Love Means No Boundaries - Andrew Grey

down.”
“I need to get the vegetable garden planted now that all the other fields are planted and growing.” They began moving toward the car again. “I’m game if you’re game. I don’t know how much I can help, but I’m willing if you are.”
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Love Means … NO Boundaries
They reached the car, and Joey opened the door. “Then we need to get some lunch, because we have a very busy afternoon ahead of us.” Robbie settled on the seat, and Joey closed the door and got into the driver’s seat.
     
“Just what is it you have planned?”
     
“From the sound of it, lots of things you’ve never done before.” Joey took Robbie’s arm reassuringly. “I promise I won’t let anything happen to you.” He wasn’t quite sure how Robbie was going to help him in the garden, but he’d figure something out.
     
Blind or not, Joey figured Robbie could do just about anything he set his mind to, and if he was willing to try helping him in the garden, who was he to turn down help, sighted or not? Starting the car, he pulled out and headed toward the farm.
     
ROBBIE changed clothes and made his way down to the kitchen, pleased at how easily he was finding his way around the house. “Are you ready?” Joey’s voice rumbled around him.
    “Yeah.” He felt Joey’s hand in his arm.
“Then let’s go. We have plenty of work to do.” He let Joey lead him outside and across the yard. “I already brought the plants and seeds out, so we should be all ready.”
“Okay, what is it you want me to do?” He could feel the ground under his feet begin to give, like it was soft.
    “Sit down, and I’ll explain.” Robbie complied, sitting on the soft earth. “In front of you is a section of the garden that I’ve staked out. The stakes are in a grid pattern, that’s three by three with two feet between each stake.” Robbie felt Joey take his hand and place it on a stake. “That’s the corner.” Robbie felt Joey move his hands in the direction of the stakes. “And here’s the middle. We’ll plant this 25
    Andrew Grey
one first. All you need to do is dig a hole where each stake is and I’ll hand you a tomato plant that you place in the hole and push the dirt around.” “That’s it?” He felt the handle of what he assumed was the trowel being placed in his hand.
“Yes. You ready to try?”
Robbie smiled as he reached to the center stake and dug a shallow hole. “Is that good?” He felt a small plastic container being placed in his hand.
    “That’s perfect. Now put your fingers across the top of the pot with the plant sticking between them and turn it over. It should fall out. Then place the plant in the hole and put the soil around it.” Robbie did as Joey instructed and felt the small plant slip from the pot. Locating the hole he’d dug with his hand, he placed the plant in it and slid the soil around it. “Is that it?”
    “That’s wonderful.” Robbie could hear the smile on his face.
“Do you think you can do the others? All you need to do is stay on the outside of the stakes.”
“Yeah, I think I can.” The realization that he really did believe he could took him by surprise.
“I’ll place a plant next to each stake; that way you won’t need to find them.”
    Robbie moved outside the grid and located the corner stake, reconfirming with Joey before getting started. He’d just begun digging the hole when his phone went off. Robbie groaned softly and put down the trowel and dug the phone out of his pocket. “Hi, Mama.” The woman seemed to be calling more and more often.
    “Hi, honey, how was rehearsal?” Her voice sounded so normal.
“It went well. He’s got us working on a new piece.” 26
Love Means … NO Boundaries
“Did you have time to learn it?” He could hear her getting concerned and knew she was feeling protective.
“I did okay. I’ve got a copy, and I’ll learn it over the next few days.” He knew what he needed to do and his hackles went up. “He should be giving you the music earlier so you can learn it.”
“Mama, it’s fine. Was there something you wanted? I’m kind of busy.”
“Doing what? Where are you?”
“I’m outside.”
“Do you have your sunglasses on?”
Jesus, she was getting worse. “Of course. Is there something you wanted?” His voice became firm, trying to get her off the phone. “Nothing other than to see how you were.”
    “I’m fine.” She continued to prattle on about something, but Robbie was no longer listening. “Bye, Mama.”