She gratefully grabbed the bag, clutching it close to conceal her strange attire. “Thanks.”
“I’m Garth, Sophie’s husband.” He set down the other bag, then stuck out his hand.
“Nice to meet you, Garth. I’m Bree.” Glad she remembered to use her alias, she smiled as they shook hands. “Sophie’s told me so much about you. I feel like I already know you.”
“Same here. Sophie’s talked about you almost nonstop since Friday. She’s so glad you took the job. She wanted me to bring you these bags today.” Then he nodded over his shoulder. “Plus, I parked the bike by your porch. Sophie said you needed it.”
She eagerly took in the sight of the retro-styled turquoise bicycle—complete with a wicker basket—that was sitting in the grass by the porch. “I didn’t expect these things so soon, but I really do appreciate you taking the time today. Thanks so much!”
He nodded. “Well, Sophie is so thrilled you’re here. She wanted you to have what you needed, and I was going to town anyway.”
She thanked him again and was about to close the door when he spoke up. “I, uh, don’t want to step over the line here, Bree, but I do want to say something. You see, Sophie has these really high standards, and I’m afraid they’ll spill over onto you.” He held his hands up in front of him. “It’s not that I think you won’t deliver, but I want you to understand she’s a real perfectionist and sometimes she gets some unrealistic expectations. My mom says she’s an overachiever. Anyway, Soph’s gotten it into her head that you’re like that too. She thinks you’ll jump in right where she left off—after just one day of training. I told her that might not be possible and that she’ll need to pace herself—and you will too. But she’s convinced you’re going to hit the ground sprinting tomorrow. And she’s certain you’ll have Sorrentino’s running like clockwork by the end of the week.”
“Oh?” Brynna tried to absorb this.
“I told her that’s not realistic, but I’m not sure she was listening. So I just thought I’d give you a little heads-up. A warning, I guess.”
“Okay. I appreciate that.”
“Hopefully it wasn’t TMI.” He chuckled. “Sophie accuses me of overcommunicating sometimes.”
“No, no. I appreciate it, Garth. And I’ll keep it in mind with her tomorrow. Pacing ourselves is good advice. Especially since she needs to take care of herself and the baby.”
“Absolutely. She always overdoes it. I want her to slow down.” His brow creased. “By the way, she’s even gotten this crazy notion that you’re going to help in her garden.”
“I want to help,” Brynna insisted. “I can’t wait to get my hands dirty.Really!”
He looked surprised. “Well, okay then. That’s cool.”
“And don’t worry,” she assured him. “I think I understand Sophie. Maybe better than you realize. We’ll be fine. I promise.”
He looked relieved. “Okay ... great.”
“Thanks again for bringing me the bike and clothes.” She reached for the door.
“And, hey, you don’t have to tell Soph I said anything.”
She laughed. “Don’t worry. Mum’s the word.”
“Thanks, Bree.” He tipped his head. “You’re all right.”
As Garth got into his pickup, Brynna couldn’t help but smile at his concern for his wife. She felt pretty sure Sophie had gotten herself a good man. It was reassuring to know good men really did exist. Not too long ago, although it seemed a lifetime now, Brynna had felt certain most men were jerks. Maybe she’d been wrong.
Still concerned that Leroy might unexpectedly show up, Brynna locked the door and decided it was time to do something about her neglected appearance and hygiene. She took a leisurely bath, vigorously shampooed and conditioned her hair, and after digging through one of Luna’s bags, discovered a pale blue sundress that, to her amazement, fit almost perfectly. Then she went outside in her bare feet, hoping to dry her hair in the late-afternoon sun.
But as she sat there in the porch rocker, marveling at the gorgeous view stretched out before her, she noticed that the planting beds alongside the cottage were totally overgrown. On closer examination, she spied some little purple flowers struggling to grow amid the intrusive weeds.
And so, despite being all fresh and clean for the first time in days, Brynna got down on her hands and knees and started to tug out the pesky weeds. It didn’t take long to accumulate an impressive pile. And her reward was discovering all sorts of growing treasures that lay hidden below. Feeling like a kid at Christmas, she unearthed lavender and verbena and delicate forget-me-nots, as well as some yellow blooms she didn’t even recognize. The aroma was lovely! For a long moment, she just knelt there inhaling the sweet, earthy fragrance—heaven on earth.
But the sound of someone yelling interrupted her. “Dad!” a female voice called out, probably from the back of the main house. “Get yourself up here. It’s time for dinner.”
Although Brynna couldn’t see who was yelling, she assumed it was Gina, the daughter who lived at home. But when she heard amale voice answer “Coming!” from down in the vineyard below her, she leaped to her feet and, with a racing heart, spun around in time to spot a lanky man coming directly toward her. Less than fifty yards away, she had no doubt it was Leroy striding between the grapevines, heading, it seemed, straight to the guesthouse. Of course, she knew he really had to be going up to his house, but seeing him like this was unnerving. And it seemed quite likely he’d seen her too. But did he recognize her? She still wasn’t ready to find out.
Not wanting to draw his attention by bolting into the cottage, like she wanted to, she knelt down by the flower bed again. Focusing on a lavender plant that probably wanted to thank her for bringing back the sunshine, she picked a few sprigs and casually sniffed them and then, without looking in Leroy’s direction, slowly turned around and leisurely strolled into the cottage. Like her heart wasn’t pounding out of her chest.
Once inside, she locked the door and, trying to regain even breathing by inhaling the fragrance of lavender, leaned her back against it. Would Leroy follow her up here and knock on her door? And if he did, what would she say? She had yet to prepare a speech that would explain her presence in his world. But after several minutes of silence, Brynna realized he wasn’t coming. He probably hadn’t even noticed her. When she peeked out the bedroom window, discretely peering through the lace curtains, she could see he was already on the back terrace, which, similar to this morning, was set for the evening meal.
This time there was a long table, beautifully set with a tablecloth and flowers and several oil lanterns, although it was still light out. The smaller table, off to one side, was being filled with dishes of food by the younger women. Judith was talking to Leroy. Sophie and Garth and their two children, as well as an older woman, who was probably Leroy’s mother, were gathering around the table as well. Before long, they were taking seats at the long table, all ten of them. She knew because she counted them. Judith lit thelanterns and sat down, then Leroy bowed his head and the others followed suit.
