Page 37 of The Birchwood House

Audrey hesitated, pressing her lips together. “You know what, Evan? I actually think I’ve got this on my own. Thanks for offering, but you don’t need to help me.”

Evan turned back toward her, feeling confused and disappointed. “Are you sure?”

She nodded. “But thanks for offering.”

Evan took a step toward her, wondering what had brought on her sudden change of mind and hoping he could reverse her decision. “It’s no trouble, really,” he assured her. “I don’t want you to think that you’re inconveniencing me or anything like that. Have you considered that I might be offering to help simply because I’d like to spend some time with you?”

Evan held his breath as he watched her face. He wished he’d had the courage to make a statement instead of asking a question. He did want to spend time with her. He wanted to spend time with her very much.

Audrey cleared her throat gently. Evan imagined that if a bird were to cough, it would make a sound like that. “It’s not that I don’t want to spend time with you too, Evan,” she said slowly. “I did have a great time with you at the flea market, I really did. But I’m just not sure that this makes any sense.”

At that moment, the front door opened and Elaine stepped out, bearing a wide and benevolent smile. “Do you need a refill on tea or anything?” Elaine glanced at the jug of iced tea and blinked when she saw that it was still full. “Or anything?” she repeated cheerfully.

“No, thank you Elaine.” Evan turned to her with a sincere but forced smile. “You’re very kind, but I think I’d best be on my way.” He extended his hand to Audrey for a handshake and she took it. “I’ll see you later, Audrey.”

She nodded, giving him a smile that looked as forced as his own. He walked down the steps of the porch slowly, uncomfortably aware that both Audrey and Elaine wereprobably watching him. It wasn’t until he was out of sight around the corner that he allowed his shoulders to relax. He took a deep breath, grateful that Elaine had been wanting to check on him and Audrey but wishing that she hadn’t arrived at that particular moment. He’d wanted to keep talking to Audrey about why she thought that the two of them seeing each other didn’t make any sense. Did she simply not like him enough to be truly interested? Or was it something more than that? He shook his head, sighing.

I wonder if Audrey will ever bring down her walls?he wondered, glancing over his shoulder at the Sutton mansion.I suppose I’ll just have to be patient and wait and see.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Elaine gasped in delight and picked up an elegant small Tiffany lamp with a pink and red shade. “Isn’t this gorgeous?” she breathed to Michelle, who was standing close beside her. “I didn’t know they sold these here at Shoreline Market.”

“Ah, I love stained glass,” Michelle said, gazing down at the lamp in delight. “That would go perfectly in the bedroom with the roses on the windows—the one you and Grandpa used to stay in.”

Elaine nodded, feeling a wave of nostalgia sweep over her. She would have loved to have shown the lamp to her husband and place it in that room when he was still there.

Still, she thought with a radiant smile,I’m so thankful we get to do this. Turning the house into a bed and breakfast is a wonderful endeavor, and I can’t wait for the place to be filled with life again.

“Put it in the cart,” Michelle announced with a flourish. “Definitely something we want.”

“Agreed,” Elaine said, setting the lamp down carefully at the back of the cart, next to a couple of down pillows. “What else do we have on the list? Do we need any more lamps?”

“Yes, one more!” Michelle scanned the rows of colorful and charming lamps eagerly. “How about that one? That little black one with the reddish shade?”

“I love it! That’s going in the fourth room on the second floor, right? The one with the window seat? We already decided on a red theme for that room so that would be perfect.”

“Oh! I forgot we get to pick out quilts and pillow shams. I can’t wait.” Elaine had always adored decorating rooms and getting to decorate so many at once felt a little bit like Christmas.

“Let’s go there next,” Michelle said eagerly. “I have my heart set on a mint green quilt for the tower room, and I’m really hoping they have something like that. At least a mint green throw blanket we can pair with a white quilt.”

“I agree—and we should look for blankets too.” Elaine felt like a schoolgirl, getting ready for a party. “Wouldn’t it be fun to have a cozy blanket in each of the rooms? Maybe laid on the end of the beds or draped over the armchairs.”

“Blankets are always a good idea,” Michelle said, grinning and scribbling down a note on the handwritten list she was carrying.

They set off to the part of the store where quilts, sheets, and blankets were sold. Michelle immediately found a darling mint green and white quilt, made of an elegant floral fabric. She was delighted, and a moment later they found a mint green blanket to match it.

Next they picked out a red quilt, pairing it with a white blanket, a blue quilt with a lavender blanket, a pale yellow quilt with a bright yellow blanket, and a pink quilt with a cream-colored blanket.

“This is so much fun,” Elaine gushed. “I can’t wait to put all of these inside the rooms at the mansion. They’re going to look just darling.”

“I agree.” Michelle plopped the cream-colored blanket into their over-stuffed cart. “The rooms are going to be so cozy. I can’t wait until—” Michelle paused and then shook her head. Elaine noticed with concern that the light of enthusiasm had suddenly left her granddaughter’s eyes.

“What’s the matter, sweetheart?” she asked.

Michelle sighed, looking down at the car. “I’m just worried, I guess. I’ve been trying not to think about it, but now that I’m so excited about this, it makes it harder not to be nervous that it’s all going to be for nothing.”

“What do you mean?” Elaine asked, placing a reassuring hand on her granddaughter’s arm.