The Garden of Eden

Chapter Three

One week passed, and then two, and somewhere between the first and second week, people grew bored with staring at Elisabeth and Josh from across the room. Elisabeth is relieved to say that things are finally going back to normal. Well, as normal as things can be when you have a new person living in your house.

She's still getting used to having to share the bathroom with yet another brother; she's still getting used to having a second brother in general. Sometimes Elisabeth thinks that Warren's getting jealous of Josh, which is crazy. It sounds terrible, but she doesn't think she can ever love Josh as much as she loves Warren.

Elisabeth's father is acting really strangely around Josh, and Elisabeth can't quite put her finger on it, but there's something that he's not telling her. For instance, Mr. Foster hasn't even hugged Josh once since he got here; isn't the father of a kidnapped son supposed to be overjoyed? It just doesn't feel right to her. Even her mother is acting strange. She's become very jumpy and she's always peering nervously out the window or drawing the curtains like she's just waiting for something to happen.

Elisabeth sits on the front porch, waiting for Angel to arrive. It's a day off of Lessons and they're supposed to go to the clearing for their picnic, which they've been doing since they were old enough to be by themselves; but Angel is already fifteen minutes late and Elisabeth suspects that it has something to do with Josh. Elisabeth loves Angel and all, but her constant stressing over how she looks has blown way out of proportion since Josh moved in.

The sound of heels clicking up her front walk lets Elisabeth know that Angel has arrived. She glances up and mentally groans at the sight of her best friend. Angel has her hair in a delicate updo with a few curls dangling down. She's wearing a gorgeous gold dress with only one sleeve and a sparkled belt, matching her bright gold stilettos and her shimmery handbag that has replaced her normal leather one. Angel should be going to a grand party, not a picnic on the clearing.

Elisabeth bites her lip to contain the anger that's suddenly bubbling up inside of her. "Hey, you're late."

"Yeah, sorry about that. Is Josh here?" She peers over Elisabeth's shoulder, looking for him. Elisabeth crosses her arms.

"He's inside, but he's not going with us. He's already said that he doesn't want to." Angel's face falls, and that's all it takes for Elisabeth to lose her composure. "What's with you and Josh, anyway? I feel like the only reason you still come over is to see him! And what the hell are you wearing, Angel? We're going to a picnic!"

She regrets yelling as soon as the words came out of her mouth. Angel bites her lower lip nervously and shifts from one foot to another, her cheeks turning pink. "I-I'm sorry that you feel that way, Lis." She takes a shaky breath and starts to walk back down the front walk, her head down.

"No, wait!" Angel stops walking and turns. "I shouldn't have yelled at you like that. I'm sorry. I'm just not used to sharing you with a boy, especially one who's my brother. "

Angel smiles sheepishly. "I know I seem like an idiot, dressing up like this, but I really, really like him, Lissy." Her blush grows deeper from admitting her feelings. Elisabeth sighs and walks down the porch steps.

"I'm sure he likes you, too. But, no offence, can we stop talking about Josh and go to the picnic?" She smiles, offering her arm to Angel who gladly takes it.

"Of course."

They walk to the clearing in a comfortable silence, much different than the silences that her and Josh share. With Angel, almost everything is comfortable, and, since she talks so much, Elisabeth has come to greatly appreciate it when it's actually quiet.

When they arrive, Elisabeth lays out the flannel blanket and sets the cooler in the middle of it. They sit down opposite from each other and immediately grab their pre-made sandwiches. Angel and Elisabeth chat idly about lessons and their families until, inevitably, the topic of boys comes up.