The Gardener of Aria Manor

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The Gardener of Aria Manor Page 31

by A. L. Duncan


  Janie joined Ilene on the back patio of Aria Manor, the memories of years past fading into the present. Ilene’s silver curls, gathered up gently now, shimmered in the midday sun and her face glowed with a tender smile. Sitting beside Ilene, Janie glanced over to the koi pond where the new head gardener was trying to fix the rusted fountain spout. The young woman swacked the base with her hammer and a flume of water knocked the gardener, Sandy, off her feet and dunked her in the pond’s shallow depths.

  Janie and Ilene laughed as she struggled to her feet, a lily pad atop her head.

  “Remind you of someone?” Janie asked, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes.

  Ilene shook her head. “She’s nothing like you, really.”

  “Oh? What do you mean?”

  “I’ve been watching her. She doesn’t seem very mischievous, does she?”

  “When was I mischievous?” Janie retorted. When Ilene’s eyes narrowed, Janie added quickly, “Oh, that trip to Istanbul was small potatoes.”

  Ilene only smiled. “Compared to the other times, yes.”

  “What did the hiring service say about this woman?” Janie asked, changing the subject.

  “Only that she’s an open book and dreadfully honest.”

  Janie shot her a puzzled glance. “And what’s wrong with that? I would think you’d find such qualities rather …refreshing. And Sandy is a wholesome kind of name.”

  Ilene sighed regretfully. “No secrets about her, I suppose.”

  “Nothing wrong with that.”

  “Oh, darling. You do know how I so love a good mystery.”

  About the Author

  An American author, A.L. Duncan won a teenage poetry contest at 14 from her local library, and has kept the embers of the writing craft burning quietly ever since. Dabbling in blogs, newsletters and papers for local and privately owned organizations, only recently has she decided to expand her horizons to publish the many works she has joyfully created. She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with her partner and writes fiction, where history makes cameo appearances, and poetry is nestled in nooks.

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