The Farms Secrets

Chapter 2: Banana Tart

The creaking of my seasoned rocking chair made me fall deeper an deeper, within a falling spiral induced trance into the enviroment. Butterflies around my potted creeping phlox that streched from one side to the other of my porch, it hung off the front of the porch trying to reach the ground with all of its might. The butterflies danced together as if they could hear a song that I could not. I shifted my eyes to the sweet tea on the small round wooden table. The sides of the glass were sweating like a pig in july. The droplets look so pure almost like a flowing river that denied to be stopped at its youth. I took in a deep breath looking down into my lap, I maneuvered my eyes down slowly to my feet. It was apparent I sprained my ankle my foot had a boot on it. It made me feel like I parked in the wrong spot and got booted for doing one thing instead of multiple. I leaned back in the rocking chair closing my eyes quickly to not let the sun intrude.

my curiosity peaked when I heard a car door shut at my neighbors house. I've never seen them or heard them... anything. I turned over seeing a dark figure with a umbrella come out of a blacked out car. They were too far away for me to even tell if it was a man or woman. I tried to figure out ways to meet them. Then it clicked, I'd just bring over some fancy pastries. I got up wobbling over to front door. I opened the door and felt a rush of cool air escape, it almost felt like opening a fridge in winter. I hurried inside shutting the door behind me. I wobbled myself to the kitchen thinking aloud "should I make croissants, crumb cake, sugar cookies?"

Then bam another idea came to me "I'll make my mother's passed down recipe Banana tart".

This really made me feel good, for the past couple days now I've felt really sad. I've had to dip into my emergency fund for a hired hand to help me take care of the heavy lifting around the farm. This boot made me feel useless, almost as if I can't do anything I'd normally do. Shaking my head I focused on making the banana tart.

Almost finishing up the tart I heard a knock on my door. I wobbled over there my apron all dirty, I slowly opened the door realizing it was my hired hand Joseph. I opened the door all the way giving out a smile "Hey Joseph, all done with today?"

Joseph replied back with a big smile his pearly white teeth shining off the evening sun"Of course Marci you know I always get done early especially for my number one girl."

Josephs charm was intoxicating however he couldn't penetrate my natural defenses. I was a horrible flirt and never was really into the whole love thing, it never did come natural to me.

Joseph had met me in Highschool n always had a girl on his shoulder, literally if you went through his highschool photos it's just one after another girl on his shoulder, never the same one either.

I gave a nervous luagh grabbing the money I put on the table before hand. "here, also thank you Joseph for not charging me full price. I really appreciate it," I said putting the money in his hand.

Joseph chuckled putting his hand on the back of his neck replying back "well your the only one who got me through highschool so let's say this is for that."

I smiled "were friends isn't that what friends do?"

Joseph was about to say something but i quickly remember the tart "im so sorry Joseph I gotta go I have a tart in the oven."

I shut the door quickly returning back to the oven thankfully not ruining the tart. sighing in relief I grabbed some oven mits pulling out the tray. The sun was already going down making me feel like it was to late to bring it. "No, it's not it can be dessert for them," I said out loud reassuring myself.

I took off the apron hanging it on the wall hook. I started off to the next door neighbors, their lights were on n I started to get nervous. Each step I took felt like I was walking the plank assured of my fate. My boot didn't help either, it started to get anxious so many thoughts racing through my head. "what if they don't like me, do I look ok, what if they are creepy or weird."

By then I was already at their front door. The house was so fancy everything hand made it looked like each peice was handled with great care. Their garden was beautiful; they had pinkish weeping trees at the entrance, with blood red roses greeting you with a deep emerald green grass. It felt comforting, it was like a oasis you could only imagine. I gulped giving a soft knock on the deep brown oak door. I could hear movement inside expecting for them to answer there was no avail. I knocked again a little louder this time mid knock the door opened and I was greeted by a beautiful woman. She had red curly hair, her eyes was a pastel baby blue, freckles all over her face, her skin was so pale, her makeup was vibrant that clashed nicely with her outfit and looks. A bit nervous so I rapidly put the tray infront of me as I was offering a sacrifice or something sheepishly saying "h-hi my name is Marci, I'm your next door neighbor."

At first cause of her silence and stone cold face thought she was upset with me but quickly went away after it registered in her mind I assumed. "It's so nice to meet you Marci my name is Chloe however people call me Darling."

Chloe gave me the sweetest smile her teeth were so straight and so white, I was almost blinded. Then it hit me like semi truck squishing a bug on the road. In disbelief I responded back "Darling as in Darling and Me makeup?"

I didn't believe it, I couldn't; I used to watch her videos when I was 15 however shes still a internet sensation coming out with the most trendiest makeup styles and coming out with the best makeup for girls n women, and she's my next door neighbor. Darling responded back joyfully "yes you watch my videos?"

It stunned me she hasn't aged a day she still looks the same as I watched her when I was 15. "I used to when I was in highschool, but my schedule now is busy, I-I don't really have time to be online."

Darling waved it off with such grace "don't worry we all have our lives, come in, come in." she said kind of corraling me inside.

I gasped as inside was more gorgeous then outside. The front room was so modern with the biggest TV I've ever seen; The couch was a deep red that looked so comfortable their coffee table was a bio aquarium, the floors were marble with gold and red veins, the chandelier that looks as if it was made of crystals, their was a computer that looked like a spaceship with recoding equipment the monitor and keyboard sat on a glass table, underneath it was a round rug that was a rose, the hallway that I assumed led to the kitchen was just windows over looking on each side ponds, one pond has a sculpture in the middle of it, the other had some cranes just looking for food. Darling giggled "you like it? my brother has great taste doesn't he?"

I was puzzled by that statement "your brother?"

Darling she gave me a hearty smile "yeah, he owns this house. I just come here to crash sometimes when I'm on my tours. right now he isn't home but he should be here within a hour."

My mood was kind of dampened cause I thought I lived next to a awesome celebrity however I just live next to her shut in brother. I think Darling noticed this cause she quickly steered the conversation to my tart "let me try a peice of your tart," she said quickly walking to the kitchen I assume.

Darling came back with a fork n sat down on the couch she invited me but I was so scared of sitting on something so fancy. I put down the tray of tart on the coffee table gently, n awkwardly sat down trying not to put all of my weight on it. "Go on relax you don't need to worry" Darling said with such carelessness.

Damn I thought she's good at picking up on peoples ques. I sat down completely the couch basically engulfed me it felt like a lazy boy at the mall however it was a nice couch. Darling took a bite of my tart, she turned to me n I feared the worst. Darling was a big celebrity she was probably used to the fanciest foods by world star chefs, while me I'm a measly farm girl that grows and produces her own food to save money from the grocery store. "I love it Marci, are you a chef cause you could totally be one." Darling said getting ready to take another bite of the tart.

I was suspicious I gave her a forced smile I replied "thank you so much, I'm really glad you like it."

However it looked like she actually enjoyed it, which made me somewhat feel a bit better even if she was lying. after eating another bite she continued to talk "I wish my brother could eat this, he's allergic to most foods so he has to be on a special diet. I think you'd like him, he's intimidating at first however he's a big softy."

She started luaghing n I couldn't help but luagh. Darling luagh was so contagious I see why she had so many super fans, Darling was the women that everyone wanted or wanted to be.

Darling wipped a tear from her eye. "so what do you do love? for like work?"

I froze I didn't want to tell her, what if she saw me differently that I'm a farm girl that barely came off my property n was used to working in the dirt. I took a deep breath answering it in a low voice "Well I have a farm and I sell most of my crops, eggs, milk, and honey. I also do wooden sculptures for extra cash."

Darlings face lit up with curiosity "that's so cool so you really just work with animals n maintain crops. Must be so nice being out n just working with your hands all day. "

I was astonished most people especially at school made fun of me not being that girly girl. While other girls were into makeup and boys, I was into animals and plants. I sighed it felt like I got something off my chest when in reality that was just my life. " well it's really fun in my eyes and it keeps you fit."

Darling responded back "I bet it is fun you'll have to show me next time I come back to town. I'm only in for tonight n I have to fly to my parents to check in on them."

I thought about my parents after she said that. I kind of took a moment for myself n responded back "thats really good though, I think it's really important to keep in touch with your parents and maintain that bond. where do they live?"

She smiled nodding "I agree it's always the best to keep a bond with your parents even if you don't agree with them sometimes they're just looking out for you. They live in italy however in the summer they go to their summer home in the UK."

Damn I thought they live very lavishly I don't think I could ever imagine to live how they do. "that's amazing do you like it in Italy?"

Darling shook her head "no I like the UK more just the weather there its so much better. I love their gloomy days."

All of a sudden the door opened slowly giving off the creaking noise, it sounded like the door was screaming in pain as it was being open. A tall man with jet black hair, a black suit with a red tie, his well built body couldn't help but state I'm a god, his skin was this nice dark carmel; step into the house. He fiddled with his cufflink looking at it at first until his sister cleared her throat drawing his attention towards us. When our eyes met I felt like I've seen them, felt them before. This icy harden gaze that was a dark ominous grey just like his eyes.