Page 4 of Always, Plus One

The couple nodded, and Josh nudged Millie. “Our first date was at this little retro diner back by our college campus. Remember, honey?”

“I could never forget,” Millie cooed.

Ariel almost sighed—these two were adorable, and unlike Katie and Connor, Ariel couldawwwwover their over-the-top smitten-ness without worrying.

“If you're looking for something to do during the day, the hiking trails in the state park are stunning this time of year, and there are so many great things to do in town. But if you want to stay on the property, we have the gardens and a walking trail that goes down to the beach. It's a lovely spot to watch the sunset."

Josh and Millie exchanged a look—one that Ariel would call “heart eyes” if asked—and then turned back to Ariel, both beaming. "That sounds wonderful. Thank you for the suggestions," Millie gushed.

Ariel grinned. "And lastly, our very own dinner menu will be available at the new Seaside Café here in the east wing, starting at five. If you need anything else, don't hesitate to ask. We're here to make sure you have the best honeymoon possible."

The couple smiled and thanked her again before starting to settle into their room. Ariel returned to the kitchen to find that Connor and Katie had gone.

“To town to get some yard stuff from the hardware store,” Darcy explained. “Katie said to tell you they’d be back in an hour.”

There was another knock, and then the ringing of the doorbell to signal that another set of guests had arrived. Ariel hustled to welcome the next guests, a family with three young children. She checked them in and showed them to their room, which had a queen sized bed, a set of bunk beds, and a crib for the youngest.

"I hope your family enjoys the stay here at Leeside," Ariel said warmly. "We have plenty of games and books in the common room, and the gardens are perfect for a game of catch or hide-and-seek and a picnic."

As she continued to greet the arriving guests until every room was full—which meant every reservation for the Fourth of July weekend had shown up!—Ariel felt a sense of pride and satisfaction. The renovations had been a lot of work, but it was worth it to see the smiles on the faces of her guests. Her heart swelled. The house was more than just a business to her. It had been and continued to be a labor of love. She was happy to share it with others and to see the joy it brought to her guests' faces. She never could have imagined when she had fled Miami on the wake of a major heartbreak that she would end up here, so happy, so soon.

Ariel knew that she couldn't have done it without the help of Katie, Charlene and her family, Miles, and even Connor. And now with Darcy as the new sous chef, things were finally starting to fall into place.

Katie and Connor returned from Endless Harbor with Connor’s truck loaded down with bags of mulch, and Ariel set out a big pitcher of lemonade and some glasses for them as they started unloading it in preparation for spreading the fresh, cedar chips over the flower beds. In the kitchen, Darcy was portioning pasta, and the stove behind him bubbled and steamed from pots and pans of a few varieties, making the kitchen look like a wizard’s lair and Darcy like some surreal, fantasy, magic-wielder.

Leeside was hopping!

Ariel took a breather around lunch to make sure that Katie and Connor got a bite, and to make sure that Darcy was giving himself a break to do the same; she picked up her phone for the first time since getting out of bed just as she sat down on the back porch with her own lunch.

From the vantage point of the back wraparound porch, Ariel gazed out past the manicured flower gardens to the once vibrant and carefully tended herb and vegetable garden that now lay beyond in a tangled, neglected mess. It was a scene that evoked a sense of both melancholy and nostalgia, an overgrown patch of land that seemed to have surrendered to nature's relentless advance.

The garden had once been a sanctuary of colors and fragrances, a testament to the labor of love poured into its cultivation. Her mother and father had tended rows of neatly arranged crops past the ones she had restored—the revitalized flowerbeds, bursting with vibrant blooms. Tomato plants and rows of peppers used to stretch out before Ariel's eyes. The air would have been filled with the sweet scent of roses, of radishes, and the earthy aroma of freshly turned soil. But now, the vegetable garden stood as a forgotten testament to the passage of time.

Tall grasses and weeds had woven their way through the once-ordered landscape, asserting their dominance over the once-thriving flora. Delicate petals peeked out amidst the chaos, their limbs and tendrils struggling to break free from the encroaching wilderness. The intertwining vines of the derelict back section seemed to reach for the tended flowers, entwining them in a silent plea for attention.

Ariel's eyes followed the overgrown path that wound through the back garden, its stone walkway barely visible beneath a blanket of fallen leaves and tangled undergrowth. Nature had covered this once-manicured space, reclaiming it for its own, reminding all who beheld it of the impermanence of human efforts.

The vegetable patches, once bursting with an abundance of carrots, cucumbers, and leafy greens, were now unrecognizable. Wild tendrils had engulfed the raised beds, their unchecked growth casting deep shadows over the soil. It was a stark contrast to the carefully tended rows that once promised bountiful harvests and nourishment.

Amongst the chaos, Ariel spotted remnants of forgotten garden tools, their metal surfaces rusted and worn. They served as silent witnesses to the garden's gradual decline, reminders of the hands that had lovingly tended to the land, now absent but not forgotten. Ariel missed her mom and dad in that moment, and she could almost see them in the garden, laughing, working, accomplishing things together.

Yet, amidst the overgrown foliage and neglected corners, Ariel could still sense a glimmer of the garden's former beauty. Hardy perennials, resilient in their nature, continued to brave the elements, their steadfastness a testament to the enduring spirit of nature. Splashes of color emerged from the wild chaos, a few vibrant yellow squash blossoms defiantly asserting their presence against the encroaching wilderness.

As Ariel took in the view, a mix of emotions stirred within her. There was a sense of sadness for the garden's untimely demise, for the memories and moments that had faded away with its neglect. But there was also a spark of hope, a desire to revive and restore this once-loved space to its former glory. She had done it with the rest of the house, so why not?

Ariel made a silent promise to breathe life back into the forgotten garden at some future point. She envisioned a scene in which vibrant flowers danced in the sunlight, and the garden's potential to nourish both body and soul was fully realized. It would take time and effort, but once the café was running for a few months, she would have the time to embark on the journey of reclaiming this tangled mess, transforming it into a haven of beauty, growth, and new beginnings.

She broke away from studying the garden to look back at her phone. There was a missed call and a text from Miles. She smiled as she swiped to read the message, taking a welcome bite of her fruit salad.

I’m taking off from the marina early today. I can come and help if you need me.

The text had been sent twenty minutes ago, so as she typed and sent her reply—I think we have everything taken care of, but I would love you here just because—she heard the ping of a phone receiving that very message.

Miles came around the far corner of the wraparound porch, looking tan and windswept and exactly what she needed on a day like today.

“Miles!” She launched into his arms, and he caught her easily, squeezing her tight.

“Hey,” he said, laughing. “How was today? Rooms full?”

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