Chapter Two
Tessa Lochridge eased her rental car to a stop in front of a low, crumbling wall and took her first long look at the ancestral estate of her Scottish predecessors.
It was worse than she thought.
Far worse!
“Gosh, Aunt Tess,” nine-year-old Emily Davis opened her door and climbed out of the back seat. “It’s really big. Andold!”
“Button up, and put your gloves on, please,” Tessa reminded her, slipping on her own coat to ward off the chill as she joined her niece in the light snowfall. A breeze lifted most of the flakes and carried them away, leaving only a thin dusting on the ground.
Together, they took a couple of cautious steps toward the weed-choked gate hanging askew from a rusted hinge. A long, overgrown walk between two rows of ancient Scots pines, led to the once stately house, thirty-or-so yards distant.
“How long since anyone lived here?” The tentative note in Emily’s voice matched Tessa’s growing trepidation.
“Coming up on three centuries since our ancestors left it,” Tess repeated the information given her by the estate administrator. “But apparently, it’s been leased out over time. The most recent, a decade or so ago, so I know there’ve been some renovations. Hopefully, the inside is in better shape than the outside.”
Determined to disguise her misgivings, Tessa tried to put a smile in her voice. “We said we needed a change and wanted an adventure, right?” Her forced laugh didn’t sound nearly as convincing as she’d hoped. “We might find them both, right here.”
Abruptly thrust into the role of both mother and father to Emily after her parents’ deaths, Tess was still reeling somewhere between disbelief and pure terror over her ability to fill their shoes.
She hadn’t yet considered how to adjust to the loss of Em’s grandparents—Tessa’s parents.Losing all four in one horrific accident, still had her stumbling blindly through the process of picking up the pieces. Tess knew it clearly wasn’t a matter ofifshe messed up, but when and how bad.
Despite both she and Emily agreeing they needed a new start away from all the sad memories, this old, decaying manor wasnotwhat she’d intended to bring Emily to. In the pictures Tessa had seen, the estate looked nostalgic. Even a little romantic. Like a stately lady in period costume. But now that they were here the morning light clearly revealed the grim truth. The old girl was tired and showed all her wrinkles, sags, and age spots.
Tess sighed. What had she been thinking? Even with zero parenting skills, she was astute enough to realize her niece needed a place full of light and life for the new beginning Tessa had promised her. She’d hoped they could both rebuild their lives here. That someplace new, with old roots, might help them both begin to heal.
But it appeared this place would not only drain her energy, but her bank account as well, when both should be dedicated to securing Em’s future.
“Maybe…it’s like you said? The inside might be better?” Emily suggested.
A little chagrined, and grateful for the child’s optimism, Tessa hugged her. “Have I told you how amazing you are? I guess we shouldn’t judge this tattered old book by its cover. Maybe, if the grounds were cleaned up and the boards taken off the windows, it might be…”
“Pretty?” Emily offered.
Tessa laughed. “Well, better, at least.” She tried to give the place the benefit of the doubt, but it took some courage. “I imagine this estate was quite lovely, in its day, so we might be pleasantly surprised. But remember our deal, Em. We’re here to check things out. If it doesn’t work for our plans, or even if we just don’t like it, we’ll sell the property and pick someplace else. Like I keep saying, opening a bed and breakfast inn, isn’t the only option we should consider.”
“But I like that option,” Emily countered.
“I know, sweetie, but since I can pretty much work from anywhere, the whole world is our oyster. Let’s not limit ourselves. We’ll continue homeschooling until we find the right place. Our possibilities are endless.”
She patted Emily’s back, trying to sound upbeat and convincing, as much for herself as for her niece. “Come on,” Tessa urged, taking the child’s hand. “Let’s check out the inside.”
“What about all our stuff?” Em asked. “Shouldn’t we take some in, with us?”
“Let’s leave it in the car until we know if we’re staying or heading back to town for another night.”
Emily turned a cajoling look on Tess. “Can’t we stay at least one night? You know, just to be sure? Besides, you said we could try out the sleeping bags and inflatable mattresses we bought. Like an inside campout. Part of ourScotland adventure.”
Tessa gave her, her best‘we’ll see’look and kept the notion of centuries old cobwebs and cracked stone walls where mice may have taken up residence, to herself.
There’d better not be rats. Or, heaven forbid, snakes!
“Watch your step,” Tessa warned as they moved cautiously down the uneven stone walk. Years of neglect had pushed some stones up, let others sink, and some had disappeared altogether.
Closer to the house, the wide side yards, defined by the decaying wall, revealed what must once have been lovely grounds. Vague mounds and shapes suggested extensive gardens and beneath an ancient sprawling oak, a mostly intact stone bench alluded to a favorite spot of peace and beauty. Tessa could almost see herself sitting there, enjoying the tranquil end of a fruitful day.
What a silly notion, she grunted, stepping through the home’s recessed entry to a wide, wooden door. The decorative metal strapping, though heavily rusted, gave the door a sense of substance, as if you were arriving at a place of significance. A large metal knocker in the shape of a thistle still adorned the upper portion.
