Chapter Text
When the grooms have left for another star and most of the wedding guests have gone home, a window opens onto the garden. No one sees it, but it is there, just the same. On both sides, it is nighttime. On the garden side, there are stars. Four dead souls pause to admire them, faces lifted to bathe in their remembered light.
“Wondrous,” says Eve.
Deirdre Young says, “Yes. They are.”
“We better get on,” says Peter. “Jesus said the Books are in the basement safe.”
They file in quietly, but there is no need. Adam, Arthur, and Muriel are the only ones left, and they are fast asleep. They are sprawled across an assortment of couches and chairs, some brought in by the home’s new owners, others left behind by the former ones. Dog stirs and opens his eyes, then lays his shaggy head back down, to dream of cats and Adam.
Deirdre falters next to Arthur’s chair. Mrs. Sandwich smiles at her in sympathy and says, “You stay here, love. We can handle one little Book.”
Deirdre shakes her head. “No.” She tears her eyes away from her husband and son and follows the others down the basement stairs.
Peter pulls a scrap of paper from the pocket of his jeans and glances at the combination written on it. “I’ve never opened one of these before.” He hands it to Mrs. Sandwich.
She opens the safe and pulls out the Book of Life. “We should leave them a note.”
Deirdre finds a notepad and pencil in a dusty file cabinet. She hands them to Mrs. Sandwich, who taps the pencil against her chin for a moment and starts to write. When she has finished, she puts the note in the safe with the Book of Love. This is what it says:
Dear Mr. Fell and Anthony,
Congratulations on your lovely wedding! We saw the whole thing. You both looked very handsome in your suits. Mr. Fell, that shade of light grey compliments your eyes. You should wear it more often!
Don’t be upset, dears, but we’ve taken back the Book of Life. It’s nothing against you. You’ve done a wonderful job protecting it, but it belongs with us. You can keep the Book of Love. Jesus locked the way behind him; there’s no danger of anyone falling in or getting lost again. Of course, this means you won’t be able to visit, which is a shame, because I would have liked a nice chat now and then. But it’s for the best. Our stories are still there, and yours. Read them once in a while, and don’t forget us.
Take good care of yourselves and each other. Thank you for everything you did for the world, and everything you will do.
Love,
Mrs. Sandwich
PS – Eve says she is so happy for you both, and to tell you thanks for the sword and the apple.
When the safe is closed and locked again, they return to the window. Deirdre is first to go back Home, with Mrs. Sandwich close behind. But Eve lingers in the garden.
“Coming?” Peter asks from the window frame.
“Soon,” Eve says.
Peter leaves the window open and disappears to the other side.
Eve remains a while longer, entranced by the light of one bright star, low on the horizon. The garden has an apple tree, and the fruit is just turning from green to crimson. If she had it to do all over again, she might have chosen differently. If she knew then all the sorrow and pain they would find outside Eden, she might have never left. But then, she never would have known the love that came with it.
The star twinkles down at her; the Earth feels warm and solid beneath her feet.
Before she follows the others Home, Eve says, “I forgive you.”