Earth Goddess

by Crystal Inman

  Chandler opened his mouth but shut it at May’s glare. He motioned with his hands to continue.

  “We were in the third year of the series. Shooting an episode where my character finds a young, wounded deer. Katie was supposed to nurse it back to health and then let it free.” May felt emotion well up inside her at the memory of riding Sunshine that last day. “I had a horse.” She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Her name had been Sunshine.” May closed her eyes. “I was supposed to ride her through the field and discover the fawn. I remember it being a beautiful day,” she murmured.

  A tear slid down her cheek, and Chandler gently brushed it away. “What happened, May?”

  “The crew hadn’t checked the field well enough.” May’s breath hitched in her throat. “We stumbled, and I tried to pull Sunshine to the other side so we could step away from the hole.” Her lungs burned. “But I couldn’t.” She shook her head. “I couldn’t move her where I wanted her.” The tears streamed down her face and fell on the top of the sheet.

  May stared at the wall in front of her. “She fell and rolled over on me. I hit my head on a rock and don’t remember the rest until I woke from my coma.” She rubbed the scar behind her ear. “My parents had Sunshine put down as the doctors operated on me.”

  Chandler put his arm around May’s shoulder and pulled her closer. He kissed the top of her hair and gently stroked it. “How old were you?”

  “Eleven.”

  He sighed. “Were your parents always so cold and inconsiderate?”

  May brushed the tears from her cheeks and looked up in surprise. “Why do you say that?”

  “If they destroyed something you loved so deeply while doctors were stitching you back together, they have serious problems.”

  She turned her face into his chest and breathed deeply of the scent that soothed her nerves. How could it have taken her so long to realize something Chandler tuned in to immediately?

  He stroked her hair and held her tightly. “Now tell me what that has to do with this William character and some business deal.”

  May turned her head to the side and pressed her ear to Chandler’s heart. “He’s the son of my old agent.” She rolled her eyes. “Apparently some cable network wants to do a life story on me. William wants me to sign, and he’ll represent me.”

  “And you don’t want to?”

  She lifted her head and arched an eyebrow. “I have reruns older than you, Chandler. My heyday took place decades ago and ended in tragedy. I don’t want to be the poster child for pathetic.”

  “You’re anything but.” Chandler dipped his head and kissed her softly. “Didn’t I tell you last night how remarkably put together you are?” His hand ventured down to cup her breast. “And I’m not just talking about your career.” He leered and rubbed his thumb over her nipple.

  May fought the urge to rub against him and purr like a cat. She moved his hand away and pulled the sheet up. “You also said dinner last night had been a bad idea. Do you still think so?”

  “I think all our future meals should be served in bed.” Chandler pulled the sheet back down and bent his head to take the hard nub into his mouth.

  “I have things to do,” May murmured and arched her back to give him better access.

  “So do I.”

  * * * *

  Two hours later, May stumbled out of bed and limped into the bathroom. She refused to look in the mirror and simply started her bath water. Chandler left half an hour earlier with the promise he would cook dinner for her at his house later. The cocky bastard actually whistled as he left.

  May shook her head and laughed. He should be cocky. Her body pleasantly sore and thoroughly loved. What happened to maintaining a distance between them? She added bath salts to her water and sighed. Nothing but a memory now. Nothing to do but wait it out and see what he had in mind. A little companionship? Hot role-playing sex?

  She turned off the faucet and eased into the hot liquid. The pain in her leg surprisingly mild in comparison to the sexual acrobatics she performed last night. But Chandler always took into consideration what might possibly pain her and where her body felt more comfortable.

  May washed up and stepped out of the tub with her mind set on the rest of her day. Last night had been last night. And this morning kind of felt like last night. She snickered. My God. What would this evening hold?

  She moved slowly into her bedroom and pulled out a pair of white and blue drawstring pants with a matching tank top. Her bra and panty set were a light blue background with a thousand white stars scattered across the fabric.

  Dressing took her a bit longer than usual, but she didn’t mind. Sure there were things to do, but she had plenty of time to get to each. Chandler said around seven. She had no doubt he would tap on her patio door and remind her.

  May walked down the hall and into the kitchen. Her stomach growled loudly, and she patted it. “Give me a second.”

  The colorful blooms stopped her in her tracks. Her new plant now held a deep cerulean bloom next to her fire-red one.

  “Oh, you’re gorgeous,” she murmured and moved forward to trace the delicate silken blossom. “I didn’t know such a stunner existed. But here you are.” Eden must have quite a gift for breeding plants.

  May turned and walked toward her cabinet when she heard a knock at her door. Nearly ten. Who in the world would come to visit her on a Saturday morning? Well, whoever it was would have to reschedule. She was damn near starving.

  May approached the front door and moved her hand up to rest on the alarm pad. She swung the door open and smiled in surprise.

  Eden stood there in a forest-green pantsuit and tank top. She smiled nervously. “May I come in?”

  “Sure.” May swung the door open and motioned her inside. “Make yourself at home.” Her stomach growled again, and May grimaced. “Let me grab a bite of something real quick, and we can talk.”

  Eden shook her head. “I didn’t mean to interrupt. I can come back later.”

  “Nonsense.” May shooed her into the kitchen. “Would you like something to eat? I’ll probably just toast a bagel.”

  “That would be nice.” Eden sat at the table and rested her hands on top. She twisted a large emerald ring on her finger around and around.

  May slid the bagel into the toaster and grabbed a diet soda from the refrigerator. “Would you like a drink?”

  “Tea, please.”

  She poured the tea in a glass and brought it to her guest. Then May slathered cream cheese on the bagels and brought them to the table on two plates.

  It felt odd to have one of the sisters in her house but not uncommon. Sometimes clients simply wanted to check in and make sure everything was all right.

  Eden took a bite of the bagel and chewed it slowly. She washed the bite down with the tea and sat there quietly.

  “Are you okay?”

  Eden’s head jerked up. “Why do you ask?”

  May frowned. “Just a feeling, I suppose. You seem tense.” She bit the inside of her cheek for a second and then continued. “Is it Clep?”

  Her guest’s brown eyes darkened. “It usually is. But not this time.”

  “He really likes you.” May took a sip of her soda and watched Eden’s face. Shocked would be an understatement.

  “He told you that?”

  May nodded. “During my examination.” She measured Eden’s reaction and pushed forward. “I hope you don’t think I’m being presumptuous, but I would say you two have a lot of history.”

  “That’s putting it mildly.”

  “He says you won’t listen to his heart.”

  Eden’s hand jerked, and she knocked the glass of tea onto the table. Before May could stand and grab a paper towel, Eden righted the glass and moved the tea back into it. Without touching it.

  May blinked. Then she touched the dry table and looked up at Eden. “Did I just see that?”

  “Yes.”

  “You just spilled and unspilled your drink.” The words mad
e the actions even harder to believe.

  “In a manner of speaking.” Eden stood and walked over to the plant she gave May. She stroked the silken leaves and then turned back around. “You asked me once before if we met previously, May Fairchild.”

  “Yes.” May’s heart raced, and excitement built within her. “It’s important, isn’t it?”

  “It’s essential, child.” Eden clasped her hands and looked deeply into May’s eyes. “My biggest regret is that I couldn’t save Sunshine.”

  May froze and simply stared. Her hands trembled in her lap.

  Eden smiled softly. “I broke the rules with you, you see. We’re not allowed to interfere. But your soul.” Her smile faded. “Your soul cried out to me.”

  May’s lips were numb. “I don’t understand,” she mumbled.

  “You hit the ground so hard that it fractured your skull and punctured your brain. Death was imminent. I mended the fracture and healed your head as best I could.”

  “Are you an angel?” May’s voice hoarse with emotion.

  “Oh, child.” Eden laughed softly and shook her head. “I’m simply myself.”

  “How could you heal me?”

  “We each have gifts,” Eden explained. “I used mine for your health.” She sighed. “I couldn’t mend your leg as I wished because the doctors would have been suspicious.”

  May pushed through the fog in her brain and latched onto a thought tightly. “You came to visit me in the hospital, didn’t you? Your voice called to me.”

  “I came to you each day and coaxed you from your permanent slumber. Your spirit shone so brightly within your broken body. I couldn’t let you slip away.”

  May stood shakily and moved toward Eden. Love surged through her and shook the foundation of who she was. A gift stood in her kitchen. A beautiful entity that chose May’s life over her teachings. She reached out and took Eden’s hands in hers. May brought them up and kissed each in turn while tears slipped from her eyes and fell heedlessly to the floor.

  “Thank you,” she whispered.

  “Oh, child.” Eden brought her closer and hugged her tightly.

  May inhaled deeply and smiled in complete peace. The fragrance she found so soothing in her garden wrapped around her and melted all her worries.

  Eden stepped back slowly. “I have completely mishandled this mission from the beginning. I thought the least I could do is to let you know how important you are to me.”

  May wiped her eyes. “What mission?”

  “I was to guide you to your happiness, child.” Eden spread her hands apart, and a single red rose bloomed between them. “I hoped to fulfill your heart’s desires while proving my capability.”

  “How have you botched anything?” May frowned. “All the cloak and dagger business must be hard to work with. Can’t you stay around and guide me?”

  Eden handed the rose to May with regret etched deep in her features. “I have a lot to learn, May Fairchild. When Asclepius told you I didn’t listen, he had been right.” She sighed. “I wanted to find your happiness for you, child. I didn’t want to guide you. I wanted to fix your life. Not even a goddess should be that arrogant.”

  “You’re a goddess?” May smoothed down the rose’s petals and tried to gather her numerous scattered thoughts.

  “I am the Earth Goddess.”

  “And your sisters?” May tried to wrap her head around all the information. “Wait!” Realization slammed through her. She held up a trembling hand. “The door,” she whispered and looked up at Eden. “Wilda is fire. Kendra is water. Tempest is wind.”

  Eden nodded regally and beamed. “You have always been a quick study.”

  “And four goddesses want to open a nursery?”

  Eden threw back her head and laughed. “I wanted to engage you, child. Your love of the earth stems from our encounters. I knew a nursery would pique your interest. My sisters joined me to help.”

  “Ah. A cover story.” May twirled the rose. “But what are you going to do now? Still open it?”

  The Earth Goddess shook her head. “No, my dear.” She closed her eyes and made a small circle in the air. An ivory scroll sailed smoothly down into her open palm. She handed the scroll to May with a small smile. “You are.”

  “What?”

  “We are allowed to bestow two gifts. I have given only one of mine. I would not cheat you of the other.”

  May clutched the scroll tightly. “But I have no idea what to do!”

  Eden laid her hand over May’s heart. “You listen to this, child. It will guide you when you are lost and beat quicker when you are found.” Her hand dropped back down to her side. “I will have to leave soon and tell my sisters of my failure.” She rubbed the back of her neck with a grimace. “It will not be pleasant.”

  May looked down at the scroll. “But it seems so unfair. You’ve done your best by me.” Her mouth trembled. “Please. Stay.”

  Eden moved forward and kissed May’s forehead. “You’ve always had my heart, May Fairchild. That will never change. Our paths have crossed twice, and I am better for the both of them. Perhaps there will be another encounter in our futures.”

  She stepped back and bowed low. When she straightened, silver tears fell from the Earth Goddess’ eyes. “Perhaps,” she repeated and disappeared.

  Loss welled up deep inside May. She walked slowly to the table and sat down. Pieces of her life fell slowly into place, and she unrolled the scroll while tears sparkled on her lashes.

  “I gift Elysian Fields to May Fairchild with the provision that all former plans will be continued. The building and all nurseries will be completed. The field behind the nursery shall be acquired and kept tidy. The nursery shall be stocked as instructed before May Fairchild assumes ownership. There shall be no indebtedness attached to this agreement in any way, shape, or form.”

  It was signed “Eden” with a blood-red rose beside the signature.

  “I had a goddess watching over me.” May sniffed and touched the letters of the ancient deed with a smile. She lifted her head. “Thank you, Eden.”

  Where did she go from here?

  * * * *

  Eden walked toward her garden with her forest-green gown flowing about her body. How should she break it to her sisters that even though they had all completed their missions, she had failed miserably and completely? That the beautiful bracelets that graced their wrists would disappear for another great length of time?

  They would hurt for her, Eden knew that. But they didn’t realize how much she would suffer for each of them.

  She entered her garden and sat on the gray stone bench with a sigh. Her heart ached terribly with pain and disappointment. So close this time.

  “You know it’s never easy.”

  Eden started and looked over her shoulder. Asclepius leaned against the far side of her trellis. He wore the traditional gold toga that bespoke his status as master. Her heart leapt in her chest at the mere sight of him.

  She stood and walked over to him. Her brown eyes were sad and confused. “Am I doomed to always fail, Asclepius?”

  He put his arm around her and pulled her closer. Eden snuggled in tighter and sought solace.

  “Fair Eden,” he whispered and stroked her hair. “You take much upon yourself. Even a goddess will make mistakes.”

  “I have failed my sisters.” Eden lifted her head and tears sparkled on her eyelashes. “I have a day to tell them all their hard work has been for naught. I have doomed them to repeat this cycle again. I denied them the power rightly theirs.”

  Asclepius rubbed her back in small circles and sighed. “Will they love you less? Forsake you in spite?”

  Eden’s mouth dropped open. “Of course not!”

  He tilted her chin up and looked down at her. “Then how can you do that to yourself?”

  She shut her mouth and studied him for a minute. Then Eden laid her hand across Asclepius’ chest. “I’m listening now.”

  * * * *

  May surveyed her
backyard and nodded slowly. She had plenty of time to sand down the furniture and do a bit of weeding. Chandler wouldn’t be over to torment her until around seven. Plenty of time to take care of business that had slipped to the side. She would drive over to Elysian Fields tomorrow and check out her new property. Pieces of her meeting with Eden played over and over in her mind. Maybe she would confide some of the story to Chandler after she viewed the property.

  The day flew by quickly as May yanked, cursed, and sanded for hours. She brought out lemonade and sandwiches for a late lunch and inhaled two turkey sandwiches within a matter of minutes. Must be all the new exercise she’d been getting.

  It was almost six when she heard a tap on her backyard gate. May stood and stretched with a frown. Chandler would simply walk through. She wasn’t expecting anyone else. May glanced toward the house and the small alarm pad next to the patio door. Even on a good day, she wouldn’t make it before whoever stood on the other side of the gate got to her.

  The gate swung open, and relief flooded her body.

  William Campbell stood there in blue jeans and a dark green polo shirt. He smiled at May and closed the gate behind him. “I tried the doorbell, but no one answered.”

  He whistled low as he looked at the yard. “This is some piece of work. Yours?”

  May smiled and nodded. “Sure is.” She motioned him over. “Why don’t you sit, and I’ll pour you some lemonade.”

  “That works.” William walked over and sank into one of her patio chairs with a deep sigh. He took a drink of his lemonade and set it back down. “I don’t want to pressure you, May.”

  “But?” She smiled and waited.

  “It’ll be a great story!” His blue eyes were sincere. “You can be an inspiration to millions.”

  “And I can see why you’re such a good agent.” May pulled her hair back and looked at him. “I have one more day to decide. But I guarantee that I will look at all sides of the picture before I make my decision.”

  “It’s all I ask.” William tapped his fingers on the table.