Dust of Eden by Thomas Sullivan

took in his father. "We have no family left," Denny said. "We aren't fussy, and we aren't demanding, and we're very solitary. I've tried all the home-based programs, and now I need help."
    "Be that as it may, the residents here have no connections to the outside world. None. They are here for life. They never leave. No shopping mall trips, no churches, no outside medical management. I'm the only one who goes into town."
    He thought. "I don't see a problem with that."
    "And they have no visitors."
    "I'd be the only visitor my father had."
    "That would be a problem."
    "Why?"
    "It might interfere. It might make the other residents resentful."
    "But you said they had no families. Are you saying no one is allowed to come here?"
    "You came here," she pointed out. "I'm just saying we do better without disturbances."
    "I would want to see my father as often as possible—maybe every day—but I wouldn't disturb anyone. I don't see what the problem is. If you're a licensed home, you know you can't prevent access."
    "It's not a rule, it's a policy. We might make an exception for your visits, but you did understand when I said the residents are here for life? I won't accept anyone who doesn't agree to that."
    If there was a problem he would get his father out one way or another, he was thinking. And he wouldn't sign anything that said otherwise.
    To his amazement, he didn't have to sign anything. No application, no medical disclaimers, no agreement of any kind. God help this woman if anyone ever took her to court. He wondered what her books looked like. In the end, Ariel Leppa and the house manager, Molly Armitage , took him on a brief tour that didn't change anyone's mind. And then—looking somewhat astounded, he thought—they accepted his thirty-five-hundred-dollar check for a month in advance. In less than an hour from when he had first seen their sign he was back in his car, heading home as if the surreal visit to New Eden had never happened. On the radio, the Eagles' "Hotel California" was playing, recounting a residency where checking out but never leaving was not a contradiction.

NEW EDEN
    Â 
    2001

Chapter 1
    Â 
    "W hy don't you ever call me by my name anymore, Molly?"
    "I – I didn't realize—"
    "I don't want you to be afraid of me. Say it, please, my name."
    "Ariel."
    "That's better. We were friends. That's why I brought you back."
    Molly was red-faced, chattering the way she always did when she was nervous.   Ariel was implacably calm, regally motionless.
    "I could have been a better friend. I know that, Ariel. Believe me, I know that."
    "That's true. But we're better friends now, aren't we? We're all genuine friends here.”
    â€œDefinitely.”
    â€œSo why is everyone afraid of me?"
    "Everyone knows we treated you badly, Ariel. They feel awkward, that's all."
    "Awkward? Not sorry, not guilty—awkward?"
    "Of course they’re sorry. And . . . okay, feeling a little guilty about it, if you want to use that word."
    "I want to know all the words you use. I want to know everyone’s feelings.   Does anyone talk about me? What do they say?"
    "It's not like before, Ariel. No one says anything against you.”
    â€œAgainst me?” She said it as if it never occurred to her that she could be criticized or made fun of now. “Does anyone say anything good about me? I need to know, Molly. Just be honest. If you're honest, there is nothing to be afraid of.”
    â€œI’m trying. Everyone is soul-searching. We know what we were before. The petty jealousies, the pecking order."
    "And there's no pecking order now?"
    "Of course not."
    "No . . . jealousies?"
    "No, Ariel."
    "But I painted Dana younger than you. And I brought you back younger than everyone else."
    "Yes, yes, thank you, Ariel.   I haven't noticed any resentment to speak of. Maybe from Ruta , but that's . . . just Ruta ."
    Ariel uttered a single syllable that might have been a laugh. "That's why I kept her