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“The gnomes look wonderful. It brings me back to when I was a child and we had them in our garden.”
The gray-haired lady gazed out of the window at her rear garden. She sat in a wheelchair in the bright, sunny room, wearing cotton slacks and a blouse in matching violet.
Four gnomes in various spots near the freshly mown lawn seemed to smile at them as they peeked out behind white petaled Morning Glory, golden California Buttercups, and blue California Lilac.
“How can I thank you?” their new friend Iris asked.
“We don’t need to be thanked.” Zoe grinned.
“It was fun choosing one for you,” Lauren added.
“Brrt,” Annie agreed.
Lauren would much rather think about the gnomes brightening up Iris's garden than their close call with Donna.
Mitch had arrested Donna, since Detective Castern had been in Sacramento interviewing her sister Barbara, when Lauren made the emergency phone call requesting help.
Donna’s broken hand was taken care of at the same time she was arrested. Mitch assured them afterward that she’d made a full confession and would be in jail for a long time.
After the gnomes were delivered, they’d picked up Martha, who directed them to her friend’s house. After placing the gnomes in the garden, they’d rung the doorbell, hoping to surprise the elderly lady. It worked.
“You’ve been so kind to me.” Iris sighed. “I don’t know what else to say.”
“Your pleasure is thanks enough,” Mitch said gruffly.
Lauren smiled at him. He was a good one, all right. He’d mowed the small lawn without a second thought, finding the vintage push reel machine in the shed and using it to cut the overgrown grass while she, Annie, Zoe, and Martha debated where to place each gnome.
“Four gnomes isn’t as good as the six I had in mind, but it’s still pretty good,” Martha told her pal.
“You’re a great friend, Martha.” Iris patted Martha’s hand.
“Thanks.” Martha beamed. Her gaze collided with Lauren’s, Zoe’s, Annie’s, and Mitch’s. “These guys are good friends too – all of them.”
“I can see that they are.” Iris smiled at all of them. “Thank you – all of you.”
“To old friends – and new.” Lauren’s eyes became the tiniest bit misty.
“Brrt!”
The End
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