The night was cool as water when the ringing of a cell phone broke the silence. Amelia Clarke groggily glanced at the time—it was not yet one in the morning.
"Hello?" Her voice was thick with sleepiness.
"Amelia, I've got great news!" Viola Harris's voice was exuberant, "I've left Peony Garden!"
Amelia mumbled a response, then suddenly snapped to attention, "You left Peony Garden? Did something happen?"
Her speaking voice wasn't loud, but in the dead silence of the night, any sound seemed magnified many times over, even a quiet conversation could disturb someone's sleep.
Especially those who were light sleepers.
Rosy Mone was woken up and, irritable, kicked the bed frame fiercely, growling, "Who's making noise in the middle of the night? Can't people sleep?!"
Amelia got out of bed and walked into the bathroom, closing the door behind her.
Viola, on the other end of the phone, was very animated as she described her night's ordeal to Amelia.
