20
“Rachel, I miss having my hanging baskets of flowers,” Naomi said.
Rachel raised her gaze from her lunch. Seven baskets around the verandah trailed dry leaves and stems. She hadn’t noticed them yesterday when she finally emerged from her room to eat lunch with her grandmother.
How could she have slept so long? Yesterday, she’d realised she had to get out or go stir-crazy. The shady verandah looking out on the patch of lawn and garden had beckoned her.
“Esther has already bought the new petunias to go in the baskets, but I’d like to have them done before she comes home. Would you help me?”
How could she say no? Gran hadn’t placed a single demand on her. Not like that cute toddler who’d grown into a demanding adult, brimful of expectation. Rachel was too tired for expectations.
“I’m
