With trembling hands, she lowers the spade saying, “Oh my God, I think I need to sit down!”
Jazmin moves quickly, noting the paleness of her friend’s skin. She guides her to the table and chair in her gazebo. She hands her a water bottle. “Here, drink this and take deep breaths, I swear if you pass out on me, I will kill you!” She says with a nervous laugh.
“You scared the hell out of me, Jazmin! You should have seen your face!” Caderyn says, starting to laugh.
“Mine, you’re as white as a ghost!” Jaz asks indignantly. They both start laughing, and when the moment passes, her friend asks in a serious voice. “Are you okay, Cadie? You are not usually so jumpy.”
“I had the weirdest dream last night, Jaz. It was so real, and I can’t shake it. I’ve never felt so connected to someone before, and when he fell, I was powerless to help.”
“He? Okay, it sounds like you got more action than I did last night. Details, sister. Tell me everything,” she snaps, leaning in eagerly.
“It was so real, but I really have to get back to work. Why don’t you make some coffee and meet me in the greenhouse. I can talk while I work,” Caderyn asks, glad for the company.
“Alright, but this time don’t try to kill me. You scared my hangover away!” she says, flipping her blonde hair over her shoulder.
Caderyn takes a deep breath, and walks back to her shop, trying to push his image out of her mind. Her idea for this fairy garden is to fill it with all the required elements, without making it overly large. It is a small scale of what she has in mind for the larger garden. The focal point of this particular model will be a fairy castle.
First, she takes out a large terracotta tray and places a smaller broken piece in the bottom to cover the drain hole. Next, she pours pea gravel inside to ensure proper drainage. The soil is poured on top and tamped down, then watered.
“Incoming, don’t strike,” Jaz calls out as she walks in carrying two coffees.
“Thank you, just what the doctor ordered,” Caderyn says, sipping her cup and looking at her friend. How many times did she wish for her height or body type? Now, she’s just happy to have her company. “So, did you meet prince charming last night?” She asks with a smirk.
“Funny. I guess he was busy visiting you in your dreams. Tell me about it.” Jaz replies.
With a sigh, she turns and sits her cup down, and gets busy. Her movements are confident, as she begins organizing the scene. First, she places the castle, with a tower fit for a princess inside the pot. Next, a lush carpet of moss is cut to fit the odd shape of the oval terracotta tray. Greenery is added around one corner, to create a shrub wall along the backside.
“It was so real, Jaz.” She begins and tells her about her dream. “It was a beautiful party to celebrate a new King and Queen. They were brother and sister. I could feel their joy, as they approached but a demon or shadow tried to kill them.” Caderyn pauses with a frown, and her hands tremble. “Her brother protected her, Jaz. He took the blow meant for her and fell right at my feet. I couldn’t make out his face, but I almost touched him. I wanted to touch him, save him somehow.” Caderyn starts to work again. “When I woke up, I was on the floor crying.”
Jaz watches her friend work and smiles. She has such a soft heart and creative spirit. “I wish I had opulent dreams. I just fall into darkness and wake up the next morning, sometimes with Mr. Wrong,” she says with a laugh.
“What do you think of my fairy garden, so far?” Caderyn asks stepping back.
Jazmin looks at it and smiles. “I love it, especially the castle. It’s charming! Do you think you can pull this off Cadie? It sounds like a big job?”
“I know I can. I want this job. It’s perfect and maybe this will turn into a side job, miniature gardens. There could be great money in it. I only have three days left, and I still have to get my sketches into the landscape design program.”
“I will get out of your way then. I’m singing Friday night, at the jazz club. Will you come?” she asks.
“Of course, my presentation is at ten in the morning, I wouldn’t miss it.”
“You better not!” She sings, and she kisses her goodbye. “I will let myself out. Get busy!”
Caderyn turns and looks at the castle. The dark brick walls look authentic, and the blue roof gives it a splash of color. Now the fun starts she thinks. First, she lays out the walkway leading to the arched gate. A faux brick wall is placed around the castle but leaves room for other elements on the outside. With her hot glue gun, Caderyn begins placing the pieces inside. The tower will be an art studio for a fairy. Inside, she sets miniature canvases along the floor beside a tiny easel. Outside, she places a wishing well, with flowers all around it. This is fun, Caderyn thinks. If I think it is fun, what will a six-year-old think?
“I will take a chance, and hope that they agree.” The final details she will leave for the child to add. The animals and fairies are the detail the garden needs to complete it.
Caderyn spends the rest of the day working on her computer program to create a full garden layout. The miniature was just for visual effect, but the deciding factor will be in the details of the program. Later that
