The Isle of Trouvaille

Chapter One

Hey guys! This summer seems to be the era of trying out new things so here we go. Please comment and leave any and all feedback; it can only make the story better. 

Thanks for checking The Isle of Trouvaille out, I hope it won't disappoint!

Happy Reading!

xoxo

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"What have I gotten myself into," Evaline thought, standing in front of her childhood home as the shiny black taxi sped back down the cobblestone drive. Through the wrought-iron gate she could see that the abandoned manor was in complete disrepair; taken over by weeds and thickets in the yard, marred by broken windows and a missing door, the stone exterior in desperate need of a power wash facelift.

The late afternoon sun beat down on her neck and sweat rolled down her back as she dug in her backpack for her keychain. Careful not to puncture her skin on the thorny vines that spiraled through the wrought iron bars of the gate, she unlocked it and opened it just enough for her to wiggle herself, and her luggage, through.

Pushing the gate closed behind her with a stomach-churning "wreek" of the rusted hinges, Evaline made her way up the driveway onto the porch of the manor and set her things down carefully, before sitting down on the front steps.

This was not how it was supposed to be. She was supposed to come back to the Isle of Trouvaille to find the inspiration to write her next book series. It was supposed to be easy and relaxing. But of course, she had chosen the pride before the fall and now she would have to work for it.

She went inside the house and walked around to discover yet another incredibly depressing sight. The rugs were all rolled up and covered, the furniture was blanketed with white sheets, her mother's collection of paintings and artwork were taken down and stored in an empty room. Where was the life that had once flowed through these halls? The place had become a skeleton of what it once was.

Evaline hauled her luggage up the double staircase into her room, pulling out a mattress and uncovering it, sneezing madly from the dust that hung in the air. She collapsed upon it, wishing that she could call her mother and father to scold them. They were never supposed to have gone away permanently, they were always supposed to come back, that was the promise. But that was twelve years ago, and now Evaline was the only one left to remember.

She laid down on the mattress, hugging a thin knit blanket around her as the cool nighttime sea air poured in from the broken window on the other side of the room. And soon she was drifting off to sleep to the sound of the waves crashing on the beach below and the crickets chirping.

The next morning she was up with the sunrise and decided that she was going to clean the place up even if it killed her. So she threw on a pair of coveralls, some work boots, and tied her hair up, grabbed some cleaning supplies and got to work.

The outside looked terrible but considering that she had to live inside, Evaline decided to tackle that part first. She went to each room of the manor attacking dust and grime mercilessly with rags and spray, taking the sheets off the furniture, and hitting all of the dust out of the rugs with her broom. She washed the floors, washed the windows, repaired the doors, and accumulated what felt like her own body weight in the trash each day. It took her over a week to clean everything, and another to haul all of the furniture and decor back to their rightful places.

Evaline had never been more thankful that she'd paid attention in shop class when she found her father's old pickup truck in the garage with a full tank of gas and the keys in the ignition. All it needed was a quick once over and then she was free to go. The hardware store was her first stop, followed closely by the market to get some food. The groceries that she'd brought with her were now reduced to half a bottle of ketchup and a lonely packet of water crackers.

Over the next two weeks, Evaline set her sights on making the yard and the gardens look presentable again. It was a flurry of cutting, chopping, hacking, digging, watering, planting, and primping but when it was done she felt on top of the world. Maybe her agent was right, maybe she really did just need to get her mind lost in something else for a while.

That night Evaline sat down in her study, pen in hand ready to write. The sound of a car coming up the driveway jerked her out of her daydream (probably for the best, she wasn't getting anything done) and she hurried downstairs to find out who it was.

Pulling her robe close to her body as she stepped outside, she was greeted with two bright headlights, and then a cheerful shriek that Evaline could never forget as look as she lived.

Immediately she was wrapped up in a forceful hug by a woman with wavy blonde hair and an infectious smile. It was Roberta Calhoon, her childhood best friend.

"Is it really you Lily? Tell me it's really you" Roberta cried, as she held her friend at arm's length, happy tears in her eyes as she smiled.

"It's really me Birdie" Evaline replied, and pulled her friend in for a hug once more.

"Na'na you were right" Birdie called behind her, to the older woman walking towards them. "She thought smoke coming out of the chimneys here at the old Albright place. I thought she was just seeing things, but old Na'na wouldn't stop talking about it until we came and checked it out for ourselves." Birdie explained as Evaline embraced the old woman.

"Oh Hildegarde," Na'na said, smoothing down Evaline's frantic dark curls, as she called her by her first name. "It's been too long, just wait until Mrs. Petterage and all the old staff gets word of this. , there is going to be a celebration!"

"Welcome back to Trouvaille Evaline. Welcome back."