Page 74 of A Dream for Daphne

“If he said yes, then I’m on board.”

“He did,” he said. “I’ll text in a bit and we’ll firm up plans. I’ve got to run to the hardware store.”

Laurel went into the house with two bags in her hand and he walked to his truck to leave.

He parked at the shopping center and got out to go inside, found the part he needed, and then decided to pick up some fertilizer for the front yard. His grass was looking a little on the thin side, and considering what he did for a living, the place should be a showpiece.

He did spend a lot of time in the spring planting and sprucing up the yard after Easton had done work too.

“Abe.”

He turned and was shocked to see Ella standing there. Twice now in a short period of time.

Both times she’d called his name out.

This time she appeared to be alone when the last time she was with her new boyfriend looking happier than he’d ever been able to make her.

At least it looked it to him.

“Ella,” he said. She was pushing a cart and had some flowers in it. “Planting?”

“I am,” she said. “I got to use everything you taught me.”

Which was ironic considering she never wanted to spend time doing those things when he always enjoyed it.

He’d bet Daphne would like it.

That would be a nice hobby for her. Maybe he’d get her a plant or a book on them.

Nah, that’d be stupid. She could figure out her own hobbies without someone pushing another agenda on her.

That might smack of desperation too much that he wanted Daphne to like what he did for a living.

She’d said it enough.

She showed him last night what she thought of him.

Maybe he was just as insecure as he’d told Easton Daphne was.

“Good to know,” he said and went to move past her. She blocked his way. She did that a lot when they were dating and he didn’t want to talk.

“I heard your business is doing well,” she said.

He frowned. “What did you hear?”

“That you got this big job at the McGill Estate and now a lot of people are calling. You’ve got jobs lined up into next year and are hiring more. Is it true?”

“Yeah,” he said. “You never cared all that much about the business.”

“That’s not true,” Ella said. “It’s just that you worked so much.”

“Which most people who own a business do,” he said. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to get home and finish my chores for the day.”

She looked at the lawn mower part in his hand and the bag of fertilizer. “You always had to be doing something. You never could just sit and relax.”

“There is always something that has to be done,” he said. “Have a good day.”

“I wish you well,” Ella said. “I really do.”

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