Where the Forest Meets the Star - Glendy Vanderah Page 0,31
of cottage-style flower beds, redbud trees, and forsythia and rhododendron bushes. A sizeable river birch shaded the western side of the garden and a bench surrounded by ferns and blooming hostas and astilbes. A house wren sang its burbling song near its nest box and a variety of bird feeders.
“I love the natural look of your garden,” Jo said.
“Thank you,” Ms. Ivey said. “Do you know how to take care of flowers?”
“I do. My mom had a big garden.”
“I didn’t grow up with a garden, but I love flowers,” Tabby said. “That’s why your house was one of the best on our jogging route.”
“Let’s go inside and look at the lease,” Ms. Ivey said.
“You’re going to let us rent it?” Tabby said.
“If you agree to the terms.”
“We’ll agree to anything,” Tabby said. “I’ll sign over my firstborn.”
Ms. Ivey smiled. “I’m glad you love it that much.”
Ms. Ivey served iced tea while they talked about the lease in the living room. She gave Ursa milk and cookies at the kitchen table. She also gave her crayons and paper, probably too childish for her, but Ursa obediently drew pictures while they talked business in the other room.
They soon discovered they shared many more interests than flowers, birds, and cats, and Frances, as she insisted they call her, eventually trusted them enough to tell them why she was leaving her beloved house. Her former partner, Nancy, who’d moved away after they split two years earlier, had been in a devastating car wreck and had no one to help her. Nancy had a shattered arm and leg, and the foot on her other leg had been amputated. Frances needed to leave immediately. She would stay in Maine for at least one school year to keep the lease simple.
Though the rent was high and Jo hated to pay for two houses until August, she signed the lease and paid the portion Tabby couldn’t afford. As Tabby had said, why not use some of the money she’d inherited? Her mother would have loved the house. Every time Jo sat in the garden, she would feel connected to her.
Tabby wanted to go out for pizza to celebrate after they signed the lease. Jo followed her to the restaurant, and as she pulled into the space next to her, Tabby climbed out of her VW and peeled off her shirt in the busy parking lot.
“A little exhibitionist, don’t you think?” Jo said.
“Who cares?” Tabby said. “And no way I’ll be seen in public wearing that hideous shirt.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“Right, like you’re so emotionally involved with a T-shirt.” She pulled a tee with a Rolling Stones tongue over her black lace bra.
Ursa’s dimple marked her grin again. She took the crayons Frances had given her into the restaurant so she could finish a drawing. They ordered slices, and Tabby got a beer. Jo had water, and she let Ursa have a Sprite. When the drinks arrived, Tabby held up her beer for a toast. “To our awesomest house.” Jo and Ursa tapped their glasses to hers. “Don’t you think it has to be fate that this happened?” Tabby said. “I mean, how weird that we loved that house so much and now we’re going to live in it!”
“I made it happen,” Ursa said.
“How’d you make it happen?” Tabby said.
“I’m from another planet. My people can make good things happen.”
“Really?” Tabby said.
“She likes to pretend,” Jo said.
“It’s not pretend,” Ursa said. “And the proof is that house.”
“How do your people make things happen?” Tabby asked.
“It’s hard to explain,” Ursa said. “When we find Earth people we like, good things all of a sudden start to happen for them. It’s how we reward them for being nice to us.”
“But that means you made Nancy get in a car wreck,” Tabby said.
“I didn’t want that,” Ursa said, “but sometimes bad things happen to make good things happen.”
“You know what I hope happens?” Tabby said. “I hope Nancy realizes she still loves Frances, because Frances is obviously still shitloads in love with her.”
“Maybe that will happen—because I like Frances,” Ursa said. “Are Frances and Nancy lesbians?”
Tabby grinned. “Yeah, they’re lesbians. You cool with that?”
“I support gay rights,” Ursa said.
“Wow,” Tabby said to Jo, “and from Banjo Land, no less.”
“I’m from Hetrayeh,” Ursa said.
“Is that your planet?” Tabby asked.
Ursa nodded. “It’s in the Infinite Nest Galaxy.”
“Whatever that is,” Tabby said. “How do you know about gay rights if you’re an alien?”
“I saw it on the internet at Gabe’s house. I’m supposed to learn about Earth,