Mrs. Scott was just as beautiful as she was petite. She was truly a delicate woman, but as soon as I looked at her, the vibrance in her eyes told of extreme energy.

"Elijah!" I watched as the stunning brunette practically ran out of her house, her voice rising and falling musically, and the underlying accent very prominent. She rushed down the steps of the porch that connected to the small but cozy-looking home, a wide smile birthing itself on her face. "I am so glad that you are finally here."

Elijah's mom lived on the outskirts of Palm Springs, and I had decided as soon as we had arrived that I wanted to live there.

The area was surrounded by beautiful lush greenery, and the ambiance was extremely tranquil. Her house only added to the beauty, as it was a mere one story, but the wrap-around porch and white fence, tying the scenery together and giving everything an old-school sort of feel.

"I am too Mom. I have missed you," Elijah said, wrapping his arms around her. My heart filled at the sight and I couldn't help but smile as I watched them embrace. She pulled back, patting his cheek lovingly.

"And you must be Rowan."

I smiled, waving awkwardly when she turned towards me, but it fell slightly as soon as her eyes landed on me. Shock radiated across her features, and she paused. I glanced at Elijah, who looked as confused as I felt, before looking back at his mom, who was still looking at me as she had seen a ghost.

"Mom?" Elijah questioned, and she blinked, with a slight shake of her head.

"Sorry, I am being so rude. You just remind me of someone familiar. Are you related to Tinley Larkin, by any chance?" Surprise ran through me and I nodded my head as an expression I couldn't quite place formed in her eye. I glanced at Elijah, who still looked as confused as I felt, before turning back to her.

"Yes, I am her daughter." The way that she froze didn't go unnoticed by me and I clasped my hands together about to ask if they knew each other, when she spoke.

"I knew your mother. We used to work in the NICU together before she went back to school to become a full Obstetrician." She glanced at Elijah slowly, before looking back at me. "How is she doing?"

I fiddled with my hands, not necessarily uncomfortable, just a little perplexed with how small the world really was. Plus Elijah had never mentioned that his mom had worked in the maternity ward.

"She is doing well. She got a new job at a birthing center recently, so she has been busy with that."

Elijah's mom nodded, a smile on her face that was almost sad in a way, and causing my curiosity to only heighten.

"Tinley was always a do-gooder with an optimistic outlook on life. She used to have this saying about stars and legacies. I can't remember how it went now but I used to tell it to Elijah." She cut a look to him and I held my breath, realization dawning. That was how Elijah had known it. "It always made me realize how much she believed everything happened for a reason, from the birth of a child to a new star being spotted in the sky."

I swallowed, my throat unusually tight as I nodded.

"Well, please tell her I said hi, when you see her, again," she said, before motioning us toward's the door. "Please do come in. It is way too hot to be standing out in this weather."

Elijah followed behind her, and I did the same.

"How was the drive down here?" I heard her ask from somewhere inside the house.

I admired the beautiful decor that accented the place, hues of blues, and greys making the place feel placid and serene. I held in a gasp of mesmerization when we entered what I believed was to be the living room but looked more like a botanical garden. Fluorescent green embellished the place, as plants and flowers hung from almost every corner. I had never seen anything as beautiful as it was.

"My mom has a little bit of a green thumb."

I looked at Elijah, grinning as I walked over to two Bonzai trees, that sat on one of the windowsills. They were both intricately shaped, and I could tell that they were well taken care of.

"It looks like she has more than just a little bit of a green thumb," I said, admiring the specialized design of the small plants, before looking back at Mrs. Scott. "This is all truly beautiful Ma'am."

She smiled, the corners of her eyes crinkling a bit. "Oh please call me Miriam honey, and thank you." She walked over to where I was, taking a blue spray bottle off the shelf and spraying both the tiny trees. "It took me a while, but this room reminds me that good things can come from the darkest moments. Elijah helped me to plant every single one of these plants when he was twelve. They haven't died sense."

She snuck a glance at Elijah, who froze, before smiling softly at his mom. She smiled at him, a far-off look crossing her features before she shook her head. "All right, would you guys like some pie? I made a pecan and an apple one." She looked at me eagerly, and I nodded my head.

"I would love some."

If possible her smile grew even wider, and she rushed in the direction of where I was assuming the kitchen was.

"Great. I made lasagna for dinner, but I am sorry to say that it should be another twenty-five minutes before it is ready," she added from over her shoulder, and I reassured her that I didn't mind the wait. I made a move to follow her into the kitchen, figuring that I could help with the pie, but she shooed me away. "Oh, please you don't have to help, Love. You are a guest. Please make yourself at home."

With that, she rushed off not leaving me a chance to protest. I had expected her to be calm and laid back like Elijah, but she was bursting with energy. I loved it.

"Sorry, I am not sure what is going on. She isn't usually this frazzled."

I looked at Elijah, blinking when I realized that he was talking to me, walking over and wrapping my arms around his waist. I propped my head upon his chest, looking into the eyes that I loved so much more. Now I knew that he had gotten them from his mom. She was striking and it was easy to see the relation between the two.

"I think she is wonderful."

"Really?" He asked, eyeing me doubtfully. "She is acting a little strangely."

"Hmm. How so?" I asked. He kissed my forehead, brushing his hand over the top of my head.

"I don't really know. She just seems off, but maybe she is just excited to meet you. I told you she would be."

"I mean who wouldn't be excited to meet me?" I laughed. Elijah smiled, leaning down so that his mouth hovered over mine by barely half an inch.

"I don't know, baby. I don't know." I titled my head further up, our mouths just about to connect when a voice sounded from beside us.

"I have the pie," Mrs. Scott said from her stance at the entry to the living room.

I leaped back surprised, as I tried to act like she hadn't just caught me canoodling with her son. I heard a chuckle come from beside me and looked over to see Elijah laughing softly. He moved to me, wrapping an arm around my shoulder.

"Oh, don't be embarrassed, Rowan. It must be hard for Elijah not to want to kiss a girl like you at all hours of the day. You are exquisite, dear."

My face burned, but I decided that I loved her.

Miriam, walked further into the living room, a wide smile on her face. Elijah groaned underneath his breath, and I held in a laugh. I watched as Mrs. Scott placed the plates of pie on the table, before sitting down on the couch. Elijah and I joined her, and I practically sang as soon as I took a bite of pie.

"This is delicious Mrs. Scott."

She held up her hand. "Oh no, remember, please call me Miriam. I hate anything formal, it makes me feel like I am getting old." She took a sip of her water before speaking again. "And thank you. If you think this is good, you should have Elijah cook for you."

"I have cooked for her."

Miriam paused, her eyes widening as she looked at Elijah, who seemed uncomfortable all of a sudden.

An awestruck expression coated her features, as I put the pieces together that Elijah must not cook for a lot of people. I glanced at him surprised, and he just smiled softly.

"I am glad that you are finally doing what you love again," Miriam finally said after a while, with an elated countenance.

"Me too mom."

A serene and soft silence fell upon the room, and Elijah grabbed my hand, kissing the back of it. I leaned into his side, when he wrapped his arm around me, looked back at Miriam, who looked as if she was about to cry.

"Sorry," she said again. "I just didn't think I would see Elijah this happy again." My own chest tightened as the words left her mouth. "I am so glad to see that he has found someone who has him acting like himself again."

I cleared my own throat, trying to prevent my eyes from becoming misty.

"He makes me very happy too," I said meaning every word. "Before I met him my life was a complete mess, but he grounded me." I looked at Elijah, who was looking down at me, his eyes as radiant as ever.

"I am so happy that you guys have found each other. I guess some may see it as a coincidence, but I have always believed in fate," Miriam added, causing me to look away from Elijah as he stilled.

"What do you mean by coincidence?" He asked. Miriam's eyes flitted to me, and then back to him as she cleared her throat, placing the cup of tea that was in her hand down.

"Oh dear," she muttered to herself, before smoothing her hands down the front of her pants. She closed her eyes, before looking at us again. "Never mind that, I am just talking out of excitement. It is just really good to meet you, Rowan."

"I am glad to meet you too," I said, not missing however the way she had deflected the question.

Unease rose within me, and I couldn't help but feel as if something was off. She seemed like a genuinely sweet and loving person, but the whole interaction had been quite odd so far. Just then a timer sounded through the house, and Miriam leaped off the couch, laughing nervously.

"That must be the lasagna, excuse me as I take it out of the oven." I watched as she practically ran out of the room, only glancing back at us once, before disappearing from the kitchen.

I faced Elijah who was looking at the doorway his mom had disappeared through with a perplexed expression on his face.

"Do you mind if I use the bathroom?" I asked, causing him to startle slightly, before looking at me.

"Of course."

He stood up, grabbing my hand, and led me to a bathroom. It was just as beautifully embellished with emblems of nature as the living room. When I shut the door, I let out a deep breath, wringing my hands together, as I tried to figure out what I could have done to make her feel so uncomfortable. Elijah had said that she was acting strangely, and it must have been because of me. I just didn't know why.

Giving up, I did my business, washing my hands before I stepped out. Elijah was no longer in the living room when I reentered, so I made my way into the kitchen, figuring that he was in there. As soon as I stepped in, I knew that I had walked interrupted something important. His face was pale, and his mom looked as if she was on the verge of tears.

Something was very wrong.