The garden, p.26
The Garden, page 26
"It's hard to accept he's never going to pay for what he's done."
"There's such a thing as divine retribution, Liv. People pay, one way or another."
Divine retribution. One of the lessons she'd learned through this nightmare was that she wasn't the final arbitrator of justice. The twelve steps Davy was following weren't only for addicts. Olivia struggled to admit she was powerless and needed the help of a higher power too. Her compulsion wasn't alcohol, like his, it was bitterness and anger. Wrath had often blinded her to the good in life. She'd worn the emotion like a shield, but it was false security. It hadn't protected her, hadn't protected Brian.
"Six and one more if you count Jesus." Brian's words cut across the grass. Olivia smiled. He threw himself between his parents, grabbed his abandoned juice box and sucked on the straw. His hair was damp with sweat and stuck to his forehead. Olivia reached out and brushed it back.
"Good job, buddy." Davy rubbed his knuckles on the top of Brian's head messing up the hair she'd neatened. She gave Davy a pointed look, but it was playful.
It had amazed her how easy co-parenting had been so far. She'd expected disagreements and inconveniences, but Davy had done his best to keep things amicable. So amicable, in fact, they'd gone out for dinner once or twice without Brian. She wouldn't call them dates exactly, but they had started talking about the future as if it was "theirs" and not "his" or "hers".
"Do you know what today is? Why I asked you here for this elegant and expensive repast?" Davy broke into her thoughts.
"Elegant and expensive? I saw a coupon for Enzo's pizza in the mail this week," Olivia said.
"It cost Enzo something, didn't it?"
"Why did you want to have a picnic, Dad?" Brian said.
"Six months ago today, your mother and I made a deal," Davy said. "We agreed that if I behaved myself, she'd consider a proposition I was going to make."
"Have you behaved yourself?" Brian grinned.
"Of course."
"I remember saying we'd revisit some issues in six months, but I wasn't aware you had a particular proposition in mind," Olivia said.
"Oh, yes. I did. It just wasn't the right time to spring it on you. You were a tad cranky if I recollect correctly."
"What's the proposition, Dad?" Brian said.
"I'm going to ask your mother for an annulment."
Olivia crossed her arms over her chest. "An annulment? We're already divorced."
"Exactly. I want a divorce annulment. It was a bad idea. The whole divorce thing. I'd like to pretend it never happened."
"Does that mean you'll move home?" Brian jumped and landed with one knee under him.
"I thought maybe you two would move in with me. Crackers likes my house better than yours."
A flash of irritation sprang up like a weed in the midst of the happiness growing inside Olivia. It was just like Davy to propose in front of Brian. If she said no, she'd be the bad guy. Again.
But she had no intention of saying no, and she was fairly certain Davy knew that. "How does someone go about getting a divorce annulment? I've never heard of it."
"I believe all you have to do is take a trip to Vegas, visit one of those little chapels, sign some papers, listen to an Elvis impersonator sing Love Me Tender, and you're good to go."
"Can Grandpa Mike and Grandma Sarah come?" Brian had both knees under him now. He was so excited he couldn't sit still.
"We do need witnesses," Davy said.
"Noah Wilson went on a zip line when he went to Las Vegas. It was in his hotel. Can we go on a zip line after we see Elvis?"
"Absolutely."
Brian leaped to his feet and raised both fists over his head. "I'm in."
Davy looked at Olivia. Her gaze traveled across the grass to the Great Stone Church. The gray ruin, once a barren monument to death, was now surrounded by a profusion of lavender, roses, and hollyhocks. Their scents perfumed the Mission grounds. Life went on. "Me too," she said.
MOLLY: Aw. Sweet, right? The family got back together, and they’re doing great. In fact, you’ll see Olivia again in Season Seven if you stick with me that long.
And speaking of future seasons, I promised I’d let you know what’s coming up. As I mentioned, Abby Travers will be our main character in the next season, titled The Hiding Place. I have to say, her story is one of the strangest of the bunch. Abby is a very unique person.
We’ve already seen from her dealings with Brian that she’s caring and compassionate, but she was also pretty broken by the events of her childhood. Her brother’s death and her mother’s subsequent breakdown had a huge impact on her. Consequently, she doesn’t think the way most of us do. I mean, how many of us would’ve put newspaper articles on someone’s windshield instead of walking up to them and letting them know they might be in danger?
Abby hates confrontation. She begins next season in hiding, hence the name. She sees a terrible thing happening nearby and does nothing to help. You may find yourself getting pretty angry with her.
However, one of the things I love about all seven of these stories is how redemptive they are. The women at the center of these crimes grow in strength and character. They learn about themselves as they face their foes and their fears, which is inspiring for all of us. At least, it’s inspiring for me.
Abby, in particular, was very vulnerable when I interviewed her. She wasn’t proud of the way she acted in the beginning, but trust me, her transformation was amazing. By the end of next season, you’ll be rooting for her.
But I am getting ahead of myself.
I hope I’ve given you something to think about in this season. And I hope you’ll join me for Season Three — The Hiding Place.
Be sure to check our show notes for a link to a free copy of The Dark Room—a prelude to all the crimes we’ll be discussing. This story, documented by local author Greta Boris, takes place before the events of Season One. Some believe that what happened in that Capistrano Beach cottage actually set off a chain of events that culminated in the seven crimes we are exploring. Read it and decide for yourself.
(cue music)
VO: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a five-star review on your favorite podcast service—it really helps. Murders Under the Sun is edited by Jim Wilbourne, theme music is by Eclectic Blends, and I’m your host, Molly Shure.
Get your free digital copy of The Dark Room at:
https://bookhip.com/ZQMTCLP.
If you enjoyed this book, please do one or more of the following:
Leave a review on your favorite book review site
Tell a friend about The Garden: An Almost True Crime Story
Ask your local library to put Greta Boris’s work on the shelf
Recommend Fawkes Press books to your local bookstore
VISIT US ONLINE
www.FawkesPress.com
www.GretaBoris.com
also by greta boris
An Almost True Crime Story:
The Cliff House
The Garden
The Hiding Place
The Tower
The Keep
The Manor
The Cabin
The Mortician Mysteries:
To Dye For
Mortuary School
Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow
Bald-Headed Lies
A Permanent Solution
Buzz Cut
Splitting Hairs
Greta Boris, The Garden
