Читать книгу The Orchard - Catherine Temma Davidson - Страница 8

Chapter 3

A Snake in Paradise

Just after Ventura, the road turned east, away from the ocean. Lisa headed toward the mountains. Before long, she reached Ojai.

The mountains surrounded Ojai like a wall. The orchards filled the valley and stretched up the slopes. They looked like a patchwork shawl on the valley’s shoulders. Lines of citrus trees formed squares that crisscrossed each other. Bright oranges and lemons speckled the dark green leaves.

Below the groves rested the little town. It looked like a postcard of California with its red-tile roofs and white-walled houses, its lush gardens.

The locals guarded Ojai’s charm like a treasure. No big buildings, no chain stores or malls were allowed.

Her grandfather used to say: “It’s no surprise that when they wanted to film paradise, the motion pictures chose Ojai.”

But every paradise has its snake, Lisa thought. As the road turned toward Santa Paula, she spied a large sign. It was for her cousin Ari’s garden center.