Madison

I look out the window of the Secret Garden’s Office and see we have a lot of rain coming. Where’s Noah with the ark by now? I look once more at my engagement ring and smile. I’m afraid to open my mouth and say that I’m happy. I’m afraid that something bad is going to happen, even though I have a little voice deep inside telling me that I’ve found my Happily Ever After. After spending almost, a lifetime hating this expression, I came around to it.

One of the girls who works at the club shows up, screaming desperately:

“Maddie, Maddie, hurry! You gotta help her.”

“Help who?” She takes me to the front door, pulling me by the arm.

“Look there. Help her, please.”

I look up the street and see two men throwing things from inside a house out on the street, a third man was watching, some girls from the club were around the girl with the angel face. She was in tears and with a small chest in her hands.

Without thinking too much, I walk in the middle of a torrential rain and I go check out what’s happening. I get closer and see the desperate girl and the troglodytes throwing her few things in the street. I stand in front of her and hold her hand, her gray eyes filled with sadness and pain.

“Stay calm.”

“T-They... The h-house...” I think she’s trying to explain it.

“Hey, look at me. I’ll figure it out, okay? The girls are going to take you to dry off before you get sick, and then we’ll talk,” I turn to the two girls who were with her, “Take her to the club, have her take a hot shower, something to eat, and some hot tea.”

They nod and leave. I hadn’t even noticed that one of the bouncers came after me with an umbrella. I go to the small man with glasses, who has a clipboard in his hand.

“What’s going on?”

He makes an impatient face and manages to get even uglier.

“She and her father had to vacate the house when the old lady died. He didn’t pay up, so we’re reclaiming possession...”

“And why are they throwing these things away?”

“Who are you, anyway? A detective?” he asks sarcastically.

I take a step toward him.

“Do you really want to know who I am?”

He takes a step back.

“She refused to leave, we had to force her out.”

I look around and see papers spread across the street, her clothes, and my anger explodes. How could they do that to an angel like that?

“You’d better pick all this up, dry it off, and give it back to her intact.”

He and the others start laughing, “And who’s going to make us, ma’am?”

The bouncer behind me takes a step forward, and I stop him.

“I think Judge Lancaster will know how to help me,” I get my phone out of my pocket and dial Noah’s number.

“No-Noah Lancaster, the Judge?” one of the miserable men stutters.

“Yes. That’s the one.”

The three of them share a look and start putting things together. Noah’s name works miracles.

“Please, ma’am, we were just doing our job,” the little man complains.

“Don’t waste your time with unnecessary excuses. After you’ve gathered and dried off everything, take everything to that big house. And I’ll give you some advice, I think you’d better start blowing out these papers before it all falls apart.”

I turn my back and go back to the club. How far can the evil side of human beings go? How could they treat people with such contempt? I go to the dressing room where the girl is combing her hair.

I’m soaking wet and I don’t have any other clothes here. I ask them to get me a uniform and, in the meantime, I take a hot shower and dry myself. As soon as I leave, I see the girl arranging the clothes for me in the chair.  She turns to me and gives a shy smile.

“I was trying to take the folding marks off...”

I smile affectionately at her. I reach for the clothes and get dressed quickly, comb my hair and turn my attention to her.

“What’s your name?” I don’t know why, looking at her touches me as if I somehow identified with her.

“Ivy Destiny Reed,” her voice is soft and sad.

“That’s a beautiful name. I know your mother passed away, but what about your father?”

Her eyes fill with tears, and she blinks to hold them back, but the tears just keep falling.

“He passed away four days ago,” she says regretfully, “I’m alone in the world, and I have no idea what to do...”

My heart tightens.

“Right now, Ivy, I don’t have much to offer, but will a hug help?” She nods and comes to me. I was touched to see the fragility of this child. After a while, she let go of me and wiped her tears away. “You’re not alone. Welcome to the Secret Garden Family.”

 

The End.

It’s not the end, it’s only the beginning of a new story... Your Destiny.