East Of Eden

Chapter 10

I'm tired. Too tired. I don't want to get up to clean the mess from last nights dinner. Last night was a very successful dinner party. Erica and Laly came over and we made dinner together with wine. Of course, Erica and Laly supplied the wine. The key to this new life is my happiness. Doing things for me entirely and doing what makes me satisfied. So I decide to sleep in.

When I wake up again it's 11:37 a.m. The pot of coffee on its timer is surely room temperature by now. My phone buzzes next to me on the night stand its the usual Saturday morning call with Eric. "Hello?" I pick up the phone. "Morning, Holly." His voice is chirpier than usual. "What's with you?" I laugh and force back the insisting yawns. "Jamie and I talked." He says. "What?!" I yell. I snap my eyes open and get up. "She called me Thursday and we talked on the phone... all night." He explains. "Wh-what did you guys talk about?" I say with a shaky voice. I don't want Jamie to tell Eric that I ran into her on my last day before leaving and that I shared information that Eric probably didn't want Jamie to know. "We talked about you." He answers. "What about me, Eric?" My tone changes to accusation. "I didn't tell her anything. I just said that I was worried about you. I didn't tell her that I know where you are. She would've chattered my ear off about that." He chuckles through the line. I roll my eyes and smile. "I told her about Ruby and Casandra." He reveals. "Really?" I say guiltily. "Yeah, she seemed happy to find out that I was a father, but at the same time..." "Hurt because it was so soon after you guys broke up." I finish for him. "Yeah." is all he says. "But she also told me that she broke up with Danny quickly after they got together because she wanted me back." He adds. "Oh my God!" I try and sound surprised. "How do you feel about that?" I ask. "You sound like a therapist." He giggles and I do the same. "Well, Eric how do you feel?" "I feel like change is coming." Is all he says. "All we have to do is enjoy the ride." I add. "Yeah." I can literally feel the smile he has through the other end of the line. "I'm happy you and Jamie have reconnected." I smile. "Me, too." He adds.

"Eric?" "Yeah?" "Call mom and dad, today.... You can tell them." I ask of him. "Really? Are you sure?" He asks. "Yeah, just tell them that you've heard from me and you've known where I was for the past month and that I'm fine and happy." I grin. "I will. Are you happy?" He has the courage to ask. "Eric.. I've never been so happy and free in my life." I admit. "I'm happy for you." We end the call with exchange of 'I love you's'. He said that he would tell my parents when he goes down home for Thanksgiving. He would call me and tell me what they say.

I check my text messages and I see Erica's name on the screen. I click open the message and it reads, 'Town is having a BBQ on Halloween and the pastor wants to know if we can use your lake? He wants to meet with you.' I contemplate it for a while and it would be nice to actually use the lake for something. I reply, 'That sounds nice. When does he want to meet?' I get an immediate reply, 'Today if you can at 3 p.m.' I look at the time and it's about to be 12 p.m. 'Okay I'll be there at the church.' I get up out of my bed and walk over to the bathroom to take a shower.

I get into my bathroom and undress my self and put on my bath robe. I turn the water on and the shower head that looks like a waterfall drips with steamy water. As I undo my robe I think of something. The stream. The waterfall. I suck in a breath and a small smile plays on lips before I turn off the water I re adjust my robe onto my body and walk out my house with only a robe and slippers on. I walk about for a little and I can already hear the stream and waterfall. Once I get there I ramble through the shrubs and tall grass that surround the tiny body of water. I pull a loose strand of hair behind my ear to see with both eyes the water fall, falling aimlessly into the pond which later follows into the stream which end gamely into the lake. I release my feet from slippers and put both feet into the warm water. I stretch my toes out on the very soft mud at the bottom. I saunter towards the water fall. Just before I hit the running water I leisurely take off my bath rob and carelessly throw it to the side where it hits the grass on the bank of the stream. I run my body under the water fall and the feeling of the warm fresh water rushing all around me, down my breasts and rolling down my legs is heavenly. The feeling of being so exposed to the world, but the not the worry of being seen is brilliant. The sound, smell, touch, sight of the scene before me, surrounding me the most peace I've had in my entire life. The sparkling water feels as if its washing away my sins. I am in East of Eden. The light from from eyes is reflecting on the water and my smile is stretching across my face. True peace, a safe haven for me and my potential after life. This is where I want to be.