When Dylan asked what was wrong, she answered levelly that she’d twisted her ankle exploring a less-frequented part of the property; but she hadn’t been limping when she walked into the house. Her grandmother offered to look at the injury, Aira said she’d rest a little while instead, that it wasn’t badly injured, it just hurt. Dylan watched her limp down the hall and wondered what was really going on.Dylan thought Lorene was different too as the older woman went outside to inspect the plants he and Aiden had went about the county to retrieve from different nurseries and friends. Lorene examined the plants in detail, bending over and leaning in close, her wrinkled hands carefully and delicately tracing over leaves and blooms as a contented smile formed on her face, It was the softest, most beautiful expression Dylan had ever seen on the elderly woman. He smiled to himself just seeing her delight—the clear and present love she felt towards the plants. She sighed and straightened.
