Did you think for an instant I didn't know what was going on with my daughter? Probably not. We know each other better than that by now. When I came home the day I first sensed the change in her, I felt proud. Eden is special in her own right, but now she was more than special. She is supernatural.
I won't tell her I know, though. It is up to Eden to share or keep to herself her own private matters. But, I must confess I too have had the desire to become a witch, as the life state I truly crave (yes, I still want fairy wings) is not available to me. Incidentally, my toughest chess opponent is a fairy - Bianca Monty. She's very, very good.
If you're wondering how everyone's doing after losing Emmett, I can say we're all keeping it together. Ophelia has been spending a lot of (autonomous) time in the museums. I think she is reminding herself that her life has been devoted to something extraordinary.
Freddie has been drowning his sorrows in the usual Freddie way. Love.
I've asked Eden if Freddie is aware of her plans for him, because my child has their entire future mapped out.
"Of course not, Mommy," she says with a wicked little grin. "He'll know when it's time for him to know."
Ha. Well, I hope Moonglow approves of her. The horse is rather protective of both Freddie and his beloved mother.
I confess, I do know why Eden's all enamored of him, even if he is about as likely to commit to a traditional marriage as Moonglow is to stand on her hind legs and do the Smustle.
Eden is not concerned with what you or I would call "realistic expectations." That's all right I suppose. I cope my way - via science and logic and Eden copes via fantasy and pretty things.
Then again, she is not a girl who has ever been limited by reality, now, is she?
She is, despite her childish nature, doing well in school. Her friend Eunice comes over quite often. I suspect she has a bit of a crush on Eden. (But then, who doesn't?)
They've decided to go to prom together. "Just as friends, duh," Eden says, but I hope she's made that clear to Eunice, who really is a darling girl. I teach her in my science class on Thursdays.
I have to refrain from asking her to please not be Eden's guinea pig. I have to so Eden still thinks it's her secret. But I do worry Eunice will end up in some awful way if she keeps letting Eden experiment on her.
The night of her prom, while my daughter was upstairs getting beautiful, I aged up to an adult.
The midlife crisis hit, and I immediately headed to the hospital to acquire therapy. Once that was settled, I purchased the hospital, because what better building to own than the one that promotes logic. I've renamed it The Classic Institute of Learning.
Eden was elected prom queen, just like I was. She was also approached by a teacher who offered her a great deal of extra credit to interview a French local ... which is obviously difficult being that we are not in France. Also, Eunice kissed her.
"Like, on the lips, Mom," Eden says.
"Well what did you expect, honey? It was prom."
"Oh, it was kind of nice. Freddie will be so proud I'm practicing free love!"
Watcher save us.
Well, I thought about it a lot. Maybe it was the final remnant of my midlife crisis or maybe it was a concern that we three didn't spend enough time as a family unit, but I had an idea. I shared the idea with my daughter the next morning. Why don't we just ... go to France? Get away from it all? Wouldn't that be the perfect, logical method to bond?
"Can Freddie come?" she asked.
"Absolutely not."
Freddie, in addition to possibly traumatizing the entire female population of the French nation, needed to be home with his mother and his horse in this difficult time.
The first thing Eden did when we got to France was to take care of her interview. She found a woman tending a cafe and charmed her into a nice little write up.
Then she hovered over Hiram and I while we tried to banter over a game of chess, sighing and looking whimsical. It was kind of cute, I suppose.
I decided that I wanted to do some exploring on my own, while Hiram and Eden spent quality time together. She sat down across from him and looked at him expectantly. As I was walking away, I'm pretty sure I heard her decide on the nectary as their destination.
I spoke to some locals for advice on what to check out. Ruins and museums were suggested to me, both which stimulate my intellectual side.
I had the motive mobile, which was ideal as I liked to avoid base camp. There was a strange man with unfortunate breath there who constantly attempted to talk to me.
From what I understand, Hiram and Eden had an amazing time at the nectary and made friends with a lot of other tourists.
I explored and solved puzzles and overall improved my mind. The ruins were peaceful and scenic.
While the museum was mysterious and beautiful. I left with a level 2 visa.
And just to do my part in cheering her up, I brought Ophelia back a souvenir.
