10. Charlotte

10

CHARLOTTE

C harlotte awoke to soft sunlight streaming in through the small windows around the fireplace.

It was so deliciously warm, but she felt like she must have slept half the day away. She hadn’t even thought about setting an alarm last night, figuring her sleep would be restless in her new surroundings. But it had been the opposite.

She hopped out of bed in a panic and found her cell phone, which was sitting on top of the dresser on its charger.

It was just before seven, which wouldn’t be super late in city-time, but here on the farm, it meant the first milking had already happened and the cows were getting ready to go out to forage for grass in what was left of the snow.

She headed to the bathroom, realizing she would need to take a bath, since there was no shower because the wall by the tub was sloped. She didn’t really want the family thinking she was a lazy person who slept late and took a hot bath every morning, but she didn’t really have much choice right now.

Half an hour later, she was feeling incredible. Pulling on clean jeans and a sweater, she checked the tiny bathroom mirror and figured she looked put together enough to hang out on a farm and try to lend a hand.

On a whim, she grabbed her camera and brought it downstairs with her. She hadn’t really been taking many photos lately, but something about the farm was making her feel creative again.

Morning light streamed in all the windows. When she reached the first floor, she was stunned at the beauty of the old house. Ornate woodwork adorned the lumpy plaster walls and big windows. There were cozy area rugs that didn’t completely cover the pumpkin-colored pine floors. The walls were a little bare, but the old-fashioned woodwork and the beautiful views over the farm were their own kind of art.

She wandered into the kitchen to find coffee in the pot with a mug beside it, holding down a piece of paper.

Charlotte,

Headed out for chores. Kids are at school. We can go get your car later. Make yourself at home.

-Tag

It wasn’t the longest or most flowery message she had ever received. But she couldn’t help noticing that the quiet cowboy had added a whole extra sentence to his message— Make yourself at home. From anyone else it might be a breezy sign off, but she couldn’t help thinking that coming from Tag, it was a sign of real thoughtfulness.

As she stood re-reading her note, she heard a bird singing outside—two smooth flutelike sounds and then a series of toots. It sounded almost familiar, though she couldn’t remember what kind of bird sang that song.

She felt a little tickle in her mind—a feeling she always got when she was about to take a really good picture. Grabbing her camera, she headed out the back door to try and find the bird that had made the sound.

It was coming from near the back of the house, where the shadow of the hillside had preserved a lot of the snow. She moved as quietly as she could, with only the sound of the snow crunching under her boots. It was freezing outside, but she hadn’t wanted to stop to grab her coat for fear that the singer might fly off.

Fortunately, it didn’t take her long to spot her quarry—a beautiful male cardinal in a small pine tree overlooking the hill, singing his heart out.

Charlotte snapped two or three photos, unable to believe her good luck in finding the scarlet bird so close to the house. And he didn’t seem to be the least bit worried or surprised that he was having his picture taken. He hopped and sang and thrust out his fluffy red chest like he was putting on a show.

A loud sound from farther around the back of the house startled her, and sent her model sailing into the air in a flutter of red wings.

Charlotte was freezing by now, her fingers red, and her breath fogging in the morning air. But her curiosity about the repeated banging won out over her desire for creature comfort, and she moved quietly around to the back of the house again.

When she spotted the source of the strange sound, she froze in place for a moment.

Tag stood by an old stump, axe in hand, chopping firewood. His dark hair was hidden under a cowboy hat, and he wore a fleece-lined flannel over jeans. The muscles in his arms and his broad back flexed under the thick material with every strike.

Charlotte’s hands moved of their own accord, lifting the camera into position before she had time to think about it. She took a shot, capturing the highest point in the arc of the swing, and hopefully that perfect millisecond of the big man’s graceful movement.

Just as the shutter snapped, Tag looked up at her, as if he had sensed her presence.

Charlotte stumbled backward, then ran back for the house, feeling like a complete idiot. Who takes a picture of their boss without asking? And then runs away on top of it?

I do.

She just wanted to hide out for a minute, but when she got inside, the house wasn’t empty.

“Charlotte,” Tag’s dad said fondly. “It’s good to see you. Is Tag outside?”

“Yes,” she said, feeling her cheeks heat. Hopefully, they were already red from being outside and he wouldn’t notice her blushing furiously.

“Great,” Daniel said. “How are you settling in?”

“Oh, just fine,” she said. “Thank you.”

“Nice and warm up there, isn’t it?” he asked.

“I’m so sorry I didn’t say anything about the apartment,” she said, feeling horrible all over again. “I really just thought it was drafty and that I was being a baby since I’m not from up here.”

“Oh dear,” he said. “I wasn’t trying to say anything like that. And believe me, that story will get you plenty of credibility in Sugarville Grove. No one can call you a flatlander if you can sleep without the heat on in a Vermont December.”

“What does that mean?” she asked. “ Flatlander? ”

“Oh, it’s a term for people who aren’t from Vermont,” Daniel said, looking a little ashamed.

“Like an outsider?” she asked.

“Sure,” he said. “It implies other things too.”

“Like that the person will get too cold in winter?” she asked.

“And that maybe they’ll pay too much for fancy groceries and not appreciate the natural beauty of the place,” he said, nodding. “It’s probably not very kind of us to have the nickname, but the winters here can be rough, so we’re proud to consider ourselves strong enough not to be broken by them. You included, young lady.”

She was hoping that she might just finish the conversation and disappear upstairs when the back door opened and closed.

“Dad,” Tag said as he stepped into the kitchen.

“The insurance man is going to meet me over at the shop in a few minutes,” Daniel told him. “I thought you and Charlotte might like to be there.”

“Absolutely,” Charlotte said.

Tag scowled, but he nodded.

“Great,” Daniel said. “I’ll see you two over there.”

An hour later, the three of them were standing in the shop, stone silent after hearing what the man from the insurance company had to say.

“So, there’s minimal damage to the walls, and none to the appliances?” Daniel asked the man, who had told them all to call him Barry. “And we have to replace the ceiling?”

“That’s correct,” Barry said, wiping a hand over his bald head and looking a little uncomfortable.

“But even though there’s no damage, we have to open up every wall anyway, and replace all the wiring?” Tag asked.

“Correct,” the man said again, nodding.

“So, we have to make the electrical better than it was before,” Tag said. “And our insurance won’t cover it?”

“Your policy doesn’t cover knob and tube wiring,” Barry replied. “I honestly wouldn’t even be able to issue you one these days without the update.”

The look on his face was sympathetic, but with a touch of fear. Charlotte couldn’t blame him. Tag looked like steam was about to blast out of his ears.

“We’re grateful to you for finding it, Barry,” Daniel said calmly. “We don’t want dangerous wiring in the building.”

The man nodded, a relieved expression on his face.

“So, we have sixty days to replace all the wiring in this building if we want to keep our coverage?” Tag asked.

“That’s correct,” the man said. “We’re giving you a grace period to update your wiring since you’ve been with us for so long.”

“Thank you for your time,” Daniel said, patting Tag on the back in an obvious effort to calm his frustration. “You’ll send all of this in writing?”

“You’ll have an email before the end of business,” Barry said, clearly relieved to be out from under Tag’s withering gaze.

“Then we’ll let you get on with your day,” Daniel said.

“I’ll be outside, just taking a few notes,” the man said, grabbing his tablet and briefcase and practically sprinting out of the building.

“Maybe you were right about letting this place go after all,” Daniel said softly, watching after the man.

Charlotte felt a pang of sadness at the idea of them selling the shop. But it was understandable. This news was devastating.

“I’m so sorry,” she told them. “I’ll find work in the city.”

“No,” Tag said suddenly.

There was a moment of stunned silence.

“What are we going to do then?” Daniel asked finally.

“What we always do,” Tag told him. “We’re going to fix it. Ellis Johnson can rewire this place for a fair price. His grandparents owe me a favor. Patching and painting is another story, but we can figure that out when we get to it.”

“In two months?” Daniel asked.

“I’ll go talk to Barry,” Tag said. “Find out if the patching and painting needs to be done before the end of the grace period, or just the safety stuff.”

He stalked off to catch the man who was outside tapping away on his tablet.

“I know this might not work out,” Charlotte said softly to Daniel.

“He means it, you know,” Daniel said, turning to her with a gentle smile. “He’ll do what he has to do so that you can stay.”

“Well, so the shop can stay open,” she said, shrugging.

“Oh, he’s been wanting us to close this place for years,” Daniel said, chuckling. “I think he wants you to stay because of Olivia.”

Charlotte blinked at him for a moment.

“She’s been so quiet since her mom died,” Daniel said, his smile disappearing. “We haven’t seen her open up like she has with you in a long time. You’re good for her.”

“Oh,” she said, stunned.

“We never had this talk,” Daniel said, winking at her as the bells jingled again and Tag stepped back inside.

While the two Lawrence men discussed their plan, Charlotte stood by the window, looking out at the sweet little town, her heart hurting for the girl she had so recently bonded with.

If all of this was really about Olivia, Charlotte understood completely why Tag was willing to do what he had to do to keep her around.

She made a silent promise to herself that she would do all she could to help Olivia come out of her shell. And not mess things up by fawning over the poor girl’s father.