Prometheus, A New Dawn

by Nicole MacDonald

  ‘You must have made those sifters’ fortunes,’ Ally agreed. ‘That glass! It has almost no plastic at all in it!’

  She was right, only the very, very occasional fleck of color showed in the otherwise clear windows. High quality indeed.

  They walked from one end of the greenhouse corridor to the other, passing four doors on the way as they examined the variety of plants. The watering system, concealed beneath the dirt, only revealed itself in the skinny tubes that ran beneath a covered tubes from the rooms to the base of the planter box. Eoin smiled, pleased to see every part of their plans had been utilized. The water system to utilize all the rainwater they would collect had taken some planning. But it would make use of the fresh water four times over, once as drinking/showering/cleaning water, then as gray water, then as black water. The gray and black water was recycled to use on the plants within the greenhouse, and the inner rooms, and then the rest flowing through buried pipes that lead out into the front yard space. Yielding plenty of nutrients while breaking down the waste products to a level that wouldn’t contaminate anything.

  ‘Which room first,’ Ally asked excitedly. ‘Our bedroom or your study?’

  ‘Study,’ Eoin said. ‘Seeing we’re already here.’

  They stood at the right end of the greenhouse. Ally motioned the glass inlaid wood door to him.

  ‘Your room, you first.’

  Turning the beaten metal handle, Eoin pushed the door slowly open. The large windows at the front of the room allowed the heat and light from the glasshouse to fill the space, warming it pleasantly without the humidity. Small planter boxes beneath each window were full with fragrant rosemary. Ally laughed as she bent to smell it.

  ‘I’ll bet Mama decided on it. Rosemary for memory!’

  Eoin nodded with a smile while dragging his gaze around his new study. Wide bench tables ringed the room, reminding him for an instant of the lab. Ladder like stairs led the way to a loft area that when they climbed up revealed to be a comfortable sitting area with a porthole style window that looked out onto their front yard space with its view of trees, shrubs and a glimpse of their neighbor’s earthship home.

  Climbing back down, they opened the door at the back of the curved room, all the rooms in the house circular to provide good aeration and strength to the structure. The little door led to their second bathroom, a neat space with toilet, sink and shower. A door on the other side led to the first bedroom. Ally hesitated for a second before opening that door and looked to him.

  ‘This will be..’ she placed her hand just beneath her belly, an expression of wonder spreading. Eoin smiled and took her hand, lifting it to the handle and opened the door with her.

  The simple room had no decorations yet. The rounded walls were a smooth cream, the plaster adding a sense of warmth. Like the last room, like all their rooms had been designed, it had the large windows to welcome in the light and warmth with planter boxes beneath. These boxes were full of bright and cheerful marigolds, the orange flowers a welcome splash of color. They stood admiring it and climbed the loft, noting the slight variations in view. The porthole window was able to be opened a few inches, letting fresh air in. Back on the ground level, Ally took another slow turn as she studied it all.

  ‘The bed should go there, do you think?’

  Eoin nodded. ‘There would work too.’

  She snuggled against him and sighed happily.

  Hugging her, Eoin kissed her cheek before thinking of something.

  ‘What will we call them?’

  Ally pursed her lips then pulled away, heading for the door that led to the kitchen. As she opened it she turned with a speculative expression.

  ‘Aiden? For a boy.’

  Eoin followed. ‘And a girl?’

  The room was divided by a wide bench behind which the kitchen was neatly fitted against the back curved wall. A coal range oven dominated the space, its soft green color making Ally exclaim in delight before she answered his question.

  ‘Ren?’

  Eoin considered that, slowly trying the name aloud while Ally opened all the cupboards, squealing in delight when she found the crockery she’d been carefully collecting already set in place.

  ‘I like it,’ Eoin said, making Ally pull her head out from the cupboard beneath the bench table to stare at him quizzically.

  ‘What?’

  ‘Ren. I like it.’

  Ally nodded, face still wrinkled with concentration as she moved into the front of the room, where the solid dining room table with long slab seats on either side sat bathed in the afternoon sunlight. A moment later, as she climbed the stairs to the loft, she turned abruptly making Eoin jerk back, just grabbing the rails in time as he climbed up behind her.

  ‘Or Erity. Ren or Erity. What do you think?’ She didn’t wait for his answer, scrambling up the last couple of rungs. ‘Oh look! It’s a sitting area. Oh lovely. Jasmine and her husband had to have made this, don’t you think?’

  The wide seated, comfortable looking couch certainly bore their normal trademarks, the quirky hand-dyed fabric being one. Eoin reached out to pull at the wooden base of the seat. It slid out with ease, converting to a guest bed that would easily sleep two. ‘I think so,’ he agreed. ‘Looks just like their work.’

  ‘Erity or Ren?’ Ally called, already climbing back down the stairs. Eoin rushed after her, not wanting to miss the bedroom reveal as she flung the door to their room open.

  He forgot the question, breath exhaling in a sigh of pleasure.

  Painted a soft green, their bedroom smelled of lavender and jasmine, the vine tied carefully to a railing that led out of the planter box beneath their windows, following the window frame up and around. A new bed that looked twice the size of their last was made up with a beautiful quilt that looked like a stained glass window, all manner of pieces arranged in a rainbow of colors divided by strips of black. Plump pillows with the same style covers sat at the head. Light filtered down softly from a skylight set above the bed, a clever blind set against the ceiling so they could cover it as desired. Eoin stared while Ally made soft sounds of delight, reaching out to touch it.

  Clearing his throat, Eoin said, ‘Your mama has outdone herself.’

  Ally gave him a watery smile as she sniffed and nodded. He stepped close as she turned, and hugged her when she shuddered with a sob.

  ‘So happy to be home! Look at it! Am-az-ing. So hap-py. So grate-ful,’ she hiccupped the words while tears slipped down her face again, making Eoin laugh softly at her and bend to kiss them away.

  ‘We’re very blessed.’

  Ally hiccupped and laughed at that, her hand on his as he gently rested it beneath her belly. ‘Very, very blessed!’

  Laughing with her, Eoin sat back on the bed, Ally on his lap. They sat in silence, listening to the gentle sounds of their new home. It felt overwhelming to be here, to find the design the two of them had spent months creating. He’d expected to get back and have to spend several months creating it, with the help of those willing. Instead, here it was, finished, complete, just waiting for them. It felt truly unbelievable.

  ‘Oh! So, Ren or Erity?’

  Ally’s demand pulled him back and Eoin laughed, kissing his wife’s pouting mouth.

  ‘Let’s meet them first then decide,’ he suggested.

  Ally narrowed her eyes for second then grinned, her gaze cheeky. ‘I guess that works. Now, how long before we need to think about making a dish for dinner? Because I feel we need to do honor to this house and .. ahem .. bless this bed?’

  Eoin laughed while lifting his hands to cup his wife’s face, lips just above hers.

  ‘Like this?’

  ‘Mmmmmm,’ Ally said a moment later with a chuckle. ‘Just like that.’

  Seconds later a heavy rumble of rain on the roof made them stare at each other, eyes wide as they grinned in delight. With a happy squeal Ally tugged Eoin down, the two of them shuffling about to snuggle while staring straight up, watching the rain hit the skylight. Th
e soothing sound, the scent of the fresh bedclothes, Ally in his arms and their baby tucked deep within her, Eoin let out a sigh.

  ‘What?’ Ally twisted to look at him, violet eyes glimmering in the slanted light.

  Eoin rubbed his nose against hers gently. ‘Feeling very blessed in this moment, love.’

  Those violet eyes went shiny and she nodded, a dreamy smile spreading. With the rain still coming down hard, the two of them dozed there on the bed, in their new house, with their little one between them.

  This novel is the Prologue to a brand new trilogy.

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  Just One More Chapter

  THE AUTHOR WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK

  Glenn for his constant support, even when I don’t agree with his ideas *grin*. My super readers, who are always willing to help out in almost anyway, you guys are amazing! And Ian, for the best pair of eyes I’ve come across yet, I’m so grateful for your help.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Nicole is a thirty something New Zealander who loves to get lost in her imagination. Her favorite adventures are those lead by strong willed women/girls who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty. Writing encourages Nicole to try all manner of things, including six months of long sword training and jujitsu lessons.

  She lives in New Zealand with her partner, and two fur critters.

  If you’d like to learn more about Nicole and her writing process, please visit www.nicolemacdonald-author.com

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