That day had been a new beginning for all of them. Louise and Harold had married in the spring. Louise had once feared being alone, being kept waiting for someone who might never return home. She’d decided waiting for someone who might not come was better than having no one on the way.
They all ate dinners together several nights a week. Ellen had gone to work for François, who needed all his spare time to care for his new and needy bride. Ellen remained single. Daisy came home on breaks from college, and sometimes a friend or two would join her and they’d stay out too late at the Ice House or the Dive or at a local party, but Charity knew the girl had a good head on her shoulders and wouldn’t make bad choices for long, if at all.
Dalton had presented Charity with an engagement ring on Christmas morning before anyone else was awake. His family had been there to visit twice and seemed to like her, though such words were never spoken, only felt. She liked them as well.
Charity took her coffee outside and sat at the bench that had been made from the trunk of the last weeping tree. No one could explain the unnatural growth of the new tree. Only a year ago, it had been a sprout, a couple of feet tall and spindly. Now its waterfall branches reached as high as the roof of her sleeping porch, twelve feet in the air. It was tall enough to sit beneath, if one needed to. But she figured it would continue to grow just as its mother had done, stretching far beyond the thirty or so years these types of trees usually lived. It was, of course, no ordinary tree. It had grown ten feet in a year. Still, no one could explain the magic of the tree at all. They simply accepted it, respected it, and allowed it access into their lives. It was a garden song that would continue to serenade. It was a sanctuary for some, a second chance for others. But for all, it was promise. And it was hope. And hope was the light of the world, where no darkness could penetrate.
A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR
Thank you so much for taking the time to visit Gaslamp Island with me. This was such an enjoyable story to tell because I really do believe in the kind of magic that hovers around Gaslamp Island—like the pixies in the rising tide and the hope in the weeping tree branches. That same magic resides in each of our hearts. Is yours open to the possibilities that dance like fireflies on summer nights? I hope so.
I’d love to hear your thoughts about Charity and her weeping tree experience. Do you think Harold and Louise will have many wonderful years together? Do you think Daisy will return to the island after college and settle there? What about Ellen Marie? Was her weeping tree experience one that will stand the test of time, or do you see her returning to her old ways when life gets complicated?
It’s always been my heartbeat to tell unforgettable stories—the kind that linger in our hearts long after the story is finished. I’m often asked by readers what they can do to spread the word about my books. If you enjoyed the story of the weeping tree, I’d be honored if you’d take a minute to leave a short review on Amazon or your other favorite e-book retailer. If you’d like to stay in touch with me, there are two easy ways to do that. Follow me on Amazon—www.amazon.com/author/heatherburch (just click the yellow “Follow” button below my picture)—or visit my website at www.heatherburchbooks.com, where you can sign up for my biannual newsletter, Heather’s Happenings, filled with information about my books, fun facts, and freebies.
All my best,
Heather Burch
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Photo © 2016 Melinda Hanks
Heather Burch is the bestselling author of the novels One Lavender Ribbon, Along the Broken Road, and Down the Hidden Path, as well as several acclaimed young adult novels. One Lavender Ribbon was in the top 100 bestselling books of 2014 on Amazon. Her books have garnered praise from USA Today, Booklist, Romantic Times, and Publishers Weekly. Heather’s deeply emotional novels explore family, love, hope, and the challenges of life. She tells unforgettable stories of love and loss—stories that make your heart sigh. Heather lives in southern Florida with her husband and has two grown sons who are the light of her life.
In the Light of the Garden: A Novel Page 31