Between waking up to the early arrival of the moving truck. Dancing while making breakfast with what they could manage with the stove not working. Helping her mother pushing unneeded furniture into a different room while they set up their bedrooms more thoroughly Nia truly forgot about the mouse and the raised surface.

  They were outside. Carrying in the last bits and bobs when once again Mr. Beodulf was spotted making his way down the driveway. Once again he was dressed in outfits she’d only seen in fairs, and two boys followed behind him.

  Mom swore softly under her breath as she fixed her pony tail and looked the man over.

  Nia glanced at her then back at the boys who came more into view. They both had dark, dark hair and warm brown eyes. The man and the boys looked eerily like one another.

  “What do I owe the pleasure Mr. Beodulf?” Her mother asked.

  “Darius please.” He produced a packet of papers. “My brother handles the care of the gardens I handle the logistics of the process. If we can discuss?” He offered in a pleasant tone. Nia glanced at the walking stick that looked normal right then. Nia glanced at her mother who looked honestly like she’d rather refuse but sighed.

  “Nia, love could you and the boys try making friends with one another while I speak with Mr. Beodulf?” She requested. Nia beamed and nodded leading the boys out of the way of parental discussions. She was excited to have time to explore and company to do so.

  “I’m Nia.” She offered spinning back toward them when they were enough away. Crossing her arms offering a hand to both of them. Awkwardly they took the gesture and watched her as if she’d eat them.

  “I’m Tarren.” The older one offered.

  “And I’m Farris.” The younger one mirrored. Nia beamed.

  “Well, what shall we play?” She asked excitedly. Tarren twitched then frowned.

  “I don’t know.” He offered before falling into silence. Farris whose gaze had been casted down glanced back and forth between Tarren and Nia. Nia found their response a little weird but shrugged it off laughing.

  “Well what do you usually play?” She asked them. Farris nearly jumped with how fast his head flew up.

  “We can’t do that here.” He insisted and Tarren elbowed him seamlessly. Nia look between them, rolled her eyes launching forward and shoving a hand at Farris’s chest.

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  “Tag your it.” She called turning on her heals and taking off.

  “Nia. Tarren called after but she was not the type to let herself get caught right away. After a bit of running she slowed glancing back seeing the boys nowhere in sight. Nia stuck her tongue out at the distance, guessing they really didn’t want to play. Nia looked around the gardens felt so much bigger then she’d thought they would be and she wasn’t even sure they could really be called gardens when most of it seemed wooded. Every so often a clearing popping up.

  It baffled Nia why anyone would ever sell this place or how it could have ever ended up at auction. Nia thought that if they ever stayed anywhere it might be fun to explore every facet of this place. Nia turned the house was still easily seen from where she stood. Or at least the top of it.

  Nia blinked and squinted her eyes at what looked like a person walking past what, she was almost positive, was the attic space.

  Did her mother find a way in!? Nia skipped forward back toward the house. Stopping only a few times to pick up a couple plant clusters or rocks to examine later.

  Nia had kind of thought that she would find her mother alone. That the boys who hadn’t seemed to want to play with her and the man with the funny walking stick would have finished their business. Instead she found the two boys dragging her mother and Mr. Beodulf to the edge of the woods looking frantic.

  “She just took off into the gardens.” Tarren stated.

  “We tried to stop her.” Farris insisted. Mr. Beodulf’s lips were drawing in a thin line, while Mom’s brows were raised in toward the boys.

  “No, I tagged them and they didn’t seem to want to play.” Nia called approaching the three identical heads flipping in her direction. “And what’s wrong with exploring my own back yard?” Nia asked stepping next to her mother and glaring at the two boys.

  “As I said” Mr. Beodulf stepped in. “My brother handles the care of the gardens but the previous owner was a bit of eccentric, so we aren’t quite sure all that is in the garden and I’ve warned my sons against going too deep into them knowing that anything can be out there.” He explained.

  Mom, hummed looking over the three patiently, her chin tilted in consideration. Then she nodded and turned toward Nia.

  “Nia when playing in the garden I would like you to take the walkie-talkie with you.” She requested. Nia nodded.

  “Alright.” Nia agreed bouncing her shoulders. Neither the man nor his eerily similar sons looked pleased with that agreement. Nia though knew when they were at home her mother held her own law above any judger’s.

  “I am sure Mr. Beodulf that, that is all you needed to cover today.” Her mother offered her tone pulled at the line of pleasant and annoyed.

  “Again, your boys are welcome any time if that is alright with you Nia.” Her mother asked her. Nia glanced at them. “If they want.” Nia offered with a shrugged. Her mother nodded.

  “Have a very nice evening Mr. Beodulf.” Mom insisted before he could finish the interjection he’d started. He frowned for only a moment before smiling and nodding.

  “Until next time Keina.” He offered back. Mom, took her shoulders and led her to the house and inside and when the door shut her mother sighed loudly.

  “Are you okay, Mom?” Nia asked her. Her mother chuckled and motioned to a stack of papers.

  “It seems just the garden has a mountain of paperwork that I am going to have to look into because no one mentioned the agreement with the gardens was so in depth.” Her mother breathed shaking her hands at the papers before rolling her eyes and ducking down kissing Nia’s cheek. “And how a man can look so interesting but speak so blandly.” She added shaking her head rolling her eyes and twirling Nia, who couldn’t help but let out a laugh. “Now that the interruption is over what were we on Baby Bear?” She asked.