The Hope of Eden

Relief

It was pouring.

The rain began as the night fell, and it had yet to relent.

Thunder and lightning threatened to keep Eden awake, but it was well.

She was at ease.

Rosalie slept soundly and had been without a night terror for a week.

Things were getting better for the child and Eden couldn't have been happier for her.

She laughed softly, keeping her eyes on the serene rain.

Rosalie wouldn't be happy to find the rain when she awoke. She wanted to continue painting outside, just as she'd started yesterday.

Yesterday.

Eden let some things slip. She wasn't supposed to.

Now Dr. Slater knew more than he was ever supposed to.

Never.

The word from the Lord settled.

Could she believe that Dr. Slater would never snap?

No.

Her eyes had seen terrible things.

The one she grew to trust shattered her heart and mind.

He was just like Dr. Slater, only without faith and prayer.

If she chose to believe what Dr. Slater was pushing, she would find herself shattered once again when he willfully crushed her.

Eden was not naïve

Not anymore.

If Dr. Slater was a good man, God Himself would have to show her in every possible way.

For now, she'd go along with the kindness and generosity he peddled.

And when he revealed his intentions or threw them away, he wouldn't be able to say, "Gotcha!"

-

"Yes, I'd like you to stay off your feet and drink plenty of chamomile," Carmen instructed his patient who only sneezed. "Bless you,"

He wiped his nose with his sleeve and nodded.

"Jeremiah, get this young man some tissues," Carmen called to his nurse before leaving the room.

Charlie, the young sick man was the seventh patient he'd met today with a cold.

Yesterday's weather and this morning's torrent of rain were the main cause.

As the day passed, he wondered how Eden and Rosalie were fairing.

He imagined Rosalie following her mother like her shadow and Eden efficiently working.

He enjoyed their presence in his home tremendously.

After turning in for the night, he was piqued by Eden's confession.

William, Rosalie's father wasn't the man who hurt them.

Eden's answer about the man was slightly chilling, but not the answer he'd presume an abused wife would share.

It was Rosalie's brief mention of the man that gripped him.

"Father was a reverend and was evil."

How could the William man be the same father?

"Dr. Slater, can you check on this patient before you leave? He's hacking up spit the size of hail," Weston, a nurse called from a room.