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“I think it’s the garden and the area for the greenhouse, yes.”
She turned and looked at me. “We’re going to be able to grow so many flowers!”
“We are. Did I mention my dad also contacted a local bee farmer and asked if they’d be interested in having a few hives placed by the garden? They said absolutely yes.”
Emily slowly shook her head. Then she wiped a tear away. “This feels like a dream. We couldn’t do this without your mother and father, and the fact that they’re doing this…” Her voice trailed off.
I reached for her hand and squeezed it. Emily and Mackenzie didn’t grow up in a loving household after their father died, so I knew it was foreign for her to experience what it was like to have a parent want to help her so much.
“We’re blessed, no doubt about it. So it’s up to us to show them that their belief in us is warranted. Shall we get out?”
Emily wrapped a scarf around her neck and slipped her gloves on. “Let’s go!”
My father pulled up as we were getting out of the truck. He walked over and hugged me, then Emily.
“I wasn’t expecting you in person!” he said as Emily laughed. “Welcome back to Montana, Emily.”
“Thank you.”
Turing to look at the surveyed area, I asked, “Where’s the greenhouse going in all of this?”
He looked out over the snow-covered pasture, waving his hand to indicate the markers. “That’s just your garden area.” Turning, he pointed to another area that was cordoned off that we hadn’t even noticed. “That’s your greenhouse.”
Emily and I both gasped. “What? Dad, it’s going to take nearly all of our starting capital to build a greenhouse that big!”
He smiled. “It won’t. I spoke with someone, who’d like to remain anonymous, who’s willing to donate a rather large amount of money to help you two kickstart your business. The only thing they want in return is for fresh flowers to be delivered to the veterans’ graves at the local cemeteries each Memorial and Veterans Day.”
“How much money are they donating?” I asked.
My father pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket and handed it to me.
I took a few steps back. “Dad? Is this for real?”
“Oh my stars,” Emily whispered when she saw the amount.
“The donation itself will cover the cost of building your greenhouse. The money you two have set aside to get started, you can use to buy your supplies and seeds. I’m assuming you’ve started a list of things you’ll need?”
All I could do was nod. Who was this mystery donor?
“Have you decided if you want to do an LLC?” Dad asked.
Emily must have realized I was still in shock, so she spoke. “We do want to start an LLC, so that’ll need to be the first step. Well, after we come up with a name for the business.”
Dad put his arm around me and gave me a soft squeeze. “Are you okay?”
I nodded. “This is just…so generous. I don’t know what to say. And you won’t tell us who it is?”
“They want to remain anonymous.”
Nodding, I turned to Emily, unsure of what to say. She, on the other hand, was a ball of excitement. “When can we start building the greenhouse?”
“Once we get your business set up and all the legal things out of the way, we can get started. Of course, the weather is a factor as well.”
Emily jumped and clapped her hands. Then she grabbed my hands. “Why aren’t you more excited, Avery? This is everything we wished for and more!”
Smiling, I replied, “I am excited. I guess I’m just in shock.”
Dad smiled. “It’s the beginning of a new journey.”
Nodding, I replied, “It is. What’s the next step?”
“Let’s make an appointment with the lawyers and get the business set up. So start thinking about those names, ladies.”
Emily spent the rest of the day bouncing off the walls, thanks to our meeting earlier this morning with my father and the news of the donation.
Now, sitting at my dressing table in my bedroom, I stared at my reflection as I got ready to go out. My brown hair was down and curly, with one side pulled back. My makeup on the lighter side again, something I decided would be the norm after my days in Paris.
Lacey, my best friend from high school, had texted me a reminder that afternoon about going to The Blue Moose. It was a local bar in Hamilton, and every now and then they’d do eighteen-and-older nights. I had invited Emily, but she was spending the evening with Mackenzie and Bradly.
I stood and took one more look at myself. Jeans, cowboy boots, and a blue sweater that made my sapphire eyes pop even more. I glanced at the book on my nightstand, and longed to read just one more chapter. But after sitting in my bed and debating if I should stay home or go out—with too many thoughts of Beck—I’d finally made the decision.
