The Garden

The light filtered and fluttered through the car window as the car took another bend before dunking them deep into the thick of the trees. Minnie looks at her hand and studies the little flecks of light that float in through the leaves. The car is quiet save for the breathing of her companion.

He seemed nice. He had a strong build and even in the shadows his hair seemed to attract the few beams light in the car and reflect it. A light spattering of freckles covered his sun worked skin—something his even his tailored suit couldn’t hide. He obviously spent most of his time outside. And if she looked close enough, she’d probably see the dirt crusted beneath his nails.

“You have done a very kind thing ma’am” he tilted his head slightly towards her, a small smirk playing across his lips.

“I technically didn’t do anything”

“You would have done the right thing” he nodded with blind sureness in his voice.

She wanted to tell the man that he didn’t know her and you don’t get points for thinking about doing the right thing. Thoughts about action don’t make you a hero but the words disappeared before through escape through her teeth. Instead, she found herself staring again through the car window and they settled back into their silence.

The rest of the ride seemed to stretch over the next two months and when they finally emerged from the forest Minnie’s lips fell open slightly

The space in front of them was huge. Had there been nothing there, it would still be impressive. It reached for miles in all directions and the forest hugged the edges in a lush border. A lonely home sat in the center, aged with time. Minnie could see the large pillars that rose up from the ground towards the sky.

But, all of this was nothing compared to the garden. There was no design, no intricate layout, just flowers thrown down thick like a blanket. Remnants of small pathways etched throughout, the flowers stretched lazily into the dirt. Benches and gazebos had long been consumed by nature. Long vines climbing and pushing through the wood. It was a beautiful chaos and still, it had all felt intentional.

“How” Minnie breathed against the glass.

“Put the right plants in the right places and a beautiful story will unfold”

She turned around and looked at the man. He looked thoughtfully at the garden, like a painter looking at his easel.

“Miss Eden is so excited to meet you” He continued, “She’s on the library.”

Minnie pulled her backpack into her chest.

“All I have to do is give this back and I can go home”

the man avoided her gaze, but gave a small smile and nodded his head.

“Of course”

—

The book looked like it had seen worse days. Eden took pity on the mangled thing and grabbed it, stowing it away in her coat. The water on the cover soaked into her shirt as she grimaced at the feeling. The book surely belonged to someone. And surely that person would be at least a slightly pleased to have it back.

Later when she returned home, she would run her the pink tips of her fingers along the cover and note the wrinkles and cracks that littered the surface of the book and sunk deeper than the rain that day could have ever reached.

—-

When the pair entered the library, a slender figure painted a dark silhouette against the light of the window.

“Ma’am”

She turned and stepped forward.

She was beautiful.

So beautiful Minnie felt a blush creep up her neck. Her long black hair dripped down her back in a waterfall and came down in a short half braid style. Her eyes were dark and sharp and her skin looked smooth and soft. She wore a simple white dress that ended at her knees. It was embellished with small lavender flowers and tied at her shoulders.

Her lips curved and parted

“My hero!” she bounded forward and embraced the shorter girl. Her voice was light and soft with a slight breathiness to it.

She pulled away and looked at Minnie expectantly

Minnie stared back for a moment before blushing in embarrassment and reaching down into her bag. She pulled out the little black book and pushed it towards the woman

She smiled and placed her hands gently on the book and rested there before taking it.

“Thank you,” she whispered, “you don’t know how much I’ve missed this”

She took a moment to flip through the pages littered with the same handwriting

Maybe it was a diary?

“Oh! Where are my manners.”

“Eden” she said with an outstretched hand, “Eden Aletris”

—

She decided not to read it. It was not hers, but she turned to the first page. Hoping to find a name or number.

The corners of the page curled in slightly, wrinkling from the soaking it had gotten earlier in the day, but surprisingly intact. Sprawled across the center, in neat slightly faded black ink was one word. A name.

Eden.

And faded number written. She took out her phone and called it.

No answer.

She left a short message and hung up.

They were probably sleeping. It would be a problem for another day.

—-

They sat facing each other in large armchairs in the library.

The sun was setting over the edge of the trees.

Minnie sunk into her chair and looked around nervously. They hadn’t said much since she arrived but looked at her almost constantly only speaking to ask random questions about her school, her life, her interests.

“Maybe,” she started slowly, “I should just go. It’s getting pretty later and I have sc—“

“Don’t forget your reward!” Eden smiled and pulled out a slip of paper and handed to Minne

“Oh I d-“

“I insist”

Minnie grimaced and reached forward and took the slip. It was a check. Addressed to her.

$20,000

“You’re joking?”

“I’m grateful,” she nodded before standing a greet a woman who entered the room

“Dinner is ready”

“Thank you Esther.”

The woman nodded and turned to leave. Her dress swaying behind her.

“You’re staying for dinner,”

Eden spoke looking down at Minnie. It almost sounded like a question if you tilted your head, but it made The hairs on Minnie arms stand up and her breath catch.

“I really shou—“

“Please,” Eden all but blurted, “ I must know more about your mother, the seamstress, Lola? Was her name?”

“I —“ Minnie froze and looked down at the slip of paper in her hand. Her heart pounding her chest.

“I guess I am a little hungry”

Eden smiled wide before grabbing her hand and the book before and pulling Minnie out of the room.

—

Bang bang bang

Minnie woke with a start and ran to the door. She peered through the hole and saw a lone man waiting patiently. He checked his watch before looking down the hallway and knocking again.

Leaving her lock latched, she opened her door and stared through the crack

“H-hello?”

“Hi there!” He said brightly, “I’m looking for a book”

Minnie look curiously at the man and he smiled

“Er. The black one.”

Oh

Minnie went to unlock the door then froze. How did he find her? She had only left a message?

“How did you find me?”

“I have connections?”

“That’s not comforting,” she grimaced and closed the door. Padding her way quickly to the room to retrieve the book and return. She pulled the door open and shoved the book through the crack roughly.

“Don’t come back.”

But he did.

—

Minnie had expected to sit and dine at a large table. The ones that were big enough to seat a family of twenty;however, they sat at a much smaller and intimate table designed for no more than four people.

“Do you like dogs?”

“What do you want to do for a living”

“Kids?”

“Do you have a boyfriend”

Question after question. There was no end to it. Minnie tried to her best to answer quickly and uninterestingly but there was no end. Everything was telling her she needed to leave. The sun was gone and here they were in the middle of the forest. God knows how far from the city. Alone in a house full of strangers.

“I really should be going”

“Why?”

Eden looked at her confused. As if it hadn’t occurred to her that Minnie might leave.

“I don’t belong here?”

“If you didn’t belong here then why would you be here?”

Because you brought me here!

Minnie wanted to scream and shout and shake this whole house down.

She stood up abruptly and stared coldly at the woman in front of her.

“It’s time I left.” And turned to leave through the door they came through but was stopped.

Eden grabbed her hand and pulled her roughly. Minnie turned around ready to defend herself but instead was faced with a look of pure desperation. Eden eyes were red and brimming with tears and she was breathing hard.

“Oh wait. I’m sorry. Let me,” she stammered and tumbled over her words as Minnie watched wordlessly.

“Are you,” she started slowly...

“Lonely?”

—-

She walked down the steps leading away from the college and sighed. It had been a long day. She had spent all day in the office trying to apply for another semester of financial aid but she knew she was running out of time.

She knew soon she would have to find another way to finish and her job she had now barey paid for her food and rent. There was no way she going to be able to pay tuition without getting a second job.

She reached the sidewalk and there in front of her was the man. She gasped and turned to run but her bounded after her

“Wait! Miss Morela! The owner of the book would like to give you reward!”

“No thanks!

“A very large monetary reward!”

“No thanks!”

“Twenty thousand dollars!”

She stopped dead in her tracks and turned around.

—-

“Am i?” She trailed off while turning around. She straightened herself out and looked passed the window and into the stars, “I don’t know I’ve been like this my whole life. I belong here.”

“That doesn’t really answer my question”

She hummed to herself and turned back towards Minnie, eyes still red and puffy.

“Probably.”

She walked over to the table and touched the book, running her fingers along the edge.

“Did you actually lose your book?” Minnie questioned still keeping her distance and keeping close to the door.

“No,” Eden admitted quietly, “Remy, my gardener, goes out and leaves the book places for people to find. He watches over it and wait for the people to call or try to return the book and if they do. He brings them here and they don’t. He simply retrieves the book and tries again.”

“Why?”

“So I May connect with them,” she whispered, voice barely audible, “without the danger of them being a stranger. The book is test. Once they pass. We spend the day together and I write their story in the book. Everyone get a different reward. All take it. Most leave and some, like Esther, Remy and everyone else here. Stay. Like me.”

She’s sitting now avoiding Minnie gaze. Her small hands gripping the edge of the little black book.

The moon drifts silently and they are quiet for days.

“I should go,” Minnie finally croaks and Eden nods silently.

—-

Eden waits by the door the light from the house framing her silhouette while Minnie steps in the car.

Minnie looks out into the garden the back towards the house before calling out.

“Maybe I’ll call you later?”

Eden smiles back before calling back

“I’d like that”