Chapter 7 #2
Escorted by the mayor, we breeze down the hallway and into a large room lined with wooden folding chairs.
A curved table with leather rolling chairs rests on a dais at the front of the room.
The mayor strides down the center aisle with confidence.
Her wide-legged pants flow out around her.
The playful, burned-orange color pops with her sienna-colored skin.
Her cream ruffled top is tucked into her high-waisted trousers.
A cloud of thick curls frames her heart-shaped face and shoulders.
Gray liberally peppers her silken tresses.
Smile lines around her eyes and mouth hint at her actual age.
In her mid-sixties, she appears to age abnormally slowly.
At the front of the room, she walks up the stairs and into the main area. “I want to thank everyone for being here. This wouldn’t be possible every year without help.”
Squealing tires and metal against metal explode outside, silencing the chatter. Yells of confused voices follow immediately. Feet pound across concrete. occurring outside, violent noises. My heart leaps in my chest. Something awful just happened.
The others run out the door and down the hall to the main lobby. I spot the crash through the gaps visible when the wooden doors swing open. I look at Korren and pause. His glazed-over eyes and pale face leave him appearing haunted. Rooted to the spot, his body has a nearly imperceptible shiver.
“Korren?”
His head turns to me as if he’s swimming through molasses. “Y—Yeah.” He nods jerkily. The stunted movements raise alarm. I reach for his hand, and stop, pulling back, afraid to touch him. Pale and trembling slightly he stares at me with glazed over eyes.
“Let’s go outside,” I whisper. He’s clearly spooked. I don’t want to make it worse.
“Right.”
Following me like a zombie, he appears to be on autopilot.
Outside, smoke billows from under hoods folded up like accordions.
Korren’s chest rises and falls quickly. A crowd swarms around us, jostling our bodies as they try to get a better look.
He pulls out a coin and flips it between his fingers.
The anxious energy coming off him is at odds with his usual Zen. This is wrong.
“Hey.” I place a hand on his arm.
Flinching, he looks at me. “Huh?”
“Why don’t we go to a spot with fewer people?”
He nods, still looking dazed. I drop my hand and go toward one of my favorite spots. “I have a place I like to go when things get too hectic and loud.” We walk down the street away from the madness.
The sounds of chaos fade into the background. When we reach Stargrove Falls, we pass underneath wooden archways with vertical slots that give the impression of traveling through a tunnel to another universe. Stress seems to melt away.
“This always helps me when I need to find peace or ground myself.”
Hooking my thumbs into my belt loops, I glance at him.
Still tense, he’s gained more color in his face.
Clenching and unclenching his fists. I see him struggle.
I don’t know what triggered him about the accident, but it was earth-shaking.
His expression will stay with me. Is this what he hides behind his cheerful facade?
I have so many questions and zero answers. We exit the arch, and I take him to the stone circle that leads us into the moon garden.
“Each space here has a theme. The center is a playground with swings and play sets. There are tons of tall trees for picnics, and a small pond. This is for night visitors.”
“Night visitors?” he repeats.
“You’ll see.” We pass through the massive stone circle, and I inhale the rich scent of moonflowers. The large white blossoms look fake. Winding through an iron trellis, the blooms beg to be touched. I walk over and breathe deeply. I feel Korren’s presence behind me.
“What is this place?” he asks.
I soak up his wonder and awe. “It’s called a moon garden. Built for those of us who come alive when the sun goes down.”
“Are you like that?”
I’m relieved to see life returning to him.
“I do some of my best work at night. It’s like I get a second wind and gain creative clarity.
Maybe it’s the quiet, slower pace.” Continuing my walk, I admire the white stones that create a crescent moon.
Aromatic lavender, rosemary, and thyme stretch up, waiting to be trimmed and harvested. Nothing goes to waste here.
“What are those?” Korren points at the lavender-colored flowers hanging down from thin branches.
“That’s wisteria.”
He makes a sound low in his throat. “My mom had them in her backyard growing up.”
I walk over to the curved wooden bench. “Let’s sit for a minute?”
“Shouldn’t we get back?” Seeing him fiddling with his fingers, I make a split-second decision.
“Nah. It’ll take them time to get that mess sorted.
He lowers himself next to me. Sniffing, he looks around. “Suddenly, it smells like roses. But I don’t see any.”
“That’s part of the lore. This is a special bench. They say sitting here gets you to remember something you’d forgotten.”
“What do you remember?” He asks. His green eyes are wide with wonder as he leans in, mouth slightly parted, and head tilted like a child waiting to be read a story. I prefer this version of him.
My mind recalls a sunny day outside the house.
The jingle of the ice cream truck coming down the street is music to our ears.
Squealing, I dance around on the hot concrete in front of the store.
With the water from the sprinklers earlier back home long evaporated, it’s a perfect time for a cool treat.
“A time I’d forgotten with family.” In all my anger and hurt, I’d forgotten about the love I have for this space. “And you?”
His lips quirk up. “An afternoon with a former friend reminded me that not every memory before our parting was bad.”
“Is that a good thing?”
He shrugs. “I’m not sure yet.”
“Fair enough.” I lean back into the seat, allowing the silence. My phone vibrates. I pull it out. “Meetings back on. You ready to head back?”
“I think I am.” He hesitates. “About earlier…”
“Don’t. It was nothing.” I can’t handle his thanks. I won’t kick a man when he’s down.
Nodding his agreement, he drops it. Rising, we leave the odd moment in the garden behind, but I know, like it or not, things have changed between us.