Chapter Nine
“Home sweet home,” Thomas declared as they came into view of the house after walking home from the train station.
“Why does it always feel so good to be home?” Joy asked. “I’m going to miss how relaxed we both were at the beach, though.”
“You weren’t relaxed! We spent half of our time finding something constructive for you to do!”
“And the other half was spent lounging around as if we had no care in the world!”
“But I’ve made arrangements to ensure you’ll have a piece of nature with you, even here in Boston.”
“Arrangements?” Joy’s brow arched in curiosity. She knew the man was up to something, but she had no idea what. Perhaps he’d arranged for them to move outside the city, which would make her the happiest woman alive, but she would miss their beautiful garden and all the children at the orphanage. She wasn’t sure she wanted to move to the country after all.
“Yes,” Thomas said. He led her through the wrought-iron gate toward their garden—or what once was their garden. Now it was a bustle of activity as men worked to erect a building made of glass.
“Thomas, is that...?” Joy began, her hands coming up to cover the gasp that escaped her lips.
“A greenhouse,” Thomas confirmed, grinning at her. “Now you can dig in your glorious dirt year-round.”
“Goodness, you are full of surprises,” Joy said with a laugh, her mind already thinking of what she wanted to grow first.
“Only the best for you,” Thomas said. He wouldn’t tell her, but he was almost as excited as Joy was. The idea of having fresh foods on his table year-round was something he looked forward to.
“Shall I fetch my gloves and join them?” Joy teased.
“Perhaps let them lay the foundation first,” Thomas chuckled, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. “There will be plenty of time for digging in the dirt.”
“Plenty of time…” Joy repeated dreamily, watching as the skeleton of the greenhouse took shape before her very eyes. “Oh, Thomas. This is the absolute best present you ever could have given me. I can’t wait to get in there and dig in the dirt. What should I grow first?”
“Whatever you choose to grow, I will happily eat. Unless it’s flowers. I’m afraid I’m not terribly fond of eating flowers…” Thomas said, guiding her back toward the house. “It’s going to be another couple of weeks before it’s done, so you’ll have plenty of time to decide what to grow first.”
“Of course,” Joy agreed, though her gaze lingered on the greenhouse. “We just need them to work quickly. I know I have a lot to do already, but that dirt is calling my name. Quite loudly actually. I’m surprised you can’t hear it!”
With a laugh, Thomas led her into the house and up to their room. “I’ll let you get the first bath after being on that train.”
“Do you find trains dirty, Thomas?”
“Terribly.”
“Then let’s just share the tub. I’m quite sure it’s big enough.”
Thomas didn’t have to be asked twice. He left a trail of clothing to the bathroom.
*****
Joy stood at the window watching as the final pane of glass was hoisted into place on the greenhouse.
A smile played on her lips as she pictured little hands from the orphanage reaching for the fruits of her labor.
“Thomas already thinks I’ve lost my mind,” Joy mumbled to herself with a chuckle. “He’d better not catch me staring at the greenhouse with an excited look on my face. He’ll think he’s been replaced!” With a last look at the nearly completed greenhouse, she turned away.
The basket sat by the door, a woven sentinel stuffed with garments in need of mending from the orphanage. Swiping it up, Joy settled herself in the parlor, threading a needle with practiced ease. She may not have enjoyed working indoors, but she was quite good at it, and she was determined to use every skill she had to help the children from the orphanage.
As she stitched, the house was quiet, save for the occasional creak of wood and distant hammering from outside. Joy’s thoughts wandered back to the greenhouse and the joy it would bring her to dig in the dirt and to harvest food she could share with the orphans. No longer was she the person who received charity. She was able to help others, and soon, she could help them even more.
She sighed. “I’m sitting here daydreaming of carrots. It seems I am one step away from becoming a vegetable myself,” she quipped to the empty room.
“Who are you talking to?” Thomas’s voice drifted in from the hallway.
