Page 17 of Love’s Harvest (Lilace Lake #3)

The next morning, Sunday, Sarah took the girls to the store with her while she helped to clean and straighten from the Halloween festivities. As she swept and put items back in place, the girls played the toss game, which she’d taken out of the window.

April showed up as expected, and together they worked on putting a fall display in the front window. In a couple of weeks, they’d turn it into a Christmas window, but for now, she liked the transition to fall items.

During a break, Sarah said, “Did you have fun last night? You did a terrific job here at the store.”

April made a face and shrugged. “Wyatt asked me to go with him to meet some friends who were having a party. Lindsay got really mad when she saw us, but Wyatt told her to stop making nasty comments about me. One of the other girls was nice to me, though, and I think I might’ve made a new friend.”

“I’m glad to hear it,” Sarah said. “It’s tough when someone picks on you. The best advice I have is to ignore it. It becomes ineffective if there’s no reaction.”

April’s eyes rounded. “Were you bullied in high school?”

“Not really,” said Sarah, “because we grew up together and learned we all were different. Mrs. Genie Wittner, the former owner of the Lilac Lake Inn and a well-respected woman in town, made it a point to befriend us all, and it was she who made sure no one was mistreated.”

“That’s nice,” said April.

“I wasn’t the most popular girl in high school but I had friends even though I pretty much stayed to myself, and was busy working at the store but.”

“My job here is very important to me,” said April. “Wyatt would never have noticed me without my working here.”

“That’s a win-win, then,” said Sarah, giving April an encouraging pat on the back.

###

While Sarah worked on tallying sales figures for Saturday, April played with the girls.

Mia and Emily loved having April help them.

Even though the store was closed, someone rang the bell to be let inside. Curious, Sarah went to the front of the store and saw Blake standing outside.

She opened the door. “April is still working here with me, but come inside.”

“I just wanted to tell her that I was going to be late taking her out to lunch. Poppy and I are meeting with a realtor.”

At my look of surprise, he continued. “You know that idea I had for a house? Poppy doesn’t want to stay in her large Victorian house by herself and can’t afford to pay for the upgrades it needs.

So, we made a deal. I’ll buy the house from her and fix it up, and she’s going to move into Misty Gilford’s cabin because Misty is moving in with David Graham.

” He chuckled. “How’s that for a lot of cooperation? ”

“It sounds perfect to me,” said Sarah. “And that’s why you wanted to talk to Dani and Collister Construction?”

“Yes. I plan on doing a lot of work myself, but I need them to guide me. Once this deal goes through, I’ll be in touch with Dani, as you suggested. I want to open up the interior and make some other changes without destroying the character of the house.”

“Dani is an excellent architect, and the house is in a superb location,” said Sarah. “I’m sure Poppy is thrilled with the arrangements.”

“She is,” said Blake. “She and I have hit it off, and it’s been nice for both of us.”

“Oh, yes,” said Sarah, loving how this small-town living worked out so well for some people.

“Hi, Dad,” said April walking toward them.

“I’ll leave you two alone,” Sarah said. “I’d better check on the girls.”

Sarah found Mia and Emily in the nail aisle.

They’d removed two boxes of box nails off the shelf and were sitting on the floor making designs with the nails they’d dumped on the floor.

She whipped out her phone and took a picture of them to send to Dani, hoping she’d see how clever her girls were. Dani doted on them.

After they’d cleaned up, Sarah told the girls she’d take them to the café for lunch.

Excited, they headed for the door.

###

At the café, Sarah and the girls were shown to a booth, where she could look at the other people inside. She was glad to see how crowded it was. It was so much more than a place where one could get excellent food. It was where you could meet up with neighbors and friends.

Several people waved to her as she and the girls ate. A couple of people walked over to their table to talk to her.

Sarah left the store feeling as if she’d been hugged by the entire town. It prompted her to go home and start cleaning out the garage while the girls lay down for a post-holiday rest.

At home, after getting the girls settled on their beds reading, she went out to the garage. It was filled with several pieces of furniture she couldn’t use in the rental cabin. As she hauled them out to the driveway, she realized she never wanted to use them again.

Sarah made another pile of things next to the furniture to be given to charity.

The garage had come with built in shelves along the back wall, and she used this to place the things she wanted to keep.

Tools sat in another section. Brooms, rakes, and other gardening items she’d kept were stored appropriately.

Sweating from the exercise, Sarah stood back filled with satisfaction. Now, in addition to getting rid of things she no longer needed or wanted, her car could sit inside the garage during the winter months.

She realized she’d wallowed in self-pity in the past but was now moving ahead in a positive way. The house truly was becoming hers without the items from her years with Jesse keeping her bound to them.

Mia came out of the house and trotted over to her. “Emily and I are done resting.”

“Okay,” said Sarah, checking her watch. “It’s late. Let me make a phone call, and then I’ll play a game of Candyland with you like I promised.”

Inside, Sarah called Goodwill to arrange a pickup and then resolutely sat on the living room floor with the girls to play one of their favorite games. Luke lay beside them content to watch.

###

That night, Sarah lay in bed thinking of everything that had happened over the past few days.

As hectic as it was, she’d come a long way in becoming the person she wanted to be.

Seeing Aaron, and spending time with him remembering their high school years together, had reminded her of the girl she’d once been and the woman she wanted to become.

She looked down at the girls, one on each side. They’d snuck into bed for cuddles and had fallen asleep. With Luke lying on the rug beside her bed, all seemed peaceful.

###

Sarah walked into the grief counseling session determined to be more open so that she could heal faster.

She was delighted to see Blake standing and talking with someone by the table holding the coffee machine. She went over to them.

“Hello, gentlemen,” she said. “How are you this evening?”

The older man, whose white hair circled his bald head, looked at her with eyes that showed pain.

“This is Bob,” said Blake. “I recently bought a car from him. A car for April.”

“It was my wife’s,” Bob explained.

“How nice,” Sarah said and turned away when Ellen called the meeting to order.

Once everyone was settled in their chairs and it grew quiet, Ellen began by reading some poetry. When she finished, she said, “Let’s go around the room and let each person say whatever they’d like.”

When it was Sarah’s turn, she said, “I feel as if I’ve made some healthy changes.

” She went on to talk about making things as she wanted inside the house and giving away other things she’d never really liked.

“I didn’t realize how torn I was about keeping things because my husband liked them.

Now that I’ve cleaned house, so to speak, I feel much freer to face a future that doesn’t include him except in my memories.

And I’ve begun to write down some things my young daughters might want to know about their father later on. Especially nice times together.”

“Excellent idea,” said Ellen. “It’s interesting that when we are able to move toward a different future, we can do a better job of keeping pleasant memories among others that might not be so.”

“Yes, that’s what I’m trying to do,” said Sarah, proud of herself for being so open.

She listened with the others as Blake told of buying a property to help out a friend and beginning a new life in Lilac Lake.

At the end of the meeting, Ellen came over to Sarah. “I’m pleased to hear you’re making wise decisions on your own. I know your parents must be thrilled to have you in town.”

“The move here has been a good one. They’ve been so supportive of me and my girls.”

“I’m glad,” said Ellen, moving on to another woman.

Sarah left the building, delighted to see stars sparkling in the dark sky. She breathed out a sigh of contentment. Things seemed to be going so well.

She walked, moving briskly in the cool air until she reached Main Street, where her pace slowed as she looked into shop windows to see what was new.

Standing in front of The Wild Flower Boutique, she studied the new items placed in the window and was startled when Poppy suddenly stared out the window at her.

Sarah waved and then waited for Poppy to open the door.

“Come on in. I just got in a skirt and sweater outfit that would look perfect on you.”

Chuckling at the way Poppy lured customers to a sale, she stepped inside the store. It was one of her favorites. Poppy had a tasteful eye for merchandise and didn’t allow too many items alike, which was nice in a small town.

Poppy led Sarah into the back of the store where she was unpacking some clothing.

She held up a chocolate-brown suede skirt and a deep-turquoise, V-neck sweater with tiny flecks of brown in it.

“This sweater can be dressed up or down and the skirt is a classy winter look, perfect for a party or something less dressy.”

“I love it,” gushed Sarah, thinking of Thanksgiving and the upcoming holiday season.

“They’re both in your size,” said Poppy. “You can take them home and bring them back if you don’t like the way they fit. But I’m certain you’ll love them.”

“Me, too,” Sarah said, holding them up in front of a mirror. She turned to Poppy. “Blake told me about the real estate arrangement he’s made with you. It sounds like a win-win situation.”

Smiling, Poppy said, “It’s such a huge relief for me. I couldn’t afford to fix up the house. Before he made the offer, Blake told me what changes he had in mind, so I’d be comfortable selling it to him.”

“He’s a very nice man. His daughter, April, is too.”

Poppy’s eyes sparkled. “April is lovely. She and I have worked well together in getting her outfits updated. It’s been loads of fun.”

Sarah paused and then blurted out, “Is anything going on between you and Blake?”

Poppy grinned. “We are seeing where our feelings for one another will take us. We need to be discreet with April and Blake’s mother, so we’re taking it slow. But Sarah, I’ve never felt this way about anyone. He’s a wonderful man.”

Sarah hugged Poppy. “I’m happy for you, Poppy. It seemed as if the two of you clicked right away.”

“Yes, that’s it. We’ve talked and talked and have the same ideas and feelings about many things. At my age, I’d given up finding a man.”

“Poppy, you’re only in your early forties,” Sarah protested.

“I know, but while men can choose women of any age, people like me don’t have that chance. Less and less with each passing year.”

Sarah gave Poppy another squeeze. “I’m glad you found one another. It’s going to be lovely if it all works out.”

“Thanks,” said Poppy. “Let me get these wrapped for you, and then I’ve got to get going. I’m meeting Blake at my house shortly.”

A few minutes later, Sarah left the store with her package. She couldn’t stop smiling at the thought of Poppy and Blake together and what it might mean for April.

She arrived home to find her parents and the girls reading together in the living room.

“Thanks for watching the twins,” she said, grateful for their help.

“We always love being with them.” Her mother gave each girl a kiss and rose from the couch.

Her father hugged the girls and followed Sarah’s mother out of the house.

###

That evening, Sarah fixed herself a cup of hot tea and sat in the living room in front of the gas fire. Taking a deep breath, feeling stronger than ever, she dialed Aaron’s number.

When she heard Aaron’s deep voice and his sexy hello, a shiver of anticipation swept through her body.

“Hi, Sarah,” Aaron said. “It’s good to hear from you.”

“Thanks. I just wanted to say hello. I’m ready to sow those seeds for that harvest you’re always talking about.”

He laughed softly. “I’m glad to hear it.”

They talked for a while and then one of the girls cried out in her sleep. “Talk to you later,” said Sarah, feeling as if she’d made great strides in finding a new pace between them.