***
Donna smiled as she watched Kristen run away. Kristen and Matt would be all right now. Donna sat down on the bench gazing at the garden. The design was really quite artistic. The garden was nestled against the rise of a hill, facing southeast. A small dry creek wound its way from the top, twisting and turning with occasional small drops to the bottom of the slope, where it disappeared behind a bush. Donna suspected that the creek was actually a plumbed fountain with a recirculating pump. The small drops in the creek would become cascades, splashing the rocks below.
Donna could see the sharp blades of iris leaves piercing the soil near the creek. Evergreen rhododendrons would give a beautiful bloom before long. Junipers and other dwarf evergreens gave shape to the garden even in the winter. Cindy was a very talented gardener.
Donna wondered if Cindy and Ross could see their daughter and all that was going on in her life. Sitting here in Cindy’s garden, Donna seemed to sense their presence. Well, Ross, Cindy, I’ve done what I can. The rest is up to Kristen and Matt.
Donna shook herself. Okay, she had things to do. First, she needed to book her flight home. She went inside to find the number of the airline.
“I’m sorry; we have no seats available on Sunday morning. We do have a seat on the last flight out, 6:00 p.m. Sunday night.”
“Okay, I’ll take that one.” Donna decided that was better anyway. She would have a chance to go hiking or to the planetarium or something on Sunday before she left. Maybe she should check out some of the brochures she picked up at the visitor information center. Then she remembered she had a date to get ready for tonight and a dinner to plan. She wondered if Blake liked strawberries.