True Places(34)

“Where is everyone?” In her confusion, Iris hadn’t realized she had spoken her thoughts.

“What do you mean?”

Iris didn’t answer.

After a few more houses, Suzanne turned into a tiny road ending at a white house with two layers of windows and a porch as wide as the main road.

“Here we are.” Suzanne stopped the car and pushed on the red part of the seat belt latch. Iris did the same. Suzanne smiled and seemed about to say something but decided against it. Iris was glad. Leaving the hospital, the car ride, the huge houses, the strange trees, and the hard gray surfaces overwhelmed her senses and her thoughts. She wanted all of this noise and confusion to stop.

Suzanne pulled a handle on the car door, leaning back so Iris could see. Iris imitated her and climbed down. Huge pink, lavender, and blue flowers she’d never seen before lined the tiny road, and in front of the porch were bushes with long pale-purple blossoms and a sweet smell. Beside the bushes stood a redbud, its branches heavy with clusters of tiny magenta flowers. She went to it and reached to touch the familiar blossoms, her eyes filling with tears. She turned her face to the sun.

“Iris?”

Suzanne waited on the steps to the porch. Iris exhaled in resignation and crossed the short grass meadow to join Suzanne. Bordering the steps were several dandelions; she stooped to pick the leaves.

“Oh, you don’t have to do that,” Suzanne said.

A girl appeared at Suzanne’s side, the tallest girl Iris had ever seen, and nearly naked, wearing only tiny black shorts and a top made of two triangles and some string. It was a warm day, especially for April, and Iris could see why the girl wouldn’t want to wear a lot of clothes. But Nurse Amy had explained to her about modesty—rules about what to show when. Iris must have misunderstood. The girl’s body was strong and didn’t have a scar or bruise that Iris could see. She seemed to have been created just this morning.

“Brynn,” Suzanne said, “This is Iris.”

“Hi.” Brynn didn’t smile. Her eyes went to the leaves in Iris’s hand, and she made the same face Ash used to make when he ate an unripe blackberry. Brynn turned to Suzanne. “Is she weeding? Because I’m pretty sure you’re not supposed to make slaves out of foster kids before they even step foot in the house.”

Iris didn’t understand. What was “weeding”? Brynn also appeared angry, which confused Iris.

Suzanne frowned and looked uncomfortable. “Iris, were you collecting those?”

“Yes. I can find more and we can share.”

“Seriously?” Brynn said, laughing without happiness. She seemed to have expressions and emotions in strange combinations. It was like trying to decode all the different calls and postures of crows. They were impossible to decipher.

Suzanne said, “Brynn, did you know they sell dandelion greens at Whole Foods?”

“Good to know, Mom. Iris, welcome to civilization.” She went inside.

Suzanne stared at the spot her daughter had occupied a minute ago, a sad look on her face.

Iris laid the dandelion leaves on the ground. She had so many questions but couldn’t decide what was important to know. She felt tired and wanted to be somewhere quiet by herself.

Suzanne opened the door. “Let’s have some lunch; then you can rest in your room.”

Iris nodded and followed Suzanne inside. She couldn’t absorb everything she was seeing and had to remind herself to pay attention to what Suzanne was showing her and saying. They went through some rooms with chairs and couches and into what Suzanne said was the kitchen.

Brynn stood in the middle of the room with her arms crossed. “There’s nothing to eat.”

Suzanne walked past Brynn and pointed to some tall chairs. “Iris, you can sit there, okay? How about a turkey sandwich?”

“I hate turkey,” Brynn said.

“You can have whatever you want, Brynn. I’m just going to make something for Iris.”

“Awesome. But like I said, there’s nothing to eat.”

Iris climbed into a chair. Suzanne opened a large metal cabinet with lights inside. It was full of food. Iris glanced at Brynn to see if she noticed how much food there was, but she still looked angry. Iris pulled her heels onto the seat, hugged her knees to her chest, and tucked her head between her arms. She almost wished she could go back to the hospital. At least she knew what to expect there.

Suzanne put the sandwich in front her. Iris’s mouth watered and she took a bite. It was one of the best things she’d ever eaten. Iris ate quickly, concentrating on the delicious sensations in her mouth and trying to block out the sharp words between Suzanne and Brynn.

When she finished eating, Suzanne took her plate. “I’ll give you a quick tour, just so you know where things are.”

A door in the kitchen led outside to more chairs and tables on an area covered in flat stone. Beyond that were short grass, flowers, and trees. She could see parts of other houses, each with its own patch of short grass, divided from the others by fences or plants.

“This is our backyard.”

“I like this part.”

“I thought you might.”

Suzanne walked her through the rest of the house. Iris was again puzzled by the absence of people and began to realize that only Suzanne, Whit (whom she’d met at the hospital), and their two children lived here. And now her.