Chapter 16. Claire
1533 Words
I pushed the stroller around the back of the temple. I was in awe. There was a beautiful garden full of flowers I’ve never seen before. All sorts of climbing vines and bushes. All in a variety of colors. I follow the path way to a pedestal. On the pedestal there was an intricate silver box with a crescent moon and a baby blue gem that completes the moon. There was a lock. I’d have to come back. I looked around for the flowers. In the middle of the temple wall was a single vine with two white flowers blooming. I walked over to investigate. The flowers looked very similar to an orchid and the shape reminded me of a silhouette of a howling wolf. However, orchids don’t grow on vines. I’ve never seen anything like it. The moment I touched the flower it fell off the vine. Same with the other. I carefully placed the flowers in the cup holders on the stroller and quickly walked back to the clinic.
I walked through the doors. I asked for the doctor but no one knew who it was. It was the craziest thing. After a couple minutes a doctor came out.
“Hello, Luna, I heard you were looking for the Alpha’s Doctor.”
“Yes, I talked to a doctor earlier. He said that Carter and John were still suffering from the effects of the wolfsbane,” I paused for a moment.
“Yes we are doing all we can,” the doctor chimed in.
“He told me about some flowers that grew on the back of the temple. He said that when brewed into tea it would help them.”
“Luna, I don’t mean to doubt you but the doctor you were looking for no one can find and if those flowers in your cup holder are the ones you are talking about I’ve never seen anything. Like those I have no idea what those will do to the Alpha and his Beta. I know you are our priestess and you’re supposed to help the sick. If the idea came directly from you I would consider it but you are saying that some man, who no one knows or has ever seen, told you to give it to them. And once again I mean no disrespect, but after today I will not risk it.”
“I understand.”
I walked away and headed home. I fed Rosie, cuddled with her in bed, and once she was asleep I wept. I haven’t felt safe and loved in such a long time. I haven’t had a family or friends in just as long. I don’t want to lose everything I’ve worked so hard to gain and grow. I woke to the sound of my phone ringing. Tara’s name flashed across the screen.
“Hello,” I answered groggily.
“Claire, can you come over here?”
“Are you still at the hospital,” I questioned, feeling very awake all the sudden.
“No. They made me go home but they promised they’d call if there were any updates.”
“Was there an update?”
“No it’s not that. Look, can you please come over. I just need a friend.”
“Sure, let me get Rosie around.”
I changed quickly. I grabbed Rosie a change of clothes, converted her stroller into a bassinet, carefully placed her inside, and covered her up with her blanket. I rushed out the door.
The moment I walked up her pathway her door opened. She ushered us in.
“Sorry to bother you,” Tara said.
“It’s no bother. What’s up?”
“Well, I’m late. I was going to have John here with me but after yesterday I don’t know how long he’ll be out for and I can’t stop wondering. I know it’s a long shot but I have to know.”
“I understand. What do you need me to do?”
“I need you to wait with me.”
“Okay. Go take the test.”
Tara left for the bathroom and came out a few moments later. She put the test down on the table. She sat next to me and I grabbed her hand and held it caressing it. We sat in silence for a few minutes before she spoke.
“Will you look for me? I don’t think my heart can take another negative test.”
“Of course,” I say, as I stand up. I picked up the test and looked. “Tara,” I start to say.
“Is it negative?”
“Tara, two bright pink lines,” I say, showing her the test.
She jumped up and covered her mouth. But then she sat back down.
“What’s wrong,” I ask.
“What if John doesn’t wake up,” she asked me with tears in her eyes.
“He will. I’m sure of it. I just have to figure out if the flower I found behind the temple will help and where to find proof.”
”Behind the temple?”
”Yeah there’s a magnificent garden behind the temple.”
”Yeah it used to be Alana’s. She used to have a book with all the flowers and what they could be used for but no one’s seen it since before she died.”
”Maybe it’s in the silver lock box in the garden.”
”Silver lock box… does it have the moon on it? A crescent moon with a gem completing it?”
”Yes.”
”That was Alana’s jewelry box.”
”Do you have any idea where the key is?”
”Did you check her room?”
”What do you mean by her room?”
”Her room at Carter’s parents house.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever been there.”
”Well, the only time it got used is when Carter’s parents came to visit but they’re gone now. Carter won’t let anyone disturb Alana’s room.”
”Why not?”
”He loved her. She was his best friend. They did everything together. He was devastated and she left him a note saying goodbye.”
”Well Can we go check it out?”
”Yeah, let’s give it a try.”
Tara walked to the door, put on her shoes and a sweater. I grabbed the stroller and we headed out. Tara led me to a big house on the edge of town. It was dark and the plants outside were half dead. Tara unlocked the door. We walked inside. It was sad to see. There were lots of pictures on the wall but there was something odd.
”They stopped doing family pictures after Alana died.”
”Why?”
”Because Carter refused to take them for the first few years after her death. He said they were never going to have all the family there again. Her death hit him the hardest.”
“I see,” I pondered thoughtfully.
”You can leave Rosie here in the living room. Alana’s room is just down the hall.”
”Okay,” I said and followed.
Tara paused outside the door and gently touched it before opening. “I miss her, she was my first best friend.”
”I wish I had known her, she seems like she was a great person.”
”She was and she would have loved you.”
”Let’s see if we can find the key.”
We checked all over for the key but didn’t find anything. Tara suggested we check Carter’s room. Still nothing. Tara decided to go to the hospital. I fed Rosie, changed her, and then I transformed the stroller. I returned home but after a moment I wondered if Carter had a box of keepsakes here. I looked in the closet. Nothing. I took a shot and looked in the attic. After a moment I found a small wooden box. I opened it and found a charm bracelet. The charms were a crescent moon, a flower, a key, a gem, and a wolf. I quickly climbed down, put the ladder away, grabbed Rosie, and went back to the temple garden. I tried the key in the box and it popped open. Inside was a journal and an envelope with my name on it. I opened it, it was from Alana.
Claire,
I’m so glad you found the key. This garden is yours. It is full of exotic plants, some were created by Selene herself. The book has all the benefits and how to use them. The chest and the bracelet are also yours to keep. I hope you and Carter have a wonderful life full of joy and love.
With love,
Alana
I folded up the letter and put on the bracelet. I opened the book to the page with the flowers from the temple wall. I was right. I grabbed the box. I put the box in the bottom of the stroller. I rushed to the house to grab the flowers. I then rushed to the hospital.
- Writer
