Reborn As Mr. Coldwell's Wife
Chapter 29: Neighbor

Chapter 29: Neighbor

Ellen stood by the window, gazing out at the sprawling garden that lay in front of her house. She thought about how much free time she had now and how she wanted to spend it. Shopping crossed her mind, but she quickly dismissed the idea. Just because she had money now didn’t mean she would spend it recklessly. She knew how hard it was to earn money, having experienced tough times herself.

Her thoughts wandered to a hobby she had always been passionate about but never had the time or resources to fully pursue: gardening. She loved flowers—their colors, their fragrances, the way they could brighten up any space. The idea of creating her own little paradise in the garden excited her. She had already discussed this with Mason, seeking his permission to plant some flowers in the front garden. Mason had barely looked up from his work and had simply shrugged, indicating he didn’t care what she did with the garden. That was all the approval she needed.

Ellen changed into a comfortable pair of jeans and a light shirt, ready to get her hands dirty. She headed outside, where Josh was already there, tending to the plants.

"Good morning, Josh," Ellen greeted him with a smile.

"Morning, Mrs. Coldwell," Josh replied, tipping his hat. "Ready to get started?"

"Absolutely," Ellen said, feeling a surge of enthusiasm. "I’ve been thinking about this for a while. I want to plant some flowers in the front garden. Something colorful and fragrant."

Josh nodded approvingly. "That’s a great idea. Let’s start by preparing the soil. We need to make sure it’s fertile and ready for planting."

Ellen rolled up her sleeves and grabbed a pair of gloves. She followed Josh’s instructions, helping to turning the soil and blending in compost to enrich it. The physical work was tiring but satisfying. She enjoyed the feel of the earthy texture in her hands.

Hours passed, and the sun climbed higher in the sky. Ellen wiped the sweat from her forehead and took a step back to admire their progress. The front garden was now dotted with neatly planted flowers.

"That looks wonderful," Josh said, standing beside her. "You’ve done a great job, Mrs. Coldwell."

"Thank you, Josh," Ellen said, smiling at him. "I couldn’t have done it without your help."

Josh shook his head modestly. "You’re a natural. I’m sure this garden will turn out beautifully."

Just as she was about to plant another row of daisies, a voice called out, loud and clear, "Excuse me!"

Ellen turned her head toward the sound, squinting in the bright sunlight. Beyond the wrought-iron gate stood a young woman, around her age, waving enthusiastically. Ellen noticed the security guard, Ronnie, approaching the gate with his usual composed demeanor.

Ellen wanted to know what was happening, so she took off her gloves, turned on the hose to wash her hands, and then dried them on the towel at her waist.

She walked over to the gate. As she approached, she could hear Ronnie asked, "Is there something I can help you with, miss?" His voice polite but firm.

The young woman’s smile widened. "Hello! My name is Helga. My husband and I just moved into the house across the street," she said, pointing toward a house bustling with movers and cars.

"It’s okay, Ronnie. You can open the gate. I’ll handle this," Ellen said with a reassuring smile.

Ronnie nodded, his stance relaxing as he returned to his post. The gate creaked open, revealing the woman standing just beyond it. Ellen walked towards her with a friendly expression. her eyes meeting the woman’s bright, friendly gaze.

The woman was about Ellen’s age, with a cheerful demeanor that matched her warm smile. She had light brown hair pulled back in a loose ponytail, and she wore a casual sundress that fluttered slightly in the breeze. In one hand, she held a paper bag, its contents hidden, yet filled the air with a sweet aroma.

"Hi, I’m Helga Marshall," she said, extending her free hand. "Nice to meet you."

Ellen took her hand, shaking it firmly. "Ellen Coldwell. Nice to meet you too."

As they exchanged pleasantries, Ellen couldn’t help but reflect inwardly. This was the first time she had introduced herself as Ellen Coldwell, and It felt strange.

Helga’s eyes widened slightly. "Coldwell? Is your husband Mason Coldwell?"

Ellen smiled, a touch of amusement in her eyes. "Yeah, the one and only."

"Wow," Helga breathed, clearly impressed. "I didn’t expect to become neighbors with the Coldwells."

Ellen chuckled softly. "Well, welcome to the neighborhood."

"Thank you, Ellen." Helga’s smile widened as she held out the paper bag. "I brought a little gift. It’s a cake, just a little grateful token from your new neighbors. I hope you like it."

Ellen accepted the bag, peeking inside and inhaling the delicious aroma. "Thank you, Helga. That’s very thoughtful of you."

"You’re welcome," Helga replied, her eyes sparkling with genuine friendliness.

Ellen smiled, appreciating Helga’s friendliness. "So, how’s the move going?" she asked, glancing at the busy scene across the street.

"It’s going well, though it’s always a bit chaotic. We’ve got most of the big stuff moved in. Now it’s just the little things," Helga replied with a chuckle.

Ellen nodded sympathetically before gesturing towards the mansion and offered, "Oh, would you like to come in for a bit? I’d love to chat more and get to know you."

Helga shook her head politely. "I’d love to, but I need to go introduce myself to the other neighbors and get back to unpacking. But I’ll definitely take you up on that offer once things settle down."

"Of course, I understand," Ellen said with a nod. "Moving can be quite a hassle."

"It really can," Helga agreed with a light laugh. "But I’ll see you around for sure."

"Looking forward to it," Ellen replied warmly.

As Helga turned to leave, she waved cheerfully. "See you later, Ellen."

"See you around, Helga," Ellen called back, watching as Helga walked towards the next house.

Ellen stood there for a moment, the paper bag in her hands, feeling encouraged. Helga seemed like a genuinely nice person, someone she could potentially become good friends with.

Or so she hoped...