If Only Forever by Sophie Love

Author:Sophie Love [Love, Sophie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sophie Love
Published: 2017-04-04T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Emily tiptoed across the driveway, trying not to make the gravel crunch beneath her boots. She was carrying a bucket filled with bottles of cleaning fluid and several colorful sponges. Following quietly behind her was Chantelle with some garbage bags and Daniel carrying a ladder. It may have been Christmas Eve and barely 5 a.m. but the whole family was awake for this mission.

Daniel hadn’t been particularly thrilled about Emily’s choice of gift for Trevor. But when he’d seen how excited Chantelle was about the idea of secretly fixing up Trevor’s greenhouse he’d agreed to join in.

Just then, Emily noticed Colin Magnum leaving the carriage house, his suitcase in tow.

“I hope we didn’t wake you,” Emily said. She side-eyed the suitcase in Colin’s hands. “Are you going somewhere?”

Colin smiled cordially. “Yes, actually. I’m leaving a little earlier than planned.” Then his eyebrows rose upward. “My wife suggested we spend Christmas together.”

He sounded as surprised as Emily felt.

“You reconciled?” she exclaimed.

Colin nodded. “I shan’t be needing these any longer.”

He handed the keys to the carriage house to Emily. She felt a small pang of sadness to know he would be leaving them. Colin had been in Sunset Harbor so long now he’d started to feel like part of the furniture.

“We’ll miss you at Christmas dinner,” Emily added, as she stashed the keys away in her pocket. “And in general. It’s been a pleasure having you.”

He glanced at the bucket in Emily’s hands. “Yes, it’s been a wonderfully odd month.” Then he smiled with mischief. “I left your Christmas gift with Lois at reception. I hope you like it.”

Colin loaded up his car and got inside. As Emily waved him off she realized she would never get an answer to the mysterious project he’d been working on for the last month.

Emily rejoined Daniel and Chantelle, and the three of them crept through the hole in the hedges that separated the inn from Trevor’s property and went to the greenhouse out back. The place was a mess, filled with broken pots, grubby garden furniture, and dead plants. It was clear the greenhouse hadn’t been used for many years, but it was warm and Emily could picture how beautiful it would look all spruced up and with the fruit trees inside.

They got to work, clearing out all the broken ceramic pots and throwing them in garbage bags. Chantelle swept away all the cobwebs while Daniel cleaned the grubby windows with a rag. Then they filled their buckets with warm soapy water and scrubbed down the cast iron picnic bench until it was gleaming. Finally, they carried the fruit trees into their new positions in Trevor’s greenhouse.

Standing back to admire their handiwork, Emily had to admit it didn’t look like much at the moment, but once winter gave way to spring they would start to flourish. With sunshine streaming through the glass it would look beautiful in here. Emily hoped as the years passed they would grow strong and fruitful as a lasting testament to Trevor.

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