“It’s been a while since anyone called me young,” Beau said at last. “Beau da Silva.”
After what felt like a prolonged moment, the two men released their handshake.
“I was sorry to hear about your mother’s passing,” Hollis said, and there was a heaviness of real grief that crossed the elder Chandler’s brow as he spoke. “I knew her, when she was younger. Lovely girl.”
“Daniel said that you helped out here when you were younger,” Beau said. “I’d love to know more about that. About my grandparents, too.”
Hollis nodded, and it seemed to Beau he was taking a long time to speak. In his enthusiasm, Beau wondered if he’d asked too much of him.
“Happy to,” he said at last, his voice almost rough.
“We didn’t expect to see you back until Friday,” Daniel said. “How’s Jeannie?”
Hollis cleared his throat.
“Your girl’s doing just fine,” he said. “I was getting a bit homesick. Especially for this young fella here,” he continued, beaming as Teddy ran to him with a great bear hug that was lovingly returned. A pang of envy at the easy way of father, son, and grandson skittered across Beau’s insides. Frank da Silva had never been a particularly affectionate man, and Beau could hardly remember a time when his father had held his hand, never mind enveloping him in a hug. He’d viewed such affection as a sign of weakness. By the time he was Teddy’s age, a smile from Frank da Silva was the most he could hope for.
Soon the timbers were out of the cart in a tidy pile beside the fallen pergola and the Chandlers, including Hollis, had departed, disappearing out of sight down the winding wooded path. As they left, Beau found himself watching the Chandlers leave, as if there was something there, right in front of him, that he couldn’t see.
Chapter Thirteen
Maddy laid out a simple supper while Mr. da Silva washed up. She was still rattled by the events of the afternoon. Hearing Nelson’s voice had nearly paralyzed her with a terror she’d thought she’d outrun. It wasn’t until the cart had pulled away that she’d even noticed Mr. da Silva’s hand on hers. But it had managed to comfort her in a way she hadn’t expected. She’d still been furious at him, a byproduct of her own fears that she dare not share. His apology was surprising yet heartfelt. Still, the biggest surprise of the day had come when she’d been introduced to Daniel’s father, Hollis.
If she’d brushed off the idea that Daniel Chandler and Beau da Silva seemed to have the same smile, she could not so easily dismiss the fact that Mr. da Silva and Hollis Chandler not only had the same smile, but the same eyes. No wonder Annie Chandler had been taking the measure of Mr. da Silva the moment she’d laid eyes on him.
She had a thousand questions… and most she was afraid to ask. Beau da Silva was none of her business—except for their official business, of course. There seemed little time to waste in answering Dominic’s questions about his brother-in-law and other senior members of the Silver Lumber Company, but after meeting the elder Mr. Chandler, that urgency had been swept aside, replaced by more pressing questions.
“You’ve created a feast,” Mr. da Silva said, standing at the door and wearing a fresh shirt and vest. His hair was swept haphazardly back, as if he’d just run his fingers through it. “I’m starving. Thank you.”
“We can thank Annie,” she said as they sat down to a feast of cold chicken, fresh potatoes, and tender new peas.
He loaded up a plate for her and a second one for himself while Maddy poured two glasses of raspberry shrub. Quiet descended, as if both of them understood that starting a conversation might lead down several rather uncomfortable paths.
“I guess you are stuck with me for a little while longer,” he began. Maddy couldn’t help but notice that Mr. da Silva’s normal humour had left him. Indeed, he sounded almost apologetic.
“I guess I am,” she said, then took a drink of the bright red shrub, sneaking a look at him from over the rim of her cup. His brightness had dimmed, and she felt strangely compelled to try to bring some of it back. She would miss her birthday, which was in three days. But that meant she had to stay here, in this magical stone cottage with a kitchen garden ready to be brought back to life. That alone would be a consolation. And then there was Mr. da Silva. “But Mr. Chandler—Hollis that is—mentioned to me there is a berry patch, down past the barn. That might be something to occupy me.”
His lips finally edged up into a bit of a smile, which, given how angry she’d been in the wagon this afternoon, shouldn’t have made her as happy as it did.
“I’m glad you’re not disappointed,” he said, and the way he looked at her, he seemed to mean it. Beau da Silva seemed to mean everything he said—at least when it came to her.
“Are you?” she asked.
“I’ll be happy not to have my character questioned,” he said, digging his fork into the heaping pile of boiled new potatoes. “And the threat of hanging gone. But there are far worse ways to spend my time.” He smiled but there was a cloud behind his eyes. “Dominic wants to know about Jessica and Neil.”
“Perhaps that can wait until tomorrow,” she replied, surprising herself. “I think we can both agree today has been full of twists and turns.”
“More than a few,” he said, giving his head a shake. He sat back in his chair and settled his fork on his plate. “On the other hand, one decision was made for me today.”
“What is that?” Maddy asked.
“The offer from George’s College,” he replied. “I’m not going to sell. At least not through Taylor.”
“You’re not?” she blurted out, inwardly wincing the eagerness. Whether or not he sold The Grove had nothing to do with her. But she was inexplicably happy at his decision.
He shook his head, then picked up his fork again. “I wonder if he—Taylor that is—is pressuring the Chandlers to sell their farm,” he said. “I’m worried that if I sell, it would put extra pressure on the Chandlers. Another reason not to have that Taylor fellow was to profit from this place.”
Maddy’s stomach clenched at the mention of Nelson Taylor. It drove away her appetite, and she found herself picking at her food.
