Darlene couldn't sleep, rolling from side to side. She jumped out of bed and opened the window. Not scared of a wolf or a werewolf jumping at her again, she opened it wider and leaned out. Staring into the night. A slight wind was blowing lukewarm air into her face. It was somewhat cooler than the air in her stuffy bedroom.
The day was supposed to end perfectly, but it didn't. Why did her mother bring up Linda's name? She was going to tell Sandy about her eventually.
They were so different from each other. Sandy was more relaxed, not always busy working. Linda was constantly busy, buried in her work. There was no time for them to sit down and relaxed with a glass of wine, or just chatting.
Darlene yawned and stretched her arms as far above her head as she could reach. Perhaps she should get some sleep. It's after one already.
She had a sudden urge, to hear her girlfriend's voice again.
Linda always left for work just after seven; she could go down to the water tower and call her before then.
She set the alarm for half past five. The sun would be up by then.
After an hour or so, Darlene finally fell asleep.
When the alarm buzzed a few hours later, she was dazed from too little sleep and dismissed the alarm. Dozed off again, only to wake two hours later.
She jumped out of bed shrieking when she noticed the time. Dressed in a hurry, ran down the corridor and through the kitchen.
"Where are you hurrying to, child?"
"Sorry Gramps, I don't have time to chat. See you later for breakfast!"
Pete stared at his granddaughter as she barged through the back door. He kept watching her from the kitchen window and rubbed his chin.
The only times she went near the water tower, was to make a cell phone call to Linda. It had to be very important for her to rush off like that.
Martha entered the kitchen through the back door. "Why are you spying on your granddaughter? Shame on you."
Pete jerked around with fright. "Martha! Do you have to sneak up on me?"
The old woman shook her head while laughing. "But the mesh door banged against the doorframe. How did I sneak up on you? You are feeling guilty, Mister Pete."
"Argh! Nonsense." He moved away from the window and sat down at the table again.
"I'll just have toast for now. Darlene said she would be back soon. Then we'll have breakfast together."
Martha nodded and popped four slices of bread into the toaster. She set the table and glanced at the frowning old man in front of her. "Something wrong, Sir?"
"I just hope Darlene is not going to do something stupid."
The bread popped up. Martha took it out of the toaster. She kept a slice for herself and put the other three in front of Pete.
"I don't understand, Sir?"
"She rushed out of here, to phone Linda."
"Well, that's a good thing, isn't it?"
Pete sighed and looked at his domestic servant. "I'm afraid she will break up with her over the phone."
"Sir, you are simply being silly now. Your granddaughter has good character. She will never do something like that over a damn phone!"
"I suppose you're right, Martha. But sometimes a person change."
"But why do you think she would do that?"
"Because she fell in love with Sandy!"
Martha's eyes enlarged. "Oh, I didn't know."
She glanced at her employer. "Can you believe how that kid grew up into something between the Hulk and Michael Jordan? So tall. And beefy!"
"Are you two talking about, Sandy?"
The two elder's heads jerked around. Darlene stood in front of the mesh door, staring at them.
"Can I start breakfast now, Miss Darlene?"
She nodded, pushed the mesh door opened and joined her grandfather at the table. "Linda is still coming this weekend!"
Martha turned around from where she stood at the stove and peered at Pete. "Mister Pete, how do you want your eggs? Hard baked?"
He frowned at her. Why asked him that, she knew he ate his eggs with the yolk still running.
He glanced at Martha and caught her eyes on him. Her eyebrow arched and her lips drew into a thin line. She stared at him then gently shook her head.
Pete shrugged and pulled a face at her.
"Martha, Gramps likes his eggs sunny side up. Did you forget?" Darlene sat at the table smiling. "I can't wait for this weekend!"
"I'm sure you can't, honey. I will make a special treat." Martha glanced at her employer. "For Linda." She puckered her lips when Pete looked up from his plate and kept staring at him.
"I'll be outside with my book, if you want to join me later, Gramps."
The two waited until Darlene left the kitchen and heard the front door shut.
"You can stop staring at me, Martha. I made a mistake. I know! But you didn't see how she looked at Sandy, when she was here for lunch. I thought –"
"You shouldn't make assumptions, you old grouser. Now get out of my kitchen. Not all of us can sit around thinking up nonsense."
Pete scooted out of the kitchen, before Martha booted him out with the broom she held in her hands. He headed out to where his granddaughter was sitting under the maple tree.
Darlene saw him approaching and put her book down. "Why have you never built a swimming pool, Gramps? Think how nice and cool that water could've been in this hot weather?"
"Why don't you go and swim at La Croc. You made friends with Sandy. I'm sure she will allow you to use the swimming pool."
Darlene smiled. "Maybe this weekend, when Linda's here."
"How are things between you and Linda?"
"If she would only give me all the attention she's giving her work. I would be the happiest woman in the world. Otherwise, we're doing great, Gramps. Why do you ask?"
Pete shook his head. "No particular reason. Glad you're still happy." He sat a while longer, before he got up and sauntered down to the vegetable garden.
He sighed as soon as he was out of reach. Glad he misinterpreted the glances and smiles between her and Sandy on Sunday. It's almost Christmas, he wouldn't want for anyone, he knew, to be heartbroken over the festive period.
Pete smiled when he saw, Sakhile, Martha's son, in the garden. "Look at how huge those butternuts have grown!"
"Morning Sir. Yes, aren't they beautiful? It's a pity the cucumbers are so small this year." The middle age man walked up to where the cucumber stools where climbing on their tendrils and exposed one of them for Pete to see.
"We can still use it, but not for selling this time." Pete walked through the rest of the vegetable garden. Proudly moving through each row of vegetables. The perfectly formed swollen out tomatoes still green in color, will soon change to red. Beautiful yellow patty pans, however small, but growing fast.
He passed Sakhile on his way out and tapped him on his shoulder. "Keep up the good work. The veggies look delicious. We will eat from it, soon."