Zipping Along
Zinnia’s POV
It was amazing how much being disconnected from toxicity improved my mindset and my general feeling of wellbeing. Being surrounded by such blatant kindness was uplifting in ways I’d never imagined. Every few mornings, I’d find a gift for either the baby or me on the porch of seclusion cottage: some goat’s milk hand lotion; a half pound of granola; a little onesie with a bee on the front; a baby–sized quilt; a bundle of daisies; a beeswax candle; a small plate of oatmeal
chocolate chip cookies. The commune had seemingly adopted me and I felt I was blossoming under their quiet care, right along with my baby.
“I’m not doing anything to contribute,” I complained to Sunny one morning as we headed to the
bees in Aggie’s golf cart. “I’m just living here, mooching off of Aggie. She won’t even take any
money for groceries.”
“My mother–in–law does what she likes, Zinnia. If she wanted your money, she’d take it.”
“Still, I feel like I’m not paying for my stay here.”
“The universe has a way of bringing us to where we need to be. And sometimes that place we’re
brought to takes care of us for however long we need it to so we can heal and strengthen
ourselves. It’s part of the lesson itself — letting someone else care for you for a time.”
“Everybody here is taking care of me and being so kind,” I sighed happily. “It’s been…wonderful.”
It made me think of Dash during those first few months of pregnancy misery when I was nauseated all the time. Even though he left the house early, I’d wake up to a cup of ginger tea on a little warming pad so it was still hot. Next to it on my nightstand was a small can of ginger ale, a sleeve of saltine crackers and a few lemon drops on a tiny plate. He cared for me very sweetly and always had…but he also wanted me to accept jokes and not make waves.
“People should be nice to you.” She patted my knee. “And you’ve been helping me with the bees. You’ve been helping set the tables for the receptions. You’ve been talking with Fletcher about his reception.”
“He just told me to make all the decisions! That’s not hard.”
“Zinnia, everything you’re doing helps Serenity and is very much appreciated.”
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“I wish I could do more.
“When nothing is ever enough in one place, it’s hard to recognize that what you’re contributing in a different place is more than enough.”
Tears were suddenly in my eyes and I sniffed.
“I cry so easily here,” I said, laughing at myself. “It must be from being so close to my due date.”
“No,” Sunny corrected me gently. “It’s because you feel safe releasing those tears instead of holding them deep within. I always told my children it’s better to let the storm out than to keep it
inside.”
“Sunny,” I said not even trying to stop the tears, “I hope I’m a good mom like you.”
What I really felt like saying was, I wish you were my mom.
Easing the cart to a halt, Sunny pulled me into her arms, and I cried, not even feeling the slightest bit stupid for the tears that fell.
“Better?” she asked when I’d stopped.
“Much.”
She started the cart and pointed us toward the bees. “Today, I’m going to teach you about
checking the nectar flow.”
After a very informative, enjoyable morning with thousands and thousands of my tiny, winged
friends, Sunny dropped me off at Seclusion Cottage.
“The bees like you,” she told me. “The way you talk with them is lovely and they’re responding so well to all the news you bring.”
“I love the bees.”
And I did. They soothed me with their constant hum and buzz, their sense of purpose, knowing what task they needed to perform for the hive.
“They know that,” Sunny assured me. “My mother will pick you up at five to take you to Mist and Izan’s for dinner.”
“I’m making magic cookie bars for dessert.”
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“Magic bars have a very different meaning here in the commune,” she said with a wink. “I’m assuming yours won’t be of the made–to–get–you–mellow variety.”
I laughed and shook my head.
“Have fun, Zinnia. You’ll like Izan.”
Getting in my car after I’d waved off Sunny, I drove into town for the first time since I’d arrived here and bought some things at the grocery store to make my dessert. Back home, I toasted the
coconut to make it crispy, mixed the graham cracker crust, spread the sweetened condensed milk
over it, then added the chocolate chips, the butterscotch chips, and the toasted coconut. Instead
of nuts, I lightly sprinkled toffee bits over it all before popping it into the oven to bake.
At five, Moonbeam stopped in front of my cottage where I was already sitting in the rocking chair.
“No need to get up,” she said, waving me back down. “Mist isn’t expecting you until five thirty, but I have some stones to give you.”
I showed her the one I was holding in my hand. “More unakite?”
“No,” she said, holding a small, drawstring linen bag out that she emptied into my hand. She pointed at hazy, light brown stone. “Smoky quartz, which is good for gently releasing your emotional pain.”
Right away, I knew Sunny had talked with her mother about my crying jag this morning, but I also knew it was from deep concern about me, not to gossip or mock me. And that was such a shift for me, sometimes I couldn’t process that kind of motherly concern.
“This is lepidolite,” Moonbeam said, pointing to a flaky, pinkish–purple stone. “This helps you release your emotions during difficult times or times of transition and change.”
“And the amethyst?” I asked, recognizing one of the three stones.
“It allows emotions that come to the surface to be worked through more gently.”
“Thank you,” I said. “I definitely could use all three.”
“You’ll be fine,” she nodded. “Let the stones do their work, accept their healing and you’ll be just
fine.”
With so much uncertainty in my life, I wondered if Moonbeam knew exactly how much hearing you’ll be just fine soothed me.
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“You truly believe that, don’t you? That I’ll be OK.”
Moonbeam smiled, and I knew where both Sunny and Mist had gotten their smiles.
“Absolutely. I believe that the universe has given us what we need on earth to heal our minds and bodies and spirits. We’ve gotten so out of touch with Nature that we forget she has all the answers. We just need to ask her our questions and go where she guides us.”
I wondered how many words of woo–woo and wisdom had settled into this porch over the years, and it made me wonder if that’s what drew me out here to relax and rest. Rocking in my chair, I
felt calm and serene, untouchable and strong.
Moonbeam dropped me off at Mist’s, and I finally got to meet Izan. He was kind, welcoming and
completely in love with Mist. His eyes told me everything he felt for her, and it was obvious from the way he watched her, the way he smiled when she smiled, the way he laughed when she
laughed. Never had I seen a couple so in sync.
That led me to thinking about what outsiders would see when they saw Dash with me. Exasperation? Tolerance? Affection? The kind of love Izan and Mist shared that would never
falter?
Dinner was fun and delicious, and I was wide–eyed at the huge assortment of Spanish tapas that Izan had picked up from his family’s restaurant. As my due date drew closer, my appetite was hit
or miss, but tonight I ate the baby’s weight in food, I swear.
At the end of the evening, Izan gave me a hug goodbye, and Mist drove me home in their souped–up electric cart.
“Izan’s a mechanic so he gave the cart a little extra boost,” Mist laughed. “He just can’t help himself.”
“What’s Z28 stand for?” I asked, pointing at the hood of the cart where it was painted.
“Just a little joke,” Mist said with a laugh. “I’ll tell you the whole long story soon.
We were zipping along the path and Mist suddenly slowed as the cabin came into view. “Do you know that man on your porch?” she asked.
I certainly did.
“That’s my husband.”
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.