Chapter Five
“Where should we go first?” Emily asked. “Upstairs? I want to see what’s up there.”
“Me too, but let’s finish exploring this floor, first,” Tess suggested, flashing her light at a set of doors adjacent to the library. “We need to know what sort of rooms open off this entry, and where the kitchen is. I’m hoping to find a room close to the kitchen that’s big enough for a dining room.” She gave Em a playful shove. “You don’t want to have to walk very far to serve your banana muffins, do you?”
“No,” Emily grinned.
“What do you think would be best? One great big family style table, or several smaller tables for privacy?”
“Family style!”
Tessa chuckled. “That was fast.”
Emily ducked her head and shrugged. “I guess you could have both, but how will everybody make friends if they’re all separated?”
Sensing their conversation wasn’t really about potential guests, Tessa paused and gave Emily her full attention, hoping she’d open up a little. “Do you think it’s important that everyone make friends?”
“Sure. Don’t you like it better when people are friendly? You can ask them where they’re from and if they have any kids, and stuff. But if they’re all sitting apart, they won’t talk. My teacher said if you don’t talk to people, you won’t know if they’re a forever-friend. They’d be like a present you didn’t open.”
Intrigued, Tess leaned down and tucked a stray lock of hair behind Emily’s ear. “Your teacher sounds nice.”
“She wasreallynice. When school started, I didn’t know anybody, so I was kinda scared to ask kids if I could play with them. That’s when she told me about forever-friends.”
“Wise teacher. Did youtry doing what she said?” Tess hadn’t realized how much, as an only child, Em must miss the company of other children. And now, homeschooling made the possibility of finding new friends even more difficult.
In the six months since the accident, they’d both sort of drifted, trying to find solid ground again. It was clearly time to find a permanent home and give Em the stability and opportunities she needed.
“Yes, I made lots of forever-friends,” Emily replied excitedly. “What my teacher said worked every time. Just like with Darach. I haven’t asked him yet, but I know he’ll be my forever friend.” She gave Tessa a very adult, stern look. “You should try it, Aunt Tess. Darach could be your friend, too. All you have to do is ask him.”
As Tess stood, Emily held up a cautionary finger. “But remember, you should still be a friend to him even if he doesn’t want to be one to you.”
The child’s earnestness delighted Tess. “You’re absolutely right.” She tapped the tip of Em’s nose. “Thanks for the reminder. But remember, hon, Darach is still a stranger. A very nice one, but until we know more about him, we should still be cautious. That doesn’t mean we can’t be friendly, but, smart-friendly. Does that make sense?”
“I guess,” Emily sighed. “But I already know he’s a safe stranger.Youjust don’t know it, yet.”
“Em—”
“You’ll see.” The child laughed and twirled away.
Tess had to admit she didn’t feel Darach posed any danger. He was more of a mystery to be solved. A distractingly appealing one.
Clearing her throat and her thoughts, she’d called after Emily. “Wait for me.”
Tess moved the beam of her flashlight along the wall of the great entry, admiring the rich, detailed moldings. So far, at least in the dim light, much of the original workmanship seemed to be in fairly decent shape. “It’s early yet, but if we actually decide to try a B&B, we’ll need a name. Any suggestions?”
Emily skipped in and out of Tess’ light. “Mmmm. Something friendly, so people will know it’s a good place to come.”
“Agreed. Let’s see. Something like… ‘The Friendship Inn, Bed and Breakfast, where you arrive as strangers and leave as friends’?”
“Yes!” Emily exclaimed. “I like it!”
“We’ll keep it as an option, then.” Tess pointed to the doors adjacent to the library. “I doubt that’s the kitchen, but let’s see what it looks like and what we could use it for.”
They entered facing tall, almost ceiling to floor bay windows covering most of the outside wall. Another fireplace, smaller than the library’s, graced an adjacent wall and opposite that, she swept the beam of her flashlight over a faded, pastoral mural that gave the room a decidedly intimate and feminine feel.
“What kind of room was this?” Emily asked, moving closer to touch the mural.
“My first guess would be a morning room,” Tessa mused. “The light would be lovely in here with the window boards removed. I’ll bet you can see that big tree and bench from these windows.”
