Greenhouse Quarrel

When the entry bell of Gorgeous Greenhouse tinkled that rainy Saturday morning, only one person in the plant nursery was unaware that their relationship was on the precipice of disintegration.

The greenhouse’s purlins, trusses, and supports were black, which elevated the gothic arch design. The entrance opened into two wings, which were each ten yards in length. Exotic plants filled the space in a manner that at first appeared chaotic, but, upon a more steadied gaze, gave way to meandering but clear paved paths. The service counter would be visible from the entrance if not for the giant monstera deliciosa that sat in the middle of the greenhouse. It was on top of a rocky small waterfall that fed into a pool around it. The rain fell upon the roof in a soft steady patter, and rolled down the glass in hurried drips.

Gavin and Genel held hands as they entered. For once, the man led and his girlfriend followed. Gavin was determined to make this a wonderful experience, and Genel couldn’t help but make sure it wasn’t.

Gavin had a plant in mind. His girlfriend had mentioned this nursery before, and for the first time in a long time, he had taken initiative to look up something nice for her. His initiative stopped at his level of capability though, a step past ideation. He had visited once and found which plant looked elegant enough for Genel’s taste and quickly left, rushing home to his video games. He hadn’t asked enough questions, which he would soon find out.

Gavin yanked Genel through the clouds of humidifier mist toward the plant he wanted to show her. His gift to her for a promotion. He dragged her like an eager child, Genel followed like the exhausted mother who did not want to see one more thing. When she caught the eye of the plant nursery worker as she stumbled over her heels, he smiled at her. His eyes continued to follow her even when the plants obscured most of her shape. Her complaints bounced off the glass, making them clear throughout the whole store.

The aisles were narrow; it would have been difficult for the couple to walk next to each other even if they wanted to. Lush greenery pressed in, leaves and stems grabbing at the pair like fingers. Gavin brushed past too quickly in his excitement and knocked into nearly every plant he passed.

He tried to pull Genel into one of those frolicking skips they once did whenever they held hands in the beginning of their relationship. When he leaped off the ground, she stayed put in her red bottoms. “Please, we’re in public.”

“That never stopped you before.” Genel rolled her eyes. She had no retort, but she refused to skip, so he stopped trying.

Lucky for him, they’d finally arrived at the beautiful flower. It had three sepal petals, the dorsal one fully red, and the two lateral ones dichromatic with red and orange. It sat up high in the corner, next to two others. “Wouldn’t that be gorgeous in our new place?”

Genel took a closer look. He knew her well, as she was awed into silence. Even Genel’s pretension was no match for the exquisite plant before her. It reminded her of the dress she was wearing when she and Gavin first met. A soft silky thing that let them salsa dance the night away. That was easily slipped off at the end of the night.

“Isn’t that an orchid?”

“So? What’s wrong with orchids?” Genel turned to look at him. She stared long enough to make Gavin uncomfortable. She smiled when he rolled his shoulders, knowing she had gotten under his skin.

“They’re dramatic! You forget to water them one day, they die.” Genel turned back to look at the plant. She enjoyed giving Gavin shit, but she couldn’t keep her eyes off of it. “You don’t feed them premium fertilizer? They die. You move them two degrees left of optimal sunlight? They die.”

“All of a sudden you know something about plants?”

“And if I do?”

Gavin shook his head. “Let’s ask the plant guy.”

Mason, the plant guy, had originally been following Genel with his eyes, but Gavin’s bumbling into his plants had drawn his attention and ire. The fact that Gavin ran to the most expensive plant in the shop irritated him further. He mustered up a smile for the couple as he sauntered over to them.

“Hey, uh Plant Person–” Gavin said.

“Gorgeous Guide.”

“Huh?”

“Don’t call me ‘plant person,’” Mason said. He frowned like the words tasted terrible. “I’m your Gorgeous Guide. As this is Gorgeous Greenhouse.”

“Uh, okay. Gorgeous Guide, can we get this one over here in the corner?”

Mason looked them up and down without reservation. He didn’t spend much time on Genel; with her luxury heels and tailored pantsuit, she was his ideal customer. Gavin however, he started at for a long time, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. A dingy white graphic tee with several ketchup stains and wrinkled grey sweatpants with blue paint stains. Despite the simple polo and jeans combination he was wearing, which was mostly covered by a canvas apron anyway, Mason’s outfit would have cost Gavin’s last six paychecks.

“Can we get that plant up there?” Gavin repeated. He drummed his fingers one at a time along his thigh.

“It’s a rare orchid. Masdevallia veitchiana.”

“Told you,” Genel said, and stuck her tongue out at Gavin. He stuck his tongue out right back.

“And that means?” he asked.

“It requires a dedicated carer, including high quality equipment and lots of paperwork.”

“What makes it so special?” asked Gavin.

“It’s temperature sensitive. You do know what that means right?” Mason looked him over once more. "No. I supposed you wouldn't." Mason then went into a long speech about its natural habitat and the specialized technology required to care for it. The two customers nodded their heads, only partially understanding.

“What makes you think we won’t have the time or ability to take care of it?” Gavin crossed his arms. “I just asked you to get it down, not for the spiel.” Genel elbowed him.

“Impatient and half-assing as always,” she said under her breath. Which was still loud enough for everyone to hear.

Making a great effort to smile at her comment before answering, Mason said, “It’s essentially a luxury item sir. As you will notice based on the rest of the plants in the shop.” The vast variety of plants was why Gavin had chosen this place. But he hadn’t considered the price. When he asked for it, Mason was only too happy to oblige. He and Genel didn't speak. The rain now pounded on glass, filling the silence.

“So, where do I sign?” Genel asked. It was well over Gavin’s budget, but not hers. It wouldn’t be a gift from him anymore, but she had been buying her own gifts for a while now.

“Wait, can we get something a little less difficult?” He meant cheaper. “Without all the light and temperature requirements? That doesn't require– what was that? Sixty…?”

“60 percent humidity. Consistently.” Mason said.

“Yeah that. Any beginner orchids? I think one would look really nice in our new place.”

Genel bristled every time he mentioned their place. It was being fully paid for with her money from her promotion.

“Wait, are you actually going to take care of the plant?” she asked.

“I was hoping we could take care of it together. That’s the whole point of this. Bonding.” He stuck out his lip in an attempt to make a puppy dog face. It wasn’t working on Genel. She thought the point of this was to get a gift for her. Not something to share.

“In that case, it sounds like we should get a cactus.” She turned to Mason, who had a smug look on his face. “Do you have any cacti? Or similar plants?” Mason nodded. He walked off to pretend he was searching for a low maintenance plant. Instead, he hid behind a nearby philodendron so he could eavesdrop.

“I can take care of it.” Gavin stuck his chin out defiantly. He knew that Genel didn’t trust him to do it, but he was capable. Between his part time job and his hobbies, gaming and skateboarding, he would have the time to take care of this plant.

“It sounds like too much work. It sounds like a high start up cost as well.”

“You would mention ‘start up costs,’” Gavin said. He wiped his hand over his face, while Genel checked her watch. She needed to go in today for a few hours.

“Come on Gavin, this is your gift. It needs to be within your price range.” He turned away from her to hide his reddening cheeks. He fingered the leaf of a bird of paradise. “Besides, you know you wouldn’t have enough focus to take care of something this complicated. And I definitely won’t have the time due to my new promotion.”

“Then why did you come here with me?”

“I thought you were finally buying me some flowers.”

“Since when have you wanted flowers?”

“What woman doesn’t want flowers Gavin?”

“You,” he said. “Aren’t you above receiving flowers?” He turned, then pointed at her shoes. “You’re wearing heels in the middle of a nursery–”

“I have work today.”

“–instead of changing into them when you get to work. I’m sure your entire closet is full of brand names by now. You always buy a full bottle of wine whenever we eat out, which is very often, I might add. When was the last time you stayed home and cooked?”

“When was the last time I stayed home and cooked?” Genel repeated. They’d had that argument before and Gavin didn’t want it to derail the point he was making. So he pivoted.

“When was the last time you ordered take out? You’re never home anymore. You barely talk to me anymore. We haven’t slept together in months. And–”

“And?”

“And you never play games with me anymore!” Gavin was huffing, winded from his diatribe. “We never do anything fun together anymore.”

Genel took in what he said. “Fine, let’s get an orchid.”

“Thank you.” He turned back to the bird of paradise.“What if we get this one, too? Or maybe instead of the orchid?” Once again, Gavin forgot that this was a gift for Genel.

“We might as well wait for Ma–the guide to get back. He can help us find the best plant for us.” Gavin was too entranced by the plant to notice her slip.

“Why are you so obsessed with asking questions? We are here in the shop with functioning eyes. We can look first and Google later. I’m sure we can even return if we don’t like it.” He was correct, but returning them would be an entirely different hassle that he would not enjoy.

“I didn’t get to where I am by jumping first. Meticulous research is how you climb to the top.”

“What is there to climb? Are you entering the plant in a contest? It’s just going to sit in our house.”

“You keep saying our house like you’re contributing anything substantial to it.” She had tried to keep it from slipping, but now that it was out, she felt better. Gavin reared his head as if he had been hit. He was as surprised and hurt as you’d expect him to be. He had suspected this from her, but hearing it spoken aloud made his gut twist.

“I’m going to go to the car.” Genel looked at the orchid instead of watching Gavin walk away, but couldn't help but listen for the bell to ring again, signaling his exit.

Mason, however, did watch Gavin leave. He watched him approach a navy BMV, pull on the door handle, pause, then walk off toward the street. Only when he was out of sight did he approach Genel.

“That was fast,” he said. He wrapped his arms around her. When he leaned in, she put a finger on his mouth.

“Are you sure he’s gone?” He nodded. She squinted her eyes at him, but let him kiss her anyway.