"I don't know. I guess." There were a few Hispanic men named Hector who worked on the construction site with Xander and I. I always cringed when I heard someone call out their name.
"And his sons - Jason, Phineus, Simon and Myles." Her voice cracked slightly on the last name and she laid her head back down on my chest. I pulled her tighter. She still carried grief in her heart for those innocent boys she had known much better than I had. The ones she'd loved.
"What about the names?" I whispered, leaning down to kiss her head.
"They're all names from Greek history or Greek mythology. One is a god, one a hero, one a sea spirit . . . I can't remember the other one. I have it on the back of my door," she said very quietly.
I thought about that for a minute. "Okay, but what does that all mean?" I asked. "So Hector was obsessed with Greek history for some reason? So much so that he created a religion out of it? Or used it as some sort of inspiration. What does that mean?"
"I don't know. I think it might have started in Indiana though."
I frowned. "Why Indiana?"
"Because I think that's where he brought me when he took me from my parents. He kept me somewhere for almost two years before I came to Acadia. I have this brief flash of memory, of waking up in a car for just a split second and seeing a sign that said something about the Crossroads of America. I always remembered that, but I had no idea what it meant. I looked it up–I Googled it," she said, nodding her head as if she was agreeing with the proper use of a new term. I smiled. "That's what the welcome sign to Indiana says. We arrived at the house I was in with him for the next couple of years very shortly after that. That's where my memory starts fading again."
My blood felt like it dropped a couple of degrees. "What did he do to you there?" I asked.
She shook her head. "Nothing like what you might be thinking. He . . . made me read the Holy Book a lot. He talked to me about my role . . . constantly. It's foggy. I was grieving for my parents. I thought they'd died. I was alone . . . a lot. I wasn't allowed to go outside very often. It's all very . . . blurry."
"He brainwashed you."
She seemed to think about that for a minute. "Maybe."
"Only it didn't work very well, my strong Morning Glory."
"No, it didn't. But on some topics, it did. I couldn't remember so much . . ."
"Why do you think it started in Indiana? Acadia was already functioning. Why would he bring you back to his home?"
She shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe that's where he felt safest, where he had a place to bring me other than Acadia. Maybe he had things to wrap up in his life. Who knows?"
"You were considering going there, weren't you?" I asked.
She shrugged again. "If I found some more information, yes, I was considering it." She paused. "It seemed daunting, though. How would I get there?" She sighed. "It wouldn't have been anytime soon. I just thought, you know, I had a whole lifetime to fill, and I needed something to fill it with." She let out a sharp exhale of breath that I felt against my skin.
My heart squeezed painfully with the recognition of that thought. It had gone through my own head often, as well. This life feels so damn long. "Morning Glory," I murmured, kissing her head, "you found a way to live, to survive. I'm so proud of you. But now we can let all that go. There's no need to delve into that now. Hector's dead. The police know our story, they know your story, it's all in their hands now."
"Hmm," she hummed, not sounding totally convinced.
I turned her toward me in the dark. "Eden, there's no point to that line of research anymore."
"What about you?" she asked. "What about finding out who you are?"
"That might not have anything to do with any of that. As we lie here, millions of people across the world are hearing our story and hearing my information. Surely, someone reported me missing once upon a time. Surely someone knows me?"
"Yes," she whispered.
"Yes," I agreed. "And so we wait to find out. We wait to find out who I am."
She turned and looked up at me in the moonlit room. "We already know who you are." She gazed up at me. "We wait to find out where you came from. There's a big difference." She was right. I may not know where I came from, but I know who I am now. If my identity remained a mystery, I still knew who I was. Eden's.
"I love you," I said, pulling her in to my chest.
"I love you, too."
We snuck to the bathroom and cleaned up, and then got back in her squeaky bed and held each other until the first light of dawn was streaming into her room, when I snuck back into my own.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Eden
A beautiful blonde filled the screen, microphone in hand. "This is Sara Celi of Fox Nineteen, Cincinnati, live from the home of Calder Raynes and Eden Everson. A new development has occurred in the reopened investigation of the Acadia sect where a hundred ninety-eight people tragically died in one of the largest mass murder/suicides in history. Tricia, back to you for the rest of the story."
After briefly going back to the anchor in the studio who introduced the Fox affiliate in Arizona, the screen focused on a young, brunette woman holding a microphone, her hair blowing slightly in the wind. "Michelle Mathis here, just outside Goodwin Police Headquarters where Officer Clive Richter, former Acadia council member, has been arrested for drug trafficking and money laundering. His ex-partner, Officer Michael Owens, has been given immunity and as Chief Bard told me he has been very cooperative. The Chief was also able to tell me that in lieu of information Calder Raynes and Eden Everson have given, Clive Richter is now also a suspect in the attempted murder of Calder Raynes. We'll continue to bring you coverage as we receive new information."
Calder and I sat side by side on the couch, holding hands and watching the footage. "Turn it off," he finally said when we'd seen the same shot played over what seemed like a hundred times.
The TV clicked off and Calder sat staring straight ahead, a look on his face that I couldn't read. "You okay?" he asked numbly.
I nodded, trying to figure out what I felt exactly. For three years I had felt such paralyzing fear whenever I thought of Clive Richter, or even the police in general. But now, seeing him being led away in handcuffs, looking small and weak, the only emotions coursing through my body were relief and a certain sense of triumph.
"Are you okay?" I asked Calder, glancing at Detective Lowe who was sitting on the chair across from the couch. He had shown up at my mom's house to let us know in advance there would be breaking news about Clive Richter. Apparently, finding out Calder and I were alive prompted Clive's ex-partner to seek immunity and bring to light crimes he knew Clive was and had been involved in.
Calder kept staring ahead for a minute and then he nodded a barely perceptible nod and rubbed his hands on his thighs before standing up. "I'm going to get a glass of water. You want one?"
"Yeah, sure." I tried to read his expression, but couldn't.
He nodded, one quick jerk of his head. "Detective?"
"Yeah, sure. Thanks, Calder."
I watched Calder's back as he walked out of the room. Initially, hearing there was news about Clive had rattled me, too. But for Calder, I could only imagine that seeing Clive's face had brought up the rage and helplessness of that day, despite the fact that there was a good chance now that he'd pay for his crimes, at least a few of them. I wasn't surprised he'd been involved in other illegal activities. Those who enjoy destroying lives generally are more than happy to spread their particular brand of misery around. I just hoped there would be enough evidence to convict him for the crimes he'd committed against Calder and me, too. I guessed we'd have to wait and see.
I turned my attention to Detective Lowe and took a deep breath.
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
I nodded. "Fine, I think . . . it's just . . . so strange seeing him again."
"I can imagine." He stood up and came to sit on the couch next to me. He turned toward me. "Hey, Eden, you're doing really great under
the circumstances," he shook his head, "I can't even imagine how difficult this is, and you're holding up so well. I hope that doesn't sound patronizing." He laughed a small laugh. "But I see a lot of people in difficult situations and I just wanted you to know that I'm really impressed by your courage."
I smiled, thankful for his words. "Thank you, Detec—" I looked up as Calder moved into my vision. His jaw was hard and he put the two glasses of water down on the coffee table hard enough that a little bit of water sloshed over onto the wood. I looked up at him and his eyes widened and he looked embarrassed.
"Sorry, I'll go get a napkin."
When he left the room, the detective said, "This is just as hard on Calder, I'm sure. Take care of each other."
I let out a breath. "We will. I appreciate that." I walked him to the door and stood against it for a minute after I'd closed it behind him, considering the situation now in front of us. I wasn't sure what to think yet.
I went into the kitchen where Calder was standing with his hands braced on the counter. I put my arms around his waist and hugged him. "Hey," I said.
"Hey," he said softly, turning in my arms. He brought his arms around me and I laid my cheek against his chest.
"Everything's going to be okay," I murmured.
"Yeah," he said and paused. "Just seeing Clive's face . . ." He let out a harsh breath.
"I know."
We stood like that for a few minutes, taking comfort in each other.
"What do you think he thought?" Calder asked. "When he heard we're still alive? What do you think went through his mind?"
I leaned my head back and looked up at him. "I don't want to even try to get into his mind. I can only imagine it's a really ugly place to be." A shiver ran down my spine.
The look on Calder's face told me he agreed wholeheartedly.
After that, the media amped up their efforts to get to us—for now, it was safest and most convenient to be at my mom's house. So a couple days after we'd arrived, the police drove us to Calder's apartment so he could pack a small bag and grab what he needed for an extended stay.
When we all got to the top of the stairs, one of the policemen said suddenly, "Stand back," and drew his gun. Adrenaline burst through my system and Calder's arm shot out in front of me, pushing me back, before he positioned his body in front of mine.
The police officers hurried past us and one of them nudged Calder's door open with his foot. It was then that I understood. Calder's door was slightly ajar. My heart sank. I knew we had closed it and that Calder had locked it when we had left a couple days before.
I peeked around Calder as the door swung open and gasped, horrified, when I saw the destruction.
Calder let out a choked groan as the police officers went in, their guns drawn. Calder grabbed my hand and moved me to the side of the door as we heard the officers inside the apartment searching it. After about five minutes, they came out. "I'm really sorry," one of the officers said. "Prepare yourself. It's bad in there."
Calder held on to my hand as we both entered the apartment. I put my hand over my mouth to stop myself from crying. All the kitchen cabinets had been torn from the walls, and the beautiful flooring was gouged and looked like a jackhammer had been taken to it. The counter was smashed and all the light fixtures had been torn down. Oh God, oh no. Why? Calder had done all the work on this place himself. I looked up at him and he looked shocked, his expression blank, but his jaw hard and set.
I dragged my eyes from him and read the words written in black paint all across what had been clean, white walls: SATAN WORSHIPPERS, ACADIA DEVILS DIE, and EVIL LIVES HERE.
I choked out a horrified sob. My eyes flew to Calder's and before his eyes met mine, I saw something that looked like shame on his face as he read the words. Hector had called him evil, too. Satan's spawn. Somewhere inside, did he believe that was true? Oh, Calder.
Calder pulled me through the destruction that was the open-space living and kitchen area down the hall to his studio. I cried out again when I saw what had been done. Every painting was smashed and destroyed—completely obliterated. I looked around, bile rising up my throat. The same graffiti was all over the walls of his studio, too, but when I looked at Calder, he wasn't looking at that. His eyes were moving over all his ruined work. Devastation hit me in the gut. "Calder," I whispered, "I'm so sorry." My voice broke on the last word.
Calder stared straight ahead for a minute, clenching and unclenching his fists, and then he looked down at me and pulled me in to his chest. We stood there for a few minutes, simply breathing together, tears coursing down my cheeks.
"It's okay," Calder said soothingly, running his hand over my hair. "Those paintings were my longing for you, Eden. I have the real you now. I don't need them."
I shook my head against him. "But it was your work. Your beautiful, beautiful work."
He was quiet for a minute. "I can make more. And now I have you right in front of me so every detail will be right and perfect." His words were calming, but the lack of emotion in his voice scared me.
I turned my face into his T-shirt and cried a little more as he held me. "I'm sorry. I should be holding you right now."
Calder breathed out, smiling a small, sad smile down at me as I gazed up at him. "You are."
I sniffled out a small, sad laugh when I realized that indeed I was–and tightly.
We walked to his bedroom and I looked around unbelievingly at more graffiti and the clothes that were cut and flung all over the room. And in the middle of it all, the sheets had been stripped off our Bed of Healing and the mattress was slashed everywhere. I felt as if it was me that had been slashed right down the middle. I felt violated and sick. Calder's hand gripped mine until it was almost painful. His whole body was tense as we turned and walked out of the room and back to where the two officers were waiting. "There's nothing here to pack," Calder said as we walked past them.
"We'll write up a report when we get back to Mrs. Connor's house," one of them said behind us.
The police created a barrier from reporters as we got back in the cruiser parked out front. Calder stared out the window as we drove. "That was the first place that was ever my own," he said softly. "I wanted to keep you safe there."
My heart squeezed painfully. I pictured the small, two-room cabin he'd grown up in . . . and then the blanket on the floor in the laundry room where Hector made him sleep. He had never had a place of his own, a place to take pride in, a place to enjoy privacy. And he had wanted to make it ours.
I didn't have any words. I simply moved over on the seat and held him.
**********
The weeks dragged by. Calder didn't talk a lot about what had been done to his apartment. But I could tell it had affected him deeply—not just the destruction of his things, his space, but the fact that there were people that hated us for being any part at all of Acadia. Both of us were even more leery of the media and of making any attempt to go out of the house. When he wasn't with me, Calder spent most of his time sitting out by the pool. I couldn't help seeing the similarities of when I had looked out my window at the main lodge and saw the shadow of a boy sitting out on a small front porch. The house was bigger this time, but just like then, he was looking for his own space—and not finding it.
As the days passed, I could tell Calder was getting more and more antsy to get out of my mom's house, and what had felt like a refuge for a little while, was now beginning to feel like a prison. We did try to go out one day when the yard was empty and we thought we could get out unseen, but as soon as we stepped outside, car doors opened and closed down the street and reporters ran toward us shouting questions. I felt Calder tense beside me and I dragged him back inside.
Xander visited whenever he wasn't working, and my mom and Molly fluttered around us trying to make sure we were doing okay, and that we were entertained.
There was almost a competition between my mom and Calder for my time, though, especially on my mom's end. I did my best to split myself bet
ween them. But I was only one person. And we were all trapped together in one house.
The media was making Xander's life inconvenient, but they weren't hounding him to the degree they were hounding us. The triple news story of my kidnapping and return, Calder and I having been at Acadia the day of the flood, and our love story turned the media into vultures.
The police still came and went, stopping by to clarify something, or to give us information they thought we'd appreciate having, such as the fact that all of Clive's assets had been frozen in lieu of the money laundering charges. He wouldn't be able to make bond—he'd be in jail until his trial. Somehow I doubted he had any friends who were willing to help him out.
It was obvious my mom had a special affinity for Detective Lowe, the young, handsome detective I felt most comfortable talking to as well. One day after he'd been by with some questions, my mom came into the kitchen where I was making popcorn for a movie Calder and I planned on watching.
"Eden," my mom said, grabbing a bowl from the cabinet next to her and handing it to me. "Bobby is so handsome, isn't he?"
I paused. "Bobby?"
"Oh." She laughed. "Detective Lowe."
"Uh, yeah, he is, Mom."
She smiled happily, leaning on the counter and taking in a deep breath. "I think he likes you," she said.
I halted in opening the bag of popcorn and stared back at her. "I'm with someone, Mom, in case you might have forgotten? Calder? He lives in your house here with us?"
My mom laughed uncomfortably. "Well of course, I'd never forget Calder. How could I?" She pressed her lips together, but then her expression gentled and she took a deep breath. "I just hope you notice how attractive other men find you. You've never experienced any of that." She looked down. "I know I'm meddling, Eden, I do. It's just . . . I never got to be involved in giving you any motherly advice when it came to dating, or . . ." Pain washed over her face, but I didn't reach out to her. "I just think it's always good for a woman to recognize all her options." She paused for a brief second. "Calder is such a nice boy, and so very handsome, obviously, but, you know, you don't have to feel guilty if you think about experiencing a man who could possibly give you more security, someone who doesn't constantly remind you of the terrible past. I swear to you, I'm only saying this out of love."