Page 114 - The Last Gift

changed her mind as she watched the frenzied
pace of work on the hill.

Landscaping was being done right up until
the time the ground froze in late November.
Fences had been erected and shade trees,
shrubbery, and an orchard had been planted.
Nothing was landscaped right next to the house
yet, since lots of equipment came and went. A
large area was leveled and left bare, leaving
Rachel to wonder what it was for.

She often stole moments to spend in their
picnic area from long ago. She was afraid that
during all of the construction it would be
changed or destroyed, but it was left untouched.

As Christmas approached, the pace
quickened still. She came home from work about
a week before Christmas and saw a furniture

109