Following the sudden death of his father, Lawrence "Law" Crow must not only comfort his bereaved mother, but also find the strength to continue running the family business, a local and beloved lavender farm in the mountains of northern California. At first, consumed with his own grief and struggling to find meaning in life, Law indulges in his vices, mainly by surrendering to his sexual urges with numerous men, all in a desperate battle to forget his pain and to end the emotional turmoil tearing him apart.<br><br>But when a stunningly handsome and passionate Spanish soccer player named Garbi suddenly crosses his path, Law discovers light in the possibility of love. Does Garbi have the ability to heal Law's shattered heart, provide him with purpose, and help him fully embrace the joy of living once again amidst the beautiful and fragrant lavender fields?

Lavender

Hearing footsteps, I picked up my pace. When I reached the edge of town, I stopped. “Denny, I don’t care.”


“What are you doing?” I asked, stunned.


“Home,” he mused, “I haven’t been home in a long time.”


The wistful note in his voice made me quiver. I wanted to take him in my arms. “Goodnight,” I said and walked away, tripping over a rock. I caught myself, waved, and shuffled out of the glow of the streetlight.


I tried to collect myself, but he continued to follow.


“All day long I wonder how to see you again,” he said behind me. “I said to myself, Garbi, you must have more of him…and the smell, the lavender made me crazy.”


I finally stopped and turned toward him.


He approached, his hands thrust in his soccer shorts. He lifted clenched fists. “I stole from you.” In the semi-darkness, I could just make out the crushed lavender sifting through his fingers.


Chapter 17