Heading towards the closet in the kitchen where I finally set the breakers. "It should get warmer in a bit." She was still in the living room when I crossed from the kitchen heading outside.
"Hey," she said and I turned to her. "I found something, wait here." She ran back inside while I slowly leaned against the island, and waited for her to come back. What could it be?
She came back, holding the baby with one hand while she fisted something in the other. She came closer hesitantly and slowly unfurled her hand. Nested in the center gleamed a gold coin.
"What's that?"
She shrugged, "I don't know, after I pour the stuff you threw up by the edge of the woods I went back with a shovel to pack some sand and pour over it, but before I threw the firs spade full I saw this gleaming in the middle of it. I don't know if you threw it up or if it was there when I poured out the gunk but I think you should have it."
I took it from her, narrowing my eyes trying to read the inscription but it mudded, one moment there the next not. I stopped trying and pocketed it. I stepped out and realized the floral disaster inside wasn't just limited there. My entire vegetable garden had over grown as if I had travelled for a year and no one had tended it. I spot my water melons lying whole and ripe when I had just been celebrating the first leaves from the ground a week ago.
How was this possible? I know there were certain things about me that weren't so…human, but this? Despite that, the only thought going through my head was, "Fuck, how the hell am I supposed to weed all these?"
"I can help." Ysolde supplied from the door way and I shook my head. "Not today, you look like you're about to fall. Get some rest first then we'll talk."
She nodded and retreated while I stood in the yard perusing the total carnage. The phone in my pocket buzzed and I had to unwrap my blanket to look at it. The sun broke over the horizon as I read the message and a smile lit on my face.
I WILL BE HOME BY FOUR, WHEN YOU COME TO PICK ME WEAR THAT RED DRESS, I NEED TO SEE MY BEST GIRL LOOKING HER ABSOLUTE BEST. P.S I HOPE YOU WONT MIND IF I LOCK US IN MY ROOM FOR THE NEXT THREE DAYS, Can't WAIT TO SEE YOU.
I shook my head at his antics but the smile stayed on my face, I hugged the phone to me and watched the sunrise with a deep breath. Soon the sun was too bright to look at directly so I looked away and sighed at the sight of my poor garden, I should at least clean the ones inside or maybe move them out?
I reentered the house, my sister was nowhere in sight so I went directly to my room and dropped the blanket, changing into something dirty that would be washed soon, gardening generated so much dirt and most of the time they ended up on you.
My hands were still somewhat shaky and my body sent me twinges that said the mysterious illness was not yet completely gone. Still I powered through.
I didn't want to remove all my plants, so maybe reducing it by half would reduce the amount of foliage I had to deal with in here. My ceramic vase of heart leaves was too small to hold the weirdly over grown plant and had broken to litter soil all over the floor, I carefully scooped it with some soil and laid it on the old tarp I had drug in to help carry the bigger plants out.
I decided to clear every other plant, skippingone in-between. I had two pots of bunny ear cacti in the living room, one by the entrance and another by the door to the guest room. I was heaving the opt by the guest room when Ysolde came out.
"Need help?" she asked, following as I sweated and heaved the heavy and cracked vase outside.
"Not yet," I panted. The bunny ear cactuses were almost as tall as I was, the last time I had seen it there were only up to my knees. Now they were almost as heavy as a person, surprisingly I was able to carry them out.
I was staring at my arms in shock, that had to weigh pounds, other than the slight twinge in my shoulders I was feeling okay. I work out, but just days ago carrying two small children threatened to break my spine yet here I was carrying a plant that was almost as heavy as a full grown adult.
"Everything okay?" Ysolde asked suddenly and I was startled out of my wonder.
I looked at her, squinting. What was that around her? I reached out towards her and she slowly leaned back her brows furrowed.
"Are you okay?"
The colors around her were still there, a light green. I shook my head and looked away. Obviously she couldn't see them.
"Yeah, sorry. Was lost in thought." I forced a smile when I saw the questioning look on her face.
"You work fast," she said once we entered the living room again, the total chaos had greatly reduced now that I had cleared out half the plants, the only pace that still remained untouched was my small patio.
The two plants I had there were the Tulandsia and the Boston fern. Both of them were hanging plants. A few days ago those plants had hung minimal above my bamboo reading chair. The glass walls let in the light and the small openings at the top circulated the smell of healthy green leaves around the small space.
Now those two plants had grown so much they blocked the light and my poor chair. The only reason their sheer weight hadn't brought the ceiling installation is because the carpenter that put it in for me suggested metal anchors instead of wooden ones to prevent rot damage from the automated watering pipes.
I gave Ysolde the second shear and we began to cut it down. These plants didn't grow to this size, ever.
"So are we just going to ignore the fact that that house turned into a hot house overnight?" Ysolde said, mirroring my thoughts.
I sighed. "Not ignoring it," I finally replied, "Just…processing." I wiped sweat off my face, there were still too many leaves to allow air into the space.
She paused, on her knees one hand holding the shear as she wiped her whole face with her tank top. "So this hasn't happened before?"
I shook my head and pulled a clump of cut leaves out of the way as I finally reached my chair. "No, never."
"Do you…think I have something to do with it?"
I turned to her. "Did you have something to do with it?"
"No, but-"
"Stop asking stupid questions Ysolde."
She sighed and we went back to cutting. Suddenly my watch started beeping and I stood up to look at it.
Shit, it was time to start getting ready for work. "I have to go into work."
Ysolde looked up at me. "I think I can clear this spot alone, go get ready."
I looked around, my body protesting. I didn't trust anyone in my house when I wasn't home, I wasn't yet sure what to do about my sister here. Did I trust her here alone? After she cleared my apartment that time?
She must've seen the look in my eyes. "I know you cannot trust me yet Ellie, but right now you are the only person willing to help me with my ex, I promise everything will be here when you get back."
I rolled my eyes, refusing to get guilty at the look on her face. I didn't trust her, but I could trust her to put her daughter first. "Fine, I have enough food in the kitchen but look through and tell me if you need anything else. We will talk about the future when I get back."
She nodded. "I will earn your trust again Elina. I swear I have changed."
I had to fight hard not to roll my eyes or scoff, like I haven't heard that before. I cleared my throat and turned to leave the room. "I guess we'll see."