Page 51 of Modern Romance Collection December 2024 Books 1-4

The house had been extended, she could see that—to the sides and to the roof. But it was unmistakably the same beach house where she’d lived with Quin. Except he’d only been renting it at that time...

Sol was already out of the car and running towards a woman who’d appeared in the main doorway and was hugging him with great affection.

Sadie got out, feeling a sense of déjà vu, and slightly dizzy.

Quin met her at the front of the car and said, ‘Come and meet Fernanda. She and her sister take care of the house and gardens when we’re not here, and they stock up when we come.’

Sadie couldn’t move, though. She just looked at him. ‘It’s the house. Our house.’

Quin’s jaw was tight, and then he said, ‘I bought it and did some renovations.’

Sadie wanted to askwhy, but the young woman was coming towards them now, holding out her hand.

‘You must be Sadie. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Fernanda.’

Sadie smiled at the friendly woman, who was very pretty, with dark brown eyes and crazy corkscrew curls in a soft halo around her head. Sadie couldn’t help but respond to her easy warmth even in the midst of her shock, and smiled back, shaking her hand.

After greeting Quin with warm and easy affection, the woman led them in, saying to Quin, ‘I’ve put out some snacks and drinks, dinner is in the fridge, and there are enough supplies to last a month.’

‘Thanks, Fernanda. I appreciate it, as always.’

‘No worries, boss—you pay me more than enough to make it worth my while!’ She winked at Sadie, then addressed Quin again. ‘Elena will come over at some stage to talk through some changes she wants to make to the garden.’

‘Okay.’

Sadie turned to Quin. ‘How much land is there?’

‘About an acre.’

‘Wow.’

Sol appeared in the room. ‘Come on, Sadie. I want to show you everything.’

She did as she was bade and let Sol take her by the hand and show her around the house, almost thankful for his distracting chatter when a slew of memories rushed back at her on seeing the familiar rooms and then the new ones.

Downstairs, the house had been opened out into a huge living/dining area, and there was a beautiful kitchen overlooking the verdant back lawn where Sadie could see a pool. She noted that Sol was now in what had been her and Quin’s bedroom upstairs. She was glad he didn’t want to linger there too long. It was too full of memories. The master bedroom suite was now in the dormer extension. There was a balcony, with stunning views of the beach and the sea.

Tears pricked Sadie’s eyes as she remembered being on that beach and looking back at this house, catching her first glimpse of Quin on the porch.

‘And your room is over here.’

Sadie turned around to see Sol trying to haul her wheelie suitcase into a bedroom across the hall from Quin’s. It was almost a mirror image of Quin’s, but with no balcony—just windows overlooking the pool and beautiful gardens.

Sadie followed Sol into the room, and to her surprise he ran over and wrapped his arms around her waist. She hugged him back, bending down and pressing a kiss to his head.

He looked up at her. ‘I’m glad you’re my mom. I knew you were special when I first saw you.’

Sadie’s heart swelled at his sweet words. She smiled. ‘The minute I saw you, I knewyouwere very special.’

His eyes widened. ‘When I was a baby?’

She nodded. ‘When you were born, you didn’t even cry. You just looked up at me and it was as if you’d been here before—do you know what they call that?’

He shook his head, fascinated. ‘No, what?’

‘An old soul.’

‘Wow, cool.’

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