A month went by during which routines began to be established. A white board had to be pinned up in the kitchen so anyone needing a ride into London could see who was likely to be heading that way.
Jannice bought a first aid kit and declared she would take a course in health related issues.
Honor searched online for a bargain set of outdoor furniture and found an expensive collection, unsold from the previous summer, which the vendor was anxious to remove from his London premises in order to make space for new models. Honor negotiated a good price, inclusive of delivery and set-up and a two year warranty. Once this was accomplished, the benefits of the patio and the easy access to the basement walk-out were obvious. Honor enjoyed the company and installed a coffeemaker on a spare desk for the enjoyment of those relaxing outside.
Spring moved smoothly into summer and the grass began to grow apace. Mavis had pottered around in the raised beds planting seeds and cleaning out weeds but she was aware more had to be done. The remnants of the spring bulb display had to be dealt with before too long.
When the tall young man arrived early one morning while she was bent double picking persistent weeds from the pathways, she greeted him as a long-lost friend.
“Mrs. Ridley was kind enough to mention your front lawn needs trimming. I’m Andy Patterson. I’m a private contractor and I set out this garden some time ago. I do lawn maintenance and snow removal and I have my own equipment. If you need me at any time, here’s my card.”
Mavis almost kissed him. He was not only useful, but decorative, in his overalls with Green Gardens on a patch on the back, and he was quite the most handsome man she had ever seen up close. He had green eyes, slightly darker than Mavis’s own, the kind of long, dark lashes that are desired by every woman born, and an even tan, indicating his outdoor lifestyle. His dark hair was short and his entire presence was workmanlike.
“When can you start?”
“Well, I do all the gardens in the crescent here. I usually come on a Wednesday, if that suits you?”
“Perfectly!”
“But we haven’t discussed my rates.”
“I am not in a position to quibble about that, young man. I need your help. Could you possibly manage the front lawn today, just so Mrs. Ridley won’t complain?”
He knew she was joking but he also knew the lady in question and her little snide remarks.
“I think I can for that for you, Mrs …………?”
“Oh, call me Mavis. I am so pleased to meet you, Andy. Bring your contract next week and thank you a million times on behalf of all at Harmony House.”
She offered her somewhat weed-stained hand and felt the strength of his grasp. He had the large hands and large booted feet of a typical tall fellow. She watched as he went back through the gap in the hedge to fetch his lawn mower. When he was gone she ran indoors, kicked off her garden shoes and nipped into the elevator in case she spread dirt inside the house.
She found her housemates in the kitchen enjoying the first coffee of the day.
“Hello and good morning,” she announced. “Please bring your coffee along to the front porch. There’s someone special I want you to see. He is going to be a fixture here very shortly and you need to get the full impact today.”
This did not sound at all like the normally low-key Mavis. No one argued. They trooped along the passage to the front doors and out onto the covered porch where old wicker chairs had recently been found and brought home from a country auction house.
“What are we supposed to be looking at?”
“Wait one minute and you will see,” Mavis replied. She had an air of suppressed excitement such as Hilary had never seen since before Peter died.
There was an indrawn breath when Andy appeared on a riding mower trailing a wagon filled with rakes and bags and garden implements. He jumped down and detached the trailer, setting it aside on the path out of the way and then, suddenly realizing he was being watched, he raised his hand in greeting and said ‘’Hi ladies!” without a trace of embarrassment.
No one said a word while they watched him begin to carve straight lanes up and down the front lawn.
Finally, Jannice broke the silence.
“Where did you find him, Mavis?”
“Let’s say he just popped into our lives for the foreseeable future.”
“Well then, I thought our Harmony House was perfect but now I realize it needed one last special feature and today it has arrived.”
“Oh, Vilma!” was the cry.
They knew she was right. A weekly dose of young and handsome Greek God was the final touch to make Harmony House absolutely perfect.