It took them thirty minutes to complete the tour of the amenities near the small houses.
And then, they took the golf course cart and drove to a large area that looked like a stadium.
She tried to focus her attention on what Alex was explaining regarding the Olympic size pool, wondering these girls couldn't see that her limbs were stiff and falling off?
Isabel tried to control her facial expression to not show what she felt when Alex introduced her to the rubberized marathon track.
Next to the sports stadium, it looked like a warehouse. She thought they will lead her to the resort's supplies, but when she got inside, it's full of body-building equipment. It's a gym. But what she wanted to do was to lurk in one corner and do self-pity.
She couldn't focus much on the tour. She tried entertaining her thoughts with what interested her, that's was the stone garden.
The stone structures had a mysterious design that made her believed it had a long history of paranormal or even mythology. The carvings on the main pillar were like runes used by the Druids. Could have been writings or inscriptions of magical spells.
The artist might have a deep connection with spirituality. She would want to study what significance those letters, indeed if it's just a model. She would love to inquire from the artist about the full pattern.
Isabel wished to know from Alex regarding the entire tale of the sacred stone garden earlier, but she was in a hurry to get to another stop.
And she went back to her ongoing predicament. She couldn't understand why they need to give her a tour as soon as she set foot on the island. She noticed that no other patients tagged along. It was tiring, and she didn't want to continue. But the ladies had big of energy and so happy introducing her around.
Later, they arrived at the building that in Isabel's perception; it had enormous pillars similar to the Parthenon in Athens, when it's not ruined. This time, she got engaged with what Alex was saying. They brought her indoors, and it made her happier to know that it's a library.
Her blood sparkled like a newly opened bottle of soda.
Libraries were her doors to another dimension, to the unknown, where few individuals went.
She preferred to linger a little, but they already proceeded on to the next destination.
There was a beautifully designed bar in the center where some individuals talk and hanged out.
"This is Hasher's Grove. You can come here and chill anytime you wish. Everything here is free," Alex said, smiling like it's a reward after the excruciating tour they had.
In her mind, she is twerking with joy. Excitement replaces all the agonizing experiences she had on tour.
The grove has three levels at the top was a hanging garden full of purple and pink flowering wisterias.
The middle had a platform which was shaded by the top floor and people can hang around.
The third level below and where they're at.
"This is the meat lane. You can have it fried, grill name every cuisine, it's here." Someone from the meat lane gave Alex a stick of kebab.
"Thank you." Thanking the man politely.
"And this one is seafood," Alex said casually.
But they haven't even there for five minutes, they were already walking away. Just like what she was thinking, Alex gives little time in cheerful places.
Isabel wanted to stay and hang out for the rest of the day in Hasher's Grove. When they reached the end of the grove, Isabel's hand was carrying plates and boxes of food. And then, they went to another place.
It looked like a palace, so huge, built by high-class concrete Isabel could not name. It looked expensive, that she knows.
"Let me give you a little background of the Raven's cove," Alex said while smiling. Isabel was sure that it's not because she was warm towards her, but she was proudly being a part of the staff of the facility.
"Hasher Raven, the President and CEO of the RMedcorp is the founder of the facility, a passionate man who lost his own wife to cancer, dedicated this facility for patients like you." Alex recites about the Ravens like it's a poem.
They continued giving her a tour of the palace.
"Now no one lives in here. This serves as a museum. " Everything inside was all portraits of a young, beautiful woman.
"The woman in the portrait was Mr. Raven's wife, Elizabeth Raven. She died when she's very young, thus this facility serves as her memorial," Alex continued to narrate as if they're really inside a museum.
So rich! Isabel thought of a mausoleum that cost millions. She shook her head in her mind. She can't help thinking of the Taj Mahal.
Although the palace has luxurious suites. It's only to keep Elizabeth Raven's memorabilia. There's one room that was dedicated to the lingerie she wore. Incredulous! That's the word the back of her mind kept chanting that she was ignoring.
Elizabeth Raven's was impressive. Her own paintings, sketches, and drawings looked good. She must be a professional. And it drew her to a particular frame that was not in the mainstream display. It was a painting of that sacred stone garden.
What Elizabeth has known about the secrets of the inscription on the stone pillars? Curious, she stared at the painting closely. She discovered that Elizabeth's signature was among the stone scriptures hidden.
"Hmm, interesting," she thought.
They continued to tour inside the beautiful manor with indoor gardens.
"Mrs. Raven planted these roses herself." Alex was touching the glass walls of the garden while talking.
The garden has an air conditioning system to adjust the climate suitable for the roses. How Alex explained everything, she seems to know the Raven Family history by heart. The Raven manor house tour got Isabel's attention for a short while, but it eventually faded. She kept checking her wristwatch. They spent almost the entire day. She was ready to tell Alex she wanted to take a rest after this. However, Alex announces.
"Now we will bring you to your house."
She exhaled loudly, an unconscious reaction. Alex and Sonia looked at each other.
"I'll drive." Sonia, who didn't speak the entire time, volunteered to drive the golf course cart. It's weird though that Sonia did not speak during the tour.
Her house was on the beachfront with a courtyard at the back. There was a small, cultivated plot for her to plant her own vegetables. That made her smile involuntarily. It was on her bucket list. She was going to have a lot of fun here.
Her house was tiny, had a tribal design outside and a straw roof. Even if it was small, when she went in, it's as luxurious as the rooms in Raven's manor. Isabel felt happy and relieved. If there's anywhere in this world that she would like to die, it's this small house.
"Is that made of cotton?" her gaze was at soft purple rug on the floor.
"Yes, I think." Alex was not paying attention to her question, but busy checking the list on her check board.
"Wow, is this made of mahogany?" there's a coffee table that seems like cut from a very huge tree.
Alex didn't hear her, but asked her instead;
"Do you have any preferences?"
"No, everything is looking fine for me." Her eyes were busy looking around and admiring the decoration.
"Alright, we will leave you to rest, but if you need something else, just call us through that radio," Alex said briefly and left.
At last, she can have a good rest in a beautiful reverie. This was the interior she had been dreaming of for her apartment. It looked cozy, fluffy, and very feminine. The couch near the wide window was overlooking the ocean. She could sit and have a cup of coffee in there.
She would like to plant some flowers around the fence and have some bonfires outside while stargazing. Such a simple wish she placed on her application form, and the Raven's Cove did not disappoint her so far.
She was thinking to clean herself, and looked for the bathroom but did not find any, looked outside, and jaws dropped at what she saw. She only wanted to shower, but the bath was just so enticing.
The bath was so lavish; it looked like a mini Egyptian bathhouse. It's literally bigger than her house.
In excitement, she hurriedly took her clothes off and jumped into the mini pool. The floor had gravels that made you think you were bathing in a river or lake.
Isabel didn't notice how much time she spent in the splendid bath. Until she heard her doorbell ring. She was thankful that they had a bell in the bath. She quickly puts on clothes and opened the door.
"Hi, my name is Ed. I brought you dinner. It's Morrocan pie, Couscous with roasted chicken," said the staff, holding a tray of covered dishes. Ed so far has the warmest smile she has encountered in the resort.
"You did not call to order, so we just made one for you. Do you have any food preferences?" He asked politely and timidly, shyer than she was.
"No, this is okay, I'll have it." She said because she never had a Moroccan pie or Couscous before.
"Also, I am delivering this invitation for your first wish on your bucket list, the twenties ballroom party." He handed Isabel a fancy envelope.
"Alex and Sonia will come and bring you to the salon at four in the afternoon, and then you can choose an outfit with them." He looked away, talked fast, and not breathing while talking. Isabel was holding her laughter in this dude's personality.
"Tomorrow morning, you can do whatever you want. There are seedlings and vegetable sprouts in the infirmary. Just call Alex on the radio so they can drive you to get your plants." And then Ed could no longer take it. After the last sentence, he turned and speed away as far as he can from her. Isabel could no longer hold her laugh.
That guy was so hilarious. His face was so red, just a shade paler than a tomato.
She eagerly tried the Morrocan pie and couscous that Ed brought her. In her dining area, there were bottles of liquor that she could choose from. She laughed because her family was so traditional that they conditioned her that taking alcohol was bad.
Now she regretted not having her life wasted because it just self-destruct, anyway. So she took a bottle of vodka and checked her library for a liquor recipe. She found plenty of it and made herself a delicious one.