Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 65042 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65042 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
I decided to put the worry on pause and enjoy some time with my new friend. I stood and brushed crumbs from my sweater. Whatever happened later, at least this morning, I had something to look forward to.
Walking through the living room, I opened the front door with a smile.
22
DANNI
When I opened the front door, I expected to see Harmony’s smiling face on my porch. What I didn’t expect was Sarah standing right beside her, bundled in a cinnamon-colored coat and smiling as well.
“I hope you don't mind—Madam Healer gave me the morning off, and Sarah has the day off from the bakery and she really wants to learn to knit too,” Harmony said brightly, her cheeks pink from the crisp morning air.
“Oh! Of course, I don't mind—come in! The more the merrier,” I said, stepping back to let them in.
I couldn’t help the little flutter in my chest as I ushered them inside. I was still getting used to the idea of having friends again—women who wanted to spend time with me and just hang out.
They stepped inside, stamping their boots on the hand-braided rug in the entryway. I took their coats, brushing away a few stray leaves, and hung them on the hooks in the narrow front hall closet. The familiar scent of lavender—Grandma’s favorite—still lingered inside. For a moment, I imagined her beside me, smiling approvingly.
Then I froze.
I turned back to them, panic fluttering low in my belly as a realization hit me.
“I'm so sorry,” I blurted. “I know I promised you a knitting lesson, but I just realized I don't have anything to teach you with. I mean, I don't have any knitting needles or yarn!” If only I had some of the supplies from my crafting room back home!
Sarah was already in the living room, looking around curiously.
“What about that stuff?” she asked, pointing at one of the previously empty built-in bookshelves that lined the walls.
I blinked. There, neatly arranged, were several skeins of yarn—soft, chunky wool in warm jewel tones. There were also three different sets of knitting needles—bamboo, aluminum, and smooth ivory-colored plastic.
My breath caught in my throat.
“Oh!” I walked over to them, reaching out as if the yarn might vanish if I touched it. I vaguely remembered buying this stuff. About a year after Craig was diagnosed…back when I was still trying to be normal. Before everything had gone to hell and I’d given up knitting entirely to care for him.
The memory hit hard—me standing in a craft store, choosing cheerful colors and textured yarn, thinking maybe I could knit Craig a blanket to keep him warm during his treatments. That project, like so many others, had been swallowed whole by his illness.
“The cottage must have brought it to me,” I murmured.
“What?” Harmony asked, stepping up beside me.
I turned to face them.
“Oh, this cottage—it was my Grandma's, like I told you. And it seems to be taking care of me. I was just wishing I had some of the knitting supplies from my craft room back home and they suddenly appeared. The same way my clothes did earlier.” I paused. “Does that sound crazy?”
Sarah and Harmony exchanged a knowing glance, then laughed.
“Not crazy at all,” Harmony said. “Our friend Willow lives in one of Goody Albright's guest houses and it gives her absolutely anything she wants—she just has to ask for it.”
“My house gives me most of what I want too. Is that how it is for your cottage?” Sarah asked.
I shook my head slowly.
“Not quite. It seems to be able to bring things from my house in the, uh, Human World…”—God, it still felt weird to say that—“And it gives me food—there’s always fresh baked bread, tea, soup…a few other staples. But it can’t grant wishes on command. Like, this morning I asked for eggs, and it didn’t give me any. I think it only gives me what I liked when I was a child.”
Sarah nodded.
“That makes sense. Especially if the cottage is tied to your Grandma and your memories of her when you were little.”
I smiled, brushing my fingers along the soft yarn.
“I'm not complaining—it's wonderful to have my needs met like this. Back home, I'm about to default on my mortgage. I was sure I was going to have to sleep in my car before I found my way here.”
Sarah gave me a sympathetic look.
“It was the same for me. My mom died and then I lost the house and then I lost my job too. I was desperate when I got my invitation to Hidden Hollow.”
Harmony nodded.
“Yeah, I was stuck at a company I hated, and I knew if I left, I'd be drowning in student debt. I'm so happy Hidden Hollow called me home.”
“Is that what you call it? Being 'called home?'” I asked, intrigued.
“Sure,” Harmony said. “It's true, isn't it? I mean, once I came through the door here, I found not just my forever home, but my Heartmate too.”