Rising Moon (The Rune Stone Trilogy) (5 page)

             
Terra walked slowly through the woods, off the beaten path. Her heavily worn hiking boots were caked with mud, but she didn’t take notice. She had been drawn away from her kitchen, the scent too strong to ignore. She couldn’t place the overwhelmingly sweet and floral scent. She had walked out her back door and made a direct route into the woods. It had been a few hours of walking before she caught the scent again. Now she could follow it like the yellow brick road.

             
But this yellow brick road didn’t lead her home. She headed towards the heart of the forest, and her heart raced at the idea of what waited for her. Nothing was as it seemed anymore for her, surprises waited around in the corners of her life, jumping out to scare her until she was a complete mess. This was the first time she’d left her house in two straight weeks. Being outdoors terrified her.

             
Something about this floral scent wafting in the air settled her nerves enough to brave the outdoors. She had to work hard to only concentrate on the trail, and nothing more. She refused to look behind her to where she had come from. If she had she would see that where her fingertips had brushed a dead bush, now stood a bush in full bloom. Where her feet touched the ground, mounds of small purple crocus opened and bloomed.

             
Deep in the forest, far away from any trail, she couldn’t hear the highway or the train carrying iron ore to the cargo ships on the lake.

             
The scent brought her around a thick cluster of birch trees and she stopped with a gasp. She hooked an arm around the nearest tree to keep herself from falling over. A large bluebell field stretched before her from one edge of the trees to the other, spanning at least one hundred feet. The flowers floated a few feet off the ground, dipping their blue heads to the ground. She had to blink her eyes a few times from the rich and vibrant colors of the petals, as rich as an oil painting. The scent enveloped her, and pulled her towards the center. Wherever she stepped there happened to be just enough room for her foot in between the flowers.

             
In the middle stood a dead tree, it’s bark long gone and ghostly white. She leaned her back against it and sunk down to the ground. She looked around her, and the flowers slowly swayed with a light breeze.

             
It only took a moment, but for the first time in two years she felt safe, she felt like she had come home. She closed her eyes and drifted to sleep under the protection of the bluebells.

             
When Terra’s eyes fluttered open the sun appeared lower in the sky, but the flowers glowed just as vibrantly as if in the full sun. She stood and stretched, and noticed the shadow that fell over her. She turned around quickly, and fell down onto her back
looking up at the tree in fear
.

             
The dead tree that she had been sleeping against looked very much alive. The bark had turned a healthy dark brown, and leaves had sprouted full and lush. It seemed to stand taller than before. It looked majestic. The leaves slowly turned in the wind, and the underside slightly lighter green, giving the effect of waves washing over it.

             
Terra
walked down the block, passing four more cottages that were the same size as hers, and walked through the empty parking lot. She came upon the edge of the sandy beach and spotted Blake sitting a few feet from the water’s edge. The sun had just finished setting; the only color left in the sky was a dusky pink. The ocean was dark on the horizon, making the boats stand out. She counted three boats that she could barely see. She sat down next to Blake and left enough space between them that another person could sit comfortably. She looked up and watched the sky for a few minutes. When she looked at her brother she could see the stress on his face, it had formed a crease on his brow and his eyes were cold. She was the one that had caused that stress. If only he knew it had been so much harder and more painful for her.

             
"
Blake,
"
she started and then sighed. She wanted to tell him everything, unload all her worries on him. But this was the wrong time for that.
"
I can’t tell you what’s going on with me.
"
She waited until he looked at her.
"
I don’t even know how to.
"
Her eyes were dry, and she wanted to keep it that way.
"
I will tell you, though, it is true what you said. I waited until you were out of town to get away. I couldn’t leave until you were already gone. I’m sorry for what I have put you and mom through.
"
She reached over and put her hand on his. She realized she had been holding her breath when his fingers moved to interlace with hers, and she let it out slowly.
"
I’m so glad you came to find me, and I hope you believe me. But, I understand if you can’t forgive me. I will have to accept that, I suppose.
"
 

             
"
Terra, I really am here to make sure that you’re okay,
"
Blake said.

             
"
I know. And I am.
"
She smiled and shook her head.
"
No, that’s a lie. But I think I will be okay,
"
she nodded.

             
"
So, I’ll be here until you are,
"
he said.

             
"
Come on, be serious.
"
She nudged him.
"
You have a job back home. Don’t ruin your life because of me.
"

             
"
You have a job back home too. It would ruin my life if I lost you,
"
he said soberly.

             
After a few moments she stood up and looked down at him.
"
Well, if you’re staying than you have to accept that I can’t explain to you why I’m here because I don’t even really know.
"

             
He stood up and looked down at her.
"
Then you are going to have to accept I will try every single day to figure you out.
"
He put his hands on his hips.

             
"
So, what is this then?
"
she asked him.

             
"
I think we are at a stand off. But, we understand each other. It’s a start.
"
He put his arm around her shoulders and they walked back home.

CHAPTER SIX
             

             
Aylin walked in to The Lilac Tree early the next morning. She
had a large order to fill today
and Jordan would soon be joining her. It wasn’t often that a resident marries on the island; normally they went into Seattle purely for convenience of out of town relatives and friends. The only reason for that was there were more hotels and venues available in the city. But once in awhile the small ceremonies on the beach and a reception at the Chester Inn’s hall worked perfectly. Being the only floral shop on Willoughby Island, she was logically hired for the event.

             
Heading straight to her desk, she pulled out the order to make sure they wouldn’t forget a single detail. Four groomsmen boutonnieres, two father boutonnieres, two mother corsages, four bridesmaid’s bouquets, one bridal bouquet, a throwing bouquet, and a flower wreath for the flower girl’s hair. They needed to make sure the reception arrangements were done and delivered by early afternoon, no later than two o’clock.

             
So many little details that she could easily forget, she couldn’t afford to be distracted. But she was definitely distracted this morning. Terra was the woman’s name, and she had spoken to Aylin. Aylin was anxious to know if Terra would come see her. She seemed to have warmed up to her enough to speak to her n
ow, and w
hen she had taken the card from Aylin her hands had been steady.

             
She also thought of Terra’s brother. Tall, strong, and intimidating. The exact opposite of Aylin. His eyes were so dark, and full of pure anger toward her. She realized that he only tried to protect his sister, but the fierceness she witnessed had been, and still is, intriguing. His hair was as dark as his eyes, and in the sun it had shone a rich brown. His face
was
chiseled, as well as the thick arms that crossed over his chest.  There was something familiar about him, and she decided it must be that he resembles Terra, since they are brother and sister.

             
Aylin jumped at the sound of the back door opening. She watched Jordan bounce in, and Aylin blinked herself out of her daydreaming. She had to focus.
"
Good morning Jordan,
"
she smiled, walking towards her with a copy of the order.
"
Ready for a full day?
"

             
"
Ready as you are.
"
Jordan paused at the hook that held her apron.
"
Maybe not. You seem a little shaken this morning.
"
Jordan eyed her.

             
"
I’m fine. I just want to make sure that we don’t forget a single detail.
"
She handed the paper to Jordan.

             
"
Okay.
"
Jordan shrugged and went to the cooler, deciding a busy day like this one would be the wrong time to press Aylin.

             
The colors of the wedding were those of a hot summer day, rich orange, sunny yellow, and deep pinks. Aylin felt it might have been a tad early in the season for these colors, but a bride will get what a bride wants, and who is she to stand in the way of making the day perfect for her. The bride was a few years older than Aylin, but on an island so small that didn’t make much difference, and she liked her well enough.

             
Luckily they had spent the day before preparing the flowers for the ceremony. The future mother-in-law was due any minute to pick them up. The ceremony would be held outdoors on a large brick patio of the historical mansion that overlooked the rocky coast. The mansion had been one of the first homes built on the island, and the owner was the founder of the town. The family once owned every inch of the island, and began leasing out the land in the center to make the downtown. Through tragic losses of the family, their fortunes went into a landslide and years ago had to sell almost all of their land. Now the Chester family only operated the Inn and the mansion. The mansion, no longer a residence for the Chester’s, was available to be rented out for weddings and events.

             
The floral arrangements that were to be at the front with the podium were large, with sunflowers, roses and daisies. To add height she mixed in giant snapdragons and greenery. All the arrangements were going to be set on pillars that were wrapped in dark green vines. They didn’t want a lot of arrangements for the ceremony, since they wanted the focus on the bride and groom, and the ocean. The manicured gardens at the mansion would serve as a floral backdrop to the ceremony.

             
Jordan made quick work of the arrangements for the reception. She made three large centerpieces, and then fifteen miniature versions. The large centerpieces were held in square glass vases lined with slices of lemons and oranges. The flowers were a mix of deep orange roses, red gerbera daisies, yellow chrysanthemums, pink tulips and white stock. The finished product was, without a doubt, a cheerful depiction of summer in a vase. The miniature versions would only hold two kinds of flowers mixed with the white stock, with the slices of fruit lining the vase. The citrus scent of lemon and orange was strong in the workroom, mixing with the fresh cut flowers.

             
Aylin focused on the bridesmaid’s bouquets first. She had already set aside the flowers for the bridal bouquet, and she wanted to leave a good chunk of time to work on that. The bridesmaid’s dressed were a deep pink, so she and the bride wanted to keep the bouquets in oranges and yellows. The bouquets were simple, a small dome of gerbera daisies wrapped at the base with yellow ribbon. She interchanged the yellows and oranges, and wrapped each one tightly.

             
As she finished the second bouquet the mother-in-law flew through the front door. Jordan was off her stool before Aylin could set down the bouquet.
"
Hey there Sophia!
"
Jordan’s voice drifted through the swinging door.
"
Well look at your hair! You look great, even in your jeans shorts!
"
Jordan was laughing.

             
"
Oh Jordan, you’re too sweet.
"
Sophia’s quiet voice was barely audible.
"
We’ve had quite a morning already. The flower girl skinned her knees chasing after the dog, and Joseline over slept. Can you believe it? The night before my wedding I didn’t get a wink of sleep.
"

             
"
Well, you weren’t as traditional of a bride as Joseline.
"

             
"
Jordan!
"
Sophia giggled.

             
Aylin had secured the ribbon and set the bouquet in the cooler, then slipped into the shop.
"
Sophia, you look wonderful.
"
She walked around the cash register to give the soon to be mother-in-law a quick hug.

             
Sophia was a slight woman, and she dressed many years younger than her age. This morning she wore cut off jeans shorts and a thin tank top. Her hair had been fashionably swept up into a sophisticated French twist, her blond highlights stood starkly against her chestnut hair.
"
Thank you Aylin. How are things coming along?
"

             
"
Oh, perfectly. It looks like the weather is going to cooperate for you.
"
She peaked out the window at the clear blue sky.

             
"
Thank goodness for that!
"
Sophia shook her head.
"
I tell you, when Joseline started talking about an outdoor wedding I just about flipped. But it’s going to turn out just fine.
"

             
"
Yes, it is.
"
Aylin nodded.
"
Now, let’s get your truck loaded up with some flowers, shall we?
"
She turned and Jordan followed her to the cooler. After they had filled the back of Sophia’s SUV with the arrangements and secured them from tipping over on the short drive, they sent her on her way and hurried back in to finish the rest.

             
It took Aylin no time to finish the rest of the bridesmaid’s bouquets, and she went to start the corsages and boutonnières, but she noticed them all ready to go in clear plastic containers.
"
Jordan? When did you do these?
"
She hadn’t noticed them earlier.

             
"
Last n
ight, it was pretty slow and Ted
wasn’t home, so I stayed and whipped them up.
"
Jordan shrugged from her table. She was barely peaking above the field of orange and red flowers. She reminded Aylin of a painting she once saw of a pixie barely visible in a field of sunflowers, the pixie’s hair red as fire from the sun.

             
"
Thank you, Jordan,
"
she said appreciatively, though it made her wary. She felt unnerved that she hadn’t noticed them earlier. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that she had fought to keep her concentration all morning long.

             
She grabbed the two buckets of flowers she had set aside for the bridal bouquet. Once again, it would be a simple bouquet, but it she wanted to work on it with extreme care. Brides deserved perfection.

             
This bridal bouquet would be built of only two kinds of flowers, roses and stephanotis, the white waxy flower that had perfect teardrop shaped petals. She formed the deep orange and red roses into a large dome, and then she sprinkled in the stephanotis throughout the dome to give the bold bouquet some color relief. Once the stems were wrapped securely with red ribbon, and the ribbon studded with pearl-headed pins, she began sticking a white pearl-headed pin into the center of each flower. Halfway through she caught herself imagining sticking the pins into Blake.

             
She couldn’t really blame him for acting so rudely towards her, he didn’t know her and she certainly didn’t know him. She was only trying to help Terra, not harm her.

             
When the pin entered her finger she gasped and then snapped her mouth shut. No more thinking about Blake, she had a job to do and she would do it with perfection.

             
In no time Jordan had left to deliver the tabletop arrangements and Aylin was finishing up the hair wreath. The back door opened and Eliana walked in carrying an iced coffee.
"
Good afternoon,
"
Aylin smiled to her. She noticed El was still wearing last night’s outfit.
"
Good night last night?
"

             
El sat down on the stool across from Aylin and slid the coffee toward her.
"
It always is with James. How are things going here?
"

             
"
Great. We’re making good timing.
"
Aylin nodded. She paused long enough to take a long sip of the coffee.
"
Thank you for this.
"

             
"
No problem. I also came by for the cake topper. You asked me to deliver it for you?
"
She waited for Aylin to answer.

             
"
Oh God!
"
Aylin jumped off her stool, sending it flying to its side.
"
I forgot the cake topper.
"
She slapped a hand to her forehead.

             
"
Settle down.
"
El took off her black shrug and walked over to the aprons. She slid one on over her short red strapless dress.
"
Good thing you’ve taught me a few things.
"
She made her way to the cooler and pulled out the extra flowers that were left over.