AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She tilted her chin a little higher. She would not be humbled by the state of her abode. One day she’d have this whole property looking as majestic as it’d once been. That she’d also be earning coin from it was just a bonus.
She opened the screen door, ignoring the rips in it as she stepped inside onto worn, brown and gold linoleum. He followed her in and she shut the door behind her, squeezing her eyes closed for a second in irritation as the pesky fly flew straight through the screen door with them.
Exhaling slowly, she pivoted to face him and asked, “So...coffee?”
“Just iced water would be great, thanks.”
Her smile was probably more gritted teeth than anything as she conceded, “I don’t have a freezer at the moment, only a fridge.”
“Then cold water will be fine,” he said mildly, as though not affected by her lack of conveniences.
He probably thought she was a savage. A country bumpkin who lacked the finer graces he’d expect from a woman.
She stalked into the kitchen. Though it was ancient, there were plenty of drawers and cupboards for storage. That it was a frightful orange color had never really bothered her before and she refused to let it bother her now. She walked around the island bench then opened her refrigerator door to pull out the bottle of water inside, pouring them a glass each.
“We’ll probably be more comfortable in the lounge room,” she said. It was the one room on the ground level she was proud of, a room she’d done just for herself, not her future guests.
He followed her as she walked past the dining room with its huge table and twelve chairs before she opened up bi-fold doors. Waiting for him to step into the room, she shut the doors behind them before turning on a little portable air conditioner that struggled valiantly against the heat whenever she used it.
She managed a smile that was probably more a grimace. “One day I’ll get ducted air conditioning. Until then, this little unit should keep us a little cooler.”
He sipped on his water and glanced approvingly around the room. “I applaud your designer, he—she?—has done an amazing job in here.”
She followed his gaze to the billowy lace curtains and the navy drapes tied back either side of large twin windows, and the painted navy walls with white trim and high, white ceilings. She particularly loved the large portrait on the wall of her late father, along with the collection of smaller framed photos assembled around it, mostly of her and her dad fishing, horse riding and camping.
“No designer did this,” she said in a soft voice. “That huge vase in the corner was my grandmother’s. The dried grasses in it were the first things my dad and I dug up after we purchased this place. They were meant to be a souvenir to remind us later that our hard work had been worth it.” A tear rolled down her cheek. She swiped at it. “It’s a reminder now of what my father and I shared...and what I still hope to achieve.”
“Christ, Harper. I had no idea.”
She shook her head and said brokenly, “No one does. It was just my father and me. And this place is his legacy, one I plan to bring back to life, even if I can’t ever do the same for him.”
Chapter Ten
Liam’s chest expanded as her pain became his pain. She hadn’t finished grieving, not by a long shot. And he wasn’t even sure it was just her father that she mourned. She’d lost her mother, too. The only difference was that her mother was likely still alive.
Either way, it was obvious this property was steeped in memories and emotions for Harper, her heart attached to this place she called home.
