With a sigh, he stood and held out a hand.“Let me finish with that.”
Trent handed him the broom and went to sit next to Ash.“You know that’s not why I’ve been coming around, right?”
John nodded.
“Well, that’s all that matters.I know it’s not easy but try to ignore that kind of thing.”
“Who was it?”Ash asked.“Perhaps Lord Ashdown needs to pay them a visit.”
* * *
“I got it!”Maggie dropped her net and jumped up and down, a butterfly trapped inside.
“Let’s have a look.”Samantha knelt to examine the insect.“What color is it?”
“It’s yellow!”
“That’s right, it is.And what color are the little spots?”
“Orange!”
“Right again!And that grey part there, in the middle, that’s its body, and the yellow parts are the wings.”
“Is that what makes it fly?”
“It sure is.Shall we let it go now?”
Maggie nodded enthusiastically.Samantha held the net open.“Gentle,” she said as Maggie reached inside.She was so careful as the butterfly climbed onto her little fingers, and she squealed as it took flight once more.
“I love butterflies!”
Samantha never seemed to stop smiling these days.Such a change from where she’d been.It was impossible to not smile when Maggie was around.And Trent.Just thinking of him was enough to turn up her lips.
Mrs.Elmhurst came around the side of the house.“Good afternoon,” Samantha called to her.
Maggie ran across the grass.“Emma!Want to catch butterflies with us?”
Mrs.Elmhurst smiled, but was obviously flustered, and even though she wasn’t now, Emma had been crying.Samantha summoned Mrs.Baird.“Why don’t you take Maggie and Emma inside for a snack?”
“Yay!Can we have lemon cakes?”
Mrs.Elmhurst set Emma down and Maggie took her hand.Together, they skipped across the lawn and into the house with Mrs.Baird.
“What’s the matter, Mrs.Elmhurst?”
She shook her head, struggling to explain.“Lord Ashdown sent me here.”
Panic sent a chill through her.“Is he alright?Is Trent alright?”
“Yes.”She nodded.“Yes, they’re fine.It’s just… I don’t know what’s going to happen.Johnny was upset about something, and he broke the window.He didn’t mean to, but he broke it, all the same.And His Lordship was sitting right there on the sofa.”She looked desperately into Samantha’s eyes.“What if he evicts us?Or even if he doesn’t, how am I going to pay for a new window?”
Samantha wrapped an arm around Mrs.Elmhurst’s shoulders.“I can promise you, you have nothing to worry about.Come inside and have a cup of tea.”
After they were settled on the sofa, Samantha reassured her once again.“You have nothing to worry about, Mrs.Elmhurst.Lord Ashdown is one of the kindest people I’ve ever met.Did he seem upset?”
“No.”She stared down at her tea.“He said it’s only a window, and then he sent me here so that Emma and I could enjoy some sunshine, and to protect her feet from the broken glass.”
Samantha laughed.“Of course he did.He’s good with children.Uncle Ash is Maggie’s favorite person.”
