East Of Eden

Chapter 12

THREE MONTHS LATER

It's a new year. Time has flew by so, so quickly. Everyday I wake up at whatever time I feel like it and do whatever I please. I have been going down to the waterfall a lot. I've been fishing and swimming by the lake. I've been gardening. I still decorate and add on to my house. I spent my Thanksgiving and Christmas with Erica and Laly. I made a huge Thanksgiving meal for all of us. Halloween, I had people over at my lake. The next day the pastor sent a community service team to help clean up the lake. Some nights I sit by the fire in my living room and read a book with a warm cup of hot chocolate. My life now is everything I wanted and dreamed of. I'm extremely happy and it feels like my smile never leaves my face. My heart and soul feel warm every second. I've never slept better and my dreams are bright and sunny.

I call Eric every Saturday and he still hasn't told my parents. He said he was going to tell them in a few days. I'm excited and nervous at the same time for my parents to know that I'm alive. Jamie has come to visit him in Washington at least twice in the past few months. I'm ecstatic that they're reconnecting. I can't help but feel partly responsible, I smirk at myself. I've being going to church every Sunday and helping out with whatever they need. During the winter the roof got damaged and I graciously paid to fix it. Surprisingly going to church every Sunday and going to the farmers market every Saturday you tend to see a lot of familiar faces. You say hi to them the first day and the next then it turns into conversation and then you become friends.

I know Mrs. Manda, she is the librarian that I see at church and at the library every other week. There's Pastor Green and his wife and their two small children Blair and Isaiah. Pastor Green loves me. He tells me everyday that I was blessing to this town with all the generous donations I've made to church and the town. During the school's break I donated $15,000 to each school; Hedge-wood Elementary, Town Ridge Junior High, and JF High School. Some teachers I see at the farmers market thank me for granting them with a new computer and textbooks. I've told Eric that I donated and he is just delighted the way I'm spending my money. He says he can't wait until he tells my parents how generous I've been this weekend. "I'll tell him this Saturday, I promise." He told me on Monday.

I've been so busy with all of the church projects during the weekend, but during the week days I try to find something to do. Maybe I should get a part time job just to keep me busy. As I check out another book from the library, I ask Mrs. Manda, "Lori, do you know any part time jobs in the area?" "Well, I don't have any openings right now here, but i do know Mrs. Johnson does need help cleaning out her house to move into a smaller one." She tells me. "Who's Mrs. Johnson?" I ask. "She's some lady that lives about 10 miles down Agustin Road." "I've never heard about her." "Well honey, she never leaves her house." "How come?" I'm curious. "She was married twice. Both dead. First husband, no one knows, but died in a car accident. Second one recently just passed a few years ago in a fire. We all guess she's just depressed. Until, she came out about two weeks ago to church and posted a bulletin. We all stared at her and we she left we went to go see what she put and it was help wanted sign for someone to clean out her house." She finishes. "Has anyone gone to her to help her?" "No. No one wants to go down with her. We're all afraid that one day she's just going to snap and no one wants to chance to be near that when it happens." "Well I think people should reconsider. I'm going to go help her." I tell her. She opens her mouth to say something, but quickly closes it.

I drive down Agustin Road and 10 miles out there is a large house, not as big as mine, but bigger than a lot of the houses in this town. I pull up onto the drive way and the house looks dark and cold. The melting snow has not done any compliments to this house. The steps onto the front porch creek, but I place myself in front of the door and knock. Someone opens the door, but I can't see anything because of how dark it is inside the house. "Yes?" I can tell it's a women by the voice. "Hi." My voice shakes. "I saw your bulletin at the church and I want to help you." I lie, but tell the truth. She opens the door fully and I see her. She's wearing wrinkly jeans and a loose white t-shirt. I still can't quite get a good look and see her face. "Come in." She says and her voice is weary.