Into the Garden (Wildflowers 5)

"Well, well. Has the princess finally put an end to her temper tantrum and decided to come down to apologize?" she asked.

"I don't think I have done anything I have to apologize for," I said.

She nodded.

"I'm not surprised."

"Was that phone call for me?" I asked.

"If you want something to eat, you better get it now. I'm about to do the floor," she replied instead.

"Someone called me, right?"

"No,' she lied. "Are you getting yourself some breakfast or not? I don't have all day. I have to complete the pantry inventory that you failed to do, remember?"

"You can't stop me from having friends:' I muttered, and made my way past her into the kitchen. I was only punishing myself by fasting, I thought. She wouldn't change her mind and nothing would be accomplished by my fasting except my selfdestruction.

I fixed myself some breakfast and Geraldine went off to dust and polish furniture while I ate. Not more than twenty minutes or so later, the phone rang again. I tried to get myself up and to it before she reached it, but suddenly she was a sprinter and got there just as I put the crutches under my arm.

"Yes?" she said with annoyance. She looked at me. "Who is it?" I demanded.

"She's fine," she said. "She had a little accident and has her ankle in a cast so she won't be able to go anywhere for some time. No, I'd rather not have anyone visiting her for a while," she added. "Thanks for calling."

"Is that Doctor Marlowe? Is it?" I cried, but she hung up. "Why didn't you let me talk to her?"

"There's no reason to talk to her anymore. She's got nothing to offer you. Just be obedient, get better, and fulfill your responsibilities," she added. "Don't dillydally over your breakfast either. I want to wash that floor. You dragged down a lot of dust from the crawl space," she concluded and walked off.

I stared at the phone. Later, I thought, first chance I get, I'll call Jade. I returned to my breakfast and finished. Then I went to the living room. She practically flew back to her pail of water and mop and began to wash the kitchen floor. I sat there thinking I had to have the rest of those letters. How was I going to get back up and into that crawl space now? I'd have to get someone to do it for me, I thought. Fat chance of that. She'd never let anyone in this house.

The pain was still fresh in my ankle, thumping harder and longer, forcing me to take another one of those pills. Before I knew it, I was drifting off, sitting in the big cushioned easy chair. When I opened my eyes, I could feel that hours had gone by. The sun was covered by a sheet of gray clouds. It made the house seem so dark and cold.

I didn't hear Geraldine come into the room. For a few moments, I didn't realize she was sitting there, too. Her back was to me and she was just looking out the window. She was so still.

"What time is it?" I asked.

Slowly, so slowly, it was almost like a dream, she turned.

"Why?" she replied. "Do you have an appointment?" "No, I just wondered how long I've been asleep:' I said. "It's nearly twelve-thirty. I'll make some lunch," she added, and started to get up. It seemed to take more effort.

She looked tired and weak, more fragile than I could remember. When she stood, she had to catch her breath and steady herself for a moment.

"What's wrong with you?" I asked.

"Nothing," she said quickly. "I have all the work to do by myself now, that's all."

"I can help with some things:' I offered.

She stood there gazing at me. Her face was caught in shadows so I couldn't see her expression, but just by the way she held her shoulders, I knew she wasn't pleased.

"I didn't want to fall, you know. But I wasn't going to stay up there all night."

"I don't know what's gotten into you," she said. "Nothing's gotten into me but a desire to know more about myself. Why are you so against that?"

"I've told you. It's not the sort of stuff you want to know."

"I should be the one to decide that. It's my past mainly."

"Your past," she said with a thin, brittle laugh. She stepped forward and I now could see the cold, steely glint in her eyes. "Let me tell you some of it so you'll understand whose past it really was. She used me. You can't imagine a mother using a daughter like that."