All the World (7 page)

             
Would they fit on the balcony?

              The balcony looked over Avon Road. People might wonder what she was doing with all the flowers, but at least they would be out of the apartment. The idea was appealing, so Lexie finished her dinner and headed back.

              The apartment door was open, and Lexie wondered if Flora had come home early. It was quiet and the flowers were still sitting everywhere. Lexie softly called out for Flora. There was no response, and Flora’s purse was not resting in its usual place on the coffee table.

A giggle startled Lexie, and she slowly edged along the wall.

              “Oh, Theo, what have I always said? What’s in a name? Last names mean little to me when it comes to love. Terrace and Rose—they are just words, not deadly weapons or evil curses. Sadly, that is not the opinion of my family or yours. I fear my parents would kill you if they saw us now.”

              Giulia Terrace was leaning over the balcony, her braided hair hanging over her shoulder like a frayed rope. She was illuminated by a triangular patch of silver moonlight. Her eyes were fixed on Theodore Rose standing in Avon Road. She didn’t notice when Lexie said her name.

              Theodore’s voice was thick with emotion. “Kill me? Sweet Giulia, losing your love is the only thing that can kill me.”

              “Sheriff Cato is my cousin,” replied Giulia. “The law is on his side, and he could make your death look like an accident. If he were to see you now, I am certain he would kill you.”

              “I have night’s cloak to hide me from their sight.”

              “Not even the darkest night could dim the beauty of a Rose.”

              Lovesick teenagers were universal, but Lexie never would have guessed that Giulia had such a soft, romantic side. There was nothing of her usual temperament that night. And why was all of this happening in her apartment?

              “Giulia,” Lexie said softly, “I can help you sneak downstairs if you want to see Theo. Don’t you want to keep this…private?”

              Giulia’s hands tightened on the railing, a grin spreading over her face. “If Roses are so beautiful, then I should bear that name. Will you marry me, Theo?”

              Lexie was close enough to see Theodore clutch his chest. “Giulia Dawn Terrace, nothing would make me happier than becoming your husband.”

              Giulia giggled. “When and where? When can I renounce the name of Terrace?”

              A car alarm startled Lexie and the star-crossed lovers. More quiet words were exchanged, but Lexie could not understand them because of the alarm. She thought there were mentions of a church and a clergyman named Lawrence Fryer.

              “Good night, good night,” Giulia called sweetly, “a thousand times good night!”

              “Good night until I see you tomorrow,” Theodore said before vanishing down Avon Road.

              Lexie allowed Giulia a moment before touching her shoulder. The girl turned around with a smile.

              “Oh, Theo and I are getting married!” she gushed.

              Lexie forced a smile. “I saw the whole thing. You’re in my apartment.”

              Giulia nodded. “Yes, I know. Mom and Dad took my phone and car and forbade me to leave the house. This was the only way I could see him…my fiancé! Oh, parting is such sweet sorrow! But don’t tell anyone! We want to keep it secret at the moment! Have a wonderful night, Lexie!”

              The girl darted from the room before Lexie could say a word.

***

              It was nearing midnight and Flora had yet to come home. Lexie called her several times, but there was no answer. Nickolas seemed to be away from his phone as well. She couldn’t find a phonebook and was very reluctant to search the café downstairs. She didn’t know if the Terraces had security cameras. She rummaged around the kitchen for about ten more minutes before spotting an address book.

             
Braedon might know what’s going on.
Lexie found his number.

              The phone rang several times, and she was worried that he wouldn’t pick up either.

              “Hello?”

              “Braedon, this is Lexie Stanley. How are you?”

              “Oh, hey!” Braedon sounded pleased. “I’m doing pretty well. What about you?”

              “I’m alright. It was a long day at work.”

              “You work with Nickolas’s uncle, right?” he asked. “There was a man who had to close all his accounts because he lost his money. He made an appointment at Lindegaard Counseling and Therapy while still in the bank lobby.”

              “Really?” Lexie wondered if the man sent to the psychiatric ward was the same one from the bank.

              “Yeah, and the whole situation is really weird. This guy was rich and gave money to tons of charities. All of it suddenly vanished.”

              Lexie sighed. “Well, I hope everything works out for him. Anyway, I’m calling about Flora. Have you seen her today? This morning she told me to pick up dinner, but she hasn’t come home. Flora has a ton of flowers, and they are stinking up the apartment. I tried her and Nickolas. They don’t answer.”

              “Nickolas said Flora was staying the night with him. I saw her pulling in the driveway when I was leaving. I don’t know what the flowers are about. Nickolas didn’t send them though,” Braedon said.

              The worry lifted off Lexie’s chest. “That’s good. She’s been so upset since the theatre was torn down. I’m glad she’s not moping. She had me scared this weekend.”

              “It’s nice to hear that Flora has such a thoughtful friend. I can see why she values you,” Braedon said gently.

              Lexie felt a flutter in her chest and she laughed. “Thanks for the compliment.”

             
I sound like a crushing teenager! How ridiculous!
Lexie thought.

              “It’s true, isn’t it? She values you so much,” Braedon said. “I’d like to get to know you better.”

              “I’d like that too. Nickolas seems to think very highly of you,” Lexie replied, easing into another topic she needed to discuss with him. “I saw Nickolas at work today. He was lurking around Dr. Lindegaard’s window. I talked to him, and he was saying some…interesting things. He said that you saw something on Crossroads Avenue.”

              Lexie could hear the tension in Braedon’s moment of silence. “He’s had better days. Stuff has come up about his dad. He asked me not to say anything…so…I can’t tell you more, even if I wanted to.”

              “Will this affect Flora? He mentioned her too.”

              “I hope not,” he replied. “She’s staying with him tonight.”

              “I hope she had a better day than me. I can’t remember ever being so stressed at work.”

              Braedon chuckled. “The bank wasn’t much fun either, and it’s only Monday. Hopefully it can’t get worse.”

              As soon as those words left Braedon’s mouth, Lexie knew the week would be a relentless battle.

Chapter Six: No Yarrow for Sorrow

              A jar of blackberry jam smashed to the floor when Lexie violently reached across the kitchen counter for her phone. She had been waiting for it to ring since she had gotten home yesterday, but she hadn’t expected it to do so at 5:00 in the morning.

              She didn’t recognize the number as she snatched it up. “Hello?”

              “Lexie Stanley? This is Lexie, right?” a frenzied woman asked.

              “Yes…”

              “This is Audrey Lindegaard. We’ve never really met, but I saw you the day the theatre was torn down.”

              “I remember,” replied Lexie with confusion. “What can I do for you?”

              Audrey’s voice trembled as she spoke, “It’s Flora! She and Nickolas came to visit half an hour ago. I don’t know what happened or why they were here so early, but he ran off and Flora is talking nonsense! She said something about wilting roses and violets and losing love! Then she said she wanted poppies to put her in an eternal sleep! Does that mean suicide? I don’t know if she and Nickolas got into some kind of fight! They seemed fine when they arrived. After he left, she attempted to drown herself in the bathtub! I tried talking to her, but it was like she couldn’t hear me. When I tried to sit Flora down, she pushed me away!”

              Lexie felt her stomach drop. “Where is she now?”

              “She’s still here. I won’t let her leave! I’m afraid she’ll hurt herself!” Audrey answered. “Can you drive over? Phillip told me to call you! He understands why you’ll miss work! Flora needs to go to the psychiatric ward at the hospital, and I can’t get her there! She won’t let me touch her!”

              “I’m coming!”

              Lexie snatched her purse and ran out of the apartment, knocking over a vase of germaniums and lilies. What was going on? It was true that Flora could be somewhat dramatic and unreasonable when it came to Nickolas Lindegaard. However, considering suicide was something else altogether.

              Phillip and Audrey Lindegaard lived in a large manor overlooking downtown Vernon Hills. Its double wraparound porches and French doors gave the inhabitants an excellent view of the town. Lexie parked and rushed toward the front entrance.

              “She got out while I was on the phone!” Audrey screeched and pointed toward the sloping backyard. “She went that way!”

              “What’s down there?” Lexie asked, dragging the frantic woman with her.

              “The Four Fields River Bridge,” she answered. “Nickolas and Flora like to walk there. The river can be rough when it’s rained.”

              “And we’ve had plenty of rain. Oh, God! If she tries to drown herself!”

              It was a steep descent, and the soft ground made it difficult to climb down. Lexie’s shoes and feet were caked with mud by the time she reached the bottom. The only positive thing about the muddy soil was that Flora’s footprints were clearly visible. Lexie, ignoring Audrey’s stream of worried comments, followed them to a wooden bridge.

              It was there that she spotted Flora Brookes, standing like an apparition as mist rose from the river. Her friend was almost unrecognizable with muck splattered over her floral-print sundress. Water dripped from her tangled blond hair and flecks of mud dappled her small face. Except for a faint blush on her cheeks, Flora’s face was colorless. Her brown eyes were alight with a manic gleam. Flora’s hands were trembling as she gazed into the fast waters below.

              “It’s odd, isn’t it?” Flora tossed a flower into the river.

              Lexie approached with caution. “What are you doing, Flora? Shouldn’t you be in bed? Do you want to be exhausted at work?”

              “I hold too many carnations. That’s the price for fascination,” she said wistfully. “I see my violets for faithfulness could not tame his larkspur’s fickleness.”

              “Let’s go inside. You need to change,” Lexie said as she tried to work out her friend’s riddles. “We can talk after you’re all cleaned up, okay? Let me help you back to the house.”

              “I need a bouquet of yarrow. You have none to cure my sorrow,” Flora replied, stepping away from Lexie. “Orchids for perfection I now see. Be sweet and shy with peony.”

              Flora tossed a crumpled dandelion at Lexie.

              “What’s happened to her?” Audrey’s voice was shrill, startling Lexie and Flora.

              Flora’s eyes shifted to Audrey. “Elegant dahlias are for dignity, but you prefer false bilberry. For you I have purple lavender. Distrust and failure fill this flower.” 

              “I’m calling the hospital!” Audrey said, searching for her phone. “She needs a doctor! If this is Nickolas’s doing—”

              “My sweet Nickolas.” A bittersweet smile appeared on Flora’s face. “He once gave me a bouquet of happiness. Today he handed me one of Adonis.”

              Lexie lunged forward and grabbed Flora’s wrist. Her skin was cold and her pulse was fluttering rapidly. She used all her strength to keep Flora from bolting. Her friend was now screaming about irises and friendship. Lexie shouted for Audrey to help, but the woman was arguing with someone on the phone.

              “I’ll stay here with all the lichens, for I wish none to see my dejection.” Flora’s voice suddenly softened to a whisper, “Take some sweet pea, Alexandra dear. I say goodbye at the river here.”

              “Stop! That’s enough! Just stop it, Flora!” Lexie snapped. “We are going to the hospital! I’ll drag you the whole way if I have to!”

              It took twenty minutes to get back to the house. Audrey was in no state to drive, and Lexie realized she had locked her keys in her car. Audrey told her to use Nickolas’s old car, and Lexie was forced to wait while Mrs. Lindegaard went in search of the keys. Flora was still putting up a good fight, and Lexie had to pin her against the hood of the red Mercedes.

              “I want a posy of poppies to keep, so I will have a deep, eternal sleep.”

              Audrey ran out of the house with the car keys and two belts. “Do you know how to get to the hospital from Vernon Hills?”

              Lexie nodded. “Help me get her in the backseat.”

              When her wrists were bound with the belts, Flora was more subdued. Her rhyming riddles became soft, incoherent mutters, and her eyes took on a glassy appearance. Lexie covered a shivering Flora with a coat before starting the car.

              Audrey tapped on the car, prompting Lexie to lower the window. “What?”

              “Be careful driving!” Audrey said, eyes darting between Lexie and Flora. “I’ll talk to Nickolas before I come to the hospital. I’ll call him until he answers! Take care of Flora!”

             
You’ll just chase him away! He doesn’t want anything to do with you!
Lexie dearly wished she could shout that thought at Audrey as she sped out of the driveway.

              The drive to the hospital seemed to take hours. All the stoplights turned red as she approached them. A beige Camry was in front of her for most of the journey, and it insisted on going at least fifteen miles under the speed limit.

              “To a nunnery I will go,” sang Flora, “with pansies and rue to show.”

              Lexie did her best to ignore Flora’s words, but she could not. What had possessed her friend? She sounded like an insane, tragic poet. If this was all because of Nickolas, Lexie would throttle him. However, Lexie didn’t think he was the sole cause of Flora’s condition. There had to be something more. Yes, most of her odd flower references dealt with him, but he couldn’t be the single reason Flora had lost it. Was it possible for the theatre’s destruction to drive a person to insanity? 

              Flora sang, “Sprigs of acanthus pierced my heart when I beheld the destruction of art.”

              “So, you’re upset about the theatre, but that’s no reason to try to kill yourself!” Lexie shouted. “Damn it!”

              There was a traffic jam on the road leading to the hospital. Lexie could see frantic employees running with stretchers and wheelchairs. Ambulances were speeding away, their sirens wailing like crying children. The police were directing the few vehicles that could move, and people in the cars were screaming. Some screams sounded painful, others sounded unhinged. Yet, Lexie could not hear anyone, except Flora, singing about flowers.

              Lexie dialed Nickolas’s number several times, but he never answered. Finally, Lexie left him a scathing message, blaming him for what was happening to Flora and informing him that he would be paying for the hospital bill.

              “It’s the least you can do after what’s happened! Your girlfriend has lost her mind, and where are you, her boyfriend? You’re probably off plotting to avenge your dad! You belong at the hospital with Flora, you arrogant ass!”

              A sharp knock on the window startled Lexie, and she turned to see Bryony Arden and Ben Forester. As Lexie lowered the window, she noticed that their eyes looked strange. Their pupils were so dilated that the irises were not visible.

              “We missed you today!” Bryony said with a sly smile.

              “Listen, I have Flora in the backseat, and something’s wrong! I need to get her to the hospital—”

              “So that’s why you weren’t there,” commented Ben. “We were wondering why you two missed the wedding.”

              “Wedding? What wedding?”

              Ben looped his arms around Bryony’s waist. “Our wedding. We got married at dawn in Vernon Hills. It was small. Johnny and Kaitlin were our witnesses.”

              “But you hate each other,” Lexie said as she studied them. 
Are they drunk? Are they drugged?

              “Our merry war was a shield against our true feelings,” Bryony said with a mischievous grin. “If Ben loves me, I will love him in return.”

              Lexie looked at Ben. “Flora said you swore you would never get married.”

              “When I said I should die a bachelor, I did not think I should live until I was married,” he answered.

              The newlyweds shifted a bit, and Lexie caught the scent of alcohol. She wondered what had been mixed with Ben and Bryony’s drinks to possess them to get married. Like Flora, something was messing with their heads. They hadn’t even asked what was wrong with Flora. Lexie couldn’t deal with them though. She had her sick friend in the backseat.

              “If we want to catch our flight to Sicily, we better get to Dulles,” Bryony said.

              Ben nodded, took Bryony’s hand, and pulled her after him. They leapt over the hood of a light brown Camry, earning angry shouts from the two male passengers. Lexie watched them until they vanished in the line of cars.

              “What do you think about that, Flora?” Lexie asked, knowing asking Flora anything was useless.

              “The marriage vine is twining ivy,” she answered, “and it will bind Ben and Bryony.”

              The fact that Flora knew what was happening around her gave Lexie hope that her madness was not as serious as it seemed. Perhaps whatever had seized her mind was fading.

              Lexie and Flora were forced to remain in the traffic jam for nearly half an hour. Hospital employees were visiting every car. Those who were dying or violent were taken to the hospital first. Despite Flora’s suicide attempt, the hospital employee who visited their car did not think Flora was in immediate danger. He advised Lexie to keep the car doors locked and shout if Flora became violent.

              Eventually, Flora was taken to the psychiatric ward of the hospital by two white-robed doctors. Flora had been quite docile in the car, but she started fighting the instant she entered the hospital. She refused to sit in the wheelchair and attempted to slap the doctors. Her flower riddles started once again, and Flora was screaming them by the time the doctors had her sitting. Lexie followed, explaining apprehensively what was happening.

              “Goodnight, ladies; goodnight, sweet ladies; goodnight, goodnight,” Flora sang as she was taken through a set of heavy doors.

              Lexie was partially through the doors, when a doctor pushed her back.

              “You can’t go with her.”

              “I brought her here!”

              “Only employees are allowed through these doors. You can wait in the lobby.”

              Lexie heard her voice rising and felt a burning sensation in her eyes. “So, I’m supposed to sit and wait while you decide why she’s lost her mind? There has to be something I can do!”

              “It’s too soon to know what’s happening to your friend,” the doctor said calmly. Lexie could see the strain in his eyes. “You said you’re from Vernon Hills. Strange, most of our patients are from there today. Anyway, could you drive home and bring something familiar for Flora to jog her memory? I know her memory seems intact to you, but something could be amiss.”

              Lexie hesitated. “Leave her here…alone…”

              “Flora will not be alone, I assure you. We will take good care of her. I have a feeling that we are going to need to keep her overnight for observation,” the doctor replied. “I have your cell number, and I will call you if anything happens. If you want to help your friend, driving home is a good start. You won’t do her any good just sitting in the lobby.”