Eden Matures

Eden felt very proud of herself.  She had dealt with the Lily situation with outstanding finesse.  She would admit to being shocked upon finding out that her brother was shacked up with her arch enemy.  But Frank had been so angry with her remonstrations, informing her she had no idea what Lily was like now and what she was going through.  “Of course, I do,” Eden protested.  “Her father took all of Dad’s money.  We got nada, if you’ll recall.”

“Eden, when are you going to grow up!” Frank shot back angrily.  “Lily’s left me because of your visit.”

Eden watched Steve retreat into the sun room.  “Now see what you’ve done,” she whispered to Frank.  “As if my mother wasn’t enough!”

“Well, maybe it’s time Steve saw the real you.”

“The real me?  You don’t know anything about me.”

“I know you’re little miss princess, spoiled brat.  You were as a child and you haven’t changed.”

Steve came into the living room in his coat, with the bags and Eden’s coat.  “I’ve called a taxi.  I think Eden’s really had enough pummeling for one day.”

“I’m not—“ Frank started to protest.

“Look, Frank, it was nice to meet you—and your mother, of course—but Eden and I have our own lives.  Family is important—but not that important.  Eden and I are going to be our own family.  I love your sister.  She can’t be your family’s princess anymore, but she can be mine.  Put your coat on, Eden. We’ll wait outside.”

Yikes, Eden thought.  Where did this come from?  Was she really marrying her knight in shining armor?

“Look, this is stupid,” Frank said.  “Send the taxi away.  Stay the night.”

But the taxi was already pulling up into the driveway.  Steve checked his phone as they drove away, then gave the driver their destination, the MGM in Springfield.  He made a call.  They had a suite available overlooking the river.  It didn’t seem worth it for one night, Eden thought.  But it wasn’t going on her credit card.

When they finally checked in, Eden appreciated the two bathrooms.  But—the day had been so draining.  She felt like everyone in the world hated her.  And, yes, she cried, while Steve held her and told her everything would be all right.  “Now I don’t even have anyone to walk me down the aisle,” Eden moaned.

“My father?”

“Yeah—but I wanted—  Am I really such an awful person?”

“You’re—unique.”

“In other words, awful.”

Still holding her, Steve guided her to the window so they could watch the river, always calming, he thought.  “Maybe life hasn’t smacked you in the face yet.”

“The divorce?  My father dying all tied up?  That’s not enough?“

“Maybe.  But—maybe you just haven’t seen enough of the world outside of our privileged lives.  My work.  Sometimes I see too much.  I—appreciate you because of your innocence.  Your quirky ways.  Your maneuvering around fraught situations—fraught for you.”  He smiled. “Like the time you invited me out for breakfast, even though you couldn’t afford it.”

“Maybe I’m just what everyone thinks I am,” Eden said despondently.

“Stop it, Eden.  Don’t wallow.  Try to realize how much I value you.  Your love.  Do you realize how precious that is to me?  Your gift of wanting to share your life with me.”  He paused, studying the drift of the river, before he said, "You might have surmised that over the years I’ve had very little luck with women.”

Nodding, Eden said, “Yup.  It’s the hair and the damned infinity tie.”

“Which I can’t find anymore.  What I’m saying is that you recognized something in me that you could love, and it was mutual.  Are either of us perfect?  No.  Are we even a perfect match?  Probably not.  But maybe that’s what’ll make our lives together exciting.  Now, may I make a suggestion?  Let’s get the hell out of here and have a drink.  Or two.”

They got a recommendation from the front desk about a quiet Italian restaurant that specialized in seafood—and had good cocktails.  To there they repaired.  Finding a booth, they sat next to one another, ordered bruschetta and cocktails.  “Wine to follow,” Steve assured her.

“But no pasta.  Not after today’s Mac and cheese,” Eden said.  How comfortable it was to be with Steve.  No drama, just a pure sense of ease.

Until Frank showed up and took the seat across from them.  “I had a hell of a time finding you two,” he complained.

Then why did you try, Eden wanted to say, but she held back.  This was her brother, after all.

“Look, I want to apologize,” Frank began.

“Why don’t you do it over a drink?” Steve suggested.  “It helps.”  So Frank ordered a beer.

Frank directed his conversation to Eden.  “I’ve been going crazy ever since Lily left.  You know I hate being a lawyer.  Well, sometimes it’s amusing.  But my whole life was coming home to Lily on the weekends.  The thought of meeting you really did scare her away; and, yes, I was blaming you even though you knew nothing about it.  I’m sorry about the princess remark and the spoiled brat assessment.”  He rubbed his hand through his hair.

“Have some bruschetta,” she suggested.

Frank raised his hands.  “Is that all you have to say?”

Steve turned to look at his intended.

“Would it help if I called her?” Eden asked.

Steve put his arm around her and kissed her cheek.  “That’s the Eden I love.”

So now she was on the phone with Lily.  Steve had patched her through on a number not her own in case Lily wouldn’t pick up if she saw Eden’s name. So—surprise!

“Look, Lily, you’re being silly.  Remember when I used to call you Silly Lilly and you called me Eden Tedum.  You were never good with rhymes.  But that’s besides the point.  Frank loves you.  He’s desperately unhappy without you.  If you don’t love him in return, you should tell him so and put him out of his misery.  Otherwise, go back to him.  He needs you.”

“Eden?  How are you?” Lily tentatively asked.  How many years had it been?

“I’m fine.  I’m getting married.  I’m living in DC.  What are you doing in Georgia when you have that beautiful house in Massachusetts waiting for you?”

“But you hate me.”

“Well, yeah—in high school.  If you haven’t noticed, high school is over.”

“You really don’t mind—me and Frank?”

“I want everyone to be as happy as I am.  Although he is a bit older than you.”

Eden caught Steve giving her the cut-it sign.  “Mature men, they have a career and everything and can be more devoted to the person they love. And Frank loves you.  Silly Lily.”  She paused for a response.  Nothing.  “Now please, end this drama and go back to him.  You two were meant for one another.”

“I—Eden this is the nicest thing you’ve ever done for me.  And you did some very nice things.”

Eden refused to bring up the football player.

“I was such a bitch to you those last few months of high school.  Then we lost touch and I could never tell you how sorry I was.  How our friendship meant more to me than any date with—what was his name again?”

Roger—you bitch, Eden thought.  “I can’t even remember,” she said graciously.

“And you really don’t hate me?”

“The word ‘hate’ is not in my vocabulary.”

“Bless you, Eden.  If Frank and I—well, if we do get married, will you be my matron of honor?”

“It’ll be a pleasure.”

Eden was finally able to hang up the phone.  Steve looked at her.  “I’m so proud of you.”

“Did I ever tell you what that bitch did to me in high school.”

Steve just covered his face with his hands and laughed.