The Beast's Bride

four : cuatro

Chapter 4

The next morning I wake up to the birds chirping. I yawn loudly, stretching my arms. The sun is out and it’s another beautiful day despite the weather report saying it would rain. 

Rolling out of bed, I stare out into the trees again when I spot another wild flower on my window sill. Strangely, it’s exactly where the first one was placed. I look back to my bedside table and sure enough the first one is still there. 

Either Ron was playing tricks on me or the wind had a really good aim at my window. I shrug, taking the newest addition to my old one and head for a shower. 

I dress myself in a simple black dress and meet grandpa at the dining table. He, like the rest of the household, are wearing black for the funeral. Ron joins us for breakfast also. He dares not sit where my grandma usually sits and takes the seat next to mine.

Agatha serves us every possible way of cooking an egg and an array of meat from bacon, to ham and different kinds of sausages. She happily keeps my glass filled to the brim with orange juice. 

“Eat, Maggie.” Agatha pushes brushing my messy hair back with her fingers. “You’re too thin. Take another egg.” 

Ron mischievously grins and stacks another egg on top of mine. “Eat, Maggie.” He teases in a high pitched voice that resembles Agatha.

He gets smacked instantly. “Are you mocking me, boy?” 

“I would never!” He groans grasping his back. “I was only telling her to eat.” 

“You need to eat too. You’re also thin as a twig. We can’t have you slacking off because you’re hungry and weak.” Agatha scolds piling even more eggs and bacon on his plate. “You want oatmeal?”

Ron stares at his plate in horror and shakes his head. “No! This is quite alright.” 

Grandpa ignores the three of us and continues burying his head in a newspaper. “The weather report is wrong again.” 

This causes Agatha and Ron to stop. They all share a look and I blink in confusion. 

“What’s wrong with that?” I ask, chewing my breakfast. 

“Nothing. We’re just happy for another sunny day. It’s good for the plants.” Agatha says right away. “Hurry up now. We need to take the madam to her new resting place.” 

I stay quiet the entire time we make it to the funeral. We take the car instead of the jeep this time and I watch the trees pass until they become small establishments. 

We’re in town now. 

I’d like to say that so many things have changed since I left but there hasn’t. Everything is still exactly the same. The market that I used to go to with grandma and Agatha, the livestock store that my grandpa, Ron and I would take hours just staring at baby chicks and even the school I used to go to.

It’s like I never left. 

We arrive at the small church beside my school and I stare blankly at a beautiful vase where my grandma is. I hold on to my grandpa and Ron tightly. In my mind, grandma is at some glamours vacation still and not inside a bright colored vase looking thing.

Agatha is an absolute angel taking care of everyone and making sure everything is okay. The funeral is short and sweet. Many people came and paid their respects. 

Familiar faces all greeted me with somber smiles and I returned it. I spot Adrian with his family. They come and give their condolences. 

Adrian takes me in a hug that I awkwardly fall into. It’s Ron who breaks us apart shooting a glare at Adrian. They never did get along.

“Are you busy tonight?” Adrian asks when everything is done. 

My mind wasn’t fully back in the present yet when I answered. “I’m not sure why?” 

He leans against a wall and crosses his arms. “I was thinking of getting you out of this mood. I can show you around the new places in town? I already asked your grandfather. He’s going drinking with his buddies tonight and doesn’t want you alone.” 

I looked towards my grandpa who was speaking with his friends. He glanced between Adrian and I before nodding his approval. “Okay, sure.”

Adrian grins widely. “I’ll pick you up for dinner.” 

Ron and I drive home after the funeral. It’s quiet with only the wind blowing. As soon as we make it home, I don’t waste another minute and make my way into the woods, climb over the brick wall and go deeper into trees. 

I find my usual spot not too far away and lay down on the grass facing the sky. I used to chase the clouds before. I wanted to be faster than everyone else, even the clouds. 

I hear rustling and I don’t need to look up to know it’s Ron. “I’m passing through.” He says out loud to the area and seats himself on a tree’s roots. “Are you really going out with that guy tonight?” 

Never in my life have I did that custom of telling an empty woodland that I’m passing through. It’s a superstition. They say if you announce that you’re coming the spirits won’t come after you. 

It’s honestly not something I believed in which drove everyone crazy. 

“Grandpa will worry if I don’t.” I reply flatly not really wanting to go out. I’ve never been the type to drink even in college. I did a couple of times and yes it was somehow fun but it just wasn’t my thing. 

“I don’t like him.” Ron admits kicking up dried leaves from the ground. 

“You’ve never liked him.” I throw some leaves at Ron’s face and he skillfully evades. 

Ron pauses for a long time and I worried for a moment if he left or something. “How are you taking all of this?” 

I didn’t need to ask what ‘this’ was. “As best as I can. It hasn’t fully sunk in yet. She’s been sick for a long time so in a way I’ve accepted it but also I haven’t? It’s confusing.” 

“It’s okay to be confused and it’s also okay to take your time with it.” Ron reassures leaning back into the tree and making himself comfortable. “No one is forcing you to be at your best already. We’re all just glad you’re finally home.” 

I feel my throat constrict. “I wish I was home when it happened.” 

Ron shakes his head. “She didn’t want you home for it.” 

“It doesn’t matter. I should have still been here.” I say quietly eyes focused on the clouds. 

He chuckles low to himself. “Even if you were, she would never allow you to see her. You know she wants your last memory of her to be like how she was, strong and assertive.” 

“That’s surely my memory of her.” I tell him. 

He offers a kind smile. The smile Ron used to give me when I’ve tripped and hurt myself while telling me everything will be alright. “Then you’ve given your grandma exactly what she wants.” 

“How have you been Ron?” I ask, changing the subject.

He perks up at the question. “Pretty good. I finished college at the local school. Agriculture. I’m ready to help your grandpa with everything.”

I sit up and gasp. “You did? Wow, Ron! I’m so proud of you.” 

“Mom is too.” He muses picking at the fallen leaves. 

I laugh and bump lighting bump my shoes with his. “Of course, Agatha is proud. Everyone is.” 

“It’s really good to have you back. Things are always better when you’re here.” He taps my feet and stands up from his spot. “I better go check on the farm. Your grandpa won’t be home until late tonight.” 

And then it was just me and the woods again. I lay on the ground for a few minutes feeling the grass on my back and the sun shining down on my face. The wind suddenly picks up and I watch as a single wild flower starts to fall slowly onto me. 

The same wildflower that keeps appearing on my window. Curiously, I hold my hand out to catch the falling flower. I lift it up and inspect it. It’s not a type of flower I’ve seen around here. 

I narrow my eyes at a strong tobacco smell and sit up. I look around the empty area and wonder if some of the gardeners have found my spot. Nothing. Not a sign of anyone. 

The air starts to chill and my skin starts to prickle with goosebumps. A strong feeling of being watched dawns upon me and I scan the quiet area. 

“Hello?” I manage to call out. 

I don’t know what I was expecting. I’m just glad no one answered back or I’d be running home so fast. 

Deciding that it’s time to go home, I stand up and start my hike back. It’s about five minutes of walking when I realize I’ve been walking too long. I should be at the wall by now. 

At ten minutes, I start to worry. It’s been way too long. I wasn’t that far from the walls. I’ve walked through here too many times to know that this wasn’t usual. 

It didn’t help that I feel like someone is watching me. The hairs on the back of my neck was up at either the chill of the wind or fear of being lost. 

That’s the thing... in my years of being in the woods I’ve never been lost. Not once. I always found my way back home. 

Have I been gone so long that I’ve forgotten the way? 

I watch the sun set and my worry increases drastically. Mist was starting to surround me and with it the smell of tobacco became stronger.  

Of all the times to get lost, it has to be when I’m about to meet an old friend for dinner. My grandma always told me that if I ever found myself lost, I have to take off my shirt and wear it inside out. 

Was I that desperate to do just that? Did it work if I’m wearing a dress instead of a shirt? 

The sun is completely gone now replaced by the moon and this calls for desperate measures. If this worked, I’ll never disobey my grandma’s teachings ever again. I’ll even- dare I say it- brush my hair. I lean down to hold the ends of my dress and pull it over me. The chill of the night comes instantly and hurriedly wear my dress inside out. 

When my eyes finally focus, I let out gasp and nearly jump in excitement because like magic I start to see the lights coming from my house. 

My grandma is right as usual. 

This also meant, I’m going to be brushing my hair from now on.