Page 12 of Whispers of the Elderoak

NO. This isn’t a porno.

It should be. That would make a good porno. The young single woman running a flower farm is seduced by the hot handyman who always wears flannels.

That’s… an interesting visual.

You’d better text me the second he kisses you.

He’s not going to kiss me.

Sure. Whatever you say.

Come over for dinner Friday?

Ok!

A knock sounded on the office door and Ava jumped, dropping her phone. Henry was standing outside the doors, waiting. Rising from her chair, she grabbed her phone and slipped out of the office, closing the door behind her so Luna didn’t emerge.

“Sorry. I called your name, but you didn’t hear me.”

Face bright red from her conversation with Eleanor, she replied, “I was… distracted. Lots of paperwork is involved in running a flower farm, you know.”

“Uh huh.” He looked down at her. “I just needed your help with one last thing, and then I’ll be done.”

“Alright,” she answered as she followed him to the back door.

“Just hold this while I screw it in,” he said, sitting on the floor.

She sat down next to him and held the frame of the pet door still as he used his drill.

“I heard some fun stories about your grandfather’s farm,” he said, concentrating on his task as a lock of blonde hair fell in front of his eyes. She resisted the urge to brush it out of his face.

“Stories? What stories?” She glanced at him.

He shrugged, almost finished with the last screw. “Probably just a bunch of bullshit but people here can be superstitious. Something about spell books and witches. You know, stuff like that.”

“I’ve never heard anyone say that before.”

She wasn’t surprised people talked in this small town and was used to the accusations of witchcraft and spells following wherever she and her mother had moved. Rumors had likely circulated about her grandfather as well.

“It’s why people didn’t want to come out here,” Henry continued. “Abraham was… weird. It freaked people out.”

“But he didn’t freak you out?”

He sat up and shook his head, finished installing the door. “I don’t believe in that stuff. So, no.”

“I don’t believe in that stuff either,” she said. But she actually did.

Friday morning arrivedand Ava got dressed in her usual farm uniform of a t-shirt and old jeans. Henry was on his way to help her clean out the greenhouse and she wanted to get it done before Eleanor came over later. He’d been coming every day for almost a week now and she was feeling more comfortable in his presence as time wore on.

Luna had settled in and was going in and out as shepleased. Her injuries had healed miraculously well, allowing Ava to remove the bandages sooner than expected. She had installed the pet door to let her new companion decide if she wanted to stay or go live in the wild again and so far, she seemed to want to stay. She’d leave for a few hours to hunt or do whatever it was she did, but she always came back. The cat had become a steady presence for her, something comforting as she continued to navigate this new life. She had begun to feel less alone now that she had Eleanor, Luna and Henry, and though she hadn’t made any other friends, she promised herself she would go into town and try.

The rumble of Henry’s truck sounded outside, and Ava walked downstairs and met him in the driveway. “Good morning.” He beamed as he collected his supplies and they headed to the greenhouse.

The greenhouse was large with plenty of room for starting seeds and space for storage. Framed with vintage windows which opened for ventilation, it let the perfect amount of light in for growing plants. Set against a backdrop of old oak trees, the glass on the windows seemed to sparkle as the morning light of the sun bounced off the roof. Excited to get it cleaned and in working order, Ava opened the creaky old door for Henry as he carried his tools inside.

It was full of dust, crumbling seed packets and broken pots. Old bags of soil were piled in the corner, some ripped open and spilling their contents onto the floor. Parts of the shelving were wobbly, and Henry got to work on repairing these while Ava discarded the trash.

“So… are you alone in this town?” Henry asked as he adjusted a loose board before drilling it back in place. “Got any family or friends here?”

---