voice to shake the way it had in the parlor— that scared Rachel plenty.
CHAPTER 7
R ACHEL!” VIVIAN INHALED deeply as she kicked off her shoes. She was back from Bensen and Ms. Moore’s supplies were all put away, so she was done for the day. “Did you make dinner again?”
“Yes. I thought you would probably be tired since you had to lug all the supplies around by yourself today. I’m sorry I couldn’t go help.”
“You had enough to do at the greenhouse today.” Vivian inhaled again. “Whatever that is, it smells delicious.”
“It’s that rice dish you made, the one with the asparagus, remember?” Rachel pulled out a chair at the table for Vivian and made an exaggerated, sweeping gesture. “Have a seat, milady.”
“Oh, this is so nice.” Vivian sank into the chair. “Especially nice, because I have to go back to Bensen again tomorrow. Most of the vendors had nothing today. Another transit breakdown. So none of their shipments were delivered. It seems like every other week one of the transit vehicles breaks down or the refrigeration malfunctions and everything is ruined. So much for government efficiency.”
“I can go with you and help tomorrow. Ms. Moore gave me vacation until Monday.” Rachel put the bowl of rice casserole on the table and sat down. “She had me over for a meeting today.”
“I thought she might.” Vivian tried to look innocent, but when she saw Rachel’s face, she laughed.
Rachel swatted at her with her napkin. “You could have warned me. I thought I was going to get fired!”
“Fired? Why would she fire you? You’re doing very well at the greenhouse.”
“I don’t know.” Rachel shrugged. “You know how she is—hard to tell what might make her mad.”
“Did you take the job?”
“Yes. It’s okay, right? I mean, Ms. Moore said she talked to you about it.”
“It’s fine. And I think you deserve a vacation.” Vivian considered for a moment. “I think you can even have a vacation from . . . schoolwork!”
Rachel just stared. She never got vacations from schoolwork. “Mom!”
“Just be sure that on Monday evening you’re back at it right after you finish at the greenhouse. When you get to college, I don’t want you to be behind the others. Understood?” Vivian spoke in a stern voice, which dissolved into a giggle when Rachel saluted and said, “Understood, yes, ma’am!” in her best military voice.
“I’ll still go with you tomorrow though, okay?”
“Sure, honey. I’ll be leaving tomorrow afternoon. You can take the morning for whatever you want. Just be sure you stay out of trouble.”
THE NEXT MORNING, after she tidied up the breakfast dishes, Rachel decided to take a book and a picnic and spend some time outside. The book was one she had checked out from the Bensen library during the last trip she made with her mother. A real book, about orchids. She would have to return it soon and she hadn’t had much time to read it. She packed some cheese, a bottle of water, and an apple, and set out.
The Property covered ten acres, and Rachel had not explored it all. Vivian had always told Rachel that she must not venture outside the area Jonathan maintained around the buildings. That included the main house, the garage, the greenhouse, and the guesthouse, and it was over three acres in all. Plenty of room for all kinds of imaginary kingdoms and games. Meadows surrounded most of the lawn, gradually giving way to forest. One of Rachel’s favorite places was the west meadow, where a stream flowed into a small pool. She decided to go there.
There were late summer flowers springing up along the stream’s banks, and Rachel could hear a frog croaking somewhere in the reeds as she approached. It fell silent as she settled into the nook of a tree stump near the tiny pool. Her back fit into the stump’s curve perfectly. From this seat she had dreamed up countless diversions for herself when she was younger.
She looked around at the meadow
CHAPTER 7
R ACHEL!” VIVIAN INHALED deeply as she kicked off her shoes. She was back from Bensen and Ms. Moore’s supplies were all put away, so she was done for the day. “Did you make dinner again?”
“Yes. I thought you would probably be tired since you had to lug all the supplies around by yourself today. I’m sorry I couldn’t go help.”
“You had enough to do at the greenhouse today.” Vivian inhaled again. “Whatever that is, it smells delicious.”
“It’s that rice dish you made, the one with the asparagus, remember?” Rachel pulled out a chair at the table for Vivian and made an exaggerated, sweeping gesture. “Have a seat, milady.”
“Oh, this is so nice.” Vivian sank into the chair. “Especially nice, because I have to go back to Bensen again tomorrow. Most of the vendors had nothing today. Another transit breakdown. So none of their shipments were delivered. It seems like every other week one of the transit vehicles breaks down or the refrigeration malfunctions and everything is ruined. So much for government efficiency.”
“I can go with you and help tomorrow. Ms. Moore gave me vacation until Monday.” Rachel put the bowl of rice casserole on the table and sat down. “She had me over for a meeting today.”
“I thought she might.” Vivian tried to look innocent, but when she saw Rachel’s face, she laughed.
Rachel swatted at her with her napkin. “You could have warned me. I thought I was going to get fired!”
“Fired? Why would she fire you? You’re doing very well at the greenhouse.”
“I don’t know.” Rachel shrugged. “You know how she is—hard to tell what might make her mad.”
“Did you take the job?”
“Yes. It’s okay, right? I mean, Ms. Moore said she talked to you about it.”
“It’s fine. And I think you deserve a vacation.” Vivian considered for a moment. “I think you can even have a vacation from . . . schoolwork!”
Rachel just stared. She never got vacations from schoolwork. “Mom!”
“Just be sure that on Monday evening you’re back at it right after you finish at the greenhouse. When you get to college, I don’t want you to be behind the others. Understood?” Vivian spoke in a stern voice, which dissolved into a giggle when Rachel saluted and said, “Understood, yes, ma’am!” in her best military voice.
“I’ll still go with you tomorrow though, okay?”
“Sure, honey. I’ll be leaving tomorrow afternoon. You can take the morning for whatever you want. Just be sure you stay out of trouble.”
THE NEXT MORNING, after she tidied up the breakfast dishes, Rachel decided to take a book and a picnic and spend some time outside. The book was one she had checked out from the Bensen library during the last trip she made with her mother. A real book, about orchids. She would have to return it soon and she hadn’t had much time to read it. She packed some cheese, a bottle of water, and an apple, and set out.
The Property covered ten acres, and Rachel had not explored it all. Vivian had always told Rachel that she must not venture outside the area Jonathan maintained around the buildings. That included the main house, the garage, the greenhouse, and the guesthouse, and it was over three acres in all. Plenty of room for all kinds of imaginary kingdoms and games. Meadows surrounded most of the lawn, gradually giving way to forest. One of Rachel’s favorite places was the west meadow, where a stream flowed into a small pool. She decided to go there.
There were late summer flowers springing up along the stream’s banks, and Rachel could hear a frog croaking somewhere in the reeds as she approached. It fell silent as she settled into the nook of a tree stump near the tiny pool. Her back fit into the stump’s curve perfectly. From this seat she had dreamed up countless diversions for herself when she was younger.
She looked around at the meadow
Similar Books
