A Midsummer Night's Dream

9

THEODORE

I dropped the large box of candles in front of the front doors to Monet mansion and wiped the sweat off my face.

In two days, we were having the annual Summer Solstice party at the estate as per tradition. There was much work for mom and I to do but I knew it was going to pay off. We didn't have any events or parties in the village so this was a special one.

I headed inside to the kitchen and sat on the counter. I poured myself a glass of ice cold water and drank it in one gulp.

"Theodore, get some carrots and peas for me from the patch near the pool." Mom ordered me. I nodded and headed out with a basket.

I saw Diana and Lorraine sitting in sun chairs beside the pool as I walked past them to the little vegetable garden in the glass house.

"Theodore, what are you doing?" Diana asked as she sprung up.

"Working." I replied.

"Lorraine and I were tanning but she fell asleep and it got boring." Diana said as she followed behind me.

I had still not recuperated from the little moment in my bedroom the other day. It was awkward being around her after that but I guess she didn't feel the same way.

"So where are we going?" Diana asked.

"Watch your step." I said as we went down the steep staircase.

"Woah, I've never been here." Diana remarked.

"Really? You've been here a month but haven't even explored the place fully?" I questioned.

She shrugged and took a photo of the view on her camera.
"Looks nice." She said. We were standing at edge of Monet hill overlooking the blue ocean on one side and the village on the other.

"Come on." I said and walked behind the worn down shed to the glass house.

The glass house was one of my favourite places in the estate. It was sort of like a life size terrarium shaped like a beautiful gazebo and surrounded by glass walls. During this time of day when the sun makes everything look golden, the glass reflects and shines like crystals and it looks like something out of a fairytale.

"Wow. This is beautiful. It looks magical." Diana commented as she stared at the beautiful building in awe.

I opened the door and let Diana walk in before me. The butterflies were flying around and one sat on my nose. Diana took a photo of it on me and we both laughed.

"We hold many plants which prefer hotter climates in here since it basically serves as a greenhouse, capturing thermal energy from the sun." I said, showing her the variety of vegetables surrounding the edges of the house.

In the middle we had a mini water fall with exotic blue water lilies and lotus flowers sitting on the surface of the water surrounded by exotic flowers like Celosia, Dahlias, Hyacinths and Gardenias and little mushrooms.

"It's so so beautiful." Diana exclaimed.

"It's one of my favourite places here. Feels like you're in a fairytale land." I said.

I picked up a gardenia flower and placed it in Diana's hair. I pulled a strand of her long hair which was covering her face behind her ear. I sighed as I admired her beauty.

"Diana what happened the other day..." I started.
"Was just a mistake." She said before I could finish.
I hesitated a moment to object but nodded. "Yes, just a mistake." I said and swallowed the lump in my throat.

She stayed quiet, looking around as I pulled some carrots out and placed them in my basket and some peas.

We headed back inside and I placed the vegetables on the counter.