Free Wild Flower by Eliza Redgold Page A

relationships that haven’t worked out.’
    ‘You mean with Mum. That’s okay now.’ Her mother giving her the deeds to Go Native without making any fuss had healed something in her heart. It didn’t hurt so much anymore.
    Borrie shook her head. ‘Not your mum. There’s good in your mum, under all that make-up. I’m talking about your dad.’
    ‘But he died after I came to Albany.’ She could hardly bear to remember it.
    ‘That’s right. Your dad stayed in Singapore, and you were here in Australia. You had a long distance relationship with your dad, and you never got to say goodbye.’
    Dianella slumped down onto a stool by the counter and put her head in her hands.
    Borrie threw down the garden gloves and hugged her. Dianella smelt her Boronia oil perfume.
    ‘You were a seedling when you came here.’ Borrie stroked her hair. ‘You used to curl up into such a little ball under the bedcovers I could hardly find you. You were so brave too. Missing your mother. Missing your Chinese family in Singapore. And then losing your dad. It all seemed too much. So unfair.’
    ‘I had you, Borrie,’ Dianella whispered.
    ‘And I had you. After my Harry died I became lonely. A crazy lady, talking to her plants.’
    ‘It helps them grow better,’ Dianella said loyally.
    ‘Love makes a garden grow.’ Borrie patted her hand. ‘Don’t let the past damage your future, Dianella. Plant some new seeds. Let them bloom and grow in their own time. Trust your gardening instincts.’
    ‘What does gardening have to do with it?’
    ‘Gardening advice is best relationship advice of all. Now listen to your granny. Go and find that young man and consider what he has to say, but don’t rely on your ears. Use your nose.’ Borrie tipped the bridge of her own. ‘You’ll know if it smells right.’
    Dianella giggled through her tears. Then she sobered. ‘I have to tell Wade I’m sorry.’
    ‘You might get the opportunity sooner than you expect.’ Borrie roared with laughter. ‘It seems he can’t help but follow your scent.’
    ‘What?’ Hastily Dianella wiped her cheeks and smoothed her hair.
    ‘He’s right outside in the car park. Parking that fancy SUV.’ She winked at Dianella. ‘I’m sure I can find some watering to do.’
    ‘Thanks, Borrie. Thanks for everything.’
    ‘The thanks go to you, my pet. You’ve kept Go Native Nursery.’
    Borrie went out the back door as the bell tinkled on the front.
    Wade came inside. Huge. Handsome. Her stomach rippled.
    ‘I hoped I’d find you here.’
    Dianella took a deep breath. ‘I’m glad you’re here. I was going to try to find you. I owe you an apology. I’m sorry I behaved like that.’
    ‘It’s okay.’ Wade raised his sunglasses to reveal his ocean-coloured eyes. ‘You’ve had a tough morning. And you’re right. A long distance relationship isn’t going to work.’
    ***
    Before Wade’s eyes Dianella drooped like a flower on a stem. ‘Oh! I understand.’
    ‘Do you?’ he demanded. ‘Phone calls. Emails. Computer images. Even a 3D hologram. They’re not enough, not for me, anyway.’
    Her bottom lip quivered. ‘I get it.’
    ‘I’m not sure you do.’
    After Dianella ran away down the street, Wade had brooded in the driver’s seat of his SUV and stared out at the rainbow coast. At first he’d slammed his first against the steering wheel and fumed about the immature way she’d behaved. Then, while he sipped the vanilla flavoured latte he’d picked up, he considered it from her point of view. All her life she’d been torn between different families, different cultures, different countries. What had he been doing, talking about getting her a new computer?
    Before meeting her he’d always been casual about relationships, so he’d been slow to make the switch. It was worse than learning new computer code. Time to re-program. He’d gulped down the last drop of vanilla foam and driven straight to the nursery. Spotted her inside with her grandmother, and