Chapter 6

"I'm still lost here?"

"Did you not see as you came up the hill a big sign that read PARADISE?"

Now that I think about it…no I didn't see a sign.

"Damn, that bastard Rogers."

"What?"

"Well I guess Nick did have a good talk with him the other day then. I bet he has been waiting for this to come, him and his entire family. Once Margaret is gone, they would claim the property."

"Are you saying that Rogers is going to take the property?"

"Why of course not because now it is all yours. I just guess that we couldn't save the sign from him. He probably already had plans. Good thing Nicks the one with the strong conversation skills."

Ryan chuckled a little at his own joke.

Wait a minute…

"Who's this Nick?

"Oh, excuse my manners. Nicolae is another servant. He's around here somewhere. You will meet him soon. A little mild tempered, but very trustworthy and loved your aunt dearly."

"Wait a minute, who else lives here also?"

"No one else that I know of madam."

"Please don't call me madam; you look like you are 25."

"I am 28."

"Still very young, but- wait, hold up, this is still moving too fast. You live here in this house?"

"Yes, we were invited to live here for eternity no matter what by your Aunt Margaret., but I can understand if it seems as if we are intruding-"

"No, I really couldn't do that."

"Ah yes, just as your aunt, the kindest heart, to even a stranger."

"I'm sorry… I really don't much about her."

"Why of course you don't, I guess the last time she held you was when you were a toddler. That was probably the last time I also saw you love."

"You mean you met me when I was a baby?"

"Why yes, you were a beautiful child, always running off into places. We should have tied a leash to you…"

Ryan's voice quieted down some, then he rolled his eyes.

"but that probably would have offended someone."

This was too much. I had this whole other life out in the woods of Washington, in a mansion. How in the hell did I end up in an orphanage in Michigan?

"I think I'm starting to get a little dizzy"

I didn't even see when Ryan moved next to me, but he pulled the chair out so that I could sit down.

"Did you eat anything, I haven't been to the main house since you pulled that little curtain trick, but Nick should have stocked the fridge up with whatever you would need, Lord knows I don't have a clue."

"Wait that was you how did the little kitchen tricks?"

"Huh? I just got you the peanut butter and bread, I thought that would be enough or you, but Nick nearly cut my head off when he saw what I bought, he said that he would be in charge of you kitchen from now on. So thank him when you see him."

"Where is this 'Nick'?"

"When the sun goes down usually he's nowhere to be found until the break of dawn. I hope that he watered the flowers like I told him before he left…"

Ryan rolled his eyes

"teenagers."

"Teenagers? How old is Nick?"

"About your age, no wait older, he's 18"

18, so I was suppose to share this house with an attractive 28 year old man and an angry 18 year old boy?

"He never listens to anything I say really, but your aunt took such pride in her moonlight garden. I should go check."

Ryan stared at me looking broken hearted now.

"Well I guess we should try to keep them looking their best for her now shouldn't we love."

He looked at me smiling so tenderly I felt as if I had known him…well forever.

Ryan and I walked to the garden.

"Wait, Ryan, isn't it only January; wouldn't the garden be dead in this season?"

Ryan laughed.

"Do you think that you aunt would stand for that."

He seemed to dance up to two double doors and opened them wide.

It was… stunning.

"This young Taylor is Margaret Rozette's world famous, Moonlight Garden."

Roses, tulips, every flower you could think of formed an endless sea of beauty. The moon sat perfectly at the end of the sea like the sun at sunset. A lost wonderland.

"Breathtaking isn't it."

Ryan said to me but I was half listening to anything he was saying anymore because I wanted to see more of this magnificent garden.

I ran towards something that caught my eye.

"Is that a waterfall?"

"Taylor, don't run off like that it's dangerous."

"Yeah right, like a few flowers are going to kill me."

I ran to the little waterfall and stood on the wet rocks. This was too awesome too beautiful. I started to move from one rock to the other when it started to get a little more slippery.

I started to loose my balance.

With my head rushing for the rocks, I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing myself for the pain.

Huh?

I opened my eye and looked down, my head seemed to be floating about 5 centimeters from the hard rocks.

"I'm still alive?"

"You DUMB GIRL! How stupid can you be?"

Wow, I understand that Ryan was worried about me, but he doesn't have to get so aggressive!

"You're still the same, always finding trouble!"

I turned my head around toward the doors and saw Ryan with an amused smile on his face.

If Ryan is at the doors…who just saved me?

I tilted my head up.

"Well what are you looking for, get off the rocks airhead."

"Nick, manners please."

NICK!

"That's not anyway to talk to Taylor!"

Wait a minute, this boy is Nick? No way, this boy is…is…so good looking!

I looked at the position I was in and how Nick was holding my and quickly straightened up.

As my feet touched back on the rocks, I quickly slipped again, this time taking Nick with me landing in the freezing pond.