Read Online Carnations in January by Clare Revell - Free Book Online Page B

insurance. Grace had nothing of her own in there apart from a few clothes.”
    He sighed as Grace ran from the room. “Joel, go with her.” His brother nodded and ran after her. Elliott turned back to the phone. “I’m not asking that. I can fax the reports to you.”
    “We’ll need to send someone over…”
    “It’s being demolished as we speak.” Elliott turned to the window, watching the brickwork crumble. “Like I said, the foundations were rotten. It was an underlying problem. Grace’s aunt died just before Christmas, and Grace is only now starting to go through the papers. It’s only the middle of January now, if that.”
    “OK. Let me see what I can do.”
    “Time is of the essence on this one.”
    “OK. Go ahead and organize the rebuild for now—draw up the plans and fax them over. I don’t see a problem with us covering the cost, but I need to take it to the boss, see what he says. Give me a day or two, and I’ll get back to you.”
    ~*~
    Grace stood in the rain, watching the house fall. She didn’t bother to rub away the tears streaking her face. She didn’t even know why she was crying. Except it really was the end. No more memories, no more being able to sit in the bedroom, surrounded by the lingering scent of perfume and lavender drawer liners and the other little things that reminded her of her aunt.
    For a few short days, she’d been able to pretend the last few awful weeks hadn’t happened and her aunt was still there, just on holiday and Grace was housesitting. Now that illusion was gone, too.
    The phone in her pocket rang. “Hello?”
    “Hey, Gracie. Did you get the logos? The email bounced back.”
    “Hi, Faith,” she managed. “Yeah, I did. Sorry, I didn’t get back to you.”
    “Is the logo all right? Because I can do another.”
    “It’s great, thank you.”
    “You OK? Sorry, silly question. Rick told us about the house.”
    “They’re demolishing it now. Elliott is ringing the insurance people.”
    “That’s good.”
    Grace jumped as a huge piece of wall fell. “I have to go. I’ll call you later, if that’s OK.” She hung up and slid the phone back into her pocket.
    Elliott appeared beside her. “Hey.”
    She rubbed her hands over her face, hoping her tears weren’t too evident. “Did you get through?”
    “Yeah, I did. It shouldn’t be a problem, but they’ll get back to me in a couple of days. Have you given any thought to the rebuild?”
    Grace frowned. “The what?”
    “How do you want the bungalow rebuilt?”
    She shrugged, grief once more tearing through her. “It doesn’t matter.”
    He shook his head. “No, it does matter. Your life is very much like your house.”
    “Destroyed?” she managed. She turned and ran back inside the shop, tears burning her eyes again. Would they never stop? It was as if the floodgates had been opened and a river suddenly ran through her body, with her eyes being the waterfall.
    She fled through the shop and up the back stairs to her tiny flat. Footsteps followed her and she tried to shut the door, but a foot got in the way.
    “Grace, please, that isn’t what I meant.” Elliott pushed open the door.
    “Then what did you mean?” She turned her back on him, hiding her face.
    Gentle hands took hold of her arms, turning her to face him. “Without the right foundation, a firm foundation, it doesn’t matter how strong your life is, cracks will appear, and the smallest storm will bring it crashing down. Just like your house. Losing Hope undermined your faith and your foundation in Christ. Am I right?”
    He was partly right, but he didn’t need to know the rest of the story.
    “The wise man built his house upon the rock,” she said quietly.
    “Matthew, chapter seven. A builder’s favorite story. Bradley has a quaint version of it…the floods went whoosh and the house on the sand fell flat, like that.” He did the actions as he spoke.
    She managed a slight smile.
    “I can rebuild the house, Grace. Either the