Wounded but Graced: Love at Heart's Haven by Tanya Stowe

Author:Tanya Stowe [Stowe, Tanya]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2024-03-05T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter five

Madison hung up the phone just as the front door opened. Vivian stepped inside, with Lance right behind her. A stiff breeze swept in with them, but Lance quickly closed it outside.

Today was the first blustery day of the season. Spring had arrived early and shown itself in warm, sunny days until now. The brisk wind kicked up flurries of dust and beat the soft green buds against each other. Madison hoped it wouldn’t do too much damage to the fragile new growth they had just planted.

Vivian smoothed her hair and took off her sweater. She looked tired, stretched too thin, and Madison wondered if the reading of the will had gone badly. A glance at Lance’s calm expression reassured her.

Madison took Vivian’s sweater from her and hung it on the antique hall tree by the door. “I have tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches ready if you’re hungry.”

She prepared Viv’s favorite windy day lunch, and her thoughtfulness earned her a brief smile from her friend.

“That sounds wonderful. I’ll just go wash up.”

Madison had been working in the office just down the hall, so she’d prepared lunch in the big kitchen where she could keep an eye on it. Viv headed toward the bathroom and Madison held back as Lance removed his light jacket and hung it on the hall tree.

“Did things go badly at the reading?”

“No. Everything was as expected. Andrew left Heart’s Haven to Derek and Rina, with provisions for Vivian and Kevin. He left the management up to Vivian, of course. Derek and Rina have their hands full with his ministry and her business. Kevin inherited his cottage and the job of landscaper here at Heart’s Haven for as long as he wants it.”

Madison glanced down the hall. “That’s good for Kevin, but Vivian’s not ready to handle the management on her own.”

“No, she’s not. That’s why I plan to stay. I’ve already placed a call to my son to see if we can arrange it.”

Something hard and heavy settled into Madison’s stomach. “OK. Great,” she said, but her tone didn’t echo her words.

“I’ll go get those sandwiches cooking.”

She hurried to the kitchen, feeling as if a clock had just started ticking away her time at Heart’s Haven. If Lance was staying, she certainly could not.

The food had reheated by the time Lance and Vivian entered. Madison set the sizzling grilled cheese sandwiches on the table and eased into her seat beside Viv and Lance. Viv said a prayer in which she thanked God for her blessings, including the wonderful people seated with her.

When she ended, she grasped both their hands. “I’m so glad both of you are here with me. I don’t know how I would have managed without you.”

Lance grasped her hand with his. “You know the second week is the worst, Viv. It will get better. I promise.”

His words encouraged Madison, too. She needed to know the sad, heartbroken look on Vivian’s face would ease. She didn’t think she could bear looking at it much longer.

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