina to bring you guys. Thanks for the chilies.”

“Bye, Karina!” Ericka pulled her into a tight hug. “Great to meet you!”

Karina and Stephanie walked across the street toward the car. “You didn’t mention he was super good-looking,” Stephanie said, with a coy smile.

“Is he?” Karina said. “I guess he’s kinda cute.”

“Yeah, and nice. Smart, charming,” Stephanie continued. “Not like those immature frat boys on campus.”

* * *

Karina continued to attend classes and study during the week, but she began to really look forward to Saturday mornings, when she faithfully went to the community garden. Micah was there every week, sometimes with Ericka or Jeremy, sometimes with a woman named Zoe with long blond dreadlocks, or August, a guy with an olive complexion and spiky black hair. They always brought a thermos of hot coffee and played eclectic music, making the hours pass easily.

On Sundays, when Karina worked at NatMark, Micah usually came into the store around noon. One afternoon, she pointed out the new rainbow and Chioggia beets that could be eaten raw, thinly shaved, because they were so tender.

“You know, I never tasted a beet until I was twenty-five,” Micah said. “Or eggplant, or avocado. Growing up in the Midwest, my entire vegetable universe was potatoes, corn, carrots and peas.” He laughed at Karina’s involuntary facial expression. “Yeah, and half the time, those were out of a can. How about you? Where did you grow up?”

“Bay Area.”

Micah raised an eyebrow. “Hmm. Fancy.”

“Well, not really, but I did eat everything. My parents are both foodies and my mom’s Indian, so lots of vegetables you’ve never heard of.”

“Sounds like a pretty great childhood.” Micah watched her, then changed the subject, to her relief. “Where are these from, do you know?” He held up one of the beets.

She checked the tag. “Oregon.”

“Hmm.” Micah strolled past the beets and toward the parsnips. “Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could meet all our own needs with home-grown, organic produce? Band together and do it all ourselves, rather than outsource the most important part of our health to commercial factories?”

“Might get a little boring, wouldn’t it?” She smiled. “All that lemon verbena and no tomatoes?”

Micah threw his head back and laughed that deep, resonant laugh that made her warm with pleasure. “Really, with our year-round climate here, there’s no reason we can’t make it work. In fact”—he took a step closer to her—“it’s already happening. We have a piece of land.” He lowered his voice. “Eight acres, with a nine-thousand-square-foot house, plenty of space for everyone. Ericka and Jeremy moved in a few months ago.”