“Bored?”
He grinned. “I didn’t realize what a small town you live in.”
She shrugged. “I love it.”
William nodded and took another sip of lemonade. He pushed his chair back and stood. “I’ll be by tomorrow evening sometime. Let me know what you decide.”
“Sure will.” May watched him leave and sat back in her chair. A lot of decisions to make. Choices that would affect her life for years to come. She stood and walked back into the house. But the only thing that occupied her mind right now a hot bath and dinner at Chandler’s.
* * * *
May chose a white and yellow sundress with spaghetti straps. She pulled her hair back with two clips and secured it. Then she slid white sandals on. Where is this relationship headed?
The question lodged in her head and wouldn’t leave. May scowled at herself in the mirror. More than likely headed to the bedroom this evening.
She rubbed her thigh and sighed.
Chandler liked her for however long that lasted. He seemed to gloss over her age and inability to have children as if it were of no importance. But how could that be? The issues affected both of them. Wishing it away wouldn’t help.
Her young neighbor didn’t cringe away from her scar or disability. He actually went out of his way to accept both.
“Shit,” May muttered. She pressed her hand to her chest. No way she wanted complications with this. Two bad relationships, she didn’t want to make it three.
“I am going to have fun.” She repeated the phrase over and over again on her way to the kitchen. Maybe she did think too much.
The tap on the glass startled her, and May looked up.
Chandler slid the door open and stepped inside. He wore a pair of khaki dress pants, and a white button-up shirt. He winked and whistled low. “Women don’t wear bras on purpose, right? To drive men wild with animal passion?”
May grinned. “Am I driving you wild?
“You have no idea.”
She blushed.
Chandler moved closer and looked her up and down. “I’ve never seen you in a mid-length dress. I have to say I love it.” He twirled his finger around an errant curl on her neck and smiled.
“Quite a sweet talker this evening, aren’t you?”
He swept her next to his chest and wriggled his eyebrows. “When my house burns to the ground because I’m over here making love to you even though I’m supposed to be cooking, will you explain to the firefighters?”
May laughed and shook her head. “I’ve been starving all day. Take me to your house and impress me with your culinary abilities.”
Chandler sighed. “I knew I should have ordered take-out.” He slid May’s hand into his own and entwined their fingers. “Come with me, and I’ll do my best to impress you.”
She followed him out and across the yard. When she reached his kitchen door, Chandler stopped abruptly.
May frowned at his back. “Change of heart?”
He turned around. “I want you to have a perfect evening.” His brown eyes regarded her closely.
She nodded. “Okay, thanks.”
Chandler smiled and opened the door for her.
May returned his smile and walked through the door. She stopped in her tracks and simply stared.
White candles flickered softly on every surface of the kitchen. The soft glow reflected off the white plates and sparkling flatware at the table. Vase after vase of white and red roses spilled out onto the table and cabinets. A silver bucket of ice housed a bottle of wine while two heavy crystal glasses sat at each plate. Even the gold napkin rings around ivory napkins gleamed with care.
May’s heart sped up, and she placed her hand over it. She knew she was lost.
Chandler cupped her elbow and bent down. “I may have overdone it.”
She shook her head but didn’t trust herself to speak.
“I’ll escort you to your seat, madam, and then I will serve dinner.”
May let him guide her over to the table. She sat slowly and unfolded the napkin onto her lap. Chandler expertly slid steaks onto the plates and added potatoes and green beans. He brought a basket of bread to the table and poured the wine. When everything was settled, he sat back down and took a sip of wine.
May simply stared.
Chandler cleared his throat at the sudden silence. “I hope you like steak.”
She stood and put her napkin on the table.
Chandler’s shoulders drooped at the movement.
May walked over to his chair and leaned down. “I love steak,” she whispered in his ear. “Now take me to bed.”
* * * *
“I could get used to this.” Chandler twirled his finger around May’s hair and smiled.
“What? Letting our food get cold?” She forked a bit of potato and fed him. Then she took one for herself.
He swallowed. “Food is food. That’s what microwaves are for.” Chandler tugged the curl lightly. “I could get used to you feeding me while we both lie naked in bed.”
“Hey.” She grinned. “You cooked it. The least I could do is feed you.” May shoveled a large piece of steak into his mouth. “That should keep you quiet for a minute.”
Chandler arched his eyebrow but kept chewing.
“I explained that I couldn’t have children.”
He nodded.
“I’m also not getting any younger.”
He shrugged.
May leaned over and kissed his forehead. “But I really like you.”
Chandler beamed with chipmunk cheeks.
She chuckled. “I’ll let you finish that, and then you can add your commentary.”
He swallowed and grabbed the fork. Then he fed May an ample bite of potato.
“Now.” Chandler looked May in the eye. “I wish I’d thought of that bite thing sooner. This could have been a lot smoother.”
She chewed and glared.
“Ha.” He winked and then lightly kissed her cheek. “I have a little confession of my own. I can’t have children, either, honey.”
May stopped chewing.
Chandler shook his head. “Found that out when I had a major groin injury in football. I’m infertile. Wouldn’t matter if you had million-dollar eggs. I couldn’t do you any good.” He paused. “And I’ll never be as old as you at the same time.” He smiled and brushed his lips across hers. “But I really like you, too.”
May swallowed. “Oh, Chandler.”
He pulled her closer and hugged her tightly. “Now, May Fairchild. What are the odds of you putting your hair in pigtails and talking with a lisp?”
Chapter 10
May rolled out of bed around ten o’clock and informed Chandler that she had work to do and a business to check on. She explained that the owners of Elysian Fields wanted to sell. It wasn’t likely he would understand that Eden gave it to her or why. She promised him a great discount on all his gardening needs. He protested it was the weekend, and time for hedonism in all its glory.
She won.
It felt as though she walked on air back to her own house. Her heart felt lighter than it had in decades. She walked through the kitchen and noted her plant had another surprise for her. A glorious emerald bloom unfurled on the third leaf.
May traced the veins carefully and thought of Eden. She was happy in her life now. Surely her guardian goddess received her reward? There couldn’t be another who deserved it more.
May hurried and took a bath while her mind played over her dinner, dessert, and breakfast with Chandler. He had been incredible.
She sighed and dressed quickly in jeans and a light blue T-shirt. Mr. Incredible assured her he would be over for dinner this evening.
May grinned. She decided to order take-out.
There were too many things to do, and she wasn’t interested in anything that involved work.
“Screw it.” May threw up her hands and walked back into the kitchen. She threw a turkey sandwich together and ate it standing up. Maybe she could someh
ow get a hold of Eden through the nursery.
It bothered May a great deal. She couldn’t even help her own goddess who had saved her life and watched out for her. It wasn’t right.
May snagged her car keys and walked to the patio door. She set her alarm and locked the door behind her. She had business to tend to. She pulled the last list from the sisters out of her purse and looked it over. Lots of sugar. That still didn’t make any sense to her. But so what? It was the least she could do.
The grocery checker made a crack about holiday baking but rang up the three hundred dollars in various sugar forms quickly. May paid with her debit card and a bagger loaded it all into her car. She started the car and whistled as she cruised along the now familiar road.
A sight she would grow used to over the upcoming months. No, years. May smiled. Her own business. Gifted to her by a goddess.
The building came in to view before she knew it, and May stopped at the sign on the corner. She blinked and shook her head. There were even more changes. Two large nurseries sat behind the massive building with plenty of room to set up plants on shelves outside.
New windows gleamed in the sunlight all along the building, and May kept a smile on her face as she parked.
When she walked up to the front door, she noted the threshold consisted of a sturdy frame with flowers scrolled deeply into the wood. May sighed and traced one by the right side of her head.
“It’s perfect,” she murmured.
May unlocked the door and pushed it open a bit and then went to retrieve the bags from the car. Something told her the sugar would be incredibly important to the work on the property. All the bags were unloaded when May flicked the light on by the front door.
The cobwebs and dust still hadn’t found another home, but May didn’t care. This would be hers. She walked on the left-hand side of the stairs and unloaded the supplies into a spare room. Sweat clung to her brow, and she slid open quite a few of the new windows with a grin.
“It’s perfect.”
“It will be.”
May lifted her head with a smile. She recognized the voice immediately. “Well, look at you.” May put her hand on her hip. “Decide to come give me a hand?”
William Campbell nodded. He stood in the doorway and turned to shut the door. He wore a pair of black jeans and a black polo shirt. “Wouldn’t have missed it.”
She laughed. “Come to try and persuade me again?”
His blue eyes crinkled in a smile as he pulled a gun out of his pocket. “I would think so.”
May’s smile faded at the look on his face and the gun pointing at her. “What are you doing?”
“I’m simply guaranteeing your life story will make it to the masses, darling.”
Fear spread through her limbs. “Why does it matter?”
“Your parents were spineless, manipulative pieces of work. But they were extremely smart with their money.” Those blue eyes bored into her. “Haven’t had to work, have you?”
She shook her head.
“I didn’t think so. But you choose to.” William rolled his eyes. “How plebian.” He cocked his head to the side. “The network offered me three million dollars for your story. It may mean nothing to you, but I’m hocked up to my eyeballs.”
“Your other clients,” she began.
“My other clients have smart attorneys who make sure I only get my percentage and nothing more. But your parents didn’t do that.”
“What are you talking about?”
“It seems the Fairchilds thought their precious handicapped daughter wouldn’t live to see twenty.”
May rubbed her thigh and tried to think of a way out of the situation. “They were wrong.”
“Obviously,” William sneered. “Here you stand. Mostly. Seems good ol’ mom and pop gave my father exclusive rights to you and every piece of work you were ever involved in.” He paused. “And when my dear father passed, those rights became mine.”
“I can loan you some money.” May nodded. “No problem at all.”
“Oh, May.” William sighed and shook his head. “You don’t understand. I don’t want a portion of your money. I want it all.”
“This isn’t going to help anything.” She held out her hands. “C’mon, William. We can talk about this. There has to be some type of arrangement that would work.”
“There is.” He smiled coldly. “Your death.”
* * * *
Eden smoothed her hands down her forest-green dress for the fifth time in as many minutes. She had to tell her sisters she failed. They would be waiting for her in the solarium. Pain radiated from her chest through her entire body. Thoughts scattered as she tried to pull herself together.
Asclepius had been right to a certain degree. Her sisters would never forsake or even blame her. They would simply wait until the next turn and do their best again.
Eden rubbed her temple and tried to ignore the throbbing pain behind her right eye. A sense of unease moved through her, and she paused. Something wasn’t right. She grimaced and shook her head. Nothing else to do. The time had come to see her sisters.
The walk seemed to take an eternity even though it was only a few steps down the hall and to the right. Eden would give anything to not break the bad news, but she knew it had to be done. She paused in the doorway and looked around the room.
Wilda paced back and forth in front of one of the portraits their father had commissioned for them when they were younger. Her wild red hair flowed freely down her back, and her crimson dress seemed to flare in agitation.
Tempest leaned over the open window and called tiny funnels to her open palm. She kissed each in turn and sent them back on their way. Her ebony hair spilled along her back while her sea foam dress whirled at her ankles.
Kendra sat by one of the two fountains in the room and ran her fingertips through the crystal blue water as it spilled from the fairy’s pitcher. Her blond hair shone brightly in the loose chignon. Her cobalt-blue dress poured over her slender figure and pooled at her feet.
Eden cleared her throat and entered the room.
All heads turned to look at her.
She felt a hand circle around her waist and looked up.
Asclepius.
Eden smiled gratefully and stepped inside.
Wilda looked from one to the other and smiled. “About damn time.” She turned to her sisters. “I win the pool.”
Eden frowned. “What pool?”
“Couldn’t have waited one more day, could you?” Tempest moved from the window and shook her head.
“I repeat.” Eden glared at the trio. “What pool?”
“The ‘getting back together’ pool, of course.” Kendra cupped a bit of water in her hands, and it formed several small balls. “I had yesterday. So Wilda really nailed this one.”
Wilda preened. “I have impeccable instincts.”
Asclepius chuckled which turned into a harsh cough when Eden turned to glower at him. He shrugged. “I find it amusing.” He bowed low. “I thank you all for your confidence.”
Eden sighed. “I have news.”
Kendra’s blue eyes softened. “We know, sister.”
The pain settled back into Eden’s chest. She opened her mouth to speak when fear shot through her strong enough to take her to her knees.
“No!” she screamed and disappeared.
* * * *
May watched William as if he moved in slow motion. The top of his thumb as he cocked the hammer at the back of the gun and the slow, steady pressure as his trigger finger pressed flesh to metal.
Her one regret that she never told Chandler the depth of her feelings. She steeled herself for the pain and told herself it couldn’t be any worse than having a horse roll over her.
The pain never came but all hell broke loose. A flash of dark green pushed her out of the way, and May stumbled and cried out as she fell onto her right leg. The gun discharged, and May heard a scream that tore through her.
May blinked and tried to focu
s her eyes while her eardrums throbbed in pain. She turned her head to the left and saw Eden lying on the floor while a stream of blood ran out of a small hole in the left side of her chest.
May crawled over to her while tears poured from her eyes and onto the dark green dress. She put Eden’s head into her lap and stroked the chestnut hair. She paid no attention to the man who still stood with the gun over the both of them.
“Eden,” she whispered.
A crack of bright light lit the room while a massive roar tore it asunder. Asclepius appeared and slammed William against the wall with a ferocity that snapped the gun from his hand and knocked him out.
Clep turned and looked down at the two women on the floor while tears fell from his light blue eyes. May hugged her tighter. “You’re the doctor. Fix her, Clep.”
He shook his head, and his voice trembled in pain. “I cannot, May. She is not immune to mortal weapons. A fact she knew when she gave of herself to aid you when you were younger.”
“Oh, God!” May hugged Eden’s head close to her chest. “Please! Someone has to help her.”
Eden’s sisters appeared simultaneously, but May didn’t even look up.
She simply rocked Eden back and forth while tears poured from her eyes.
An earthshaking roar shattered every window in the building, and May’s head jerked up. Asclepius fell to his knees and bowed his head. The sisters bowed their heads reverently.
May blinked as a large man appeared in the doorway of the building.
He stood a solid seven feet tall with massive legs and biceps. Tan pants and a white tunic stretched across his muscles and ended in tan rawhide boots. But his face captured May completely.
A kindly face that saw too much and bled for all of it. There were laugh lines that stretched out from his eyes and a weathered easiness that spoke of comfort in any situation. Hair that shifted colors from black to red to brown to blond fell softly to his hearty shoulders. And his eyes were a deep gold that never broke from hers as he moved forward.
“I have waited many years to meet you, demi-daughter.” His low voice rumbled along the floor and shook the walls of the building.
“Please, sir.” May stroked Eden’s hair. “Can you heal her?” she pleaded.
Earth Goddess Page 18
