Back to the Garden Read Free

closer, every age, size, shape and color merging as they went through the double doors. Libby felt her mother’s hand tighten in hers, noticing how warm and damp it was.
    “Are you ok?” Ed leaned past Libby’s head and whispered into her mother’s ear.
    Kim glanced at him, her eyes a little wide. “I think so. How many people live here?”
    “One thousand, five hundred and twenty-nine,” Libby rattled off. She did most of her father’s paperwork.
    “They won’t all be here today.” Ed laughed, seeing Kim’s face go pale, the freckles across her nose, just like Libby’s, suddenly appearing more prominent.
    “That’s—a lot of people.” Kim’s gaze moved over the couple standing next to them, two young men holding hands.
    Ed just smiled at her when she stared up at him in confusion. “We’re all equal in God’s eyes.”
    “That’s the best part,” Libby explained as they got to the doors. “You can be who you really are.”
    “Is that really a good idea?” her mother murmured.
    The pews were already mostly full, but Libby led her mother to the front row where there was always a section reserved for the preacher’s family and friends. She felt her mother’s eyes moving over the sea of flesh and, when they were seated, Libby turned to her.
    “You get used to it,” Libby whispered, smiling behind her at Mrs. McCallister, who came completely naked like everyone else, but still insisted on wearing her hats. This one was pink with two peacock feathers in the side.
    “Libby, this is so crazy,” her mother whispered back, shaking her head as she crossed her arms over her bare breasts. “Naked in church?”
    “This is how God made us,” Libby countered. “Daddy always says we can each choose to stay in The Garden of Eden. That’s why he named our community that.”
    “I know.” Kim frowned, her eyes moving over her daughter’s face. “I just...I think it’s kind of a delusion to think you can go back to the garden...”
    “You’re already here.” Libby smiled, touching her mother’s arm. “This is The Garden of Eden. ”
    Their conversation was interrupted when Ed stepped up to the podium in front, and Libby saw her mother’s jaw drop when their choir began to file in, standing on the risers in their birthday suits and facing the largest congregation of Christian nudist community members in the country. Kim hid her face behind her hand for most of the service.
    —
    “Where is she?” Libby asked as she came into the kitchen and saw her father sitting alone at the table with coffee and the paper.
    “Out.” He shrugged, watching her pour a bowl of cereal. “Are you ready for tomorrow night?”
    Now it was Libby’s turn to shrug. “Do I have to be?”
    “Kind of hard for the preacher’s daughter to skip it, babe.” He smiled. “One night a year to get dressed up and go dancing. Doesn’t it sound like fun?”
    “Like going to the dentist.” She gave him a grim smile, pouring milk in her cereal.
    He laughed. “Come on, Lib. It isn’t that bad.”
    She curled up in the chair next to him, milk dribbling down her chin as she chewed. He was watching her and she sighed. “Do you want to hear something incredibly stupid?”
    He raised his eyebrows, waiting.
    “I don’t have anything to wear.” She bit her lip, seeing his smile, and shook her head. “Don’t you dare laugh.”
    His face worked and he cleared his throat. “I’m not laughing.”
    “You were thinking about it.” She took another bite of cereal. “Sara’s had a dress for this stupid dance for a month. I kept meaning to get one...but then she said she was coming...”
    Her father sighed, sipping his coffee and watching her. Libby continued to spoon her cereal in, chewing thoughtfully in the silence.
    “I have an idea.” Ed put his cup down on the table and stood, holding his hand out to her. “Come on.”
    She followed him into his room and sat on the bed while he opened his night table drawer. Curious, she