by Julia Crane
Callie mulled over Nailah’s words as she finished getting ready. She couldn’t deny that Aionia gave them an amazing opportunity. Not only had they found the fountain of youth after so many years of searching, but Callie had also found a boy that she was crazy about. Am I really willing to throw that all away for a way out?
She thought of Braden and Avery back home in San Diego—they were probably both hysterical by now—and she knew without a doubt the answer was yes. She had to at least try to get back to them. But, what else was there for her in California? It was depressing when she tried to think of what would draw her back to that world. She could think of nothing other than material things. Her father was gone. She had her mother and Gran, and they seemed content.
The thought of losing Alaric sent a stabbing pain through her heart. Maybe I should forget the old world and just accept my new life like my family has.
Alaric sat at the kitchen table, sipping from a steaming mug as he talked with Gran and Emma. He stood as Callie came out of the stairway, and a big grin spread across his face.
“Do you just wake up that lovely?” He took both of her hands and gave her a sweet peck on the cheek.
Callie’s face flamed. “No. Meticulous planning.”
Nailah, who had come down right behind her, snorted.
“What are you doing here?” Callie asked him, ignoring her best friend.
“I was hoping you’d accompany me to the Fall Festival.” His smile lit the room, and Callie suddenly didn’t feel so tired anymore.
“I’d like that.”
Nailah threw her hands up in consternation and fell dramatically to the couch.
“What do they do at this thing, anyway?” Callie asked as Alaric escorted her through the gates of the Farm.
He sucked in a deep breath and cocked his head as he thought of his answer. “It’s like a harvest party. There is music and dancing, and lots of good food. They do games like bobbing for apples or pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey. Lots of fun.”
“If you say so.” Callie giggled. She bumped his arm and batted her eyelashes when he gazed down at her. “I’m exhausted. You’re lucky I even got out of bed.”
“I count myself honored.” He winked, then came to a stop and gently pulled Callie close. Cupping her face in his hands, he said, “I haven’t been able to kiss you this morning.”
“You should remedy that,” Callie replied, her heart beating wildly in her chest.
His lips were moist and tasted like coconut—maybe some kind of lip balm. Callie leaned into the kiss, her hands slipping around his waist to hold him close. As his mouth moved beneath hers, his lips parting ever so slightly, she felt heat suffuse her from top to toe.
Alaric reluctantly pulled away. “I missed you this week.”
Callie touched his smooth cheek with one hand, her eyes studying his face. She had no idea how she’d gotten so lucky. “Me, too.”
“Ready to go inside? It’ll be fun, I promise.”
“I’m sure that’s what they said before the Titanic set sail,” Callie joked.
He quirked a brow. “What’s a titanic?”
Rolling her eyes, Callie shook her head and laughed. “You’ve got a lot to learn about the years you’ve missed.”
The main building had been transformed into a harvest wonderland. Hay bales marked either side of the doorway, decorated with large pumpkins both carved and uncarved. Inside, bales lined the walls as makeshift benches, and the enormous cafeteria was a sea of tables and chairs covered in lit candles and colorful gourds. A stage was set up in one corner where five people sat on wooden barrels, plucking at various stringed instruments. Callie thought the song sounded familiar—some kind of Irish jig.
“It’s packed!” Callie remarked, thoroughly surprised.
“Well, yeah.” Alaric pulled a chair out from a table and motioned for her to sit down. “It’s one of the biggest events of the year! Do you want something to drink?”
“Yes, please. When do we eat?”
He laughed loudly, and leaned to kiss the top of her head. “Probably in about an hour. I’ll grab us some drinks, and then we can go check out the games and competitions to pass time.”
Callie looked around after he left, trying to take it all in at once. The room was lit nicely by a wall of windows. The walls were hung with images of fall leaves—ironic, since fall hadn’t touched the lush green of Aionia and it was already the first part of November, if Callie’s calculations were correct. Grinning, flickering jack o’ lanterns lined the walls and paper streamers hung from the ceiling.
“Apple cider okay?” Alaric returned and handed her a glass.
“Yum.” She took a sip and sighed; not too tart and not too sweet, it was the perfect combination. “One of those drinks that you associate with the season.”
He nodded. “It is. Come on, I’ll show you the competition room.”
There were chairless tables in an adjoining room that was lit entirely by torches. Each table held an array of goodies up for voting—one table held pies in various shapes and sizes, another held jams, and yet another held dishes of stuffing.
“Can you taste them to vote?” Callie asked, her mouth watering.
“No, unfortunately not. It’s voting based on appearance. A panel of judges then votes on taste.”
“No fair.” She pouted.
He led her through another door into the game room, where volunteers ran the game booths. Several wet-faced people surrounded the apple bobbing booth, where a man was on his knees with his face in the big wooden tub. A skinny little girl with blonde ringlets was blindfolded before a donkey effigy, and several kids were finger painting at another table. There were a lot of games that Callie didn’t recognize.
Nailah stood behind a tall counter, smiling as she exchanged money for small white tickets. They sidled up to the booth and Alaric pulled his black leather wallet from his pocket.
“Hey, Nailah. Two for lunch, please.” He slapped a beige note on the counter.
“Selling food tickets?” Callie clarified.
Nailah nodded. She looked ravishing in a short brown dress that almost matched her skin tone. The tank top left her shoulders and sculpted arms bare but for a pretty beaded necklace around her neck. “Yes. All the employees have to work the fair.”
“Will you get a break?”
“Yeah. I’ll catch up with you later.” She flashed them a white smile and turned to the next customer.
“You hungry?” Alaric asked, shoving his wallet back in his black pants.
“Famished!”
When they got back to the dining hall, a line was beginning to build at the buffet. They found Callie’s mom and Gran standing in line, chatting with a handsome, white-haired man.
“Hi, Gran,” Callie said brightly, scooting up to her grandmother and giving her a tight hug. “I wondered when you guys would get here.”
“Oh, hello, dear.” Gran turned to the man. He was short and stocky with dark eyes, tanned skin, and a brown goatee shot with silver. “Harrison, this is my granddaughter, Calista. Callie, this is Harrison. He works here with Nailah!”
Callie offered a hand. His shake was firm. Exchanging a knowing glance with her mother, Callie said, “It’s nice to meet you. This is…” Callie gestured to Alaric, but trailed off as she realized she didn’t know how to introduce him. She stared at him for a moment, and before she could open her mouth to go on, Alaric jumped in.
“I’m Callie’s boyfriend. Alaric. Pleasure to meet you, sir.” The two men shook hands, and Callie’s heart did a tap dance.
He’s my boyfriend.
Harrison’s smile was a slash of good-natured white on his face as he trained his gaze on Callie. “Belinda has told me a lot about you.”
“Has she now.” Callie grinned, raising an eyebrow at her grandmother. “Funny, because this is the first I’ve heard of you.”
Gran blushed—a ruddy, maroon color that rose in her neck and face. “I know it’s hard to believe, but I d
o have a life other than family and knitting.”
Emma cut in. “I know you’ve already told me, Mom, but why don’t you tell Callie how you and Harrison met?”
“Well.” Gran looked adoringly up at her handsome friend. “I came to visit Nailah right after she started here. The kind receptionist pointed me in the direction of one of the greenhouses, but I managed to get lost.”
“I found Bel wandering around the potato patch.” Harrison chuckled. His voice was deep and gravelly. “She was just as confused as could be. When I walked up behind her, it startled her—”
“And I nearly fell right over!” Gran shrieked. “He caught me around my waist like some kind of romance novel hero.”
“How could I not?” Harrison said, his voice going deeper as he took Gran’s hand. “You looked like an angel. I couldn’t let an angel fall.”
Callie glanced wide-eyed at her mother and noticed she was hiding a smile. The two looked like lovesick fools. They’re so freaking cute!
“Well, Mom, I think you should invite Harrison over for dinner,” Emma said.
“That’s a great idea,” Callie agreed. “How about tomorrow evening? Mom can make her killer rosemary chicken.”
Harrison nodded as he tucked an arm around Gran’s waist. “I would be honored.”
Gran blushed again.
Oh, this is too much. Gran has a crush! Who would have thought?
They finally reached the front of the line and Callie grabbed a plate from the stack. She motioned for the grown-ups to go around her, and then turned to Alaric. “Wow. I am a happy, happy girl,” she joked, falling on the buffet. “A boyfriend and food that smells like heaven.”
Alaric laughed. “It’s all really good, too. Everything grown here in Aionia tastes magical.”
Every dish was labeled with a tiny orange sign that identified it. Callie loaded her plate down—lemongrass chicken and sliced white turkey, garlic mashed potatoes, pale green lima beans, fluffy stuffing, cinnamon apples, buttery corn on the cob, and the crowning glory—cheesy cornbread.
“Don’t forget—there’s still dessert,” Alaric told her, his own plate heaped high.
“Looks like you’re forgetting.” Callie playfully tapped the edge of his plate.
After they finished eating and chatting, Callie asked her mom, “Are you guys gonna have dessert?”
“Not yet,” Emma answered with a glance at Gran and Harrison. “I think we were going to walk around a bit first. Let our food settle.”
Gran waved her hands. “You two lovebirds go ahead and have a good time. We’ll see you at home later.”
Alaric and Callie said their goodbyes and then tossed their garbage in the trash cans near the front door. Alaric took her hand.
“Can you believe my grandmother has a boyfriend?” Callie asked incredulously.
Alaric swung her hand gently between them, leading her through the double door and into the hallway. “You shouldn’t harass your grandmother. Harrison is a great guy. I’ve never met him, but I’ve known of him for years.”
“Oh, no, I don’t mean like that!” Callie rushed to answer. “I’m happy she likes someone. Gran hasn’t dated anyone since my grandpa passed away when I was little. Harrison could really be a good thing for her.”
“I know he’s a lonely guy,” Alaric said quietly. He smiled. “Sounds like it could be win-win.”
On the way to the dessert tables, Callie stopped to admire the stands that were selling fine artwork, jewelry, and handmade rugs. Any craft that could be made on the island was represented. Everyone was so jovial, and music constantly played in the background. It didn’t take long at all for her to get caught up in the excitement.
Eventually, they made it to the line of tables set up in an open classroom. They were filled with sweet breads, cookies, brownies, and pies. Callie’s mouth watered.
“Let me buy dessert,” Callie told Alaric as she started picking through the treats and filling her plate.
“Nope. Not gonna happen.” Alaric eyed her full plate and laughed. “You won’t be able to eat all that. You just ate a full meal!”
Callie smirked, her eyes dancing as she said, “Watch me. I bet I can eat all of this.”
“What do I win when you lose?”
Laughing, Callie shook her head. “I’m not going to lose. You’re going to lose. And when you do, I’ll win…a date on the beach.”
“You drive a hard bargain,” Alaric said soberly. “You’re on.”
“Prepare to lose!” Callie cradled her plate between both hands and winked at him.
Alaric’s smile reached his eyes as he shook his head. Leaning over her plate, he planted a soft kiss to her lips. “I’m glad I found you.”
“Me, too.” Callie beamed, her heart hammering.
What would he think if he knew I was planning on leaving? The thought of getting the hell out of Aionia was always present in the back of her mind, no matter how strong her feelings for him had grown. For the first time, she wondered if she could convince him to leave with her.
Doubtful. Aionia was Alaric’s home; everyone loved him. It would be asking a lot for him to leave the life he loved for the unknown—even more an unknown that had nothing of his old life left.
Callie pushed the thought out of her head. She needed to stop worrying and enjoy the day. They would deal with it when the time came.
Alaric grabbed a couple of chocolate chip cookies for himself and paid for her mountain of treats. They found a stone bench to sit on in the hallway, and Callie put the plate between them.
Just like the food, the desserts were incredible. Alaric was right—organic food was obviously the way to go. She would have to plant a garden if she ever made it home.
“You lost,” Alaric teased, staring at the single chocolate fudge brownie that remained on Callie’s plate.
Callie groaned. “I can’t do it anymore. I’m going to explode. You’re gonna have to clean up the tiny chunks of Calista on the walls.”
Alaric swiped the brownie from the plate and took a bite. “Exploding or not, you still lost.”
“I don’t like your logic.” She leaned over and kissed his chocolaty lips. “Mm. You taste good.”
“So, about that beach date…”
“But, I lost?”
Alaric grinned. There was brownie in his teeth, and Callie found it adorable. “But, if I don’t get to take you to the beach and see you in a bathing suit, then really, it would be me that lost.”
Callie punched him on the arm. “Jerk.”
“I’m your jerk,” he murmured, polishing off the rest of the brownie and leaning for one more kiss. “So. How about tomorrow after your dinner with Harrison?”
“Are you going to come to dinner, too?”
He shrugged. “Am I invited?”
“Of course, silly!” Callie shook her head. “It was implied. Don’t you read minds?”
“If I could read minds, the parliament probably would have disposed of me ages ago,” he joked.
“Aha!” Callie pushed him with both hands. “You don’t trust them, either!”
He paused, his eyes on the dirty stone floors. There were muddy shoeprints down the center from all the people who’d traipsed around the veggie patches before coming inside for lunch. “I don’t know. Maybe?”
“It’s something about them,” Callie went on, resting her hand on his knee. “They’re…” “Secretive.”
“I was going to go with ‘oily’ but secretive works, too.” She grinned.
Alaric laid a hand over hers and squeezed. “How about some games? I bet I can beat you at bobbing for apples. I’m a champ.”
“And when I win, what do I get?” Callie asked.
He wiggled his eyebrows. “Guess you’ll just have to wait and see.”
“I swear to God, I’m having déjà-vu.” Nailah burst out laughing and fell heavily onto her bed, wrapping her arms around her stomach as she heaved for breath in between gales.
Gran stood in th
e doorway, her hands tangled uselessly in her hair and a look of absolute panic on her pretty face. Callie couldn’t help the chuckle that she let loose—it was like a replay of how she’d freaked out the day before when Alaric had showed up.
“Nailah is really good with hair, Gran. Let her work her magic,” Callie soothed. She hopped from her bed and went to take Gran by the arms, steering her for the door. “Go take a shower. We’ll meet you in the bathroom when you’re ready.”
“She’s so nervous,” Nailah remarked, after she’d managed to stop laughing and Gran had disappeared to the bathroom.
“Yeah. I’ve never seen her like this.” Callie shrugged and flopped back onto her bed. “I guess it doesn’t matter how old you are. Dating is dating.”
“True.” Nailah was quiet for a moment, her head propped in a hand as she stared at the woven rug on the floor—a geometric design of warm colors like orange, red, and burnt sienna. “Callie, I need to ask you something.”
Callie had been reading one of Charlotte’s many reports when Gran walked in. She put the sheet down and gave Nailah her full attention. “What’s wrong?”
Nailah sighed and pushed herself to a sitting position. Her braids spilled around her bare shoulders. “I think…I have a crush. On a guy I work with.”
“Oh.” Callie frowned. “But, what about Michael?”
“I had a good run with Michael,” Nailah said honestly. “He was a great man, and a great fiancé. But, Callie, I need to face facts. This is home now. All those years of modeling and partying…” Nailah shook her head. “Girl. I’m done with it. I’m the happiest I’ve ever been! I love working at the Farm, and I can’t wait to help Gran get her shop off the ground.”
Callie slowly nodded. “Okay.”
“He asked me out.”
“The guy at work?”
Nailah blew out a deep breath, jarring the braids in front of her face. “Yeah.”
“What’s his name?”
“Marcus. He’s Jamaican.”
Callie laughed. “Does he talk funny?”
“No!” Nailah grabbed her pillow and launched it across the room.
