Chapter 25

Three weeks later Evan and I got married in the backyard. We would have gone to city hall but it turned out that in Vancouver they don't do that anymore. I think that the whole event confused Sulamith to no end but she was happy to bake a cake and put on a pretty dress. Sheila was floating. She worried about Evan and I in her way and it was a relief to her, after years of watching us, that we had finally figured out that we were supposed to be together properly and permanently. I found myself looking down at the little vintage engagement ring on my finger. Evan told me that he would get me a nicer flashier one if I wanted—now that he wasn't a poor university student anymore—but I didn't want a flashier ring. This one meant more to me. I could sense his stored up dreams in this little ring.

About two days after that dreamy weekend, after the dinner dishes had been dealt with and Sulamith was in bed, Sheila sat down at the kitchen table with a thick manila envelope and waved me over, “Put on a pot of tea then come look this over with me Krista.”

I put the pot and two cups on the table. “What is that? It looks very formal,” I commented as I poured out the tea.

“Somebody has made us an offer on the garden centre,” Sheila didn't move to empty the envelope and she didn't say any more.

“How much are they offering?” I asked. “Would it be enough for you to retire?”

“It would be enough for me to retire, for us to put Sulamith through university—if she wants to go—, and for you and Evan to go on a honeymoon. It's a very good offer.”

“Do you still want to retire?” I asked Sheila.

“Yeah. I'll admit that I do. I just want to play grandma to Sulamith and get back to enjoying my own garden. Maybe I could get a part time job at a bookstore for fun.”

Sheila pulled the papers out of the envelope and pushed them across the table to me. “They won't do as well without a garden fairy working there, but it's still a solid business.”

I read over the document and almost fell off my chair when I saw the amount of the offer. I smiled, “Let's do it then. Let's sell. It would be good timing. Sulamith's going to need more time with her grandma next year in any case.”

Sheila gave me a shrewd look, “What are you trying to tell me? Were you thinking about doing something different next year?”

“Not so much different, just . . . more,” I said, teasing Sheila a bit, making her curious.

She gave me an impatient puzzled look and motioned me to get on with it.

“We're gonna have a baby boy in March . . .”

I didn't get to finish my sentence. Sheila leapt up screaming and did a funny dance. She made so much noise that Evan, who'd been prepping a lecture upstairs, came hurrying down the stairs looking concerned, “What's going on? Did a rat get in the kitchen again?” He looked around the kitchen for a suspect rodent.

Sheila didn't answer. She just kept laughing and shrieking like a teenaged girl at a Beatles concert and eventually even Sulamith, sleepy and disoriented, bumped down the stairs and padded into the kitchen, “What's de matter? Is dere a rat?” she mumbled, rubbing her eyes and dragging her bunny by the ear.

“Oh goodness Pixy. I didn't mean to wake you. Your Mum just gave me a surprise that's all. Come on I'll tuck you back in.”

Sheila scooped Sulamith up and carried her up the stairs beaming. As they disappeared up the stairs Sulamith asked, “Did my mum say 'Boo' very loudly?”

Sheila chuckled, “Gosh you're a sweet girl. We'll tell you in the morning.”

Evan gave me a questioning look, “No rat?” he asked.

“No rat,” I smiled. “I hope you weren't hoping to be the one to tell her but . . . it came up, and I let drop that I'm pregnant.”

Evan laughed, “No. I don't mind. It was worth it actually, just to hear the commotion.”