Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem ( Elysia and Tarquin)

"Great-Grandma isn't old at all! Mommy says she could live to a hundred. Great- Grandma is only in her seventies—she's still young!"

Tracey burst out laughing at Baby's serious tone.

"You're absolutely right, sweetheart. Seventy-something is still young for Great- Grandma!"

Tracey took Baby's little hand and led her away from the porch. Nearby, the sound of water trickling over stones filled the air-it was a mountain spring running down from the woods. Tracey was headed there to wash her hands before breakfast.

Suddenly, Baby pointed at two plants growing side by side, her eyes wide with curiosity.

"Great-Grandma, are those twins? How come they look so much alike?"

Tracey glanced at the two herbs and raised her eyebrows in surprise.

"You think they're not the same kind?"

"Nope! See, that one's got purplish tips, and the other one's more reddish at the ends. But they look almost exactly the same-like twins!"

Tracey squinted at the plants, then at Baby. "..."

Baby was right. The two herbs looked nearly identical, but they were completely different species. Their uses couldn't be more opposite-one was a lifesaving medicine, the other a deadly poison! Mixing them up could be a disaster.

Tracey grew them together because they liked the same soil and sunlight. It was convenient, but honestly, only someone with her experience would dare do it. She was confident she could tell them apart. Most people couldn't even spot the difference in color at the tips-the shades were so faint that even medical students would have trouble.

"Baby, how did you know one has purple tips and the other red? Did Mommy tell you?"

"No, I just noticed! It's super obvious. Can't you see it, Great-Grandma?"

Tracey grinned. "Well, I can, but it's not easy! You're amazing for noticing that at your age!"

Baby beamed with pride and pointed again, this time at another pair of plants.

"I can tell those two apart too! They look the same, but their roots are totally

different. And those over there one's got tiny thorns, and the other has big, sharp ones, right?"

Tracey nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly! You have quite the eye!"

She was so excited she almost forgot

bout breakfast, eager to

more of the herb garden.

Baby put her foot down.

"Mommy said I have to make sure you eat breakfast first, Great-Grandma. Breakfast before anything else!"

Tracey laughed and relented. "Alright, alright, breakfast it is!"

She rinsed her hands in the cold spring water and sat down to enjoy the bagel and scrambled eggs Elysia had brought over. When they finished eating, she and Baby. wandered through the herb beds together.

Tracey quickly discovered that Baby could spot subtle differences

between plants that would stump most adults. The little girl even. asked questions that made Tracey pause and think-questions clever enough to challenge a medical

student!

Delighted, Tracey knelt down beside Baby and asked,

"Sweetheart, do you like doctors?"

"You mean like nurses and doctors-the ones they call angels in white?"

"That's right!"

"I like them! Angels in white help sick people and have kind hearts."

"Would you ever want to be one of those angels, Baby?"

Baby nodded, her eyes bright. "Yes! I want to help people too!"

Tracey's face lit up. "Then how about Great-Grandma teaches you everything she knows?"

Baby didn't hesitate. "Okay!"

"Really?" Tracey's eyes sparkled.

"Really! Pinky promise!"

They hooked their pinkies, sealing their little promise right there in the sunnynoveldrama

garden.