Queen of the Garden of Girls, Part 23

(Chapter 9 continued)

Robert chuckled and leaned back in his chair. “Don’t be. That was my reaction, too, but they both found other things to do right after, so my other questions went unanswered.” He gave her a rueful look. “You’ve met my mother. I think you understand why I won’t ask her any more questions.”

She nodded and fiddled with a fold in her dress. “It’s almost like they came from another world.”

“You’re telling me. How did your parents meet?”

Elaina chuckled and her gaze shifted away from him for a moment. “You may not believe it, but I don’t know much about how my parents met, either.”

Robert smiled. “It’s nice to know we have something in common. What do you know?”

She shrugged. “They met on a beach. Not here, but in another state, I think. They were a little dodgy about saying which one. My dad says he was just lying on the beach when my mom suddenly came out from a swim and scared the living daylights out of him. He said it was dawn and he was surprised someone had been up earlier than him just to take a dive in the lukewarm water. My mom will roll her eyes and say she’d gone for a swim and had seen him lying on the beach in just his underwear. She said she leaned over him to see if he was still alive, and screamed when he opened his eyes.” She held her hands out. “They said it was love at first sight and they were just a normal couple who happened to meet on the beach.”

“Well, that’s more interesting than what my parents told me,” Robert said as he sank back into his chair.

Elaina could almost feel his disappointed. “I suppose,” she said slowly, haltingly, “it isn’t quite as unknown as how your parents met.” She offered a small smile. “But, if we do happen to marry and have kids, do you think they would believe I willingly let myself be locked up here with you?”

Robert laughed. “Maybe outlandish stories of how parents met will be a running theme in the family.”

Abruptly, Elaina frowned and looked down at her hands. “It’s not just our parents, though, Robert. My oldest friend is Lily and her parents are a little sketchy on how they met, too. Her mom said she and her husband met in the woods and he saved her from a tree she was stuck in.”

“That doesn’t sound that weird.”

“No, but there are no woods around here. It’s all open land where there isn’t civilization.”

“Are you sure they met here?”

“Oh, yes. Lily’s dad said he had never lived anywhere else.”

A thoughtful look crossed Robert’s face. “You know, it all sounds like fairy tales.”

“Or just bored parents who want to make their stories more interesting.”

He shrugged. “Yeah, that, too.”

She cocked her head to the side. “Didn’t you say your mother used to tell you fairy tales with a twist?”

“It was her favorite thing to do.” He glanced at the grandfather clock gently chiming away in a corner before heaving himself to his feet. “Unfortunately, that will have to wait until later. It’s time for lunch, and we must be on our best behavior if Mother decides to drop in.”

Elaina groaned softly, but let him pull her up to her feet.

Drop by the Writer’s Lounge to catch up on the story.