Raising an eyebrow, she listened to Joe’s offer of gratitude and smiled. Few of the students ever thanked her, but as they grew and needed her less and less, it seemed as if they appreciated her more and more. “It’s what I’m here for, dear,” she replied, moving her head slightly to cast a shadow over her eyes. The quickest way to a person’s heart was through their stomachs, and Gertrude captured their stomachs a long time ago.
Nodding, she placed the tomato into her basket, saying, “I planned for most of the prom-goers to wake up late.” Later, rather, than when they normally drag themselves out of bed. Inspecting her basket, she concluded she had gathered enough vegetables for the variety of brunches hungry hormonal adults would need. “I’ll probably have a dozen sandwiches in a half an hour,” she said, mostly to herself, before taking the basket and rising. Her knees had left an indentation in the dirt. “I’ll set aside yours and Will’s so they don’t get snatched up,” she promised with a wink, adding, “You know where I’ll be,” if he still needs help, before touching his arm gently and beginning to walk back to the mansion.