Wednesday morning comes too soon and I've still not made any decisions about what I am going to do about the gardening at Summer Haze.  I've done what I always do, put it to the back of my mind and procrastinate about it. First things first though I've got a hair appointment.

As agreed, I arrive promptly at 9.45am at the college salon, The Kutz Shack. Olive greets me professionally like a customer and I play along not wanting to ruin any aspect of her exam.  She sets to work and over the next few hours she truly works her magic and does a magnificent job in transforming my hair.

With the massage chair working miracles and her fingertips giving me a head massage during my hair wash I nearly fall asleep. She works deftly with her scissors, so confident in her ability to cut and create. The colouring and dip dye process is sleek and self-assured. In fact, the whole experience leaves my hair looking and feeling stunning.  I can tell she is pleased as punch by the look of happiness that sweeps across her face as she holds the round mirror behind my head to show me the finished back view.

It is probably just as well that we were not permitted to chat during the exam otherwise I might have let it slip that the head of hair Olive really wants to get her hands on is living in my parents rental house.  She would go absolutely nuts if she knew.  No, I promised myself I wouldn't say anything to anyone and that includes her.  Much as I love her, with all her crushes and over admiration for every male celebrity with a pulse, there is no way she could keep quiet. No, I will never tell anyone about him because despite our spats, I am not a mean person.

I finally leave the salon at 12.30 to find I've missed a call from mum.  I quickly text Olive to say she was brilliant, I am proud of her and that I love my hair to bits, before dialing mum's number. 

"Hi Mum, were you trying to get hold me of."  I'm out of breath as I head towards my car in student parking.  It's just started to rain and I don't want to ruin my new 'do'.

"Yes Lily, where have you been?"  She questions firmly.

"I told you I was Olive's model for her styling exam this morning."

"Oh yes, yes of course, I'd forgotten.  It's just Mr Greenberg called earlier."

Finally I think to myself, it's only taken him a week!  "Mum, before you start I didn't....." but she interrupts me.

"He sounded concerned that you hadn't showed up today.  You obviously forgot to tell him about the exams so I apologised and explained."

He sounded concerned!  That's odd but I'll run with it.  "Thanks mum, yes I did forget."

"Well that isn't very good Lily, there's been a delivery and he doesn't know what to do with it."  She now sounds perturbed. 

"Shit, sorry Mum, I completely forgot."  Which is technically true because I did forget about the delivery today but was also hoping to avoid him this week if I could.

"Don't swear please Lily.  I told him you'd be there this afternoon to sort it out."  Mum's authoritarian business voice is back. 

"Wait, what, no I can't." I reply exasperatedly.

"What do you mean you can't, you've finished with Olive now so you've got the rest of the afternoon free."  Her cross voice is coming into play.   

"I've got to study though."  Mum has an academic mind so if playing the 'studying for exams' card can't get me out of it, nothing can. 

"Well just go over there to sort out the delivery and then you can study later.  I've got to go but he's expecting you so don't let him down again. See you later." 

"But mum, I........." She hangs up.  Great!  Well that's that then.  No way of getting out of it now, I'll have to go.  I am reminded of what mum said "he sounded concerned."  It's mum putting her spin on it to get me to do what she wants.  He is probably just annoyed about the delivery, not about me not showing up. 

I decide to do what mum suggested, go to Summer Haze, put the order away and leave.  Hopefully he won't even be around.      

I pull up outside the house with an ache right in the pit of my stomach as I'm greeted by the familiar sight of his car sitting on the driveway indicating he is clearly in.  Oh God!  Rain is now hammering down on the windscreen.  I push my drivers seat right back, grab my Barbour and Hunters off the back seat.  Both the jacket and boots are Mum's old ones that she's passed onto me.  They are perfect for gardening and not something I can afford so I'm lucky to have them.  I pull the hood up on the jacket to try and at least attempt to keep my beautiful new hair in tact. 

Once out the car, I make a run for it because the rain still pouring down and head straight towards the greenhouses.  Hopefully the delivery is there because that was the instruction.  When I arrive I see the two huge boxes and 20 trays of plants siting just inside the door.  The boxes are ok to leave as they contain nothing that needs urgent attention but the plants need moving and I set to work to sort them out. 

I am nearly finished and about to head back to my car when I see a hoodie-covered face appear at the greenhouse doorway.  Harry slides back the door and steps inside.  He is hiding as usual but pulls his hood down once he's closed the door behind him. 

I glance quickly towards him then look away.  He seems nervous, shuffling from one foot to the other.  I really have no idea what to say to him so decide to just keep quiet.  I am unsure why he is here, it would be easier if we just kept out of each other's way.  I only come here one day a week, he has six other days to enjoy the garden if he wants. 

He doesn't move initially, he stands still staring at me, running his hand through his long locks. His features are much softer today compared to the harshness at our altercation at the kitchen door the previous week. 

"Hi Lily." He says sheepishly.

"Hi, um, hi." I reply stumbling over my greeting as I don't know what to call him and it feels unnatural.

"Please, call me Harry." His tone is surprisingly calm. 

"No, you made it clear you want to be called Mick, it's fine." I answer nonchalantly.

"Yes about that...."

But I cut him off.  "Listen, I came to tell you about the delivery, you happened to be on the phone and I overheard your conversation.  I shouldn't have sworn at you I'm truly sorry but, this, well it's none of my business, I'm not going to tell anyone.  I am just here to tend to the gardens." I shrug my shoulders relieved to have finally got my mini speech off my chest.

"Lily it's ok, I am so sorry about last week, I spoke to you too harshly, I didn't mean to upset you." He actually looks quite forlorn.  "I seem to have a habit of doing that with you."

Ok, he's also recognised that we don't gel.  "There's no harm done, I was out of line.  Shall we call a truce?"  

He grins, "Yes a truce!"

"Good.  Well I was just about to leave so if you don't mind." He is blocking my exit from the greenhouse and I raise my hand to indicate my desire to get past. 

"Oh, yes of course."  He steps aside and I brush past him but as I reach the door he speaks again to my back.

"Look, would you like to come inside, join me for tea or something, if you'd like?"

I turn and catch his stare.  "Um, I don't want to be rude but I think it's best if we just keep out of each other's way."  I say it as kindly as I can. 

He shakes his head, "No, we don't have to do that, please come inside, join me for a cuppa."

I'm reminded that all I have done since this guy arrived is argue with him.  Not wanting another disagreement and, seeing as though he is trying to wave some sort of white flag, I reluctantly accept his offer.

This should be interesting, I wonder how long our truce will last?