by S. E. Akers
A much-needed change of scenery, I thought as I bumped along our gravel-covered drive.
Traffic was heavier than usual, but I still arrived at my first destination in plenty of time. Unfortunately, there wasn’t a single space along Main Street that wasn’t occupied. After weaving through some of the side streets and playing who-can-get-there-first with a few other cars, I spied a truck pulling out of a spot on McDowell Street and snagged it in the nick of time.
“Rise ’n shine,” I teased as I fastened Katie around my neck.
My barely awake, bosom friend moaned, “Five more minutes.” I conceded and turned the radio on to listen to some holiday tunes, just to appease her sleepy-head.
Before I suffered through another chorus of Blue Christmas, I grabbed the Stowells’ present and gave my door a rousing slam. “Time’s up,” I announced as I scrounged my purse for quarters to put into the parking meter. Luckily, I found four.
“I’m up! I’m up!” Katie screeched.
“Fifteen minutes? That’s all?” I grumbled aloud, noting the arrow had barely moved. Two months ago, four quarters gave you a full hour. I see who’s working on their Christmas Bonuses this year, I criticized as I hurried down the street.
Katie’s mom and dad usually kept Stowell’s Jewelry open until noon on Christmas Eve, but I arrived to find their “closed” sign hanging in the window. It was only 9 o’clock and the lights were still on. I gave the glass door a few hard knocks. Ron Stowell poked his head out from the back room and reappeared jingling his keys within seconds to open the door.
Katie’s dad greeted me with a warm hug. “I’m glad you stopped by before we left, Shiloh. We’ve got something for you,” Ron Stowell said as he reached behind one of their counters. He pulled out a large box wrapped in a holly-printed paper and bound with a burgundy velvet ribbon that had been tied into a single-knotted bow.
“Thank you, Mr. Stowell. I wanted to drop something off to you, too,” I revealed as I held up a festive gift bag.
“That’s mighty thoughtful of you,” Ron Stowell replied as he took the present and placed it on the counter.
“Why are you closing so soon?” I innocently pried.
Ron lowered his head, now practically on the verge of tears. “Julia had such a rough time over Thanksgiving… We both did,” he admitted solemnly. “She thought a trip out of town would do us both some good. A change of scenery.”
I can relate to that.
Katie demanded specifics. “Where are you going? Up north to visit relatives?” I guessed.
“No. That’s the last place Julia wants to be. We’re heading down to Nags Head. We rented a cottage on the beach. The same one we stayed in when…” Ron Stowell got choked up and finally continued, “when Katie was four. That was one of the best vacations we’ve ever had. Only happy memories.”
I, of all people, understood the value of a distraction, but her choice of locations seemed more like the perfect spot if you wanted to curl up in bed for a week long crying-jag.
“Won’t that be hard on her?” I posed skeptically.
“It can’t be any harder than what it already is. Her doctor recommended it,” he stressed. “Someplace that only evoked happy memories. He’s very concerned about her…mentally. I am too,” he added in a grave tone.
“Oh,” I mumbled, shamefaced, and averted my gaze. If it weren’t for me, Katie would still be here and her mom wouldn’t be a grief-stricken wreck. Again, my heart ached from a crushing blow of guilt, which was a direct result of my destiny.
Ron Stowell tapped his hand on the counter. “Let me go tell Julia that you’re here.”
I nodded to Katie’s dad as he headed to the rear of the store. My stomach flipped with worry, not knowing how I was going to look Katie’s mom in the eye.
“Shi,” Katie called out. “Will you give my mom a present from me?”
“What’s that?”
“Take away her grief,” Katie begged in a somber tone.
“What?” I mumbled back.
“I can’t stand the thought of her in so much pain…and I know Dad was talking about a shrink.”
“But, Katie, I can only access thoughts and memories and I’m not touching those! My compulsion has come a long way, but I haven’t tried it on someone that close to me.”
“What about your amethyst? It perks you up. Can’t it do the same to her?” Katie obviously didn’t realize the ramifications of what she was asking — but I sure did!
“Katie, if I use it to absolve her grief, then I would be healing her. If I do that…she won’t remember me.” Katie didn’t say a word. She didn’t have to. The staleness of her gloomy emotions clued me in on her mood. “Katie?” I called out. “Katie?”
“Please, Shi!” Katie burst out tearfully. “I know what it means! Do it for her…and for me!”
“But I won’t be able to bring you around them anymore. You won’t be able to hear their voices. I know you don’t want that. I would be a stranger to her. And then there’s your dad. I’d have to do the same to him.”
“I don’t care!” Katie cried. “It’ll just be for a little while. You’ll find my body before the next full moon. That’s in a couple of weeks. When I’m back, I’ll just reintroduce you. Please, Shi?”
If her heart-wrenching request wasn’t punishing enough, the untimely million-to-one odds of reuniting her soul with her body in that timeframe sent my panic through the roof. What would she do when the next full moon came and went? And then another one? And possibly another? And I certainly didn’t want to get into any specifics about the aftermath of her “return”.
Should I risk ’fessing up about the fire opal? Can she handle it? Will she become so distraught that her soul is bound to remain in a state of hopeless purgatory? No, I determined swiftly. I can’t risk it. She’ll just have to be mad at me.
“I can’t, Katie. Anything but that.”
“Why are you being so SELFISH?” Katie demanded.
“I’m not,” I shot back, offended by her remark. “I’m saying no because of you!”
“Shi…I’m begging you,” Katie pleaded.
“She might not be as bad as your dad says,” I reassured her, and me.
I fought to hold back a gasp when Julia Stowell entered the room. At that moment, I was thankful Katie couldn’t see the pale, willowy version of her mother. She looked like she hadn’t eaten since I’d seen her two weeks ago, and her skin cast a sickly gray-tinged glow. Wiry white stands were sticking out all over her brunette mane that had been tucked back in a “who-gives-a-crap” bun. Her makeup-less face looked like it hadn’t seen a mirror in days, and her body was shrouded in thick layers of clothing that were competing shades of black. I couldn’t even smell her powdery, signature Shalimar perfume. I prepared myself for the worst before I honed in on her thoughts. Random memories of Katie were flashing in her head, followed by several unnerving, morbid images of Julia longing to be lying in a grave beside her departed daughter’s tombstone. A frightening chill wrenched my spine when I saw a clear vision of her walking into the ocean with all of her clothes on. I had to fight back my tears when I realized she genuinely wished and wanted to be just as dead.
Julia reached for my hand, instead of giving me one of her endearing hugs. “Shiloh, it’s nice to see you,” she remarked, trying to put on a smile. I was equally shocked by the next honest thought that raced through her mind. She was lying. The more she stared at Katie’s diamond the more despondent she grew. As soon as her gaze had shifted, I tucked the necklace under my blouse so it was out of her gloomy view.
“I—I stopped by to wish you and Mr. Stowell a Merry Christmas…and to give you this,” I added as I pointed to the festive gift bag, now reeling with regret about what I’d chosen for their present.
“How thoughtful,” Julia responded politely, strictly for the sake of etiquette. “Would you like us to open it now?”
“No,” I blurted fearfully, knowing a collage of pictures featuring Katie would do n
othing to put her fraught mind at ease. “Wait until Christmas morning, please,” I stressed.
“All right then. I’ll go load it in the car,” Katie’s mother replied as she walked lethargically out the door.
“When did she get like this?” I asked Katie’s dad.
“Julia’s been putting on a good show for a while, but the stress has finally caught up with her. The morning after you stopped by to see us, she kind of just snapped.” Katie made a shrill gasp that I swear was loud enough for her dad to hear. Ron continued, “She’s barely eaten anything since her doctor adjusted her meds over a week ago.”
I delved into Ron Stowell’s mind and plucked several memories from the past few weeks out of his head. He wasn’t kidding. Compared to some days, this was actually a good one. Ron was just as distraught as his wife, but he was better at hiding his emotions. If Julia really did plan on a suicidal end, then what would he do? Daughter dies tragically and then his wife kills herself out of despair, leaving him heartbroken and all alone… I’d seen one too many Lifetime movies with this type of tragic end.
Julia reappeared within a few seconds, looking like she had shed a few quick tears during her absence. I fiddled with my amethyst as I turned away to gather my wits. Fretfully, I made my final decision and prayed Katie would forgive me in the end. In one swoop, I lifted the long chain from around my neck and clutched the tumbled purple stone firmly in my right hand.
“I guess I should be going now. I still have a ton of things to do. I hope the two of you have a nice trip,” I said nervously as I spun back around. Knowing this would be the last time I could ever say anything heartfelt to them, which they would truly feel and believe, I announced, “Mrs. Stowell, you’ve been so good to me… I always wished I had mother like you. Katie is such a lucky girl,” I added tearfully. Julia tilted her head strangely. “And Mr. Stowell, I think I’ll miss your bear hugs most of all.”
“Miss them? Are you going somewhere?” Ron Stowell asked, bewildered.
“Yeah,” I admitted woefully. “I’m going away.” Before either of them could utter a word, I threw my arms around them both, my embrace ironclad. The energy I summoned lit up every diamond, in every case of the store. Within a few seconds, the loving parents of my best friend were helplessly under my spell. I focused on all the amethyst’s soothing bliss, and with my diamond’s power to magnify its strength, I whispered what I hoped would ultimately be a life-saving gift.
Julia and Ron…
Keep only love in your heart.
There’s no room for any grief.
Clear your mind of any depressing thoughts
and let nothing but joy illuminate your face.
Immediately, I sensed both of their bleak outlooks beginning to fade. Their wretched emotions were being replaced with an immeasurable feeling of euphoria. Before I broke out of our embrace, I vowed one more encouraging thing.
You’ll be reunited with Katie…
One day soon.
I promise… She’ll come back to you.
Somehow, I pondered quietly.
Quickly, I gathered the present they had given me and waited for them to emerge from their therapeutic trance. They came to, roughly about the same time, both somewhat dazed.
Ron Stowell shook his head and checked his watch. “I’m sorry, Miss,” he said professionally. “We’re not open today.”
“Oh, Ron, we still have some time before we have to pick up the cottage key. Is there something we can help you with?” Julia asked, her mind as buoyant and bubbly as ever.
“No,” I replied, trying to mask the quiver in my voice. “But thank you anyway,” I babbled and then ran out of the store. I kept my head down to hide the tears pouring out of my eyes as I hightailed it back down the crowded, narrow street. The frigid winter wind was whirling all around me, and I just knew they would freeze up on my cheeks before I got back to the car. It was the right thing to do, but it felt far more horribly bitter than sweet.
I yanked a parking ticket off my windshield, courtesy of one Officer Pete Ryan, and crumpled it up as I jumped into my Charger. Once I’d finally calmed down enough to catch my breath, I cranked the engine and gave my gearshift a hard jerk as I threw it in reverse.
Katie took that as a green light. “What made you change your mind?”
This time, I was the one shackled to their silence. I couldn’t tell her about what her mother had planned, so I fudged the real reason and announced, “Because you wanted me to…It’s your Christmas gift.”
“Thank you, Shi,” she whispered soulfully. “I know how hard that was for you.”
Katie…You have no idea.
“You’ll see. They’ll love you even more when they see I’m alive,” Katie insisted.
Yeah, I mumbled to myself cynically.
One grueling and misty hour later, I arrived in Bluefield and pulled into the congested parking lot of the Mercer Mall. The entire place was packed with hordes of jolly but frantic, last minute shoppers, and I simply wasn’t in the mood. I would have turned around and walked back out the door if I didn’t have to pick up a few things left on my list. Thankfully, Bea had already taken care of Tanner’s gift. She claimed the item she had chosen was “absolutely fitting”. I wouldn’t know because she had left me out of all the details, but promised it would arrive wrapped and in his hands on Christmas Eve. That was one Talisman down and one to go. I’d received a call last week from a man who worked at Anthology, the only specialty bookstore for miles around. He informed me that the selections I had ordered for Bea were finally in. I had no idea what to get someone who has been around for centuries, seen it all, and desired absolutely nothing. So to play it safe, I went with a couple of books: Witchcraft Through the Ages, which boasted a detailed account of everything related to the topic throughout recorded history, and a kitschy manual that highlighted spells and enchantments called, Mysticism to Fulfill Your Heart’s Desires. That one, I was certain, would provide her with hours of chuckles while she verified the accuracy of the spells it contained. At the very least, it would give her some entertaining bathroom reading.
With Bea’s gifts picked up and checked off my list, I raced into Stone & Thomas to grab a gift for the name I’d drawn at work. I was in a mad search for a festive, though utterly over-the-top Christmas sweater. I finally found one that was tacky enough, but in a cute, Naomi sort of way. I would never purchase one for myself, but she loved them. It was something her own father had given her every year for Christmas before he died. Naomi had kindly taken me under her emotional wing over the past six weeks, so I wanted to get her something extremely thoughtful, something extra-special and touching. If a woven gob of red-yarn with a metallic green Christmas tree sewn on it that held tons of shiny bows and glistening rhinestones was the answer, far be it for my taste in clothes to stand in the way of her sentimental memory. I got tickled at the register when I realized it “lit up” when you pressed the star. I just hoped Charlie would forgive me…in time. The gift I got him should be pardon enough, a set of arrows guaranteed not to miss their mark. Last week, I learned that a turquoise born from the Talisman who claimed that particular earth stone would magically stay true to its target and never stray. Beatrix had several she was willing to spare. She even helped set them onto the copper-casted arrows, which we used because of its inherent ability to conduct energy. Rest assured, the next time Charlie came across the old 18-point buck that roamed the mountain behind his house and had eluded him for years, his run of bad luck would finally come to an end. That is, if he didn’t think they looked too fancy and actually loaded them in his crossbow.
After dropping my haul off at the Gift Wrapping Station in the center of the mall, I headed for the food court to grab a bite while I waited. I spotted several of my classmates, who all waved and shouted out their “Merry Christmases”. My peaceful mealtime soon came to an end when Kara Leighton plopped down at the table next to mine with a few of her cheerleading chums. She had an agenda all right, flaunting a gif
t she’d just picked up for Ty.
“So, what do y’all think?” Kara asked her clique, but posed it loud enough for me. All of them gave the gold link I.D. bracelet she flashed in the air (for my benefit), their seal of approval.
“I think my sandwich is about to come back up,” I mentally whispered to Katie as I gave her a snarky play-by-play.
“Are those real diamonds?” Rebecca Myers asked.
“Yeah,” Kara admitted. “Ty’s mom said that since his food poisoning, he’s got some weird fascination with them. He even talks about them in his sleep,” Kara remarked, shaking her head.
I looked away and bit my lip.
“Whatever… I figured I would go ahead and spend a little extra and get this one. After all, I’ll be the one wearing it anyway,” Kara guaranteed with a haughty laugh.
“If that’s the case, I think the bitch should upgrade the I.D. collar for one with a leash,” Katie fired out, causing me to spit up some of my drink. “Maybe that will keep her from straying.”
Kara was too wrapped up in her performance to notice that the other object of her affections, Mike Riverside, was here and heading her way.
“Ty’s initials turned out great on the front, don’t you think?” Kara asked. They all nodded their heads, not wanting to buck their Queen Bee. “I had them engrave the back too,” Kara added with a smug grin. “Something so you won’t forget I love you…Kara.” As soon as Mike heard that, he shook his head and changed course, winding around their table. In a bizarre twist, he stopped at mine instead.
“Mind if I sit down?” Mike asked, rather loudly.
I hadn’t spoken a word to Mike in weeks, not since destroying the security footage of what happened in the guesthouse and wiping out his memories of me. I’d even resorted to hiding out in my room whenever he had stopped by the house to see Chloe. I racked my brain for a legitimate decline, but I couldn’t think of a thing. It wouldn’t have helped anyway because like a mute idiot, I was suddenly tongue-tied.
