After this explanation, they began to get to work. Grandma plunged into showing Kelsee the proper groundskeeping duties. She showed her which plants to prune, weed, trim, and which ones only needed a little attention. They worked together, with Kelsee doing the majority of the work. As the day went on, she found herself beginning to get into the rhythm of it. It was a lot of hard work. Sweat was running down her back and face, and her hands were becoming gritty with dirt and soil, but it was exhilarating. Finally, after weeks she felt like she had a purpose and that everything was coming together under her hands. She was in her element.

It was a few hours before Grandma called for a lunch break. Kelsee straightened, letting out a breath of air. She surveyed all that they had done, and felt a brush of pride upon seeing her work. They had made good progress.

"Well dear, I knew you were talented, but even you impressed me." Grandma said, tossing her a water bottle. Kelsee chugged it down and wiped the sweat from her forehead.

"I've said it before and I'll say it again, dirt runs in our veins."

Kelsee wrinkled her nose at that analogy. "I'm not sure that's the best saying Grandma."

"Oh, you know what I mean," Grandma said, waving a hand. "You always had a knack for gardening Kelsee. I knew you would be perfect to help me with this."

She smiled at that. It was rewarding to feel like she was good at something, and even better to be recognized for it. Who knew? Maybe she would have a future in groundskeeping herself. That sounded ten times more appealing than her last job.

"Hey Kelsee, I left our sandwiches back at the entrance. Could you go and grab them for us?" Grandma asked.

"Sure." Kelsee got up and strode over to the entrance. They had packed tuna fish sandwiches for the day, and Kelsee had brought them in a blue cooler. It was currently leaning up against the right hedge wall, next to the gate. As she turned the corner to where it resided, she was met with a rather unexpected surprise.

Someone, a man, was standing on the outside of the gate. He was wearing a long leather trench coat and his blonde hair was spiked up like a porcupine. What really unnerved Kelsee, was that he was just standing there, silently peering in. When his eyes met hers, Kelsee found herself tense; his eyes were expressionless and were locked onto her with an unnerving intensity. They stared at each other for a second, not saying anything, before the man quietly slid away and disappeared from view.

Kelsee stared at the gate, now unblocked by the man's looming figure. Her heart, which had jumped into her throat, was now hammering like a jackhammer in her chest. What had that been all about? Who was that guy and why had he been staring through the gate? Her mind frantically began flittering around, trying to come up with a sensible answer. Maybe he had just been passing by and was curious. Yes, that was a good possibility. The mayor's garden did seem like a place that would attract a lot of attention.

But still, there was something about him that didn't sit right with Kelsee, and she didn't know how to address it.

Well, he's gone now, she reminded herself. Hopefully she wouldn't run into him again.

Trying to shake off her lingering nerves, she crouched down and grabbed the cooler. Her hands were shaking as she quickly strode back to where Grandma was.