had continued to pretend everything was fine between her and Rod on her visits to Carbon Canyon. Deep down in her heart she had never relinquished the hope that they would work through their problems, and everything would become all right one day. Instead, the circumstances surrounding Rod's death had told the whole world what a mess she had made of her marriage. Rod had been returning from an illicit weekend when he and his current lover had been killed.
Take back the power, Abby.
Was it possible to do such a thing? Abby thought of the picture of herself at nineteen. There had been a time when she'd believed in her abilities.
Each of us has the spark of survival in us, Abby. It's up to us to protect it till it’s strong enough to burn by itself. You're a survivor.
She had to get off the bleachers where she had spent so much time watching life pass her by. There was only one way to find out if she could really regain control of her life. Abby knew she had to test what Daniel had told her.
Only time would tell if he was right.
CHAPTER SIX
At the end of his third week, Daniel stepped into the community room to find Hamish bent over the wooden stork. The smooth, artistic lines of the bird testified to Hamish's talent and Daniel's lack of it.
"Good morning, Mr. McArthur."
"Ah, Daniel, come in." Hamish looked up from his carving and actually smiled. "Sarah tells me you've decided to stay a while longer with us."
"Well..." Daniel didn't know what to say. "I haven't really done anything to help the store. The billboard and the flyers have brought in a few more customers but that isn't enough to get The Busy Bee back on its feet."
"Glad you're staying," Hamish said with more geniality than he had ever exhibited before. "Maybe we'll make a whittler of you yet."
That would be the day. Daniel thought of the lopsided object his carving had yielded and a corner of his mouth lifted. He had changed considerably since he'd come here, but there was some things that could never change. One was his whittling abilities.
In the office, Abby tensed. Why hadn't Daniel mentioned his decision to stay on to her? She hadn't seen much of him this week. Jack Williams was growing steadily weaker, and she had been spending all her free time at Vista.
A few minutes later she looked up as Daniel entered the office. "Hi!"
She'd forgotten the effect that half smile of his had on her, the way the lines around his eyes crinkled.
"I'm just cleaning up," she said quickly, noticing the surprised look on his face. "I'll be out of your way in five minutes."
Daniel's gaze fell to the drawer she had placed on top of the desk. It was the one with the photographs. Half empty.
"Want some coffee?" he asked casually, holding up the cup he had poured himself in the community room.
"No thanks."
Watching as Abby dumped the rest of the pictures into a large envelope he said cautiously, "I'm going to be here a while longer."
Their gazes linked.
"I know," said Abby. "I heard you tell Hamish just now."
And she wasn't asking him why?
"I feel there has to be more I can do to help The Busy Bee. Your grandmother, Agnes, Hamish, and all the others, they work so hard. They deserve to succeed."
Abby's face showed the surprise she felt.
"I'm sorry about my attitude towards them in the beginning, Abby. I was raised by my grandparents who were very strict and I've always associated any older person with them. I was wrong. More and more I'm learning generalizations don't work. Not in business, not in life."
It was a very generous apology.
"Your grandmother and her friends are so warm and affectionate," Daniel continued. "I hope I haven't hurt anybody's feelings."
It was Abby's turn to be surprised. "What makes you think you might have hurt anyone?"
"I'm always refusing their offers of help. I don't mix much with anyone. I've never found it easy to talk to any of
Take back the power, Abby.
Was it possible to do such a thing? Abby thought of the picture of herself at nineteen. There had been a time when she'd believed in her abilities.
Each of us has the spark of survival in us, Abby. It's up to us to protect it till it’s strong enough to burn by itself. You're a survivor.
She had to get off the bleachers where she had spent so much time watching life pass her by. There was only one way to find out if she could really regain control of her life. Abby knew she had to test what Daniel had told her.
Only time would tell if he was right.
CHAPTER SIX
At the end of his third week, Daniel stepped into the community room to find Hamish bent over the wooden stork. The smooth, artistic lines of the bird testified to Hamish's talent and Daniel's lack of it.
"Good morning, Mr. McArthur."
"Ah, Daniel, come in." Hamish looked up from his carving and actually smiled. "Sarah tells me you've decided to stay a while longer with us."
"Well..." Daniel didn't know what to say. "I haven't really done anything to help the store. The billboard and the flyers have brought in a few more customers but that isn't enough to get The Busy Bee back on its feet."
"Glad you're staying," Hamish said with more geniality than he had ever exhibited before. "Maybe we'll make a whittler of you yet."
That would be the day. Daniel thought of the lopsided object his carving had yielded and a corner of his mouth lifted. He had changed considerably since he'd come here, but there was some things that could never change. One was his whittling abilities.
In the office, Abby tensed. Why hadn't Daniel mentioned his decision to stay on to her? She hadn't seen much of him this week. Jack Williams was growing steadily weaker, and she had been spending all her free time at Vista.
A few minutes later she looked up as Daniel entered the office. "Hi!"
She'd forgotten the effect that half smile of his had on her, the way the lines around his eyes crinkled.
"I'm just cleaning up," she said quickly, noticing the surprised look on his face. "I'll be out of your way in five minutes."
Daniel's gaze fell to the drawer she had placed on top of the desk. It was the one with the photographs. Half empty.
"Want some coffee?" he asked casually, holding up the cup he had poured himself in the community room.
"No thanks."
Watching as Abby dumped the rest of the pictures into a large envelope he said cautiously, "I'm going to be here a while longer."
Their gazes linked.
"I know," said Abby. "I heard you tell Hamish just now."
And she wasn't asking him why?
"I feel there has to be more I can do to help The Busy Bee. Your grandmother, Agnes, Hamish, and all the others, they work so hard. They deserve to succeed."
Abby's face showed the surprise she felt.
"I'm sorry about my attitude towards them in the beginning, Abby. I was raised by my grandparents who were very strict and I've always associated any older person with them. I was wrong. More and more I'm learning generalizations don't work. Not in business, not in life."
It was a very generous apology.
"Your grandmother and her friends are so warm and affectionate," Daniel continued. "I hope I haven't hurt anybody's feelings."
It was Abby's turn to be surprised. "What makes you think you might have hurt anyone?"
"I'm always refusing their offers of help. I don't mix much with anyone. I've never found it easy to talk to any of
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