Chapter 30
brOKEN ESTATE
After that, my time only consisted of being at my shop.
Lollie and Ash would come by and see if I needed anything, but mostly, gave me my much-needed space.
My only true company was from Carya, my forever feline companion whose name will never change.
She was the only one not deceiving me, after all.
Even the birds put me on edge—they always had, but now I know why. And so, Carya really is the only one I can depend on in the end. Imagine that. Named by my subconscious, forever linking me to my promised and everything he represents without either of us having a clue.
It had been months since the truth seeped into me like that of encroaching rot seeping into a carcass the crows circle on the street—unwelcome and slowly taking over my whole being.
My visions and dreams have faded, thankfully.
But I entered a catatonic state of life, and didn’t want to know any more of the truth. That was until Cher called my shop.
Her breathless voice over the phone told me the estate was in shambles. Apparently, it had stormed repeatedly since I left. Cher, coming to check on me, saw I was gone and decided to keep an eye on it.
How she got the number of the shop, I do not know.
I had no plans of going back to that place.
But my bones ached with the sensation that I was yet again not making decisions of my own.
Once again, fear and stagnation were calling the shots.
I didn’t want that, and my soul started to spark to life again.
“You must come back, Jade. Don’t let your beautiful estate suffer. It’s absolutely broken without you. Plus, I miss you.” It was with those words that something in me snapped. I felt betrayed by two men, but I was betraying myself by hiding my worth and not living where I truly felt was my home.
My mother’s words came to me then about finding my worth and owning my power. Cher’s call rekindled something within that made me feel like I had a whole life ahead of me, as well as decisions to make.
I found myself again in a déjà vu like moment of packing up Carya, a few clothing items, some cherry brandy, and the fated jade ring that I couldn’t take off. I left a note on the table for Lollie and Ashton telling them I’m sorry I had to leave without a goodbye, but I needed to fix this.
The car my uncle left me, who apparently wasn’t even my uncle for that matter, sat patiently waiting for me to make my next move. So, I left—back to the estate that had changed everything.
Hours of driving and quite a few clove breaks later, a guilty pleasure that is now turning more into a habit, get me to my destination. I slept in the car at a rest stop, Carya curled up in my lap, before I made it the rest of the way, but I made it back.
Finally, I pull up to the house, anticipation digging its claws into my gut. The estate looks unremarkable. Nothing has changed that I can see from where I stare up through the front windshield.
Cher is waiting for me on the porch. She had insisted on camping out when I told her I would be on my way, and from the looks of it—she did exactly that.
Her dramatic embrace greets me like a long-lost friend, which isn’t that uncharacteristic of her personality.
But somehow, this feels truer than most.
“I need to show you something,” she exclaims. “And before you say anything, yes, the house is actually fine, but it has been storming, so I wasn’t completely lying.” So I was right in my assumption that the house looked just the same as I had left it.
“So what, you lied because you missed me?” I say, taken aback that she would lie to me and that she is so good at it, just like everyone else.
But her telling me the house was falling apart was not the real reason I drove back, and I know that.
The reason is deeper. The reason—a man I numbed myself not to think about these last few months.
“Well, actually my full name is Cherry, and that’s another part of my intentions in getting you back here. But I have something to show you first.” She says like it’s no big deal, leading me up to the front door of the estate.
That is when it dawns on me. Cherry. Like the tree. I have seen her before. Rarely, but I saw her there. I'm about to say something when she interrupts.
“Wait, please,” she pleads. “Just open the door and let me show you what I think you need to see.” And I do. Something in her eyes seems so desperate, but not in a scary way that I’ve come accustomed to with the other tree Beings that lurk around this town.
As we walk into the house, I let Carya free to wander and follow Cher, or Cherry, I guess it is. For the sake of my sanity, she will stay Cher to me. She leads me up the stairs and up to the attic, as if she knows this house like the back of her hand.
Once in the attic, she pulls a small door open I must have overlooked when I was too preoccupied clearing stuff out with Ry. He invades my thoughts again, awakening them to the feelings that remain unresolved.
“Watch your head,” she says as she bends down and disappears through the tiny door. I follow suit behind her, jaw dropping to the floor as I step into a room that holds the most magnificent art. Original art from the Romantic era that must be worth more than a small fortune.
I gasp silently at its beauty. I’d seen this art before on display in the room with all the windows.
The reflection of us dancing off its oiled surface.
I remembered the men instantly, because they were in almost every memory, but it took a moment to remember the other woman, until now.
It was Cher. Cher was with me and Que—and Ry.
And, as if knowing my thoughts, she bows, “I didn’t think I’d be that hard to forget,” she winks, “and like I said, most call me Cherry, as in The Rooted Realm of Cherry and Choice. And that is what I am here to help you do. Remind you that you still have a choice.”
“A choice about what?” I ask.
“A choice about your life, of course. And how you want to live it. It is yours after all, and your mother fought quite hard to make sure you have one…or more than one obviously.” She says with a flick of her hand, as if this is all perfectly normal.
“But aren’t you out to get me like all the other tree Beings? You are with Que constantly…he…” I say, hinting toward her obvious bias.
“Ah yes, he has played a part in a few of your demises. But can you blame him? It’s been you and Ry all along. Ry has never helped him find his promised, only parades his and yours around like a taunting bully. It was only right he played a game or two.” She says this all rather calmly.
I look at her in disbelief. His games ended in my death. And more than once. She doesn’t seem to notice my distress. She can’t be that insensitive, but what do I know of any of these Beings?
“He is the one suffering most, I mean, apart from you right now.” She looks at my confused face. “Wait, do you not know? You aren’t the only one, sweet girl. Que has a promised as well, and he swore an oath with Ry they would find her. An oath Ry hasn’t kept.” Another like me? The other ring.
“Que was close to finding her once, with help from you actually. Maybe that is why he has grown so smitten with you after all these centuries together.” The more I learn, the more I feel spited by the ones around me.
Cher continues on, not a care regarding the look of unease on my face.
“What happened to her?” I have a sudden uncontrollable need to save her from what I’ve been put through.
“It didn’t work out for him, obviously. They hid her away. I’m surprised she didn’t tell you, although in your heart I’m sure you know.” Cher tilts her head, intrigued with revealing this bit of information.
“She?” I ask.
“Yes, Magnolia,” she answers. “Or what is it you call her…Lollipop or something that?”
“Lollie?” I ask. I can see amusement in her eyes and how pleased she is with herself. She smiles slowly.
“Yes, Lollie,” she says, rolling the double l with her tongue. “She can be a mysterious one. But that makes her one hell of a mother. Although is she giving her daughter a choice? I’d probably have to disagree on that one.”
“Wait, Lollie has a daughter too…that was promised to Que?” I ask, confirming what I think I just heard. “She didn’t tell me.”
“Well, love, you don’t have the best track record for making decisions regarding yourself or her daughter for that matter.” Cher comes off cold then. She isn’t wrong, but I fight it anyway.
“No, that’s not true.” I say angrily, tears brimming my eyes.
“It is dear. But you are far from her now. You have a choice. So, what will you choose?” She asks, then pauses, ducking out of the short attic hideaway. Have I ever really had a choice?
“Call if you want to get a drink. I’ve been needing some more excitement around here, and you are sure to deliver,” she says in her singsong voice and breezes out the door of The Rooted Realm Estate. The name of this giant place taking on a whole new meaning.