Chapter 9: The Garden of Lisbon
Two weeks later, Diego hired a team of landscape architects to completely redesign the rear grounds of the estate.
The rigid, manicured hedges and cold marble fountains were replaced with sprawling wildflower beds, lemon groves, and an authentic Portuguese tiled courtyard modeled after the small plaza in Lisbon where he and Elena had first met.
Mia was appointed ""Director of Planting,"" running across the damp earth with a small green watering can and a pair of yellow gardening gloves.
""Mommy, look! The sunflowers have big yellow faces!"" Mia shouted, pointing to a row of saplings near the stone wall.
Elena sat on a cedar bench beneath a blooming jasmine arbor, sketching in a new leather-bound notebook Diego had bought her. She had resumed her passion for botanical illustration, her delicate pencil strokes capturing the fragile beauty of the blooming flora.
Diego walked out onto the stone patio, carrying three glasses of fresh lemonade.
He sat beside Elena on the bench, handing her a glass.
""What are you drawing?"" Diego asked softly, leaning in to rest his chin gently on her shoulder.
Elena showed him the page. In the center was a detailed sketch of the gold falcon button, surrounded by climbing vines of blooming white jasmine and a tiny child’s hand clasping a father’s palm.
At the bottom of the page, written in her elegant script, were the words:
*What was lost in the storm was preserved by love.*
Diego wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her close against his chest. ""It’s beautiful, Elena.""
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""We are beautiful, Diego,"" she whispered back, resting her head against his neck.
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