“So I guess you heard all about it,” Ruth said.
Gaia nodded. “Why don’t we go to the kitchen and have some tea? I think I know what you need.”
Ruth sighed. “Yes, tea would be lovely.”
She followed the woman down the stairs and into the kitchen. She filled the kettle while Gaia took an actual plant out of a satchel that Ruth hadn’t noticed before.
The plant was made up of a couple of leaves that looked like hearts. They were about two inches long and the same across. The pretty leaves were stuck together at the bottom, making the point of a heart shape, and about halfway up, they divided and made the rounded tops of the heart.
“I’ve never seen leaves like this.” Ruth picked one up, turned it over in her hand, and admired it. “It’s pretty. Kind of like one quarter of a large shamrock. Is it part of the clover family?”
“I know what you mean, but no. It’s a lovely plant that’s in a class of its own. I think you’ll be surprised how wonderful you’ll feel after having tea made with it.”
“Oh. This is a tea leaf?”
Gaia nodded. “It can be used in any number of ways. Tea is certainly one of them.” She dunked the leaves in two cups of hot water that seemed to have boiled much faster than Ruth would’ve expected.
“So this is your home now?” Gaia asked, looking around the room.
“I guess so.” Ruth took a sip of the brew and was surprised by the sweetness of the taste. She hadn’t even put any sugar in it. “This is delicious. What’s the name of this tea?”
Gaia shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s something your father found. He’ll have to tell you more about it—if he wants to.”
Ruth cocked her head and wondered at this strange woman. Well, whatever the plant was called, she was right. It made her feel better. In fact, she hadn’t felt this good in a long, long time. After another sip, she felt as if she could stand up and take on the world. This was definitely unusual!
“You say my father knows about this?”
“Oh yes. He wants to create some sort of medicine from it. He’s very excited about the discovery.”
“I’ll bet,” Ruth said. With each sip, she felt stronger and happier. It was hard to believe she had been in tears only a few minutes ago. “I should call my dad,” Ruth said.
“He might be in the air as we speak.”
“I know he was in Puerto Rico this morning, but I doubt he would be able to board a plane this fast.”
She fished her phone out of a pocket in her maternity top, then called his number. The number just rang and rang. Finally, she got his voicemail. “Hi, Dad. It’s Ruth. I’m in your kitchen—” She cleared her throat. “I mean,ourkitchen, having a cup of tea with your lovely friend, Gaia. I feel a lot better now. I’ll see you when you get home. Thank you again for letting me move back in. I love you.”
Ruth hung up and tucked the phone back into her pocket. “Well, if you were supposed to check in on me and make sure I’m okay, you have done your job admirably. I can’t explain it, but I feel wonderful. I know my child and I will be all right. Thank you. If you have things to get to, I totally understand.”
Gaia smiled. “Yes I do have things I need to get to. And you’re right. You are going to be fine.”
Ruth shrugged. “I’ve never felt better in my life.” Then she beamed and escorted Gaia to the front door. “Thank you for coming and checking on me. I can take it from here.”
“I’m glad to hear that. I’m sure your father will be too.” She lifted the satchel and put it gently into Ruth’s hand. “I’ll just leave a few of these seeds with you. If your father can’t get the seeds to grow, tell him I’ll help. I have quite the green thumb. I can plant a whole greenhouse full of them.”
And with that, the strange woman walked down the stairs and around the corner of the house as if she were cutting through the backyard. Perhaps she was. Ruth knew their next-door neighbors but not the ones behind them. That must be where she lived.
* * *
The following day, Aaron entered his home in Brookline and dropped his suitcases. “Ruthie?”
Ruth strode out from the kitchen and over to her father. “Hi, Dad!”
“Sweetheart.” He spread his arms open wide. “I’m sorry it took me so long. I got rerouted and delayed even though I grabbed the first flight out.”
She hugged him as if she’d just come for a visit. Aaron had expected his daughter to throw her arms around him and burst into tears, but she seemed almost cheerful.
“I’m so sorry about what happened, honey, but it’ll be all right. You’re home now.”
