Noah glanced over at the bank of windows above the sink. The skies were dark, and the rain was coming down in buckets, and in the distance, he could see lightning split the sky. He cocked his head to the side and looked in Evelyn’s direction. Her head was tilted as well.

“Um...it’s raining,” Noah said.

“Yes, I know,” Joanna said as she took her place at the island. “But I have other things I can do to fill my time. Right, Evelyn?

Evelyn’s expression was blank only for a moment before her eyes began to twinkle. “You’re absolutely correct,” she said, sitting taller on her stool. “So, what are your plans for today?”

Acknowledging Noah with a smile as he handed her a glass of orange juice, Joanna said, “Well, first I think I’ll get back to my routine and hit the gym. After that, a shower, a good book, and if it ever stops raining, maybe a bit of gardening.”

“Gardening?” Noah said, looking back and forth between the two women.

“Yes, Joanna has decided to spend some of her time working in the gardens,” Evelyn said. “Speaking of which, if you make me a list of any hand tools you may need, I’ll check with David and George and see if we have any in the garage. If not, I’ll send someone out to buy them.”

“Wait!” Noah said, holding up his hands as he looked at Joanna. “Are you serious?”

“Yep,” Joanna said, hopping off her stool. Gulping down the rest of her juice, she winked at Evelyn. “Time for the gym,” she said, quickly disappearing through the swinging door before either Evelyn or Noah had a chance to say a word.

Reaching for the coffee pot, Noah refilled Evelyn’s cup. “Why do I think that someone’s about to poke a bear?”

“Nonsense,” Evelyn said, bringing her coffee cup to her lips. “Whatever gave you that idea?”

***

Appreciation is the ability to understand worth or the importance of something or someone, and it was an ability that had escaped Addison until today. Sitting behind her desk in the study, thinking about the work she had accomplished the previous week, she finally found herself appreciating something. Technology.

With the help of smartphones, computers, and two junior secretaries who had shuttled documents back and forth between the offices of Kane Holdings and The Oaks, no hiccup had occurred in the daily goings-on of the company that was now solely hers. Millie had become her eyes and ears, and via texts, e-mails, and phone calls with Fran, deals were made, and every slot in her daily planner for the next two weeks had been filled. Addison hadn’t let anything get in the way of her business, but then again, she never did.