to live in and the pixie gave the witch fresh flowers in return.
Emmie’s favorite was about a gnome family that was escaping from some barghests while Greyson preferred stories about dragon shifters that needed to get away from the vile King that created them to ravage and kill.
My mind swimming with memories, I made a sandwich and was turning away from the window when movement caught my eye. I sucked in a breath and immediately started choking on my food. Smashing the food in my hand, I raced for the back door and burst through.
I was still coughing when I dashed down the steps. After a couple more hacks, I managed to clear my throat. I hated swallowing down the wrong pipe. “Can I help you?”
The woman paused with her hand on an herb in the garden and looked up at me. She looked like she was in her late twenties, maybe early thirties and had stunning red hair. My hands smoothed down my pink t-shirt when I took in her crop top and flat stomach.
She lifted one hand and smiled. “Oh hi. You must be Fiona, Isidora’s granddaughter. I’m Aislinn. I thought you’d be on a plane home by now. I saw the car leave hours ago.”
I crossed my arms over my chest, smearing mayonnaise over my left boob. I was a hot freakin’ mess, but I didn’t care at the moment. I have no idea how my grandmother did things, but I don’t want people wandering on my property whenever they wanted.
“This is my property and I have decided to stay. Listen, I’m not sure what arrangement you had with my grandmother, but I would like a heads up before you go prowling around stealing my stuff.”
Aislinn’s eye bugged out of her head and her hand dropped to her side. “I apologize. Like I said I figured you’d be gone. I just needed some thistle for a potion and Isidora has always allowed me to grab the few ingredients I need in exchange for helping with upkeep in here.”
That brought a smile to my lips. My hands dropped and pieces of tomato fell from between the bread. “In that case, you are more than welcome. Honestly, I was thinking about getting rid of the garden. I swear I have a black thumb. Besides, I have no idea what all this is, or what it is for.”
Aislinn chuckled and cut a couple sprigs of the plant she’d been holding. “If you’re Isidora’s kin you’ll be able to keep things alive, but I am happy to help. This has become my therapy since my husband left me a year ago. Is your husband not staying with you?”
I shook my head side to side as a lump formed. Anytime I talked about Tim I was close to losing my shit. Enough time had passed that I should be beyond this by now. “My husband passed away a couple years ago. Cancer. My kids went back home to college. They will visit, but they won’t be living with me.”
“I’m so sorry about your husband. You’re starting over. That’s good. It’ll help to create a life that is removed from him. That way grief won’t suck you under every time you turn around.”
My jaw dropped open at the young woman’s insight. I never would have expected her to be so wise. “honestly, I never thought about that. I had the hardest time letting him go. Despite how much it hurt to eat at our favorite restaurant and go to our park, I ignored it because it felt like a betrayal to do anything else. It wasn’t until I got here and felt this sense of belonging that I started giving more thought to my desire to create a new life for myself.”
Aislinn exited through the gate and stopped by my side. She was at least three inches shorter than my five-foot-five frame and skinny as a rail, but she exuded this green aura. I must be thinking that because she enjoys gardening.
“As a Shakleton you definitely belong here. I need to get home to make this potion, but if you ever need anything, I work at Phoenix Feathers. In fact, you should come in sometime for a drink. On me.”
I extended my clean hand and shook hers. “Thank you. I will be in touch I’m sure.”
I watched her walk away. I missed where she turned off my driveway because standing on the otherside of the path was a man. He was muscular and intimidating. I wouldn’t say he was gorgeous. He was too scary for that, although his beauty was undeniable.
I lifted my hand and waved at him. “Hi. I’m Fiona. I just moved into my grandmother’s house.” The guy didn’t say a word as he stood with his feet braced apart and his arms crossed over his chest while he narrowed his brown eyes at me.
I wanted a few minutes before realizing he was not going to introduce himself. Swallowing hard, I turned back to my house. By the time I got inside the kitchen he was gone. Maybe I would ask Aislinn who the attractive, yet angry man was.
Pymm’s Pondside was turning out to be more than I bargained for when I turned back to the kitchen to see silverware strewn over the island. A familiar determination settled over me. This was going to be great. There was no other choice.
I quit my job, sold my house and moved to another country. I couldn’t exactly pick up where I left off. That life was in the wind now.
Authors’ Note
Review are like hugs. Sometimes awkward. Always welcome! It would mean the world to me if you can take five minutes and let others know how much you enjoyed my work.
Don’t forget to visit my website: www.brendatrim.com and sign up for my newsletter, which is jam-packed with exciting news and monthly giveaways. Also, be sure to visit and like my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/AuthorBrendaTrim to see my daily posts.
Never allow waiting to become a habit. Live your dreams and take risks. Life is happening now.
DREAM BIG!
XOXO,
Brenda
OTHER WORKS BY Brenda TRIM
The Dark Warrior Alliance
Dream Warrior (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 1)
Mystik Warrior (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 2)
Pema’s Storm (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 3)
Isis’ Betrayal (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 4)
Deviant Warrior (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 5)
Suvi’s Revenge (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 6)
Mistletoe & Mayhem (Dark Warrior Alliance, Novella)
Scarred Warrior (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 7)
Heat in the Bayou (Dark Warrior Alliance, Novella, Book 7.5)
Hellbound Warrior (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 8)
Isobel (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 9)
Rogue Warrior (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 10)
Shattered Warrior (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 11)
King of Khoth (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 12)
Ice Warrior (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 13)
Fire Warrior (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 14)
Ramiel (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 15)
Rivaled Warrior (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 16)
Dragon Knight of Khoth (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 17)
Ayil (Dark Warrior Alliance, Book 18)
Guild Master (Dark Alliance Book 19)
Maven Warrior (Dark Alliance Book 20)
Sentinel of Khoth (Dark Alliance Book 21)
Araton (Dark Warrior Alliance Book 22)
Cambion Lord Araton (Dark Warrior Alliance Book 23)
Dark Warrior Alliance Boxsets:
Dark Warrior Alliance Boxset Books 1-4
Dark Warrior Alliance Boxset Books 5-8
Dark Warrior Alliance Boxset Books 9-12
Dark Warrior Alliance Boxset Books 13-16
Dark Warrior Alliance Boxset Books 17-20
Hollow Rock Shifters:
Captivity, Hollow Rock Shifters Book 1
Safe Haven, Hollow Rock Shifters Book 2
Alpha, Hollow Rock Shifters Book 3
Ravin, Hollow Rock Shifters Book 4
Impeached, Hollow Rock Shifters Book 5
Anarchy, Hollow Rock Shifters Book 6
Bramble’s Edge Academy:
Unearthing the Fae King
Masking the Fae King
Revealing the Fae King
Midnight Doms:
Her Vampire Bad Boy
Her Vampire Suspect