Page 47 of Must Love Libraries and Libations
But standing in the garden was a gnomish man, Mister Underbridge, the foremost estate agent in Moonshine Hollow. He was smiling and looking at me expectantly.
“Mister Underbridge,” I said with a smile. “Sorry about that. Just…ruminating. Good morning to you, sir.”
“Good morning, Miss Windsong. Up and at it early today? Oh, well, with the library birthday party nearly at hand, no doubt you have plenty to do. Everyone in the town is excited.”
“I’m so glad to hear that,” I said, thankful that there was a plausible reason for me to be out this early other than I had spent the night with a man. I looked at his cart. Inside were the basic tools and equipment. Then, I spotted the “For Sale” sign that used to hang on the gate. It was tucked inside the wagon. I gasped. “Mister Underbridge, has the cottage sold?”
“This cottage?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Oh, no, indeed it has not. In fact, I came to do some repairs. We’re going to have to put the place up for auction unless that nice couple from Timberton decides to buy. Of course, they only wanted to pay half what?—”
“I want it,” I said, my voice coming out in a rush. “Don’t send it to auction. Don’t sell it to some couple from Timberton. Sell it to me.”
“Miss Windsong?—”
“I’ve been saving my money to put in a bid. I don’t have enough, Mister Underbridge. But, please, don’t send it to auction. Once I’m paid for my work at the library, I will only be ten percent short of what I need.”
“Ten percent, eh?” he said, twitching his lips from side to side as he considered. “Well, I have been given permission by the estate to negotiate, but ten percent… You know, if you are looking to buy, I have a nice little place down by the river. Ready to move in. The widow’s cottage needs work, inside and out. That roof needs to be repaired or replaced. And inside, there’s a lot to be done. Even if I make you a deal, you’ll have nothing left to pay for the repairs.”
“It’s okay. I’ll set out buckets for rain and do repairs as I go. But I have to have it.”
“Ten percent is a big ask…”
“Oh, Mister Underbridge, Widow Merribell was such a sweet lady. We can’t let her beautiful cottage go to just anyone. I love this house. I want to spend the rest of my days here. The last twenty-four hours have been a lesson in knowing what you want. I am not indecisive. I want this cottage. What can I do to convince you? Your daughter is getting married, isn’t she? Bressa? She just got engaged. I heard the news from Winifred. Make me a deal for the cottage, and I’ll plan the wedding for free. Please, sir. It’s been a day already. I can’t lose the cottage too.”
“You’d plan Bressa’s wedding, eh?” he asked, his bushy white eyebrows going up with interest. “Can you get a discount at the vendors? Cake? Dress? The works?”
“I can. They always give me fifteen percent off. And I’ll make sure it’s perfect. Just the way she wants it.”
He grinned, then slipped his hammer into his tool belt and walked toward the gate. “Yes. Yes, indeed. I can do that,” he said, reaching out to shake my hand. “I’ll draw up the papers. You stop by my office.”
“Oh, thank you, Mister Underbridge. Thank you so much!”
“I wasn’t keen on an auction anyway, and that couple from Timberton had been talking about ripping out the garden,” he said with a frown.
From the garden, we both heard audible gasps and shrieks of horror.
The fairies and sprites.
“Don’t worry, Fairy Kin. I will never do that,” I said with a smile. “This is going to be a home. I will love it with all of my heart, and your garden will be perfectly safe with me.”
At that, I heard a tiny chorus of “yays” coming from the dense foliage.
The gnome laughed. “Very good! Well, then, I guess my work is done here. See you at the party, Miss Windsong.”
“And you, sir. Thank you so much. You have no idea what this means to me.”
“Happy we could come to an arrangement.”
“Me too,” I replied, then turned back to the garden. “See you soon,” I called to the fairies, who replied back in a chorus of sweet voices, all replying with, “See you soon.”
I turned and hurried off. Today was turning out to be the best and worst day of my life. I’d gotten close to a man I cared about, had fallen half in love, got dumped, bought a cottage, and now…
Now, I had to go home, where, no doubt, my mother was waiting.
Ugh.
