“Okay.That sounds good.We’ll be out there after we pack up.”And she’d pick up some food from Fiona Phail’s store.She wasn’t going to be a burden at all.
“Text me when you’re about to leave.”
“I will.”
“Thanks.See you soon.”
She disconnected and danced her happy girl around the room again.
When they headed down for breakfast, she wasn’t surprised to find the highchair set up for Ella at the table by the window.
They were the only guests in the dining room this morning.Jim swung through from the kitchen.“Good morning, ladies.Are you ready for breakfast, Ella?”
Ella answered with her M sound, and Jim’s face lit up.“Are you saying your Mama is ready for breakfast too?Mama?”
Ella clapped her hands and repeated Mama, filling Olivia’s eyes with tears.
Jim clapped and repeated Mama until Carl entered the room and joined in.Soon the four of them were chantingMamaand then Ella dissolved into giggles.
Olivia set her in the high chair and wiped her eyes before taking her seat.“That is the very best way to start the morning.”
Carl passed Ella two sippy cups and repeated the words milk and water for the girl.“We’ll miss you being here, but I hope you’ll still come to visit.”
Jim grinned.“Assuming you’re moving out to the Malssum’s apple farm.”
She gaped at the two men.Carl waggled his eyebrows.“Did you think we wouldn’t know they had invited you out to the farm?”
Jim nodded.“We spoke to Thea when she collected the coffee grounds and veggie scraps earlier this morning.She was hoping you and your girl would be joining them there.”
Carl grinned.“I’ll be right back with your breakfast.”
A blue jay landed on the feeder outside, and Ella pointed and laughed.
Jim pointed.“Birdie, Ella.Brr.Dee.”He emphasized the consonant sounds and when Ella repeated the B sound, he praised her.“You’re a smartie, my girl.Mamaandbirdiein the same morning.”
Relief filled Olivia.While she suspected Ella Mae’s lack of vocabulary was rooted in the trauma of losing her parents and her home, it was a thrill to see her connecting the sounds with objects.She had to feel safe if her brain was relaxed enough to make such progress.“Looks like small-town Vermont is good for her.”
Jim patted her shoulder.“Good for you both, I think.”
She hoped so.
Nash was glad Charlie was as anxious as he was for Olivia and Ella to arrive at the farm.At least he wasn’t alone in his desire to see the two of them again.The entire group had made a point of telling him they were happy for the new additions.
He figured everyone had sensed Olivia’s nerves.They were an intuitive bunch.Serving in the army taught the men how to listen to intuition, but the women seemed to have finely tuned instincts without training.
He wouldn’t share the details of Olivia’s past with anyone, but he figured many of them suspected she was looking for a safe place.
The farm would have many advantages for the two of them.The farmhouse and inn had security systems.Eight adults would be living here full time along with several protective dogs.Olivia wouldn’t have her name on any lease or rental agreement.
Nash hadn’t made any progress on searching for Adam.Searching for one snowflake in the orchard would be easier than finding an Adam who was connected to the death of a woman whose name he didn’t know.
It would be easier if he found out more about Ella’s mother or Olivia’s previous name.But he wouldn’t ask, not when he wanted her to feel safe in her new home.He wanted it to be her home for a very long time.
He and Charlie used shovels and their boots to flatten a snowy area near the barn.They’d looked up online how to make an ice rink in a field.They should be able to make a skating rink if the snow didn’t melt.Well, a boot hockey rink for a start.It would be a fun space to learn how to hold a hockey stick and shoot some pucks.He’d ordered a few of those already.
Nash wanted them all to learn to skate.He planned to buy skates for the entire group as a thank you for inviting him and Charlie to live here.They’d contribute to the success of the farm with the cider business, but this was something he could do for everyone as a thank you.
He needed to find everyone’s shoe size, but he figured he’d set that as a mission for Charlie.His son would have a blast checking out the moccasins and boots in the mudroom without anyone spotting him.
