True Love Will Survive

[ {:} Chapter Fourteen {:} Butterflies, Fountains, and Mom {:} ]


The coming weeks went by quickly and quietly. No one mentioned David, and Lizzie barely had time to reflect on what had happened. Everyone seemed to have an unwritten law that if Lizzie didn't mention him, then no one was to bring it up.

Without warning graduation had come and gone. Lizzie was now free of school and everything that came with it. For a week after graduation she tried to figure out what to do with the summer. She knew she wanted to take the time to figure out what she was going to do with her life, and also take the time to cool her head and heart.

"So, Lizzie. What do you want to do this summer?" asked her mother, Jo, who was working on plans for a flower garden. She had told herself that this was the year she would finally begin working on her dream: a flower garden with a fountain and pond. With the land they had bought next door after the neighbors moved, she had a lot of land to play around with. For years she saved money for land and everything she would need for the garden, and now she finally had the chance. She was giddy with anticipation.

"I'm not sure. I know I want to take the time out to get everything back in order." Lizzie replied, as she flipped through gardening catalogues. "Maybe I could help you work on the garden. I mean, no one woman can finished a big project like this without some help." They both laughed.

"Okay, if that's what you want to do." her mom held up a page. "Isn't this fountain gorgeous?" On the page was a cement fountain had a medieval look to it with lions and lions heads prodding out of it in all directions. It was a tan color, and would be perfect for their backyard.

"Oh my gosh! Its so wonderful!" Lizzie swooned. "We could totally make it the whole focal point of the garden!" She smiled at the possibilities.

"Maybe we could find some more ideas on the internet?" Jo suggested. The got out of their chairs and went to the living room. Sitting in front of the computer, Jo began searching for garden accessories. "Oh my... so much to choose from!" Jo commented after a couple of minutes.

"I love that gazebo!" Lizzie announced, and pointed to it's picture.

"We should definitely get a gazebo... and maybe a couple of these trellises for some vines?"

"Definitely. I think those Stars, Moons, and Sun ones would go great with the fountain." Lizzie imagined the effect it would have on the garden.

"Definitely." Jo continued to search the site. "Let's look at some fencing." She clicked the link and waited for it to load. "We are going to make one of the most gorgeous gardens in the whole world." They laughed. "Well, at least in the United States."

"Oh, mom look! That gate has a sun design on it... oh, and that edging would be good... we could put that around the pond." Lizzie's eyes lit up for the first time since the break up. Jo noticed and smiled. This project would definitely help her daughter move on.

"Yes they would." Jo clicked on more links, and soon they had everything they needed. "Okay, so that is is butterfly hangers for the hanging plants, gazebo, edging, a 'welcome' sign, a bench, a leaf foyer table and pedestal... let's take a couple more looks to make she we didn't miss anything."

"Okay, oh! What about lighting for the gazebo and garden... and maybe some wind chimes?"

"Wind chimes... I would love to have maybe 2 or 3 out there."

"Oh my gosh... look... moon and sun wind chimes." Lizzie looked at her mom and grinned. "We must have those!" She laughed.

"Oh, and what about the butterfly ones? We got a butterfly hangers."

"Definitely." Lizzie wrote them down. "Let's look some more." They both laughed. Money was sure burning today. "We have copper benches and what have you so we should probably get copper lights." She commented.

"This one is cute." She pointed to the swan head lights. "Those would look nice. We could have some sticking up around the gazebo and have them in the garden."

"I never thought of that. I'll write them down." Lizzie continued to add to the list. She looked at the computer and gasped. "Mom, weathervanes!"

"Wow, I didn't even notice that. I've always wanted one of those!" She clicked on the link. "We could put one on the gazebo." She stated. "Look Lizzie, isn't that hilarious?" She pointed to the pig with wings weathervane." They both laughed. "Wow, one with moon, stars, and a sun!"

"We have to get that!" Lizzie laughed. "Man, good thing you saved money, huh mom?" They laughed.

"It's very good that I saved it. Your dad would kill me if I didn't save it and then went and ordered all of this stuff." She paused. "You know, once this is done we are going to have so much fun. We could sit out there and talk. We could have barbeques..."

"I know, I cannot wait until we start this. We're going to have fun just doing this." They smiled. Ever since the year began they hadn't spent too much time together. This would not only be good for Lizzie, but Jo as well.

Clicking a couple more links and ordering their selections, they got out of their seats and walked to the kitchen. It was getting quite late but it didn't seem to matter to mother and daughter. Just having a good laugh and spending some quality time together was okay with them.