“Um... I’m here to tour Norland Park. My mom’s busy right now, so she sent me to have a look.”
“Well, Elinor’s the one to talk to about the park. She knows everything there is to know about it.”
“Oh good, you’re both home!” Annie calls from the garden below. “You wouldn’t believe what I found in my tip jar.” Sheskips up the steps, then stops short upon seeing Edward. Her eyes go wide. “Hello! Who are you?”
“This is Edward,” I say. “Barbara Norland’s son.”
“Pleased to meet you.” He puts out a hand to Annie. “What did you find in the tip jar?”
“Oh, this guy left me his number,” she says as she shakes his hand. “And I don’t know who it was. I have two suspects: one cute and one not so cute. I’m Annie by the way.” My sister’s looking especially radiant, with the setting sun catching her red hair. But Edward doesn’t seem to have fallen under the spell the way other men do. His eyes are already back on me.
“Edward’s here to tour the park,” I explain, “and to give us the very good news that we don’t have to move—yet.”
He gives me a funny look when I sayyet.And maybe I’m being too cynical, but my relief still feels fragile. After weeks of bracing for disaster, I’m not entirely sure I trust such sudden good news.
“What was the name of that boy you and Elinor used to talk about,” my mom asks Annie. “Was it ‘Cute Boy’ or ‘Farm Boy’?”
“You mean The Boy?”Annie clarifies. “Why?”
“TheBoy?” Edward repeats with glee. His eyes catch mine.
“Yes, like Laurie fromLittle Women,” explains my sister. “He was Elinor’s first crush. She was inlurvewith him!”
I close my eyes and take a breath before I say, “Edward was—or rather, heis—The Boy.”
“No way!” Annie exclaims. “You came back. Talk about a glow up.” She rests a hand on Edward’s bicep. I feel the need to swat her away. The only consolation is how uncomfortable Edward looks. “This is too good!” she bounces on her heels. “Did you come to see Elinor? You know she cried when you left?”
“So I hear.” Edward’s laughing eyes meet mine. And there’s nothing to do but laugh at the awkwardness of it all.
“Annie, unhand our guest. I’m going to show Edward hisroom.” I feel territorial about Edward, which is a novel feeling for me and a little bit absurd—especially since I plan to do nothing about said feelings.
“I’d better finish dinner,” says my mom, heading into the house. “Annie, can you help?”
“Of course. Rumor has it you’re making fried chicken.” She follows my mom into the house.
“The Boy, huh?” Edward asks as soon as the screen door shuts behind my mom.
“Don’t go getting a big head. We called you that because we were readingLittle Womenthat summer”
“And because you had a crush on me,” he teases.
I swat his arm lightly. “Shut up.”
“Don’t worry, Ellie,” he leans closer and whispers in my ear, his warm breath sending a shiver down my spine. “You were my first crush too.”
Elinor, this eldest daughter... possessed a strength of understanding, and coolness of judgment which qualified her... to be the counsellor of her mother. —Sense and Sensibility
7
Edward
Elinor blushes a delightful shade of pink in response to my admission. Her eyes sparkle with surprised pleasure—and a dash of skepticism. Not much gets past this woman. I wonder if she suspects the changes coming to Norland Park. Before I leave tomorrow, I need to tell her that my mother intends to sell the place and that I’m on the team planning to turn it into a luxury resort. I doubt she’ll be smiling at me then. After that, I’ve got to tell her that I’m her new landlord.
Just one night, I tell myself. Let me have one night reconnecting with old friends, free from the depressing taint of business. Besides, I need to see more of this cottage and the land it sits on in order to come up with a way to save it while still achieving my company’s vision for the new Norland Park.
“We’d better hurry. Mom’s fried chicken is best hot.” Elinor opens the screen door and walks in ahead of me. I pause on the threshold, feeling a little like a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
“Are you certain it’s okay for me to stay here?” I ask.
