“A hidden oasis.” I flick on a switch and reveal our pride and joy. Salt lamps bathe the room in a golden glow. There’s a mat to sit on, plush puffy cushions all around. “It’s a yoga meditation room.” I drag my fingers over the sound-cancelling foam on the walls. “The whole place is soundproofed. When you shut the door…” I close the door behind us so Rosalie can get the full impact of the space and stand perfectly still.
“It’s quiet.” Rosalie’s mouth drops and she spins around.
“Isn’t that cool?”
“I’ve never…” She places her hands over her ears, releases them, then does it all over again. “I feel like I can hear my heart beating.”
“I come here to de-stress before exams or after a grueling workout when I need a bit of centering.”
“It’s impressive.”
“Come.” I lead her to the back of the space. “Time for unique feature number two.”
“Lead on.” Rosalie has a bounce to her step that wasn’t there before.
I take that as a good sign. She’s finally starting to relax. After her harrowing adventure in the jungles of Nicaragua, escaping the men Carmen’s father sent after her, I can only imagine what’s going through her mind.
At the back of the modified garage, there’s another door. I take her to it.
“This heads outside into the back courtyard. Did Carmen give you all the codes?”
“You mean to the doors?” Rosalie’s eagerness warms my heart.
“Yeah. 2-3-11. Did she tell you how we came up with that?”
“Each number is for the letter of your names. Barbi is the second letter. Carmen the third. You’re number eleven.”
“Yeah, and Rosalie is the…” I sing the alphabet song in my head and count my fingers. “You are number eighteen. We should change it to 2318.”
“You don’t have to do that.” Rosalie takes a step back, revealing her nervousness and fear about breaking into our tight little group.
“This is your home now, and you’re one of us.” With a bit of jiggling of the lock, I open the storm door leading up into what used to be nothing but weeds. “And this is the oasis.”
Once we come up the stairs, the motion-activated lights turn on and fountains bubble to life. Barbi’s the one with a green thumb, but I’m the one who created the hardscape, built out the waterfalls, and dug out the meandering streams that wander through our postage-stamp sized backyard. A trellis reaches overhead, and string lights bathe the area in soft, golden light.
“Wow, this is incredible. Did you do this?”
“Over the past four years.” It’s my pride and joy. I consider it a bit of fancy in the middle of a city that needs something soft.
“It’s stunning.” Rosalie claps her hands together. “It kind of reminds me a little of this hotel Hayes and I…” Her voice trails off and her brows knit together.
When I think she’s going to continue, but doesn’t, I take that as a sign that memory isn’t one she’s ready to openly share. I move past it quickly, trying to avoid triggering anything I shouldn’t.
“It’s a labor of love. Barbi is the green thumb. She loves orchids and trailing vines. I’m a water lover and created all the little streams and such. I’m also kind of a dreamer. I wanted to build a little fairy garden. It’s quirky, and odd, but once it gets darker, you’ll see little lights twinkling in the vegetation.”
“Impressive.” She spins in a circle, taking it all in. “It’s truly brilliant, and it hardly feels like we’re in the middle of the city.”
“That’s why I built it. I’m a small-town girl.”
“Really? Where are you from?”
“Kansas, if you can believe it. All around us for miles, when I was growing up, were cornfields and fields of snap peas. In a place like that, sometimes imagination is the only escape. I started with helping my dad with the corn mazes in the fall, then kind of branched out from there.”
“Well, you’ve definitely got an eye for creating magic.” She spins around in a circle. “I think I’ll be spending a lot of time out here. You’ll have to show me how to keep it all running when you leave.” Rosalie stops, and I sense her unease.
“I will teach you everything you need to know. Barbi will keep the plants alive. Carmen is totally useless. If you’re up to learning about how to keep water pumps pumping and the lights working, I’ll happily teach you how.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…” She kind of chokes up.
“Rosalie, I’m happy you’re here. I’m thrilled you’re going to live here with Barbi and Carmen. I don’t think, or feel, for a minute that you’re replacing me. Change is inevitable, and I’ve dreamed of being a veterinarian since I was five. Please, don’t think your moving in has anything to do with me moving out.” I take her hands in mine. “You and Carmen are family, and now you’re our family too. We’re four women who are all sisters from different mothers, learning how to make our way in life.”
“Thanks. That means more to me than you know. I didn’t want you to think…”
“And I don’t.” I pull her in for a hug. “And that’s the last time we’re going to think about any of that foolishness.” To my delight, Rosalie lifts her arms and hugs me back. “You belong here as much as any of us, and although I’ll be away it’s not like I’m going that far. UC Davis is just a few hours away. When I need to escape campus, you bet I’ll come right back here.” I release her and take her hands in mine. “And I really can’t wait to get to know you like a sister.”
“I’d like that very much.” Her voice is whisper soft.
I hear what she says and what she doesn’t say. In my heart, I know she’s going to fit in just fine.
“Barbi, they’re out back.” Carmen’s voice pulls us out of our reverie. She calls out from the kitchen. “We’ve been looking for the two of you.”
“Sorry, I took Rosalie on a tour through the gym, our meditation room, and I wanted to show her our little slice of heaven in the city.”
“Did you hear the guys got called away?”
“I did.”
“Instead of going to the pier, I thought we could order pizza and hang out on the roof? I’ve got wine.” She holds a bottle of one of my favorite chardonnays.
“Wine sounds fine.” I put my hands up to my mouth and shout. “What time is it?”
“Wine Time!” Carmen shouts back.
“What time is it?” I call out again.
“Wine Time!” Carmen sings back.
“It’s one of our things.” I wink at Rosalie. “Wine Time is fun time. Time to kick back and do nothing but be present in the moment and enjoy each other’s company.”
Elbowing Rosalie in the ribs, including her in our little ritual, I wink and grab her hand.
“And now, for the pièce de résistance…”
“What’s that?” Rosalie’s expression lights with excitement.
“The third stop in our magical tour.” I point overhead. “To the roof!”