Free More by Heidi Marshall Page A

ripped apart,” said Jacob cautiously. “Your father leaving must have been hard on you too.”
    “Oh don’t get me wrong, it was,” said Kate. “I was completely devastated. I don’t think I ever completely recovered from it. But I couldn’t allow myself to go to that same dark place where my mother was living. She needed me, so I focused my energies on loving her instead of feeling sorry for myself.”
    “We started this garden together,” she said. “I knew how much my mother loved flowers, and I wanted her to have something she could do to get her out of the house and make her happy. So one day I brought home some tulip bulbs and asked her if she would plant them with me. And she’s been gardening ever since.”
    Jacob looked out over the expansive garden and couldn’t imagine it being bare. It was such a part of the Olivia that he had come to know. He put a hand on Kate’s shoulder and said, “She is so lucky to have you.”
    She looked over again at the empty patch of land. “I spent a lot of time in this backyard daydreaming,” she said. “I imagined a beautiful white gazebo, right over there. I imagined it with beautiful wisteria growing up the sides and roses all around it. Now, don’t laugh at me,” she said, “but I always imagined a man riding up that path on a white horse and sweeping my off my feet. He would never leave me like my father did, and someday we would have a small wedding in that gazebo.” She sighed as a faint smile crept onto her face. “I’ve always seen flowers as a symbol of growth and rebirth and creating beauty from emptiness, so I thought this would be the perfect setting for our happy ending.”
    Kate looked up at Jacob. She’d never told anyone about the reasons behind starting this garden with her mother, or about the deep wounds that existed in her life from a childhood snatched away by a father who abandoned her. Not even Ian.
    “Kate?” said a familiar voice.
    Kate turned away from Jacob and looked toward the voice. Standing in the open side gate, with a crooked tie and an even more crooked grin, was Ian.

Chapter 7
     
     
    “Ian!? What…how did you…” said Kate, confused and delighted.
    “I was working late last night and I started thinking about waking up in my empty apartment on Christmas Eve,” said Ian, entering the yard. “I remembered how you told me it was just going to be you and your mother for Christmas, and, I…I don’t know. I hopped on a red-eye and here I am?” He said it as more of a question than a fact, even though he was obviously standing there in the yard. Kate stood there with her mouth wide open.
    “I hope this is okay,” Ian said slowly. “I probably should have called first, but it was just an impulsive decision. Is it…okay that I’m here?” He looked over at Jacob quizzically.
    “Are you crazy? Of course it is!” cried Kate. “I’m so happy you’re here!” She ran over to him and attacked him with a giant hug.
    At that moment, the back door opened and Olivia called out “Kate? Who’s back there with you? Ian? Is that you?”
    “Yes Mrs. Henry, it’s me,” said Ian, releasing Kate from his tight grip.
    “Well I’ll be,” said Olivia, smiling. “It’s been so long! I don’t think I’ve seen you since college graduation.”
    “I’m so sorry for just dropping in on you like this, especially at Christmastime. I’m not usually this spontaneous,” said Ian.
    “Don’t be silly!” replied Olivia. “You know there’s nothing I love more than a house full of people. Come on inside and I’ll cook us all a big breakfast.”
    Suddenly noticing the fourth person in the yard, Olivia said, “Oh, Jacob! I didn’t see you there. Good morning. Oh!” She noticed the flowing stream. Clapping her hands, she said, “My stream! I have a stream! Oh Jacob, you’re the best. Come in and have some breakfast with us.”
    Jacob looked to Kate, who said, “Yes! Please come have breakfast with us,” and then looked