Out in the Country Read Online Free PDF

a special place, and it deserves a special future.” Another lump rose in her throat, and she swallowed it down. “Thank you.”
    “Think about it,” Kathy urged. “Seriously. We ‘d be so thrilled for you take it on.”
    Lynne nodded. Already her mind was spinning; even as she looked around the room, she was mentally redecorating, picturing where the front desk would go, how to arrange the living room to accommodate more chairs. She gave a little laugh as she realised how far ahead she was leaping. “It’s a lot to think about,” she told Kathy and Graham. “I’d like to sleep on it for a night, if you don’t mind.”
    “Of course not.” Graham stood up. “We should all sleep on it, come to that. I’m bushed.”
    As everyone rose and made for bed Lynne glanced at Molly. Her daughter hadn’t spoken a word since Kathy and Graham had made their extraordinary offer, and now Lynne could see she looked tired, shadows under her eyes, her mouth drawn into a thin, worried line.
    She moved next to her and slung an arm around Molly’s shoulders. “All right, darling?”
    “Fine.” Molly smiled, although Lynne could still see the train. “Just tired.”
    “What do you think about Vermont?” Lynne asked, half-teasing, half-serious. “Would you like to keep this old boat afloat?”
    Molly looked startled and she drew back, so Lynne was forced to drop her arm. “This is your project, Mom.” She gave an abrupt little laugh. “Not mine.”
    Lynne opened her mouth to apologise, explain--but what? She didn’t know what to say, or why she felt like an apology was even needed, and after a brief moment she closed her mouth, gazing thoughtfully at her daughter.
    This is your project, Mom. Not mine.
    Why did that seem like a strange thing for Molly to say?
    Lynne shrugged off her concern as she climbed the stairs to bed. She was tired, and so much had changed in the last few weeks. It was impossible to process it all, or how she felt about it.
    The morning, she hoped, would lend some clarity.
    “What an exciting offer, Lynne,” Jessica told her as they said goodnight on the upstairs landing. The old grandfather clock began its long, laborious chimes: ten o’clock, but it felt much later. “Aren’t you thrilled?”
    “Overwhelmed,” Lynne admitted. “It’s hard to even know what you’re feeling when something comes out of the blue like this. But you’re right, it is exciting.”
    Jessica’s smile was a little wistful as she said, “I think you should definitely go for it. You don’t get these opportunities often.” Her smile hardened at the edges as she added, “I should know.”
    “Oh, Jess...”
    Jess shook her head. “Never mind. We should all get some sleep. It’s been a glorious, but long, day.”
    Lynne gave her friend a quick hug before heading to her old room. Her last thought before drifting to sleep was that she’d have to find someone to restore the old cabbage rose wallpaper.
     
    Saturday had been crisp and sunny, but Sunday dawned grey and wet. The Green Mountains were blanketed in a dank fog, but even so Lynne found the gloomy weather couldn’t shake the optimistic mood she found herself in upon waking.
    Morning--and a good night’s sleep--had brought clarity and a fresh sense of exhilaration at the possibilities Kathy and Graham were giving her with the gift of their house.
    As she dressed for church and headed downstairs, she found both her eyes and mind roving over the house’s interior, noting where the bathrooms were, where another could possibly fit, how many smaller tables the dining room could hold...
    “You look like you’re buzzing,” Jess remarked as Lynne poured herself a cup of coffee. They were the only two in the kitchen, and the rain kept up a steady patter on the porch roof. “Did you sleep a wink last night?”
    “Actually, I slept wonderfully,” Lynne admitted. “But I’m buzzing now! Everywhere I look I see possibilities.”
    “This house has good