Page 16 of Calling Quarters

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Blaire had convinced me to help her with the pharmacy's booth. Most people walked past us without a second glance, ignoring the free samples of elderberry syrup we offered and the small emergency stand with various first-aid materials in case anyone got hurt.

I spent the first hour of the festival meandering around aimlessly by myself, stopping at a few booths that caught my attention. The clothing boutique had a mini shop set up under their tent and I couldn't help myself from looking around at the unique, colorful styles. I chatted with the woman who was running it for a bit.

Based on the rainbow tunic and headband she was wearing, I assumed she was the owner. As with everyone in Beacon Grove, she'd known who I was the moment I entered her tent and excitedly introduced herself as Hazel.

“Your mother was one of my closest friends,” she explained as she rang me up for the purse I couldn't seem to walk away from.

She grabbed a few handfuls of things from the displays around her and shoved them into the bag with a wink.

“I'd love to hear more about her.”

“Of course! We'll grab a coffee sometime. Oh, I have so many crazy stories I could tell you, though I probably shouldn't.”

When I was finally able to get away, the small purse I'd picked had been completely filled with different colored crystals I had no idea how to use and accessories I'd never usually wear. We parted with the promise of getting together in the next week and I couldn't help but feel a little closer to my mother after hearing such kind words about her.

The next booth that caught my attention was set back from the others at the end of the row. Tapestries with different zodiac signs and spiritual symbols blocked all four sides off, with one small opening in the front. An ancient-looking woman stood in the gap, her eyes directed toward the sky, far away in thought. As I passed by, she grabbed onto my shoulder and pulled me back to her.

“It's you,” she breathed next to my ear. Her fingers tightened their grip on me, holding me firmly in place as I struggled to get her off me.

She was at least six inches shorter than I was and much older, but her grip was surprisingly strong. From this close, I could see her eyes were covered in a cloudy white film. While they peered directly into mine, I assumed she couldn't actually see anything through it. She must have had me mixed up with someone else.

“Storie Graves, you've been given an enormous task from the fates. We're all relying on you. You must not avoid it any longer,” her raspy voice whispered.

Someone ripped us apart from behind and shoved me into the main walkway, nearly sending me tumbling into a group of people passing by. I caught my balance and turned to find Tabitha face-to-face with the woman, their noses practically touching. They appeared to be in a heated argument, though both were speaking extremely low. Tabitha was the first to step away and when she did, her eyes found me. She looked pissed.

I was irritated that she'd practically thrown me to the ground, but that couldn't compete with the fear that ignited in my chest as her thick legs quickly carried her over to where I stood and she grabbed me by the wrist, leading me in the opposite direction.

“What did she say to you?” her stern voice demanded.

“N-nothing that made any sense. You're hurting me,” I whined, and then tugged my arm out of her grip. I rubbed the sore spot, noting the red fingerprints that were sure to leave a mark later.

“She's just an old woman spouting out nonsense. She's got nothing better to do with her time.”

I nodded my response—biting back my own retort aboutherbeing an old woman with nothing better to do—and she jutted her chin out defiantly, her eyes falling to the aching spot on my wrist. When she was satisfied with whatever she saw, she turned her back to me and her plump body limped away.

“That woman is something else.” Julia approached me from behind. Her mouthtsked dramatically, and then she smiled.

“Yeah.”

“A few of us are going to grab some dinner if you want to join.”

Her thumb hooked behind her at a group of people who circled around one another in the open field. They were all looking our way, each one more fashionably dressed than the last. My black jeans and t-shirt felt severely casual compared to their getups, and the same insecurities I'd always fought in high school came creeping up in my mind.

“No, thank you. Maybe another time.”

I didn't think I could handle being blindsided any more tonight, and I was sure Julia and her friends had something else planned besides dinner. I could see the mischievous gleam in their eyes. It was the same one I wore when Aunt Ash became a helicopter parent and all I wanted to do was get away from her.

Julia didn't bother hiding her disappointment but didn't try to push. “Okay, I'm going to hold you to that,” she promised, then left to join her group.

I made my way back to the pharmacy tent and was relieved to find Blaire sitting alone. It didn't take much convincing on her end to get me to stay.

Blaire's mother finally came to check on us around eight. It was hard to believe that the stunning woman before me was related to Blaire or Tabitha, and her bubbly personality only added to her allure. She wore a long maxi dress with a psychedelic pattern that she must have bought from Hazel's boutique.

“I'm Callista,” she introduced with a warm smile. “And you must be Storie. Mom and Blaire have told me a lot about you.”

Her auburn hair fell in waves along her back without a single stand out of place. She and Blaire stood at the same height, though her body was long and slender where Blaire's was thicker in some places. Her skin was a shade darker, more closely matching the beautiful tone of her mothers. The only resemblance they truly shared was that odd shade of green eye color that her mother and daughter also possessed.

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