The Autumn Keepsake

By Michelle S. Lowe

Fresh out of a broken engagement, Tessa Stanley is in desperate need of a distraction from her ex-fiancé's betrayal—and she finds it in the form of a man lurking around her 84-year-old neighbor's home. Little does she know when she calls the police, the trespasser is none other than Nicholas Beck, local fireman and her neighbor's great-nephew. Talk about a bad first impression! 

 

Thankfully, Nicholas shows her the beauty of grace and forgiveness, and as the seasons turn, the two grow closer. But when her ex shows up on her doorstep, begging for forgiveness, Tessa might be at risk of losing more than just her heart.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Anaiah Press
• Release date: Sep 6, 2022
• ISBN: 9781954189379

Book preview

Chapter One

C ome on, Laura. You can make it, girl. Tessa Stanley stood patiently at the end of the paved drive.

Waiting for her best friend of sixteen years was the least she could do. Laura now walked a little more stiffly and a little more slowly, but she was just as devoted as ever. Tessa tried not to think of her birthdays, not only were they a reminder that the dog was getting older but also a reminder of something she fought nearly every day to forget.

With the potted plants, a bag of potting soil, and her spade already lying on the ground, her main concern was to get Laura to a spot where she could lay comfortably in the sunshine and watch her as she worked.

Not too much longer, just a few more steps. Come on, you can make it, she encouraged again, smiling at the sweet face struggling to make the hike against the inclined blacktop.

Tessa took a few steps forward and met the dog, whose name had garnered many chuckles over the years. A large hound dog with a propensity toward stubbornness, droopy ears and flabby jowls, Laura could be quite comical—even without her personifying name. Not to mention, the abundance of ticking or spots on her coat. Her sweet disposition and extreme loyalty made Tessa love her all the more.

She motioned the dog toward a sunny spot of grass near the side of the drive where Laura laid down obediently. Tessa stroked her muzzle lovingly, then got out the travel bowl of water, setting it down beside her. They were only a few yards from the house, but Tessa had come prepared to work for a while. Fall was her most favorite time of year, and the days were getting crisper and more colorful.

Rays of sunshine warmed her skin in the mild sixty-three-degree weather, and she relished the chance to finally plant the flowers she’d bought the day before. She had purchased multiple containers of brightly colored pansies—yellow, purple, light periwinkle blue, and scarlet. The pansies would be hearty enough to weather the winter temperatures and would even bloom in the snow and, she hoped, would add the perfect splash of color to her new home.

She hummed as she worked, singing lines from her favorite songs, smiling over at Laura, who wagged her tail in response. Laura usually responded to Tessa’s singing, both of them enjoying the lazy autumn afternoon spent together. She planted all ten pansies around the mailbox and tamped away any loose air pockets just as her grandfather had taught her. Then, stretching her back, she stood, took off her gardening gloves, and dusted the potting soil from her jeans.

What do you think, girl? Laura wagged her tail again at the mere sound of Tessa’s voice, looking up at Tessa with golden eyes that conveyed adoration for her master. I think it looks nice, too. What do you think Mark will say? I think he’ll love it, and be very proud of us, Tessa said with a grin as she gathered her tools.

She could hardly wait to show Mark—her fiancé of six months. She wasn’t sure how much he knew about her love for gardening. They were both always so busy, with so much to learn about each other yet, but that was the fun part, of course, getting to know all the intricate details about one another.

The mere thought of Mark Wagoner brought a smile to her lips. The handsome, successful business manager would be coming to dinner in a few hours. Which reminded her… she needed to get started on the lasagna. She took one last survey of her work, pleased. The little flowerbed she had created was beautiful, even if the flowers weren’t exactly evenly spaced apart. One day, she hoped to have ‘The Wagoners’ inscribed on the mailbox. Hopefully, that day wouldn’t be too far away.

Together, she and Laura made their way, slowly for Laura’s sake, back toward the house in anticipation of the evening ahead.

The smell of basil and garlic permeated the kitchen as Tessa set the table with the new dishes and pretty napkins she had been looking forward to using. She still needed to get a few things, but for the most part, her new house was furnished. Her job teaching English as well as a class on North Carolina History at the local community college, coupled with the inheritance left to her by her grandparents, had afforded her the opportunity to purchase the modern ranch-style home along with three adjoining acres.

After seeing the time on her watch, Tessa went to her bedroom and checked her appearance in the mirror, pressing her lips together to equally disperse the tawny shade of lipstick. The doorbell rang as she straightened her shoulders. She hurried down the hall, wishing she had a little more time to polish her appearance.

The sight of Mark nearly took her breath. Standing at her door, still in his dress clothes from work, he was extremely handsome, with dark blond hair slightly askew, and a sun-kissed tan that he had acquired recently during a weekend spent with his friends. His boyish good looks that appeared to be the closest thing to perfect were simply hard to ignore.

Hi. It smells delicious in here. He walked past her, tossing his suit jacket across her sofa. I’m starving.

Laura was lying in her dog bed, wagging her tail to welcome their visitor, but Mark never acknowledged her.

I made lasagna, Tessa said, trying to sound lighthearted. But she was disappointed he hadn’t paid any attention to Laura, or the new clothes she wore.

She bought a new outfit especially for the occasion. The casual, brick-red dress complimented the natural highlights in her chestnut hair, the sales associate had complimented. The pretty dress had a wrap bodice and a belt that tied on the side. And she had also tediously, however ironically, styled her hair into a messy bun that showed off her gold hoop earrings. But Mark didn’t appear to notice either.

The last thing she wanted to do was to overreact, reminding herself of the likelihood Mark had probably had a very hectic day at work. Perhaps he just needed time to unwind before taking note of the special effort she had made.

She was further dismayed, however, when he walked straight to the table, his phone in hand, texting someone a message. He moved aside the napkin she had placed beside the dinner plate, as if the object irritated him.

He should have known that. How long has this guy been my office manager? he asked the air sarcastically with a roll of his eyes. Then, he shoved the phone onto the table, making Tessa wince a little, her hopes for a perfect evening dashed.

She retrieved the salads she’d made ahead of time, along with the tiny dishes that she had thoughtfully prepared with various toppings such as croutons, sunflower seeds, and bacon pieces.

What did you think of the flowers Laura and I planted around the mailbox today? she asked while placing the salads on the table, trying to change the subject. She waited with bated breath. She was proud of the picturesque flowerbed that had taken up most of her afternoon.

Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t look at the mailbox. I’ll look when I leave.

Mark started eating the salad right away but didn’t add any of the extra ingredients she had painstakingly prepared. They truly were learning new things about each other every day. Tessa made a mental note that he liked his salad with just lettuce and lots of dressing.

How could he have missed seeing the brightly colored flowers she planted? She was deflated. After all, this was the house they would someday be sharing. And she had put a lot of time and thought into the flowerbed.

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