They sat for a time, their thighs touching, holding hands, lost in their own thoughts. Hannah remembered how she had tried and despaired of being able to protect this land from developers, and how Max had stepped in and bought the property. Now here they were, leading productive, creative lives, developing the land in ways they considered important. She was happy, happier than she had ever been. At a time of life when some people felt unappreciated and useless, she and Max had been privileged to create gardens and the Homesteads on this marvelous land.

She thought of Wayne Reynolds, Lurina’s stepgrandson, who had, with her encouragement and support, graduated from the horticulture program at a community college. Recently he had replaced her foreman, Tom, and almost immediately springs surfaced, gushing from the earth in the oddest locations. It had become essential to relocate and redesign the Oriental garden. Wayne had supervised the heavy machinery that arrived to dig ditches, reroute water, and put in culverts. What a mess that had been, especially with the early spring rains. Hardly a day had passed when she had not scraped mud from a half dozen pair of shoes. Thank God, the rains had stopped and the earth dried out.

And so it went, always something new or something challenging for her and for Max, and now Zachary and his family had arrived and, it seemed, were about to complicate their lives. Hannah felt drawn to the young woman, so far from her home and family. She must reach out to the girl, introduce her to women her own age, like Molly and Laura and Miriam, and bring Sarina into contact with Grace and Amelia.

Amelia’s habits might annoy Hannah, but she knew that both of her friends had insights and skills to bring to any situation, and she would appreciate any kindness shown to Sarina, anything that might help to make the young woman feel safe and welcome in Covington.

“Well,” Max said, standing and helping Hannah to her feet, “let’s go on back to the office. I want to make some notes before I talk to my lawyer about that trust.”

6

Sarina

They parted at the office. With determined strides Hannah walked the long block back to Max’s house.

“Señora Hannah, I glad to see you.” Anna, Max’s housekeeper, opened the kitchen door.

Hannah sensed that something wasn’t right. Anna wasn’t singing, and a heavy silence hung in the air. “Is Zachary here?”

“No. He take truck and gone.”

“Gone where?”

Anna shrugged. “I no know where.”

“How’s Sarina doing?”

Anna shook her head. “She no like company. Señora Grace come by earlier, and she”—Anna nodded toward the stairs—“she no would see her.”

Bread, mayonnaise, and sliced chicken lay on the kitchen table. Anna smeared mayonnaise on the bread. “I make lunch. Maybe she eat something. She no eat, she gonna get sick.”