“She’s the light of my life. Theirs, too, I think. She’s so good for Beck and Gray. She brings out a softer side of both of them.” Jill waved at her daughter, who came running toward them.
It was the perfect opening to ask whether Beckett would be returning today, but she didn’t want to show her cards. Not to his sister. Not even to herself.
“Hey, Presley,” Ollie said, launching herself at her mom.
“Hello, there. What were you and your uncle Grayson up to this early?”
“We were building sandcastles.”
“One of us was,” Grayson said, joining them on the steps. “The other was seeing how much water could stay in the moat.” He smiled at Presley. “Good morning. Did you sleep well?”
“I did. Thank you. The room is much more comfortable now.” She preferred the cabin even though the room was nicer, but she strongly suspected that was due to the cabin’s inhabitant.
“Glad to hear it.” He looked at his sister. “I have to head over and grab the new guests this afternoon. I called Beck and asked him to come back sooner, so he should be here by lunch. I’ll be back before dinner,” Grayson told his sister.
“Remember the garden,” Ollie said, pulling out of her mom’s hug, where she’d been still for almost a whole three minutes.
“What garden?” Jill squinted up at her brother.
“Ollie wants to try to start a garden off to the side there,” Grayson said, pointing to the left side of the lodge, where patches of dirt and grass shared space with the walkway to the backyard.
“Oh, honey. I don’t have time for a garden today,” Jill said. “I need to get the rooms ready.”
The thought of dirt and worms sent a shiver up Presley’s spine, but she was here, and it sounded a hell of a lot better than hiking. “I’ll give it a try with you, Ollie. If that’s all right with your mom and your uncle.”
Both adults looked her way in surprise. It was Grayson who spoke. “You’re a guest. You don’t need to work.”
“Oh. I don’t think that counts as work. I’m going to try bocce ball, too. And I tried hiking. It’s part of the experience, right?”
Gray gave her a warm smile that made her feel… included. Accepted.
“She wants to!” Ollie jumped off the step and stood in front of them with her hands on her hips. “You’re supposed to give the guests what they want. Mom says.”
They all laughed. Jill poked her daughter in the belly, making the little girl laugh. “Not exactly what I meant, cutie.”
“I really don’t mind as long as you know it’ll most likely resemble upside-down grass in a weird shape more than a garden. I’m better at making reservations and getting a great deal on show tickets.”
“Those skills shouldn’t be undersold, my dear,” Mel said as she wandered over to join them. She wore a different hat today, though this one was every bit as large. Her dress was a rust-brown, flowy one that made her look like she was at a tropical beach rather than a lodge.
Speaking of, Presley needed to book some reservations. She stood up as Ollie informed the other guest of their plans.
“Gardening is good for the soul. Mind if I help?” Mel asked.
“I feel awkward putting our guests to work,” Grayson mumbled to Jill.
Mel shook her finger at him. “Nonsense. No one is doing anything they don’t want to. Now, Ms. Ollie, let’s see what kind of tools you have.”
Presley really liked Mel. She was soft sophistication, adaptable like an indoor-outdoor chameleon.
“I need to take care of something, then I’ll join you guys. Jill, if you have time later, I could show you a couple things for advertising. But only if you want.”
Jill’s lips flattened before she nodded. “Only ifyou’resure. You really don’t have to.”
Presley loved the idea of being able to share some of the things she knew. Especially with people who appreciated it. “I want to,” Presley said, looking forward to it. The company. Not the dirt. Or the worms. She said a silent prayer that there wouldn’t be anything worse buried in there.
Worms were the least of her worries. There were some creepy-crawlies in that dirt that would haunt Presley’s dreams. After the first couple of squeals, one crab-walk away from an offending critter, and landing on her ass by tripping over a trowel, she got herself under control. At least from the outside.
By the time the sun was high in the sky, she was nearly comfortable with Mel’s instructions. They’d gathered a bunch of hand-sized rocks from the entrance to the hiking path and brought them back to thefront of the lodge. Mel guided, but also helped. They used the rocks to create a flower bed along the front of the house. It was a lot of rocks, but the effect was charming. Mel suggested they paint them at a later date. She’d shown them how to turn the earth, something Presley hadn’t even known was necessary. They pulled weeds, smoothed over the dirt, made a list of things they’d need, and started cleaning up their mess. It was hard but surprisingly rewarding.
