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Chapter One: The Snake

There was nothing worse than the dead of winter. The cold, the snow, the cloudy, gray skies. No sun for days on end. Leda Harper was the kind of girl who couldn't stand not seeing the sun. She wasn't a pampered beach bunny or anything. She just loved the feeling of that warm, golden glow on her back. And when it was warm enough and sunny enough, the children who were healthy enough could go outside and play. Leda felt a tug on the leg of her jeans. She looked down at the small, blue-eyed girl who she was taking care of today. Mary was absolutely adorable and so sweet. She was six years old, very small for her age, and had lost her first teeth...the front two. In fact she looked like a normal girl, except that she had no hair. It's not fair for this to happen to one so young, Leda thought, as she lifted Mary up. As if the illness wasn't bad enough, she might lose the only home she's ever known. She worked in a hospice for children who were terminally ill. Worse, these children had no parents to love them. They'd all been abandoned or orphaned at a very young age. Mary herself had been left behind by a drug addict mother who didn't want to "stick around to take care of a sick little brat". Except that Mary is a complete sweetheart, Leda thought. And if I ever saw her stupid mother again, I'd smack her. "What're they doin' Leda?" Mary asked, lisping slightly through her missing teeth. Mary was referring to the men outside who were inspecting the land around the hospice. All trim young men dressed in business suits and a few contractors. Earl Kirkland was a rich business man who wanted to start his own mall. Right on the land where the hospice was. Unless he could find a better place, the hospice would be torn down in February. Just in time for Valentine's Day, Leda thought. And they were so excited about making their own Valentine's Day cards and having a party. "Nothing important, Mary," Leda responded, kissing the girl on the cheek. "Let's go finish your macaroni picture frame, okay?" "Can we use the wheels?" Mary asked eagerly. "Will you paint them silver for me? Please?" "Sure," Leda replied, setting her down and taking her hand. "Anything you like, sweetie." She hadn't been lying when she'd told Mary the men were doing nothing important. Building a stupid mall wasn't important. Taking care of these children, that was important. Leda lead Mary into the crafts room and sat down with her at a table covered in glitter, glue, and pieces of macaroni. That was how they spent the afternoon, making a picture frame with pieces of silver-painted macaroni and enough glitter to choke a horse. "Leda?" Leda glanced up. Martha, the woman who ran the hospice, stood in the doorway. She was a plump, middle-aged woman with the kindest smile Leda had ever seen. If she could, she would probably buy the hospice. But it was owned by the state, and the price was just too high. Leda stood up, trying to wipe some of the glitter on her hands off on her jeans. "Mr. Kirkland's son, Aidan, would like a tour of the premises," Martha explained. Leda froze. Now there was a name she'd hoped to never hear again. She'd gone to school with Aidan Kirkland for years and they had never liked each other. He was a spoiled prick who didn't care about anyone but himself. Leaving Mary in the care of Martha, she headed out into the "front office", a dingy spot with a desk in the corner that was hardly ever cleaned. Aidan Kirkland was dreamy, and that made him even more irritating. Although at the moment his hair was slicked back from his face, which didn't look very good. It was usually kinda long and shaggy, as if he just didn't think about cutting it for months at a time. His jaw line was a bit strong for the elegant lines of his nose and cheekbones, but it gave his face character. Too bad the rest of him doesn't have any character, Leda thought, stopping in front of him. He's like a snake. A snake with the most brilliant green eyes she'd ever seen. "You wanted a tour?" Leda said shortly, scowling at him. "Not that this place is big enough to warrant one," Aidan responded, yawning. "All right, lead the way." "Mr. Kirkland," Leda said quietly. "If you'd rather not see the place, than I'd rather not show you." "Watch how you speak to me!" Aidan snapped, glaring at her. "What's your name?" "Leda Harper," Leda replied. "We went to school together. Don't you remember?" She watched the expression on his face flicker, his eyes widening slightly. It was gone just as quickly, though, and his smooth business face was back. So he does remember, Leda thought, biting back a grin. I bet he remembers the time I kneed him in the balls quite well. Her first year of high school (she'd been a couple years behind him) she'd had to deal with freshman hazing. Until Aidan had pinned her to a locker, trying to get her to eat a raw egg, and she'd nailed him in the nuts. "Vaguely," Aidan said, looking irritated. "Are you going to show us around or not?" "Follow me," Leda muttered, turning on her heels and heading into the crafts room. ***** Leda Harper. Oh yes, Aidan remembered her very well indeed. Well, he remembered how she had been, at least. She'd had glasses and braces, muddy brown hair, and had been rather pudgy. Something had to have changed in all the years since he'd last seen her. The glasses and braces were gone. Her hair was now a long, silken sheet of golden brown. And she was trim and slender, as though she'd grown out of her baby fat just a little later than everyone else. Damn bitch, Aidan thought, following her into a cramped room full of messy tables. I never did get her back for that day. His body still ached, thinking about it. At first he'd had fun teasing her. He'd actually gotten the hare-brained notion, for a short time at least, that she was cute. And now that she was beautiful, Aidan hated her even more. He felt rather sulky as he followed her through the building and into the lot in the back. "Pretty pathetic," Aidan commented, staring at the weedy, dusty yard. "Not worth letting stand." "Children live here, Mr. Kirkland," Leda said through gritted teeth. "This is their home." "Then they'll have to find another one, won't they?" Aidan said, smiling viciously. Leda took a deep breath, as though calming herself down. "Mr. Kirkland, please. The hospice is all these children have..." She really did have pretty eyes. Soft, pale blue in color, lined in thick lashes that gave her the look of someone who spent too much time day-dreaming. So what? Aidan thought, giving himself a mental shake. In a couple short weeks I'll never have to see her or these brats again. He turned slightly, beckoning for the contractor who had been following them. Johnston (that was his last name and all he was ever called by) was a different contractor from their usual, who hadn't approved of this plan. Aidan didn't much like Johnston, actually. He was slimy, beyond the greed seen in a lot of big business men. There was just something about him that didn't feel right, but it was his father's choice who was hired, not his. "What do you think?" Aidan asked. Johnston leered at Leda as he answered. "Ground here isn't too bad. If it warms up a bit, we could get started by the end of February." "Good," Aidan said. He looked at Leda. "Make sure this place is cleared out by the fourteenth." "But...but that's Valentine's Day!" Leda protested, taking a step forward. "We have a party planned for the children, you can't just-" "Yes I can," Aidan interrupted, glaring at her. "And there's absolutely nothing you can do about it." Leda stared at him for a long minute. Her nose was turning slightly red, as if she was fighting not to cry. Then she turned and hustled back into the building, pushing past the rest of the men who'd come out to join them. Many of his father's business partners had sent their sons to attend to this matter. Aidan gave them a smile and a shrug, and they all laughed. "Take a look around, gentlemen," Aidan said, opening his arms and turning to face the empty lot. "Before you know it, this pathetic scrap of nothing will be a bustling center of economic activity!" They all laughed again. Nothing to worry about, Aidan thought, smiling to himself. This is one business venture that will go over without a hitch. Some little bitch from school wasn't going to stop him from achieving his goals. Not even someone as beautiful as Leda Harper. ***** Leda paced the upper floor of the hospice, in the one room that wasn't currently in use. The children grew plants in here...mostly marigolds and aloe, which didn't need much tending. There were many days when they couldn't get out of bed, but they wanted to care for their plants themselves. Leda could hear the voices of Aidan and the other business men through the open window. They were right below her, talking about the plans for the parking garage. A parking garage! she thought, clenching her hands into fists. How can they do this!? They hadn't even glanced at the children as they walked through the building. Leda couldn't believe that anyone could be so callous and cruel. Sighing, she sank down to the floor beneath the window, trying to tune out their voices. How long are they going to stand out there? she wondered, running her fingers through her hair. "Leda?" She glanced up. Mary was standing in the doorway, clutching a ragged doll and dragging a sewing kit. Ah, time for the annual patching of Suzie, Leda thought, smiling to herself. I forgot it was that time again. Suzie was the doll she'd made for Mary originally, when she'd come to the hospice three years ago. Mary had taken the doll everywhere, until it began to fall apart. Now Leda had to sew up some part or other once a month. She'd offer to make a new doll, but Mary refused. "Suzie has a boo-boo," Mary pouted. "Come here, sweetie," Leda said, opening her arms. "I'll make it all better." Mary came over and sat down on the floor next to Leda, handing the doll over. This time the doll's head was close to falling off. Although it had been re-stitched once, nearly a year ago, the stitches had finally fallen out. She acts so young, Leda thought, watching Mary stick her thumb in her mouth. Or maybe it's just because each one handles it so differently. Some of them were wise beyond their years and others were hyper and silly. "Those men were talkin'." Mary mumbled around her thumb. Leda only understood her because she was used to it. She threaded a needle, then glanced down at Mary. "It's not polite to eavesdrop, Mary." "You did it," Mary pointed out. "Ouch," Leda laughed. "Okay, smarty pants, you caught me. What were they talking about?" "Are they really takin' our home away, Leda?" Mary asked. Leda sighed. If Mary had realized this, then the other children had too. She would have to go downstairs when she was finished sewing up Suzie and talk with them. They were smart children, too perceptive for their own good. Tuning out the voices of the men below the window, Leda concentrated on sewing up Suzie. She loved to sew, and aside from dolls, she made a lot of clothes for the children. "There you go," Leda said, handing the doll back to Mary ten minutes later. "She's all better." "Thanks, Leda!" Mary exclaimed, hugging the doll tightly. "No problem, sweetheart," Leda said, standing up and helping Mary to her feet. "Go on downstairs. I'll be there in a minute." As Mary headed downstairs, Leda turned back to the window. She could still hear the voices coming up from below. Resting her hands on the sill, she studied the heavy terra-cotta plant pot sitting there. Taking a peek out of the window, she could see Aidan Kirkland below her, talking animatedly to the other men. He didn't look up. I'd like to drop this on his head, Leda thought, biting her lip. If he was dead he couldn't take the hospice away from us. It was a horrible thought, and so unlike her. Even when it came to a snake like Aidan, she felt guilty for a thought like that. There must be a way I can convince him to drop this project, Leda thought, frowning. Or maybe I can find a better place than here to build it. Except she had no idea where. She knew nothing about the kind of land needed to build a mall on, or if there were any places big enough available. "Leda?" She jumped, startled out of her thoughts by Martha calling for her. Leda's elbow knocked against the pot on the window sill, sending it off balance. Her eyes widened as the pot tipped over the edge of the sill and fell. There was a loud crash below and a lot of shouting. Leda squeezed her eyes shut, afraid to look and see what had happened. She heard Martha's footsteps as the woman raced down the stairs and outside. It took long minutes before she could make herself move and go downstairs. By that time an ambulance had already been called. Leda stood, frozen, as an EMT checked Aidan's pulse. Oh no, she thought, feeling her stomach sink. I...I didn't mean to... "He's just out cold," the EMT said, standing up. "But we'll take him to the hospital and have them run some tests." "What the hell happened?" one of the businessmen asked. "Something fell on him!" "Um..." Leda cleared her throat. "I um...It was an accident. Martha startled me and...and I knocked it over...I'm really, really s-sorry..." All eyes turned to her. She could feel her heart pounding hard against her ribs. What if they don't believe me? Leda wondered, biting her lip. They certainly don't look like they believe me... Martha stepped up to her and put an arm around her shoulders. "I saw the whole thing," Martha said. "Sirs...Leda would never do something like this on purpose. She was distracted and when I called her name, she accidentally knocked the pot over." "And coincidentally hit him directly on the head?" the man demanded. "Sure." Leda winced. "I swear, I didn't mean to knock it over! I really didn't!" "Calm down, miss," the EMT, who was working with another to slide Aidan onto a stretcher, soothed. "There's no proof of anything but that it fell on him. I suggest you wait here. We'll have someone call when we know how he is...okay?" "Thank you," Leda said, feeling relieved. At least they weren't treating her like a criminal. It was true that no one but Martha had seen her, after all. Still, she was pretty sure she'd end up in trouble anyway. Earl Kirkland wasn't going to take this sitting down. I am going to be in so much trouble, Leda thought, watching as the ambulance drove away. Ah...I shouldn't be hoping this will keep him from coming back here! But she was. Maybe Earl Kirkland would decide it was better to just stay away. Fat chance, she thought, sighing. He'll just want to take this place even more. Martha helped her back into the hospice and into the kitchen. All the children were in the crafts room at the moment. Leda sank down onto a stool that was generally used while peeling potatoes or carrots. She felt completely numb. Looking up at Martha, she realized that the older woman was smiling. "I know I shouldn't find it funny," Martha said quietly. "But that slimy prick deserved it."
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