Page 11 of Brax (Voodoo Guardians #36)

“What happened today, honey?” asked Irene.

“I don’t know, Mama Irene. One minute, I was doing just fine, then the next, there was this sharp pain in my head. It wasn’t like a headache, just a pain. Lena said it was nothing. That I shouldn’t worry about it.”

“Well, then. Don’t worry about it,” said Irene, linking her arm with Stephanie’s.

“Why does everything here smell so amazing? I can literally distinguish between each of the scents.”

“Tell me what you smell,” smiled Irene.

“It’s strange. Some of it I know doesn’t have a distinct smell, but I know what it is. The smell of the wood or leaves, maybe the moss.”

“Mmhmm,” nodded Irene. “Go on.”

“Wisteria is always strong here. Dogwoods. The azaleas are insanely intense. Camellia’s, crepe myrtles, dahlias, and hibiscus.” Irene smiled, nodding at the young woman. “The hydrangeas are so gorgeous. All those different colors. And the gardenias! Oh, they smell so wonderful!

“Over there, the rows and rows of irises, lilies, jasmine, and roses. How in the world did you get so many colors of roses? Magnolia always comes through so clearly for me. But it’s the blend of it all. It’s as if I can feel your ancestors through all these smells and sights.”

“You can,” smiled Irene. “You see Martha, Franklin, Archie, Genevieve, and all the others, right?”

“Yes. I can. I love talking to them about the history of this place and this area. It’s like having a live Google search engine at your fingertips only it’s far more accurate.” Irene laughed.

“Yes. Well, they were here. I used to walk these gardens by myself when Matthew and I were first married.”

“Was he working?” she asked. Irene nodded.

“In his own way. He’d just returned from the war and things were different, new to him. He had to figure some things out. We eventually did that together. But walking these gardens made me feel at peace.

“With each of my babies, I would come out here and discover that one plant or tree was calling me. No surprise, with Gaspar, my oldest baby, it was the live oak trees. With Pierre, it was the cypress, strong, tall, and able to grow anywhere.”

“And what about the girls?”

“Oh, they were each different as well. Every child had their own scent, their own plant or tree that seemed to call me to it, bringing me peace. I found that to be true when they were off serving as well.

“One time, I came out here to discover that the hibiscus was looking awful. That was Baptiste’s plant. I called and called until I got Gaspar to answer me. He was still serving as well. I told him something was wrong, and of course, he thought I was crazy.”

“Was there something wrong?” asked Stephanie.

“As it turned out, yes. He and Raphael were both behind enemy lines and looking for a way out. It was one of many times that Nine and his team went in to help my boys. That’s why they’re all my boys,” she smiled.

“I love that,” whispered Stephanie. “I wish I’d had a mother that worried about me like that when I was younger. All I had were laboratory handlers, doctors, and scientists trying to see what I was doing right or wrong.”

“I’m sorry for you, child. But you have that now. In spades. You got me, Claudette, Ruby, Erin, Mary, both of ‘em,” she laughed.

“I get your point,” said Stephanie, smiling at her. “But I won’t ever have core memories of the kind of love that your children grew up with.”

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “No, you won’t, and I wish I could change that, but I can’t. I know it doesn’t make you feel any better, but there are a lot of folks here who didn’t have that. Trak, Winter, even your fellow geniuses.”

“That’s true,” she whispered. “I didn’t think about them. In fact, we’ve never talked about it. They must feel terrible sometimes as well.”

“Yeah, I reckon they do,” said Irene. She nodded toward the maze, watching as Hayes and Victoria walked hand-in-hand, disappearing between the hedges. Stephanie laughed.

“I think they love one another.”

“Oh, there’s no doubt,” said Irene. “That young man has changed considerably since he got here. So has she. She’s just doing it more slowly.”

“Slow is okay. Right?” asked Stephanie, nibbling her lower lip.

“Are we talkin’ ‘bout Victoria or you?”

“Maybe me. I mean, Brax and I haven’t been intimate yet. I know it’s new, but I’m not sure when it’s okay to ask or to do, or, well, you know what I mean.”

“I know what you mean,” nodded Irene. “It’s okay when you feel like it’s okay. You and Brax. You’re adults, and you know when it will feel right. There’s no rush for either of you.”

“What’s my flower or plant or tree?” she asked Irene.

“Oh, that’s easy,” smiled the older woman, leading her down the rows of gorgeous flowers. “The Helena Rose. It’s one of my own creations. See, I took parts of several different flowers and merged them together to create something completely new and different. There will never be another like her.” Stephanie smiled at Irene.

“Are you telling me that to make me feel better?”

“Does it make you feel better?” smirked Irene.

“A little.”

“Then, yes. I’m telling you that to make you feel better. Ain’t nothin’ that’s perfectly original, Stephanie. Everything was created from or in the image of something else. You’re no different, honey. You just came out a whole lot smarter and prettier.”

“Thank you, Mama Irene. I suddenly feel much better.”

“Good. Then how about some tea and a piece of lemon cake in the gardens?” She waved toward the old, ornate iron furniture. It was already set for tea, with cakes and sandwiches and several different teapots.

“A tea! I’ve never been to a tea,” she squealed. “This is so lovely!”

“Then let’s enjoy this beautiful day. Stormy weather will be here soon. Then we’ll have to take cover.”