Total pages in book: 140
Estimated words: 140940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 705(@200wpm)___ 564(@250wpm)___ 470(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 705(@200wpm)___ 564(@250wpm)___ 470(@300wpm)
Wow.
The sheer scale and beauty of it was staggering.
Plush rows of spinach and kale carpeted the landscape. Red roses and blue hydrangeas tumbled down banks of wildflowers, their vibrant colors spiraling outward in dizzying waves, like a psychedelic sea of flora. Hidden amidst the rainbow hues, a multitude of vegetables, fruit trees, and aromatic herbs thrived.
I let out a quiet “Well damn. I see why she wanted to show us this garden. It is amazing.”
The heavy, intoxicating scent of pollen swathed the floral perfumed air.
Yet, the tranquility of the garden stood in stark contrast to the tension-filled atmosphere we’d left behind.
Why had Baba been so adamant about Paolo staying away from here?
Up ahead, Delphine came to a halt at the edge of the garden and kept her back to us.
“Here we go,” Max whispered. “Stay alert.”
We closed the distance between us.
With a grandiose sweep of her cane, Delphine gestured towards the garden. “Welcome to Creole Eden.”
“Thank you for bringing us here.” I smiled. “This space is truly beautiful.”
Next to me, Kaz remained silent with his gaze locked on Delphine.
In all honesty, his silence unnerved me.
Relax. Everything will be okay. This will be good.
Max, meanwhile, surveyed the expansive garden and then folded his arms across his chest. “Go ahead, you guys. I’ll hang back here.”
I quirked my brows. “For real?”
He nodded, not taking his wary eyes off the garden. “Yeah. Something’s off about it.”
A creased hit Delphine’s forehead. “Grandnephew, I would like to show you the garden too.”
Max shrugged. “I see the garden just fine from here.”
“There’s nothing in that garden that will bother you, boy.”
“That doesn’t mean I’m going in there.”
I stood at a distance, watching this odd exchange. I’d known Max for a long time, and he wasn’t one to shy away from a garden. Yet, there he was, lingering on the periphery, looking uncomfortable.
“Okay.” I shrugged and looked at Delphine. “That’s fair. If Max isn’t feeling it, then we won’t make him.”
She directed her view my way. “You are very protective of my grandnephew?”
“Of course. He’s family.”
Delphine curved her lips into a small smile. “But he is not your blood.”
“Blood doesn’t define family for me. It just means that you share some DNA.”
“Is that right, Emily?”
“Real family is created from going through shit together and having each other’s back the whole time.”
Delphine studied me. “You believe in creating your family on the basis of love?”
“I do.”
Delphine put her view back on Max. “I was hoping to get some lemon seeds from your tree, but I didn’t feel the tree’s presence on my property today.”
Huh?
I was sure Maxwell had never told Delphine about Lemonisha.
Maxwell kept his gaze steady on her as if awaiting an attack. “It didn’t make any sense to bring her here.”
Delphine narrowed her eyes at him. “I expect to get some seeds before you leave New Orleans. Do you understand me?”
“I understand you.”
“But, will I get my seeds?”
Max unfolded his arms and pointed to the right. “Looks like you have several lemon and orange trees over there.”
Really, Max? You won’t share seeds with her either?
Delphine’s smile left. The frown returned. “I want your seeds.”
“Why?”
“I want one of those trees to reside in New Orleans.”
There was something about the way Delphine was asking for Lemonisha’s seeds that made me feel uneasy.
Max clearly got the same feeling.
Shaking his head, he eyed her. “But, why? I need more than that.”
Yeah. Why are you trying to get our tree’s seeds?
If anybody were getting seeds from Lemonisha it would be me first.
“That tree will end up being a family heirloom. It will be passed down through generations.” Delphine dotted the air with her fingers. “Every new tree grown from those seeds will reinforce the family’s status and power. In fact. . .these trees will become a symbol of the family’s enduring presence and influence.”
“Man, it’s just a tree.”
Delphine leaned her head to the side. “Yet, you are quite possessive of her already. You must feel the tree’s power too.”
“How about this?” Raising one hand, Max ran his fingers along the brim of his hat. “Stop messing with Paolo and going into his dreams, and you can get some seeds.”
Delphine blinked. “Is that necessary?”
Fuck. . .she never said she wasn’t in Paolo’s dreams.
I gritted my teeth.
How will I deal with that?
Max tilted his hat slightly to the other side and lowered his hand. “And be nice to Baba. That shit made me uneasy.”
Annoyance laced Delphine’s words. “You are negotiating with me?”
“I’m just telling you what I need in order to feel good about giving you the seeds.”
Delphine considered this for several silent seconds and then nodded. “Very well. Your terms are acceptable.”
“We’ll see.”
“What does that mean?”
“I need to make sure you are making good on our agreement.”
“You definitely have our blood, boy. Just as hard-headed as all of us.” Delphine let out a long breath and turned around. “Let us see the garden, Kazimir and Emily.”