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Miles glanced at me. “I think I have holiday left.”
“I’ll find some.” I smiled slyly. “Yes! Send me Olympia’s term dates and we’ll come when she’s out of school.”
“Well, Adelaide will be tutoring her.” He rolled his neck. “It’s taken a while, but she’s been given a referral for autism. I didn’t want to tell you until I’d secured it.”
“This is good, right?” I took his hand. “Alex.”
“Yes, of course. It explains all her difficulties. It’s notoriously difficult to get a diagnosis for girls, but I’m confident she’ll receive one sooner rather than later.” He adjusted his sleeve. “That’s why Adelaide will be staying with us. She’s a very talented writer, and Olympia has my dyslexia on top of her suspected high-functioning autism. With her prior teacher training, I believe Adelaide can help her.”
“She will.” I smiled at him. “If anyone can, Addy can.”
“My sentiments exactly.” He checked his watch. “I really must be going. Gabi, I adore your garden, and I want you to draw up plans for a similar one for me, yes.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“Be quiet.” He tapped my nose fondly and turned to Miles. “Keep her out of trouble.”
“Impossible,” Miles said, wrapping his arm around my shoulders. “She almost broke her finger last week making soup.”
“That’s the last time I make it with fresh ingredients,” I muttered.
Miles laughed. “It tasted amazing.”
“Mm.”
Alex winked at him. “Make sure you come over. Let me know. I’ll get a wing ready for you. Bring Eva, too. I suspect Adelaide will miss her sister.”
“Just a little,” I said wryly. “Alex, do you like Adelaide?”
“I must be going.” He backed up with a smile and almost bumped into someone. “Oh, excuse me, madam. I wasn’t watching where I was going.”
I laughed, leaning into Miles’ side. “He’s so busted.”
“He’s a dreadful liar,” Miles agreed. “So are we going up this summer?”
“You bet your arse we are. If you think I’m missing this, you’re insane.”
“Only for you.”
“That’s the worst line ever.”
“I know. It always sounds better in my head.” He kissed me and turned me around. “Look at your garden, princess. Look what you did.”
I looked around. I couldn’t believe I’d pulled it off. In the end, the patio and pergola had worked, and the pergola had evergreen hydrangea growing up it mixed with a spring-flowering clematis for year-round colour. The flowerbeds were layered with bulbs for the spring, evergreen shrubs, and dahlias in the deep red and white like Miles had given me.
Patio tables sat beneath the pergola, and mobility-impaired guests had already tested and proven its accessibility for me.
It had all come together.
“Gabriella!”
I stilled. “Mr. Hornby. What do you think?”
He handed me a small envelope with a smile on his face. “Must be on to the next.”
I watched as he left, then handed the envelope to Miles. “I can’t open that.”
“Is it your grade?”
“Yes. I can’t.”
“Do you want me to?”
I nodded.
He slid his pinkie finger into the envelope and opened the flap. There was a small piece of paper inside it, and he slipped it out and opened it.
“Well? What does it say?”
Miles looked at me and flipped the piece of paper.
I gasped.
“He gave me top marks. Ninety-six-percent.” I clapped my hands over my mouth, and my legs buckled.
If it weren’t for Miles grabbing me, I’d have dropped to the ground in a puddle.
“Oh, my God! I finish this section with an A! Miles!” I gripped onto his arms. “It’s enough for the design course! It’s automatic approval! My average is an A!”
He smiled against the side of my head. “Of course it is. I never doubted you.”
“Yes, you did.”
“Once upon a time. Come on. Don’t hold my arsehole days against me.”
“Forever,” I whispered, kissing him. “Hehehe! I have an A and free range in your greenhouse! This is the best!”
He laughed, wrapping me up in his arms. “You are insane, do you know that?”
“I know, but you love me anyway.”
“I do.” He pressed his lips to mine. “I love you, Gabriella. A hell of a lot.”
I grinned. “I love you, too, Grumpy Gardener.”
“Am I still under that in your phone?”
“Forever.”
THE END
