Page 59 of Lakehouse Promises

She’d spent so much time worrying that she forgot about living.

Carolina continued walking, so caught up in her thoughts, that she didn’t see the child on the bicycle until it was too late.

The child raced full speed down the driveway and crashed straight into Carolina. Both went tumbling onto the ground.

Pain ricocheted through her body as she lay on the cold asphalt. Phoenix was at her side licking her face and whining. “I’m okay, boy.” She pushed herself up on her elbows.

A sharp pain shot straight through her leg.

Carolina glanced over at the young boy on the bicycle scrambling to his feet. He couldn’t be more than eight years old. He spotted her and went wide-eyed. Without a word, the kid grabbed his bike and sped away leaving her on the ground.

“Oh my gosh.” A woman came running down the driveway. She knelt beside Carolina. “Are you okay?”

“I think so.” She got to her feet with some assistance. “Nothing seems to be broken so that’s good.” She gave a wry smile. “I’m sorry. I should have been paying attention.”

“Sorry? Don’t you be sorry for anything. I have warned him about darting out on the road like that. He never listens to me.” She narrowed her eyes in the direction he’d taken off.

“Are you his mother?” If she was, she was pretty young.

“No. I’m his sister. My name is Sarah Williams. Our parents passed and I’m his guardian now.” Sarah held out her hand.

“Oh I’m sorry to hear that.” Carolina brushed the dirt off her hand and shook it. “I’m Carolina Johnson by the way. I am the owner of the house a few houses back. The one with red siding.” She shrugged.

“Oh I know the one…the house with the pretty fall décor outside.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “It looks great. I love what you’ve done. I admire that you used an old watering can for décor.”

“I found it at a yard sale. Got it for next to nothing.”

She sighed. “I don’t have time for things like that anymore. But I used to love to go to garage sales and find something old, usually furniture and make it into something new.”

“Wow. I bet that takes talent. I’m more of a green thumb. I’m working at Bernice’s nursery. That’s where all the flowers and pumpkins came from.”

“I wonder if Johnny would like to go pick out a pumpkin. Our parents used to do those things all the time, but we don’t seem to have much time for things like that anymore.” She shielded her eyes against the brilliant sun and looked for the boy.

“Well, if you change your mind drop by anytime. And I would appreciate it if you mentioned that Bernice’s nursery is decorating porches for fall and Christmas this year. I could use the business.”

“Of course. It’s the least I can do since my idiot brother ran you down.” She spotted Phoenix and smiled. “What a cute dog.”

“Thanks, his name is Phoenix.” She looked down at him. “He’s friendly if you want to pet him.”

She bent and held out her hand. Phoenix sniffed and then lowered his head so she could pet him.

“He’s a sweet boy.” Sarah stood.

“He just showed up at my house. No one has claimed him so I guess he’s mine.”

“I used to volunteer at the animal shelter and we got a lot of animals that had been abandoned. It’s sad. But at least he has a good home with you.”

“Thanks. I certainly have appreciated his company.”

“I need to go get Johnny. Welcome to the neighborhood.” She waved and headed back to the house to get her car.

“Thanks.” Carolina called after her.

Chapter 36

“What did you do this weekend?” Bernice came up and crossed her arms across her chest.

“Nothing exciting.” Carolina stacked another pumpkin on the wagon in front of the nursery.

---