The Weed in the Rose Garden

Chapter Five

"Wh-Wh.. Ahem. What's going on?" Leona sounded groggy as she came to.

Silence fell upon the four of us as we looked at each other. Recognition seemed to smack her right in the face.

"Seth... okay. Uhm." She rubbed her forehead and took a deep breath.

Percy tugged on my arm and I stood up as she leaned in to whisper, "I know a spell that will make her forget this evening... I think it might be in our best interest." I became rigid.

"Coralee, what's going on?" I couldn't help but roll my eyes. This was a lot just for me to swallow. Looking at Percy, I nodded. It might just be the best option. Leona has too much on her plate already.

"Well, for one, this is indeed Seth, and this is Percilla, his wife. Long story, no time for it." I grabbed her hand and helped her up. "Give me one second." I turned to Seth and Percy and gestured for them to take a few steps back into the gallery. I followed and got close enough to whisper without Leona being able to hear. "How do you do this... spell?"

"I use my mother's ruby amulet. It only works for short periods though, so the longer we are here with her the more chance we run of it not working. It's just supposed to be used in a pinch."

"Okay, well, I'm leaving with you guys. I'm not going to go another day without you, Seth. Can you just wipe, you know, her meeting you and whatnot? That way I can plan an exit tonight so she doesn't spend time looking for me like we did for you." I shot a glare at Seth.

"Of course. We can't wait too long, however. Let's hash out this plan." Percy rubbed her hands together enthusiastically.

I ran my hands through my hair and sighed. "You do whatever you need to with that ruby, I finish the work Leona and I came here to do, and run back to the farm to gather some things."

"No," Seth grunted.

"Why not?"

"Our adoptees should not know I'm alive. It was a risk to come see you, let alone bring you back with us too. I'm not going to fight to bring you to your true and rightful home. I, however, do draw the line at going back to the farm. There are people in this world who still wish us harm if we were to discover ourselves. Sentries to keep us and the other children left here in check."

I crossed my arms. "And make them search for me like they did you?"

"Tell Leona something good enough that they will believe it secondhand."

"Fine."

"How long will it take you to wrap up here?" Percy asked.

"Maybe an hour."

"Fine, we will meet you at the back door in an hour. Not a minute past." Seth said. He pushed past me and walked through the office, stopping at the back door to go outside. Percy flashed me a smile before walking over to Leona and, using a soothing voice, coaxing her to the storage room. Once they reached the pile of paintings, Percy pulled on a small silver chain around her neck. A fire-red ruby popped out of her leather suit collar and danced back and forth on the chain. Leona's eyes followed it as Percy began murmuring a chant I could not hear.

"Come here, sis," Seth whispered.

I walked over to him and embraced him in a bear hug. I breathed in the scent of him, musky woods, freshly turned dirt, and a hint of summer rain. My eyes welled with tears once again. Burying my face in his chest, I murmured, "I f*****g missed you."

"And I, you, Cora." He let me go and said, "I will see you in an hour. We will have all the time to catch up later."

Percy walked up and slid her arm through his. Seth opened the door and led the way out into the rain as Percy turned to give me a small wave. I watched them disappear around a corner before turning towards the storage room. Leona was sitting at a table, tediously printing labels as if my missing brother truly had not just shown up out of nowhere. I needed a good excuse to make Leona believe I was going somewhere for a while. Something that is somewhat of an emergency. My mind began reeling with unideal situations, none suiting my lifestyle or who I was.

Shaking my head, I walked into the storage room and began sorting the paintings into the ones that needed to be mailed, which bless Marissa, who took care of that part for me when she shipped her gallery's other works.

I jumped when Leona began, "Yah know, I think I'll be okay. Managing the restaurant, that is."

"I know you will. You'll be a rockstar, baby!" I said, jokingly playing the air guitar. Leona giggled.

The next hour seemed to go by at a crawl. We had finished the work with my art and were now sitting outside in the back of the gallery, on a bench meant for Marissa's smoke breaks. Glancing over at Leona, I finally knew what I would say to her.

"Leona... I have some news."

"Oh?! Do tell!"

"I uh... got an exclusive art deal with a couple of artists out of London. Call themselves the Artful Simons. They want to do a massive collaboration piece with all sorts of different styles and artists... they just so happened to love mine and reached out a couple of weeks ago."

"No. Way!!!" Leona squealed and shook my shoulders."That is AMAZING, Coralee!"

"I'm leaving tonight for London." I half-smiled, knowing it wouldn't sit well with her.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?! I would have thrown a party. You deserve to be celebrated!" She sat back, a frustrated look fell upon her face.

"I'm sorry, Leona, but I didn't even tell my parents."

Her jaw dropped. "How could you not?"

"I just... don't think it would have made a difference."

We both fell into silence, communicating without words. The look she gave was hard, one a disapproving mother would give a child who had dessert before dinner. She disapproved of how I let my parents leave me on the back burner, and how I didn't push to be acknowledged by them. I looked back at her with soft eyes, pleading not to push it. I hated lying to her, and a part of me wanted to crack. But, I knew this was the best route to go. We looked away from each other and stared out, watching the rain.