Carnations in January Read Online Free PDF

busy working on the house. Why do you keep asking?”
    His fingers paused over the box of plaster plugs. “Because I’m an elder.”
    She tilted her head. “I can’t see any grey hair or wrinkles, so you can’t be that old.”
    He winked. “Not that kind of an elder. So, why won’t you join us?”
    “I haven’t been to church in years. Not since I left home and had a choice in the matter. Faith, my sister, has enough faith for the both of us, and it hasn’t gotten her anywhere.”
    “It doesn’t work like that, and I think, deep down you know that.”
    “Maybe…” Increasingly uncomfortable, Grace grabbed the bucket of carnations. Tears pricked her eyes. Why did her conscience have to kick in at the most inopportune moments? “Besides, I make it a rule, never to go to church with a man I hardly know. I’ll go do your flowers.”
    In the workroom, Grace chose forty flowers in a mix of pink, white, and red and laid them onto the cellophane wrapping. She tried and failed to arrange them several times, before finally succeeding. She fastened the stems with an elastic band and rubbed her sleeve over her eyes. She really did need to stop crying at the drop of a hat. It was irksome and embarrassing.
    Elliott came in, wiping his dusty hands on his jeans. “All done.”
    “Thank you.”
    “It’s a temporary fix; you’ll need new ones eventually.” He paused, his intent gaze not fooled by her attempt to hide her tears. “Are you all right?”
    Grace sucked in a deep breath. “I’m fine. I’ve done your flowers.”
    He crossed the room. “Thank you. They’re beautiful.”
    “You’re just saying that.”
    He raised an eyebrow. “Grace, I never say anything I don’t mean.”
    She sighed. “I’m an accountant not a florist. I have no idea what I’m doing. I’m not Aunt Tilja, yet here I am, living in her house, running her business…” She stopped herself. “Sorry, you don’t want to hear this. So, these new shelving units, you say I need. How much would they cost?”
    “That depends what you want.”
    “I have no idea, to be honest.”
    He nodded. “OK. Well, the girls were chatting about your plans for this place as I repaired the old ones, so I was thinking. May I?” He pointed to the notebook on the side.
    “Go for it.” Grace slid it across to him.
    He drew rapidly, the detailed images coming to life under his long, tanned fingers. “How about this?”
    She looked at the drawing and then up at him, amazed. “That’s brilliant. But it would cost way more than I can afford.”
    He winked. “Nah.” He scrawled a price on the side of the paper. “Plus, a couple more bunches of carnations and that will cover it.” He held her gaze for a moment.
    Grace looked at the piece of paper, trying to get her head around the low figure. Then she looked up. What was it Aunt Tilja said—never look a gift horse in the mouth? She smiled. “You’re hired. How long would it take?”
    “They’ll be done by the end of the week. Bill will be due end of the month. I’m assuming you’d like me to do them?”
    His boyish prompt made her laugh. “Yes, please, I would. Thank you.”
    ~*~
    It was dark, and late, and Elliott had worked a full day on the building site, but he wanted to get this bit of the shelving unit finished. He’d promised Grace a few days, and that’s what he’d do. He ran his fingers over the surface of the wood. It was still a little rough, so he reached for the sandpaper.
    The shelf reminded him that Grace was not quite the finished product that she was designed to be.
    “What is it about her?”
    “Huh?” He glanced up.
    Joel stood in the doorway, leaning against the wood frame. “You’ve been distracted ever since you met the woman next door. Why is she so different?”
    “There’s something about her, something lost. I…” He paused, wiping his sleeve across his brow. “She’s lost her faith. I’m not sure why, as she’s good at changing the subject. But I’m