Ruin - By N.M. Martinez Page 0,33

At the end sits a building that looks like it was built from scratch out of rocks. In the back a simple wooden fence with enough space between the slats that flowering plants, grass, and weeds pour over the rails as if reaching out to greet us.

He doesn't tell me where we're going, and I don't think to ask. As we step in the door, Brandon in the lead, air from inside the building slips past Brandon and tickles me with warm tendrils. Right away I catch the scent of a stew and it makes me hungry even though we had breakfast not that long ago.

I stop right after entering. The heavy door shuts itself behind me. The room is warm with bodies, a low murmur rising from the spot furthest away from the door. These people are relaxed and at ease, each nursing a drink. They see us, and some of them call out to Brandon with a smile. I notice Maria and that tall quiet guy from the other night right away. She even gives me a nod when she notices me.

On the other side of the room are the bar and a small counter with bar stools made of wood that look hand crafted. One man sits at the counter, chatting with the dark skinned woman who pours his drink. Her smile is so warm it's easy to believe that she's the source of the temperature in the room and not the stew cooking on the stove behind her.

Then she sees Brandon. Her warm smile spreads across her face, brightening her eyes and plumping up her cheeks. I catch a flash of her pink tongue as her mouth drops open in sheer happiness. She steps out from behind the counter and over to us quickly scooping Brandon's face up in both of her hands though she has to reach a bit above her head to get him. "Brandon! It's so good to see you!"

Some of the others in the back snicker, but there's no maliciousness to it. I catch Maria's grin and get a sense that this happens regularly. Brandon isn't ashamed. He doesn't move her hands, just lifts his and places them on top of hers.

"You're looking at me like I've grown."

She laughs. "No, I'm just surprised at how old I am." She takes a step back from him, removing her hands, then catches sight of me standing a little behind Brandon. I'm no mind reader, but even I can guess the question on her thoughts.

"Rita," he says as he takes a step to the side leaving me exposed. "This is my little sister, Paula."

She looks from me back to him. "Sister?"

"Henri's."

Rita nods as if that's all she needs to know. "Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, dear." If she knows what I am or where I'm from, it doesn't seem to stop that smile of hers from reappearing. I'm not quite sure what to say to her, and so I stand still, frozen by her warmth and genuine kindness. "Well, I know why you're here. They're both out back tending to the garden."

I hadn't seen anyone out in the back when we walked up, but Brandon thanks her anyway and heads towards the back of the bar with me following after him. We walk through a door that leads to a stairwell with one staircase going down into a dark cellar and another going up to a room filled with natural light. Past the stairs there's another door and Brandon opens this one out into the garden.

The plants I'd been admiring on the walk in are nothing compared to the entire garden. The space by the door is clear, but everywhere else there are plants growing, flowers blooming, and some with fruits dangling. Worn paths lead out from the door to the plants and all the spaces between. It's wild, but tamed by the hands that work on it.

There's a loud screech a second before Brandon is attacked by a little girl who jumps at him hard enough to knock the breath from his chest.

A woman steps over to us with a hand on her hip. "I know that screech. The whole village probably knows it by now." She has the same dark skin as the woman inside and looks very much like her, but she's younger. And instead of a warm smile, she looks mildly annoyed.

The little girl in Brandon's arms shoots words out so quickly that I wonder if he can even