Chapter Thirty-One
Isla was too wired to be in her room. Unpacking could wait. She was walking along the row of remaining carts, trying to match the number on the cart with what was written on the key tag in her palm, when she literally bumped into someone, and a clump of fresh mulch was dumped on her feet.
“Well, damn,” she mused, looking at her feet.
“I’m sorry,” a voice said, “I didn’t expect anyone to be standing there.”
Isla looked up to see a pair of jeans-clad legs, heavy tan work boots, and the tail of a flannel shirt.
The rest of the person was obscured by a very large bag of mulch.
He set the mulch down with a grunt and a thump, revealing the rest of him to be a man in his forties with a weathered face and a dismayed expression as he studied the mess he’d caused.
He made a move, preparing to dust Isla’s shoes clean.
“Oh no, I got it.” She waved away his hand and kicked her feet as clean as they were going to get.
He got a better look at her. “Are you lost, Miss . . .”
“Isla. I’m new, and staff, so forgo the formalities.” They straightened. He was striking, with salt-and-pepper stubble and what she thought were kind dark-brown eyes. “I’m here to document Mr. Corrigan for the award he’s getting next month.”
Recognition hit. His eyebrows rose, and his look turned inquisitive. “So you’re the one.” He cracked a smile. “The guest Mrs. Corrigan relegated to staff. Ouch.” He finished, chuckling.
Isla looked away in embarrassment. The last thing she wanted to be was the talk of the estate. “News gets around quick. Geez.”
“This place may be huge, but people talk, and anything that disturbs any of the Corrigans spreads like an epidemic.”
It was an interesting choice of words. Negative and hinting that man wasn’t a fan of gossip, like Lisa and Doris, and that the talk was negative.
She stuck out her hand.
He hesitated initially, conscious of his dirt-smudged hands, but overcame his consideration and took hers in his calloused hand. She matched his firm shake and offered him a smile. She didn’t know why, but she felt at immediate ease with this guy, whose name he still had not revealed.
“I’m Lawrence. Head groundskeeper on the property, and apparently a newly ordained shoe dirtier. Welcome to the circus that is King’s Vinings Estate.”
Had a sense of humor too. She appreciated that.
She agreed. “It’s definitely quite the place from what I’ve seen and experienced already.”
Lawrence nodded, glancing in the direction of the main house. “Yes, I’ve heard that too. Mrs. Corrigan, right? You should be careful around here and with the Corrigans. They can be nice one moment and turn the next. Even on each other.”
Lawrence was solemn as he spoke, his words nothing like Doris and Lisa’s lighthearted banter earlier. She didn’t get the sense that he was gossiping, more that he was warning. Or preparing her for what was to come.
Isla nodded. “Got it. Any exceptions to that warning?”
“Not a warning.” Lawrence thought about it. “Consider it advice. Advice from an old hat to the new.”
“Advice,” she reiterated.
He scratched at his stubble, taking her question into deep consideration. This was a person who didn’t speak without thinking. One who held his cards close and kept his head down. She noted that too.
He said, “Maybe the youngest not so much. But she’s rarely around now that she’ll be going back to school soon.”
“What about Myles?”
“What about him?”
“Any insight?”
Lawrence shook his head, amused. “That’s all you’re going to get out of me, Miss Lucky Lady.” He moved the mulch against the trunk of an oak, propping it so it wouldn’t fall over, and dusted his hands on his jeans.
“Why do you call me that?”
Lawrence gave her a look that said she should get serious. “Let’s just say you should play the lotto, as lucky as you are to get this gig the way you did. We’ve all heard about it.”
“Could I interview you about Victor to get some insight on him from your perspective? It would be invaluable.”
He scoffed. “How would you know it’s invaluable? We just met two minutes ago.”
She tapped near the bottom of one of her eyes, grinning mischievously. “I have a good eye for these things.”
Lawrence made a face like he didn’t believe her but was just humoring her. Isla bet Lawrence did this often with the people he worked with and for.
“I’ll think about it while you go around a bit. I’ll be interested to hear what your good eye uncovers.”
Isla paused. Another interesting choice of words. Very deliberate from someone who spoke very purposefully. She looked at the key again and did a sweep for the matching cart.
“I was going to go around and get the lay of the land, but I’m having an issue with finding the right cart.”
“I think walking gives you more perspective and appreciation for the grounds. I can show you around to some key places you probably haven’t seen yet.”
Isla nodded, slipping the key in her back pocket and hoping no one would come looking for it anytime soon.
Lawrence led Isla down a gravel path while pointing out where the maze of curved pathways would lead her.
“I have a map of the property that I’ve drawn up that I can make a copy of for you if you like.
It’s nothing official. Just helped me when I got here and throughout the years as the estate has expanded out.
What I mean is that you have the main property that’s been developed, and then we have what’s beyond the gates and back fencing of land that belongs to the Corrigans but has yet to be built upon.
You likely won’t need anything out there. Can be dangerous.”
Isla nodded and walked, taking everything in, glad Lawrence felt comfortable enough to chat with her, let alone be her tour guide.
Ahead of them loomed a large glass structure nestled among the thatch of live oaks, pines, and cedar trees.
Its steepled glass roof stood higher than anything around, and Isla couldn’t help, for the second time since being at the estate, staring in awe.
As they neared and she was able to see through the large panes of glass inside, she glimpsed how vibrant plants and flowers bloomed and loomed and gave off a heady mix of sweet and spiced fragrances. Breathtaking, just from out here.
“The current Mrs. Corrigan likes to take credit for it, but it was the first Mrs. Corrigan’s brainchild.
But when she became ill and eventually passed, a former employee named Elise worked on it and made it what you see today.
Before my time, though. I heard about it, since I often need to tend to it.
Mrs. Corrigan likes to bring guests around to admire it. ”
Isla mumbled, “Like another piece of her jewelry.”
Lawrence coughed, and she realized she’d spoken out loud. She had to watch out for that.
Isla redirected from her embarrassment. “Former employee? Elise?”
Lawrence glanced at her as they slowed to a stop at the solarium. “Mm-hmm. But like I said. Before my time.”
“And how long have you been working for the Corrigans?”
Lawrence studied her, taking time to answer. He was doing the same thing she was doing. Figuring her out. Her angle. “Little over ten years. Maybe eleven. Elise had already been gone for a long time prior to that, but her daughter Edie was here when I started.”
Isla ignored the tightness in her chest and forced herself to keep her tone light and casually curious.
“Edie. I heard brief mention of her, but I don’t see anything about her anywhere.
And it seems like the family doesn’t want to discuss her.
Was she some kind of black sheep or something?
” Isla held her breath, hoping she didn’t look too eager for just a little bit of information that might hold the key.
Again Lawrence scrutinized her. “Edie left to live with her mother about a year after I got here. That’s all I know.”
Isla made a Gotcha gesture. “You said gossip spreads like an epidemic. You should know all the details.”
Lawrence mimicked her, breaking into a grin. “Touché. But unfortunately I was too new to the grounds and determined to keep my job to pay much mind to gossip and rumors.”
Isla looked at the solarium, now with even more respect.
Things she knew of the mother and daughter connecting little by little.
Of course Elise would have something to do with this greenhouse.
It explained the care she had taken tending the small garden she’d had in her modest backyard.
And it explained Eden’s name. Isla wondered if anyone knew the meaning of Eden’s name.
She wondered if Victor knew. She’d have to find out.
“Sounds like she was very talented,” Isla said.
“She was. I didn’t have to do much when I got in there, it was that well kept. She cared about this place the most.”
Isla believed it. She’d witnessed the type of care Elise was capable of herself.
Lawrence started walking farther down the pathway while Isla lingered for a moment, taking in the building’s beauty and its significance.
She finally made herself move, walking fast to catch up to him and half listen while he pointed out some other landmarks and the quickest way to get to the main house from staff housing.
Isla tried to remember it all, but she would be glad to get that copy of the map when Lawrence had the chance.
They parted ways where they’d started, having made a large loop. Lawrence hefted up his bag of mulch and adjusted it to a comfortable position while Isla watched him.
“Thanks again for taking me around and speaking with me.”
He smiled. It was genuine, warm, even protective. “Of course. Staff look out for each other here. There’s staff, the company employees, and them.”
“Them?” Isla frowned, trying to keep up.
“The Corrigans. Each faction always looks out for themselves first, especially the Corrigans. Remember that, and you should be okay.”
It was the best piece of advice that Isla could have received.