Ch.18 - Enid

"How does this look?" Enid asked, shielding her eyes from the midday sun. She set the hedge shears on the ground before swiping her forearm across the beads of sweat on her brow.

Talia stepped off the porch and walked over to her, carefully scrutinizing the freshly trimmed bushes. She cocked her head to one side. "Um, they look a little crooked, and a whole lot smaller than I thought you wanted." She turned to her with a question in her eyes. "Why'd you take so much off?"

Enid raised one eyebrow as she regarded her daughter-in-law. "You think they look crooked now, you should have seen them ten minutes ago." She peeled off her gardening gloves and tossed them next to the shears. "Next time I say I can do just as well as the landscape guy, tell me to shut up, would you?" She held up her hands in surrender as Talia began to laugh. "No, I mean it. It's not worth saving a few bucks if this is how they're going to turn out. Curb appeal is everything. This isn't just my house, it's my business. Who's going to want to stay here if the landscape looks like this? Nothing says, 'Trust me with your accommodations' like some hideously pruned plants in the front yard."

Talia continued to giggle as she shifted Carter in her arms. "Come on, they're not that bad. You're your own worst critic."

Enid stepped back and studied the bushes once more. "No, they really are that bad. I might as well dig them up and plant a new ones. Such a shame," she said, shaking her head. "They used to be beautiful until I murdered them."

"You didn't murder them. They'll be fine. Just give 'em a little time to. . .fill in. They won't look nearly as—I mean—they'll eventually even out. . ." Talia tilted her head to one side, trying to find an attractive angle. Finally, she brought a hand to her mouth, defeated. "Okay, you got me. They look. . .not so good."

"Ah ha!" she cried, pointing her index finger at her. "I knew it! Even you think they look horrible. And you're the most accepting person I know."

Talia scrunched her eyebrows, a wounded expression covering her face. "Hey, wait a minute. I accept them! I think they're just fine. And they'll be even better after they have a couple of months to recover."

"Recover? You mean after they return to their normal state?" Enid put her hands on her hips. "That's it. They're coming out. Where's my shovel?"

She glanced at Talia and saw her gaze had drifted off, staring into the distance at something Enid couldn't see. Carter squirming restlessly in her arms wasn't even enough to jostle her from her trance. Enid reached out and placed a hand on her arm. "Hey, honey, what is it? You've been quiet all day. Somethin' bothering you?" She knew something was, she could tell there was a lot on her mind the moment Talia and Carter had arrived at The Ivy House that morning, but she gave her some space, hoping her daughter-in-law would eventually open up. Some days Talia was like an open book, sharing stories from her past—happier ones when she lived with her parents. And other days it was like she was back to square one, keeping secrets and hiding feelings like a thief in the night.

Startled, Talia looked at her and sighed. "I found out one of the women at the shelter went back to her husband this week."

Enid opened her mouth and then closed it again, her eyes dropping to the grass. Talia was fiercely protective of the clients at Healing Hearts and she needed to choose her next words carefully. The last thing she wanted to do was downplay the enormity of the situation. In her experience, asking an open-ended question would be best. Something that required more than a 'yes' or 'no' answer. Something that would allow Talia to talk, if she felt so inclined. "What happened?"

Sitting on Talia's hip, Carter began to fidget in earnest. Talia shook her head and shifted the baby to the opposite side. "I'm not sure. Laura said Janice left in the middle of the night. Her roommates woke up in the morning and found a note on her bed. She didn't give any explanations why, she just said she was sorry."

"I take it you didn't see this coming?" Enid pursed her lips before continuing. "I'm sorry, Talia. I know how much your work there means to you, how much the women mean to you. How are you taking the news?"

Talia's sapphire gaze met hers and held on firmly, and Enid felt an icy shiver move along her spine. Every once in awhile Talia got a look in her eye, a look that reflected the depth of her soul, and it was a dark, bottomless pit. Often times that glimpse was unsettling, reminding Enid how much Talia had been through in her life, but today it was downright terrifying and Enid knew, no matter how close she'd grown to her daughter-in-law, there were some things she was not meant to understand. "I've seen what hell looks like," Talia answered quietly. "And I know what it's like to be trapped in Satan's web. Janice is trapped, but only she can choose to save herself. Only she can allow us to help her."

Enid swallowed hard, the eeriness of Talia's words haunting her. She drug her eyes away from Talia's as Carter began to whimper. "Here," she said, grateful for the interruption. She reached out for her granddaughter. "I'll take her."

Talia blinked twice and then shook her head, releasing herself from the ugly visions playing in her mind. She handed Carter over. "I'm not sure what's wrong with her. She's been so cranky this week."

Enid took the baby and began to sway softly until she started to calm. "She's very intuitive. She can tell you've been on edge."

Carter had the gift, she could see it in her eyes the same way she could read the emotions of others. She'd suspected this for a very long time but kept the information to herself, knowing her parents would not be ready to hear it. When she had dreams of her granddaughter before she was born she'd somehow known she was special even then. Enid considered them to be visions, premonitions. Carter was a sensitive, just like her. That explained their connection, their strong bond that could never be broken. It went far deeper than anyone realized.

"I don't know about all that," Talia stated. Her eyebrows arched in skepticism. "I think she just needs a nap."

"Did I hear someone needs a nap?" a deep voice called out. Enid and Talia turned to find a visitor walking up the drive.

A smile spread over Enid's face. "Mr. Easterwood! How nice to see you." A sudden breeze lifted the damp hair at her temple and she tucked the strands behind her ear. "Is that package for me?" she asked, looking down at the small, brown box nestled in the crook of his arm.

William Eastwood sauntered up, an air of easy confidence swirling around him. "It is, and I must say it's about time. I've not had the pleasure of stopping by for the past several days. I was beginning to wonder when I would see you again."

Enid felt her cheeks warm, and it wasn't from the smoldering Florida sun. "Why, Mr. Easterwood—you never need a reason to stop by. You can visit anytime you want to. My door is always open."

Enid and William shared a look and it wasn't until Carter cooed that he seemed to realize they weren't the only two standing there. "Well, hello there, pretty girl," he said, touching his fingers to Carter's blonde curls. "Where in the world did you get this abundance of golden hair from?"

Talia let out a giggle. "I guess that would be from me. I'm naturally a blonde."

Mr. Easterwood stepped back and squinted his eyes. "A blonde, you say?" He nodded his head. "Yes, I can see it. I bet you look beautiful with pale hair. Although I must say, I'm a sucker for a brunette, myself." He gave Enid's brown shag a look of approval.

Enid watched Talia press her lips together tightly and try not to smile. She reached over and took Carter from her arms. "I think I'll lay this little one down for a nap. Our renter is arriving this evening and I'm not sure how busy the night will be. So, if you two will excuse me. . ." Her voice trailed off as she left them alone.

They stood for a moment in awkward silence before Mr. Easterwood handed over the package. "For you," he said with a smile, a dimple embracing his left cheek.

Enid was so caught up in his tousled brown hair and dark, hooded eyes she had to remind herself to respond. "Oh," she answered, slightly flustered at her distraction. She took the package from his hands. "Thank you. This must be the banana slicer I ordered. Say, I was just going to pour myself some cold lemonade. Would you like a glass?"

"I thought you'd never ask."

She was caught off guard. He'd never accepted any sort of invitation from her before, and she'd tried to persuade him multiple times in the past. "I'll—well—I'll be right back, then."

Enid fussed with her hair as she hurried into the house, setting down the package and returning only a moment later with two glasses. Ice clinked along the sides as she handed one over to him. "It sure is hot out today," she commented, searching for something to say.

"It sure is. Thank you." He took the glass from her hand, their fingers brushing against each other in the process, and brought the rim to his lips taking in the sweet, pale yellow liquid. She watched the muscles move in his neck as he swallowed and felt her heart-rate kick up. My goodness, Enid! You're acting like a love-sick schoolgirl. You should be ashamed of yourself! But ashamed was the last thing she felt. It had been a long time, a very long time indeed, since she had enjoyed the company of another man. They were both single, consenting adults. There was nothing at all to be ashamed of.

When Mr. Easterwood finished his beverage his eyes moved across the front yard, landing first on the shears tossed atop the lawn and then moving toward the shrubs in front of the house. "So," he said, his eyebrows arched with amusement. "What do we have here?"

The sting of frustration Enid felt earlier returned. "For some crazy reason I thought I would save a few bucks and trim the bushes myself. But instead I've mutilated them." She took a healthy swallow of lemonade, trying to calm her nerves.

He chuckled. "They're hardly mutilated. They just need some fine-tuning, is all. Do you mind?" he asked, glancing down at the clippers.

"Be my guest. I was going to dig them up, anyway. Whatever you do certainly won't hurt them at this point."

Mr. Easterwood handed her his empty glass and then reached for the cutting device. He lifted the shears to the uneven shrub and began to snip away at the velvety, green branches. "One of the very best ways to stimulate a plant's growth is to cut it back. Sometimes way back. I know it seems a bit counterproductive, but it's a fact." He studied the shrub closely before closing the blades around the next section. "And just like real estate, it's all about location, location, location. If you cut too far away from the bud, it's growth may not be triggered, but if you cut too close you could damage it and it won't sprout at all. There's a formula to pruning and once you understand it, you're golden." He worked quickly, expertly, before moving on to the next plant. "The more you do it the more confident you'll feel and before you know it," he said, snipping at the last twig, "You'll be a pruning ninja." Mr. Easterwood stepped back and admired his work, then shifted his gaze to Enid.

Enid stared at him for a moment, getting lost in the rich hue of his hazel eyes, before turning her attention toward the shrubs. She set the glasses on the porch steps and smiled, in spite of herself. "They look. . .amazing," she said, unable to believe her eyes. They were just a tad smaller than they were before he arrived, but they were chiseled and symmetrical now, looking as if a professional had sculpted them. "I don't know how to thank you." She looked away, feeling suddenly shy.

"Well, how about you let me take you to dinner sometime?"

Enid's head snapped towards him and she felt her eyes widen. She opened her mouth. And then closed it. And then opened it again. "But, Mr. Easterwood, I should be thanking you!"

He smiled. "The best way you can thank me is by agreeing to be my date. And by calling me William."

She swallowed hard. This was not at all how she had seen this afternoon playing out. So much for intuition. "Well Yes, Mr. Easter—I mean, William. I would like that very much."

His smile spread wider, lighting up his whole face. "Great, I would like that, too. Listen," he said, glancing down at his watch. "I have to get going, but I'll stop by soon and we'll speak. Make plans. If that's alright with you."

His expression was hopeful and she felt her heart thud in anticipation. Enid caught herself biting her lip. Oh for Heavens sake! "Yes, that would be fine with me."

"Until then," he said with a nod.

She watched as he turned and started down the driveway. Suddenly, he looked back at her over his shoulder. "By the way, thank you for the sweet lemonade—and for the sweeter company." He gave her wink and then disappeared around a cluster of trees.

Enid stared after him, her mouth gaping open. She lifted one hand to her chest and fanned her face with the other, fighting the smile that played at her lips.

Did she seriously just agree to go on a date? Oh yes, she seriously had.

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Hello and welcome to Secrets and Lies! If you enjoyed this chapter, please consider leaving a vote/comment.

This chapter is dedicated to writer @MarionAvalon and her Watty Award winning story, No Way in Heaven or Hell, book 1 in The Afterlife Series! You can check it out by heading over to her profile page! Thanks, Marion!

Okay, this was a fun chapter to write, mostly because I am so pleased Enid is finding love after all these years. And Mr. Easterwood seems so nice! I also find it interesting that Enid believes Carter is a sensitive, as well. A little bit of genetics coming into play there.

This week I would like to give a shout-out to readers in Côte d'Ivoire, Ecuador, Portugal, Turkey and Taiwan. Thank you for reading!