Morning light filtered through the kitchen curtains as I heard rustling outside. I peeked out the window—Oliver was crouched by the rose beds, shovel in hand, enthusiastically loosening the soil.
"Morning!" He looked up, grinning, dirt smudged on his face. "This soil's too packed. Gotta give these roots some breathing room."
I nodded, turning to brew coffee.
The past two weeks, Oliver had swept into my quiet villa like a whirlwind, breathing life into it. Seashell wind chimes he'd scavenged hung on the porch. Wildflowers he'd picked brightened the dining table. He'd even cleaned out the dusty fireplace, sparking it to life each evening.
As coffee's aroma filled the air, Oliver, hands scrubbed clean, sprawled on the living room rug, flipping through a tattered travel guide. His plaid sh
