Even though Brad took the truck, there’s a mountain bike in the garage, and the garden isn’t far. I enjoy the cycle intotown, cruising along with the wind trickling lightly through my long hair.
When I arrive at the gardens, the parking lot is pretty much empty. There is a small office and café by the entrance that, so far, I’ve never seen open, but I have to assume they hold important events and picnics here.
I wander through the massive stone archway, looking around idly as I decide which way to go. Pathways spiral out in every direction, leading into sections of different kinds of plants, bright green, grassy meadows, and little stone courtyards.
Beautiful spot for a wedding!
Before that thought can take root, I hear a small cry and look up the north path, seeing Grace hurrying towards me.
“Alisha!” she cries, running over to give me a quick hug. “Where did you disappear to the other day? You barely even spoke to me when you came back through with Brad.”
“I’m really sorry about that,” I say, looking her in the eye even as my heart cowers in shame. “I was at a meeting with Brad before we came here, and one of the elders said something to me that I couldn’t shake. I freaked out a bit. I’m really sorry I took off on you like that.”
“No trouble at all,” she says, giving my arm a squeeze. “I was just terribly worried about you. I wouldn’t want to lose you in the gardens on your first visit!”
“No,” I answer, laughing softly. “You wouldn’t. How big is this place?”
“About twenty-five acres,” Grace says proudly. “We have groundskeepers for the big jobs, and a few people who volunteer occasionally. But mostly, it’s just me.”
“How did you end up working here?”
Grace takes my arm lightly and gestures for me to come with her. “Come up to the covered garden. It’s much cooler up there, and the sun is starting to sizzle out here already. Also, you can check on those hyacinths.”
“I’d love to,” I reply, chuckling as I follow her.
“As for me and the garden, well, I just kind of fell into the job. It’s very low pay, and a lot of work, but I like being out of the way.”
“Why?” I ask, feeling the weight in her words.
Grace bites her lip a little as we enter the covered garden, and she takes off her wide-brimmed hat to lift her long, honey blonde hair off her neck, sighing with relief.
“Would you like some water?” she asks. “I’ve got a cooler over there.”
“I’m starting to feel like you’re avoiding my question,” I mutter.
Grace frowns. “Maybe. But let me ask you one. At the meeting, was it Mitchell who said something nasty to you?”
I sigh, sitting down on a stone bench. “I’m not sure it was even nasty. He just made a remark about me being a shiftless wolf, and it triggered me. I don’t think he meant to be mean.”
Grace nods, narrowing her eyes. “He probably didn’t, but he would usually be the one to say something like that. The class divide in this town is pretty serious, and it isn’t going to be fixed overnight.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. There are old families here, very powerful people. They liked Azarian’s regime, and I don’t think they’ll take kindly to an alliance with Rose Hollow.”
“Grace?” I say, smiling. “I don’t think you’ve answered my question.”
She smiles back. “No. I don’t think so. Well, I’ll just come out with it, then. I’m a shiftless wolf, too.”
Her words shock me so badly, I almost fall backwards off the stone bench. “Really? But I’ve never met another one before. I thought I was the only one!”
“So did I,” Grace says, looking away shyly.
I get up and give her a hug, squeezing her tightly. She squeezes me right back.
“I could tell, sort of,” Grace says, as she grabs some water bottles and we both sit down. “You know how we kind of have mixed senses? Not quite wolf, but not quite human, either? I don’t know—is it the same for you?”
“It is.”
