Barbara Hannay - Her Happy-Ever-After Family

‘You didn’t just build a chicken coop. You built a chicken palace!’ As far as she was concerned, he’d well and truly paid off any debt he’d owed.

He turned and squinted into the sun. ‘Are you after a, um, vegetable patch on the same sort of scale?’

She laughed at the expression on his face, though she didn’t doubt for a moment that if she wanted it he’d do his best to make it a reality. ‘Truly, Cameron, I just want a home for all of these.’ She gestured to the ragged array of donated pots and planters. ‘And whatever else you think might be a good idea to plant.’

‘I was sorting through them when you pulled up. You’ve a nice variety there.’

‘The town’s generosity knows no bounds.’

‘They want you to stay.’

And she wanted to stay. She had to make this move work. She had to. Her smile faded when she recalled the expression on Edna’s face when she’d wondered aloud about who would tend Jack’s grave when she was gone. A shiver of unease threaded through her.

‘You’re not having second thoughts, are you?’ he rapped out.

‘No!’

‘But?’

She swallowed. ‘But it didn’t hit me until today how tenuous the town’s survival is. And I’ve thrown my lot—and Tyler and Krissie’s—in with the town’s.’ What if the school closed? What if the town did die a slow death? What would they do? It would mean more upheaval and that would be her fault.

‘Tess.’

She glanced up.

‘Nobody can foresee the future. All you can do is make the here and now meaningful.’

Right. She knew he was right.

‘And work with the Save-Our-Town committee to attract even more new blood to the area. Okay?’

She drew in a breath and nodded.

He smiled. ‘Now are you going to help me measure out this garden bed or what?’

‘Aye-aye, sir.’ She clicked her heels together. ‘Right after I ring your mother. Apparently she’s the one I should talk to about organising a plot at the cemetery.’

He dug his phone out of his pocket and tossed it to her. ‘She’s on speed dial.’ Pulling a tape measure from his hip pocket, he moved away to give her a measure of privacy.

She brought up his list of saved numbers. Lorraine’s number was the second on the list.

The first was Lance’s.

All you can do is make the here and now meaningful .

She stared at Cameron’s back as she placed her call.

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