Chapter 23 Marked to Watch

The next morning came a little earlier than usual. Rebecca stepped into the garden before the light had fully settled in, coffee in hand, her eyes already moving toward the same spot. She didn’t go anywhere else first. She didn’t need to.

The plant sat just as it had the day before—quiet, unassuming, nothing about it drawing attention unless you knew where to look.Rebecca crouched down beside it. The new leaf had opened just a little more overnight.

And there it was again.

That faint break in the color.

Not bold. Not perfect.

But still there.

She nodded to herself, not smiling, not reacting much at all—just confirming what she already knew.

Behind her, Sam stepped onto the path, slower this time, like he already knew where she’d be. “It still there?” he asked.

Rebecca didn’t look back. “Yeah.”

Sam came closer, crouching down beside her. “I see it quicker today,” he said.

Rebecca glanced at him. “That’s how it works.”

Across the fence, Dave rested his arms along the top rail, watching like always. “You gonna do anything with it?” he called out.

Rebecca paused for a second. Then she reached into her back pocket and pulled out a small plant tag. Nothing fancy. Just a plain marker. She pressed it into the soil beside the plant.

No name.

No notes.

Just placed there… so she wouldn’t forget.

Dave nodded slightly. “Guess that answers that.”

Rebecca brushed her hands off on her jeans. “Not doing anything yet,” she said. “Just keeping an eye on it.”

Sam looked at the tag, then back at her. “Different from the others now?”

Rebecca stood, picking up her coffee again. “Not different,” she said. “Just… not getting overlooked anymore.” She took a slow sip, eyes still on the plant for a second longer than the rest.

Around it, the rest of the garden carried on the same as always—leaves filling in, roots settling, everything growing in its own time.

But that one—

That one had a marker now.

And that meant something.

Rebecca turned and walked back toward the path. “Give it time,” she said quietly.

Dave smiled from the fence. “Always do.”