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I had probably heard this story so many times but I loved hearing Grandma talk about Grandpa so I sat close to her. There was so much love in her voice and I wondered if I was ever going to find a love like theirs—one that lasted beyond a lifetime.
“Oh, he was quite excited when we first moved here,” she smiled, shaking her head. “Swore he would fix things up and gave me the house I deserved. Well, this veranda was our first project together and it went rather well, wouldn’t you say?”
The veranda was simple enough—just an extension from the house with a roof and wooden floors and railings painted in white. I had spent many afternoons in here as a young girl, listening to my grandparents’ stories of how they fell in love and built this home together. In the summer, it would be filled with the scent of the flowers Grandma Margaret once planted around it.
When I moved in, I had the couch reupholstered to as close as it was originally but that was as far as I went with the renovations. I didn’t dare risk making major repairs.
I nodded. “It certainly stood the test of time. I do need to fix the leaky roof.”
I had heard the story so many times—how they both researched and brainstormed for this project together. They chose and shopped for the materials they wanted and then Grandpa Frederick put it all together, while Grandma brought him sweetened iced tea and other refreshments, watching him while he worked.
“And that,” she used to say to me, “was probably how your father came about. I loved watching your grandpa too much when he was working. I might have interrupted him at it more times than we can count!”
I laughed at that. I could imagine Grandma Margaret being so cheeky in her youth as a newlywed.
I had wanted to take this project on with Dan, thinking that it would be a great way for us to bond over something the way my grandparents did. Besides, I wasn’t confident enough in my abilities to DIY the whole thing and I wasn’t about to try it for fear that my ineptitude would just botch the whole thing and ruin the veranda my grandparents lovingly built together.
Dan had nodded then and said, “We will see when I have the time.”
Six months had passed and the veranda still had a leaky roof and in need of a fresh coat of paint.
Grandma Margaret gave me a knowing look. “Find someone who can help you build houses, darling girl. Someone who can help you do the things you normally won’t.”
“Dan and I will get right to it, Grandma,” I promised her. “When he gets time off from work. He’s just very busy.”
She nodded and leaned back, smiling softly as she clutched the urn. “It’s good to be back here, Frederick. You can go back to your favorite place over the fireplace.”
“He does love it there, doesn’t he?” I smiled at that.
“Yes. Yes, he does.”
We sat there for a moment until it started to get dark and I had to get Grandma Margaret back inside. As I opened the door for her, I could not help but look back at the shabby veranda.
Will Dan ever help me fix this up?I wondered to myself.
CHAPTER FIVE
OLIVER
The weather in Georgetown was turning out to be weirder than in London. Yesterday, it had been pretty sunny, up until it rained all of a sudden. Today, the sun was shining like a maniac.
I had no complaints, though. That sudden downpour had given me some time with Amanda, and although there were a few awkward moments, I had really enjoyed my time with her. She was every bit as amazing as I remembered.
And still fiercely loyal.
I shook my head as I headed out of the house on my old bike to the field Julian had told me about. His father had been a pretty successful architect and he had built a big firm, which my best friend inherited upon his death. The only problem was that Julian was not exactly fond of architecture and preferred staying outdoors and playing sports to being cooped up all day, drawing plans, and talking to clients.
By the time I arrived, the small team he had been coaching had already dispersed, but a young boy still remained with Julian.
“Hey, man, do you mind waiting for a moment?” he asked me. “This is Max, Emma’s son, and his mom is running a bit late after her shift.”
“Sure thing.”
About fifteen minutes later, Emma from the café arrived, looking a bit frazzled. Her pretty face lit up when Max let out an excited “Mom!” and ran towards her, instantly making her look younger.
“Thank you two so much for keeping Max company,” she smiled at us, her voice breathless from rushing over. “The one taking over my shift was a little late, and I had to cover for her for a bit.”
“No problem, Emma,” Julian replied easily. “Max and I had a bit of fun, right?”
