Before Evelyn could speak, her mobile chimed, and pulling it out of her pocket, she turned it off. “I’d really like to continue this conversation, but that was my reminder that I have an appointment. Perhaps another day?”

“I’ll look forward to it.”

“Good,” Evelyn said, flashing a smile as she began to walk away.

“Wait,” Joanna said, taking four quick steps to catch up. “Do you know if there are any photographs around?”

“Photographs?”

“Yes, of the gardens,” Joanna said, quickly scanning the weedy acreage behind her. “I’d like to know at least the layout of the raised beds, so I don’t go killing myself by tripping over one of them.”

Evelyn’s mouth fell open. “You can’t...you can’t possibly be considering clearing it all.”

“Why not?”

“Joanna, look behind you,” Evelyn said, her voice raising an octave. “It’s massive!”

“So,” Joanna said, slipping her hands into the pockets of her jacket. “It’s not like I’m a stranger to hard work.”

“That may be true, but it’s one thing to come out here and do a bit of weeding. It’s quite another to clear an entire hillside.”

“It’s not like I don’t have—”

“Lots of time on your hands. Yes, I know,” Evelyn said, furrowing her brow.

“What’s wrong?

Looking beyond Joanna to the thickets of earthly nastiness, Evelyn let out a sigh. “You know, I could ask Addison about getting the groundskeeper we use for the front to clear out this mess.”

“Absolutely not.”

“What? Why?”

“Because I think we both know she’d say no, and then I wouldn’t even be allowed to do it. This way, she has no say in the matter, and I get to keep myself busy.”

“But it’s a tremendous undertaking for just one person. Don’t you think?”

“I suppose it could be,” Joanna said as her eyes began to sparkle. “Except when that person is me.”

***

“I heard your father is ill. Shall I call a doctor?” Evelyn said, watching as Joanna descended the stairs.

“No, he’s fine,” Joanna said with a wave of her hand. “He’s got a cold, so he’s cranky and miserable and taking it out on everyone else. He’s asleep now, so I thought I’d come down and take you up on that suggestion of yours.”

Evelyn’s face split into a grin. “Oh, I was hoping you were going to say that,” she said, clapping her hands together. “I took the liberty of having places set for both you and your father...just in case.”

“I’m sure the other Mrs. Kane must have loved seeing that.”

“I think it’s safe to say you can call her Addison now.”

“I’ve done that once. She didn’t look too happy about it.”

“You’ll soon find out Addison never looks too happy about anything unless it has something to do with business.”