The Old House by Gisela Woldenga

The year is 1958 in Peachland, Okanagan BC. Twelve-year-old Christine meets a man renovating an old house in her neighborhood and immediately feels a bond between them. Even though her mother reacts strangely after hearing the man's name, Christine visits Jim often after school and learns a lot about flowers and gardening. She is heartbroken when he suddenly leaves without a good bye and is determined to find out where he is and why he left. As she unravels the mystery, dark secrets are revealed that make her uncertain if Jim will even want to come back.