Chapter Eight #2
Ally had never thought her looks were anything special.
And the two or three men who had made it past the first coffee date to a second or third were nice and all, but nothing that had caused her heartbeat to accelerate.
She often wondered if she had overlooked her chance while plowing the crowded streets of the city and missed that one special person Annie had said was out there…
waiting for their paths to cross. Well, she had probably passed right by that person, if he did exist, and she would end up a spinster with a dog someplace she had yet to find. And she would be okay.
“And here we are…Primrose Inn. I hope you’ll enjoy your time here.”
The words brought her back to the present and she caught her breath as her gaze took in the large Victorian-style home that sat behind a white picket fence, its windows shining in the sunlight encompassed by shutters of bright yellow that stood out like sunshine itself against the stark white of the three-storied dwelling.
There were two turrets with windows and two chimneys showing above the metal roof, which was a surprise to her.
But the ornately carved wood pieces that framed the wide porch that ran the length of the front and could be seen in partial view toward the back through some shrubbery, made it appear something timeless and lovely and totally welcoming to one and all to stop and admire its beauty and its story.
“It is amazing. Like it should be in a fairy-tale book of its own,” she breathed in total admiration. And then the reality that she would be staying in such a place for even a short period of time made it all the more incredible.
“You’ll fit in perfectly with Tori and Cassie now,” he said, exiting the vehicle and before she could grasp the handle, he was at her door and offering a hand to help her step out.
“Those are words they say often, and each have set out to keep it as such. To fully appreciate it, you should see it when all the rose bushes are in full bloom in the garden, the bright wildflowers are in bloom in the flower beds and the shrubs have their own colors to add. Don’t tell them I said so, but it is quite impressive and work is still in progress. ”
“I think it’s perfect right now. I can’t imagine what a beauty it must be in spring.
” She was so immersed in taking in everything about the yard, she wasn’t aware that a helping hand had stayed at her elbow as they moved up the stone path to the wide front steps and made their way to the top.
It remained there as he caught her gaze with his.
“You are really quite amazed by it. I’m guessing they have places like this where you come from, also?”
“Not like this. Houses and buildings of stone mostly. No room for yards and gardens like this…at least not in any neighborhood I’ve been in. Space is a premium in the city. This porch is so amazing.”
“Well, if you like it now, just wait. It will be transformed this week into a fall country garden. Then, it’s ablaze with lights and tinsel strung over anything and anyone who stands still too long.
Again, be careful…my sisters will have you signed on to their nefarious crew of munchkins and elves before you know it. Shall we venture inside?”
Ally snapped back to reality. Her elbow was released easily enough.
It had felt warm and secure, and she hadn’t minded the touch.
But he had other places to be and people to take care of.
“I know you’re too busy to stand around while I gawk like a silly girl.
Please don’t let me keep you from your work. ”
“Gawk away. I have some time.” He held open the door after he punched in the code for the door. “All the information you need has been meticulously listed out for you in Volume One of Tori’s notes which you can read at your leisure.”
He held the door open, and she stepped through.
Was that the smell of fresh-baked cookies?
Oatmeal perhaps? She was immediately back in the apartment in New York, walking in from work and being greeted with fresh-baked goods that Annie had prepared for her.
It made her heart squeeze, and she had to focus on the table in the dining room to her left.
But someone saw what she didn’t want to be seen.
“Is there a problem? Something wrong?” His tone was low and quite genuine with his concern.
She shook her head. No use pretending otherwise. This lawman was able to see too much, too fast. She needed to remember that.
“Nothing wrong. Just a smell remembered from a past that is no more. A good memory just the same.”
He looked as if he wanted to say more, but the moment passed.
He crossed to the table and tapped the notebook with his finger.
“This is Tori’s long list of all the things you need to know and some you don’t, but she is a politician after all…
She gets carried away.” He grinned that lovely grin again and she found how easy it was to respond with one of her own.
“I am sure it will all be helpful and it’s so very thoughtful. I’ll study it cover to cover.”
“Follow me for the quick and yet expensive tour.” He led and she did as she was told, admiring the beauty of wood and wainscoting and the furnishings that were heavy yet lighter-colored wood and with so many touches of colors here and there in pillows and rugs—and after the dining room and living room areas, came the kitchen at the back of the house and she stopped in the doorway.
She felt she had stepped into one of those heavy coffee-table books on the art of country decorating.
It was bright, large, filled with touches of copper and bright white granite cabinet tops and shipboard walls…
and green ivy plants that were real and not fake.
The windows were wide and looked out on the lawns and what appeared to be a gazebo and rose garden that was dormant at the moment.
Double doors of glass panes opened onto another wide expanse of porch.
As if that wasn’t enough, two barn doors opened onto what she could assume would be a sunroom…floor-to-ceiling windows went down both lengths and there was a highly polished floor and more tables and settees and inviting chairs with taller plants in the corners.
“I can’t decide which room is more amazing—each one is better than the one before.”
“This is a room that we added after Cassie’s wedding. It serves as a nice large space for a reception or if the inn wants to add more visitors to any of the five bedrooms upstairs. This can become a dining room for meals to be served.”
“Your sisters have thought of everything. It’s all perfect. I don’t quite understand why it isn’t still used as an inn?”
“Tori never planned on having an inn to run when she found Destiny’s River.
But that is what happened and that was what it was for a few years.
Then she ran for office, met and married her husband.
Then my other sister followed much the same road and added another husband to the family, and it just evolved into being a home place for all our growing family to gravitate to for special holidays and celebrations and such. ”
He smiled and his gaze stayed longer on hers.
“And I think this has been quite an eventful morning for you and you need some of that rest that the doctor prescribed for you. You will find your suitcases and boxes are in the bedroom suite at the top of the stairs and to the right. You have both a view of the front yard and the back. Nice breeze in spring but not now. It’s a bit too chilly in the evening now.
You have all of our numbers. The code to the front door…
and one more thing…” He rummaged in one of his pockets and drew out a key fob. He handed it over to her.
“There is a car in the garage for your use while you are here and for any of the errands you must run with Jillie and for shopping and whatever. It’s yours to use however and whenever.”
“That is so nice of you. And is Jillie’s schedule in the book also?”
“It certainly is,” he replied. “Along with maps marked of the various places you will become familiar with. And you won’t have to begin with Jillie until Monday.
Her schedule is there for each day. I am certain you will see Tori and Jillie at some point this weekend.
But please don’t be afraid to shoo them out and get that rest you need first and foremost. That is an order from the head law officer of this county. And people are wise to obey him.”
“I see how you tried to keep a straight face there, but you might want to work on that little twitch at the corner of your mouth… It’s a dead giveaway. People might not take you all that seriously with that going on.”
The smile disappeared and she felt a bit sad to lose it.
“I can see I underestimated you. You need to be watched. A pretty, smart city girl is in our midst.” He couldn’t help it as that twitch appeared again. She had to smile.
“Thank you for everything you have done since I went airborne on your lovely county road. You and your family and so many others have done their best to help and welcome me. I’m not used to that, but it is very nice indeed.”
He tapped his two fingers to the brim of his hat and allowed a grin to appear.
“Get some rest and call if you need anything…and I mean anything at all.” He walked down the hall, and she felt a bit of a letdown that he hadn’t looked back just before stepping outside.
But he probably had his mind already on his real job.
And she was just a temporary employee that he had delivered instructions to and now she was on her own again.
But she slowly retraced her steps and then went up to discover her room.
If she was a temporary employee, she would still feel like a princess thanks to the grand old house. She hugged Annie in her heart. She had a feeling she was smiling at that moment for her, too.