A Stranger in My Bed : A Stranger in My Head by P. Luis

Author:P. Luis [Luis, P.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-08-02T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 14

Fruit Garden

‘Pip, come here. Come, come.’ I directed him under my seat so as not to disturb the other guests. It was a buffet lunch in a large, classic restaurant with an outdoor terrace and two adjoining lunchrooms.

I was surprised by how full the hotel was. Until now, no human beings had disturbed my aura except for at the reception.

I began my professional search for the weird people in the crowd, but everyone seemed normal.

Where was Karl? He should have been around, but I couldn’t see him, and I didn’t want to search too obviously.

As I walked back into my hotel room, I immediately sensed that something was different.

As I scanned the room, I noticed a white envelope lying on my bed. It seemed out of place, as if someone had deliberately left it there for me to find.

I approached the bed and picked up the envelope, examining it closely. The paper was crisp and white, and the envelope was sealed with a small piece of gold crepe paper. I carefully opened the envelope to reveal a small note inside. As I unfolded the note, my eyes were drawn to the simple yet cryptic message: ‘15:00–fruit garden.’

It was fascinating how it had been managed; I had no idea how the envelope could have been placed in my room. I read it again. The words held nothing, but for me, they were inspiring.

On impulse, I held the note up to my nose and inhaled deeply. To my surprise, the paper emitted a pleasant aroma. It was as if the note itself held some sort of magic, and I was caught in its spell.

After grabbing a bottle of cold water from the minibar, I unpacked my bag, taking out each item of clothing and inspecting it closely.

I had brought a variety of options, ranging from casual to dressy, unsure of what the occasion would require. After all, I didn’t change clothes.

Despite having ample time to get ready and make my way to the fruit garden, I purposely chose to arrive a few minutes late. As a woman, I knew the importance of not waiting on a man, and I refused to let him hold all the power in the situation.

I went to the reception desk and asked a receptionist to show me the way to the garden, which was located at the back of the hotel.

I arrived at the entrance three minutes after the designated time. I wondered if my small act of defiance had been noticed or if it had gone unnoticed.

The doorway of the fruit garden was made from living trees braided into the form of a giant gate. As I walked through it, I immediately bumped into Karl.

‘Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet,’ he said.

I scratched my nose as if caught in a lie. ‘Oh come on, three minutes.’

‘That’s a quote from Jean-Jacques Rousseau,’ he began to explain.

In response, I gave him a confused smile.

We wandered through the fruit garden, which was far more crowded than the empty hall this morning.

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