by Cat Larson
The sooner I could leave Bigfoot Bay, the sooner I could put all my mental turmoil behind me.
“Thank you for the ticket.” That was simple enough.
“You’re welcome. I’ll need to skip lunch for the next week or two, of course, but it was well worth it.” He tapped his chin. “Or I suppose I could donate plasma again. That’ll allow me from going hungry.”
He attempted to hold a straight face but didn’t succeed. I flashed him a dirty look which only made him crack up. He reached over and snagged a quarter from behind my ear and twirled it in front of me.
“Hey, look what I found,” he said, pocketing the coin. “I can get a sixteenth of a cup of coffee with this. Thanks!”
Goofball. My eyes went from narrowed to rolling. “By the way, what are you doing now?” Since we were kids, I knew he wouldn’t follow in his father’s footsteps and go into police science, unlike his brother. That wasn’t his thing. His thing was magic, as in tricks, not spells. “I always pictured you working as a magician, having your own show.”
He opened his mouth, but the voice sounded behind me. Ventriloquist?
“Well, I’ll be. Little Sammara Hain. Is that really you?”
I swiveled around to see the glowing face of Mrs. Fairchild. There were a few more lines etched in the corners of her eyes and a touch of gray sprouting from her hairline, but it was the same face I’d know anywhere. If I wouldn’t, my mom would have my head, considering this was her best friend. She also ran the only hotel in town. Perfect.
“Mrs. Fairchild! How nice to see you again.”
She came over and hugged me, then pulled back and took hold of my arms. “Just look at you, all grown up. You’re even prettier than the pictures your mom shows me.”
“Thank you.” I squeezed her hands. “I’m so sorry about Mr. Fairchild. I didn’t find out until it was too late and—”
She waved me off. “No worries. It was all very sudden. My daughter’s been helping out and keeping the vision alive. Besides, Edward’s still with us in spirit.”
“That’s comforting to know.”
I’d been so young when they’d opened Bigfoot Bay Hotel, the first one the town had ever seen, but I still remember all the flack they’d received. In the beginning, the community had objected, wanting to preserve the small-town charm, but Mr. and Mrs. Fairchild had persevered, and now it was one of our—I mean their—landmarks. It was a stunning, historic building with deep eaves and stained-glass walls, large enough to lodge a number of guests but small enough to maintain its quaint atmosphere.
Mrs. Fairchild brought her attention to Griffin a brief moment, and I swore her eyes twinkled. “Griffin,” she said, “lovely to see you as well.” He acknowledged her with a nod. “Why, it’s just like old times seeing you kids together.”
“No, it’s not like that. We’re just…”
She didn’t appear to be listening because her focus was darting around me. “Is Violet with you too?”
My shoulders dropped. Even though I’d predicted it, I was still hoping I was wrong. “No. I take it she’s not here?”
“Not yet, which is pretty unusual. We count on her every year, and she’s always set up and ready to go in plenty of time before we open.”
“And she’s not staying at the hotel either?”
Her forehead furrowed. “Why would she be staying there? Is something wrong with her place—did a pipe burst or something?”
“Oh no. That’s where I’m staying right now and it’s perfectly fine. I’m just asking because I came into town to see her, but it seems like she’s picked this time to go off on a mini-vacation somewhere.”
“That doesn’t sound like Violet. She wouldn’t leave the shop, especially during the ice festival.”
“That’s why I thought she stayed somewhere right in town.” I wasn’t making much sense, but then none of this did. I was in good company.
“Unless she checked in under an alias and a disguise, she’s not at my hotel.”
Hmm. That was a possibility I hadn’t thought of. If she could change a man into a frog, why couldn’t she change herself into a whole different person?
But that still didn’t explain what’d happened to Fernando’s car. Unless she’d spelled that into a mouse, and it was sleeping peacefully under a woodpile right now. Gah! The endless possibilities and infinite outcomes were enough to turn me batty.
“Have you tried Bigfoot B&B?”
“The B&Bs aren’t open this time of year.”
“That’s true for most of them, but Bigfoot B&B changed their availability a few years back.” She waved and smiled at someone walking past. “They open for the ice festival weekends to accommodate the overflow from the hotel. We’re always booked solid for this event.”
“Great to know, thanks! I’ll check with them.”
“Not that she’d likely get a room when they’re already so limited. And why would she spend the money anyway when she has a perfectly good place to stay? You know they charge astronomical prices.”
“I’m just exploring all the options. She’s gotta be around somewhere. As you said, she wouldn’t miss the festival.”
Mrs. Fairchild held up a finger to a woman behind the ticket table to indicate another second. “I need to get back and help out, but make sure you stop by and visit before you leave. Your mother would never forgive you if you didn’t. And neither would I.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it, Mrs. Fairchild.”
“Good.” She patted my face lightly. “And if you’re still adamant that Violet’s on some kind of staycation, check with Helga—Mrs. Stein. She’s around here somewhere. You can ask her if she’s there.”
“Will do. Thanks.” Griffin and I walked away, and I whispered to him, “Mrs. Stein is still alive?”
He chuckled. “Surprised?”
“Yes and no.” I thought she’d been over a hundred when I last saw the grumpy old woman who worked as a cook for Bigfoot B&B. “But I suppose eating all those little children must keep her young.”
He busted a gut at my comment, and for a second I was ten again and we were daring each other to go into her kitchen. We were convinced the huge kettle she stirred contained all the kids who hadn’t shown up for school. But then they’d return the next day, and we’d find out it was just a cold going around. However, that never stopped us from thinking it all over again the next time.
I transfixed on the castle in the near distance. It was my absolute favorite. It was a replica of Rapunzel’s tower, and the entire thing was carved out of ice, all the way down to the long hair that spilled out the side, doubling as stairs. Once inside, there was a slide to get back down.
“Race you there,” Griffin said, giving me a mischievous look.
My childish competitiveness took over, and I shot off without a word, getting a head start. I made it one step before him, but only because I slid on the slick ground, nearly colliding headfirst into the hard tower. I plopped to the crushed snow and rested a gloved hand on the sculpture.
“I win.”
“Because I let you win.”
“Did not.”
“Did too.”
Geez. What was the matter with us? A security guard standing near the attraction looked stern as he shook his head, pointing to the sign that read: Anyone running or roughhousing will be frozen and sentenced to the tower for all eternity.
What might’ve been a scary warning for a youngster caused a fit of giggles in a childlike adult. I mouthed sorry, which earned me a head nod and a twitch of his lips.
Griffin gestured to the stairs. “Milady.”
I was about to climb up when a swarm of kids appeared, battling who’d be the first in line. “Um, this might not be the best time.”
“Why don’t we start at the end of the park and work our way back? It won’t be as crowded.”
“Great idea.”
We bypassed all the shimmering ice sculptures and the families having the time of their lives. Some I thought I rec
ognized, but so many visitors came in for the festival that I wasn’t sure. But it was enough to trigger a bout of reflection, and that was not something I appreciated.
I wouldn’t have given up Fernando for anything, but I couldn’t help wondering what life would’ve been like if I’d stayed in Bigfoot Bay, like pretty much everyone else I’d grown up with. They were all here, raising a whole new generation, and I was the oddity who had left the beauty of this town before my prime. If magic hadn’t existed, and I’d remained here, how would my life be unfolding right this very second?
For someone who claimed not to enjoy a stroll down memory lane, I was sure treading a well-worn path. I was acting like a crackpot, is what I was doing, and I needed to cut it out.
“How are your parents?” Griffin asked, cutting it out for me.
“They’re loving Peru. It’s right up their alley. Although, the phone service in their remote village is almost nonexistent, so I’m not able to talk to them very much.”
“When are they coming back?”
“I’m not sure.” In the meantime, they were renting out their house to a young couple with toddler twins and a brand-new baby. Sometimes I missed that house. Sometimes. “You know, Mrs. Fairchild didn’t seem too worried about Violet.”
“Should she be?”
“Not necessarily, but if my sister never misses the festival, and she’s not home, where else could she be?”
Griffin stopped, causing me to halt as well. “Is there something more going on here? If anything’s wrong, you know you can tell me and I’ll do anything I can to help.”
His voice was already tinged with worry, and I didn’t want to amplify it. “No, we just had a fight is all and she’s avoiding me. Hey, do you think someone in your family could track her down for me?”
“Because of a sisterly spat?” Now, his voice only held amusement. “That’s probably not the best use of police resources.”
Hmm. Maybe it was a pretty off-the-wall request. I knew I could receive assistance if I expressed a real danger, but I wasn’t ready to cause a stir yet. And if I ever breathed a word about why I needed her back so desperately, it’d land me in the looney bin, and I’d never be able to help Fernando that way.
“Yeah, you’re right. I’m sure she’ll come around soon.”
“If not, you might want to check Mrs. Stein’s kettle. I dare you.” He grinned and I gave him a playful whack. “Speaking of…” He pointed at a large, rounded lump. “Isn’t that her?”
I peered closer, and the large, rounded lump was really a stout, knobbly woman hunched over. Her thick olive green and brown coat made her look like a moldy potato. She raised her head right then and glowered at me, causing an icy shiver to shoot up my spine. It was as if she’d read my mind, and I’d angered her.
“Yep, that’s her all right,” I said.
“Then why are you just standing here? Go and talk to her. Or are you scared?”
I scorched him yet another look and marched over, ignoring the heebie-jeebies crawling all over my skin.
“Hello, Mrs. Stein.” My face held a smile, but I recoiled inside. The woman seriously creeped me out, especially because she hadn’t stopped scowling at me. I was born into a family of witches, for Pete’s sake; my palms should not have been this sweaty around someone who only played one in a Grimm’s fairy tale.
“It’s been a long time, Sammara Eve Hain. Back then you’d be running from me like a devil was hot on your heels, but now you’re approaching. What brings you back to this neck of the woods?”
Griffin had sidled up beside me, but Mrs. Stein didn’t acknowledge him. “Um, Violet. My—”
“You think I don’t know Violet’s your sister?” she snapped.
“Well, of course, but, um… I heard you’re still working at Bigfoot B&B and—”
“She’s not there.”
“Oh. Okay.” Dang it, you creepy hag. Get out of my head. The winter gust felt like a sauna compared to her presence. This was not a person I wanted to rile up. “Thanks for your time anyway. We’ll let you get back to, uh, whatever it is you’re doing.” My tongue kept sticking to the roof of my mouth, like the dry air—or Mrs. Stein—had sucked all the moisture out of me.
“Have you seen Violet lately?” Griffin asked, and she swung her head toward him. Whew, it felt good to have her eyes off of me.
“Of course, I have,” she spat.
“You have?” I perked up. “When?”
She scoffed. “For someone who just pops back into town, you sure are demanding.”
“Mrs. Stein,” Griffin said, “she’s only eager to speak to her sister.”
“Can’t get a handle on your own family, eh? If you weren’t such an outsider maybe you wouldn’t have that issue.”
“Now, now. You know very well that Samm could never be an outsider. Once a resident of Bigfoot Bay, always a resident.”
Man, could the woman grimace any harder? Her face couldn’t afford to shrivel any more or it’d disappear within itself. I grabbed Griffin’s arm. “It’s okay. Sorry for bothering you, Mrs. Stein.”
We’d only taken a couple of steps away before she spoke out, “I saw her this morning. The sun was barely up.”
I jerked around. “What? This morning?”
“That’s what I said. You hard of hearing now?”
I pushed aside her nasty disposition; I was too stoked to finally have a lead, indicating she was nearby. At least I hoped so. Who knew where Mrs. Stein spent her early mornings? Well, besides hanging upside down in a bat cave.
“Where did you see her?”
“The bridge.” She pointed a long, crooked nail toward the small footbridge at the edge of the park.
“What in the heck was she doing there?” Why would Violet be on a bridge next to the lake in the early freezing morning? She wasn’t a troll; she wouldn’t have been living under said bridge, so where was she staying? As far as I knew, she didn’t hobnob with anyone who owned one of those multimillion-dollar homes right on the shoreline.
“What am I, a psychic now too? She could’ve been talking to the gulls for all I know. I was making breakfast, looked out the window, and saw her. That’s all that’s to it.” She muttered, “Demanding child.”
Geez Louise. “I appreciate the information, Mrs. Stein. Enjoy the festival.” I pulled Griffin away while I sensed her glare digging into my back. “Wow,” I whispered. “That was pleasant. It’s a good thing she stays in the kitchen and doesn’t have to interact with the guests.”
“At least you know Violet’s around here somewhere. You guys’ll patch things up in no time.”
“But isn’t it a little strange that she was hanging around the bridge so early?”
He shrugged. “Maybe she was watching them set up for the ice festival.” I brightened. Yeah, that actually made sense. I could practically feel my spirits lifting. “And who knows, she could’ve taken a nap and overslept because she was up so early, and that’s why she’s not here yet.”
Yes, another rational explanation. She was still avoiding me, but she couldn’t get away with that indefinitely. She had a life to live, just like I did.
“If she doesn’t show up tonight, I know where I’m going at sunrise tomorrow.”
I huddled my hands in the pocket of my coat. The gloves weren’t holding up too well, but at least they weren’t exposed like my face. The breeze had picked up and my nose was about to snap off.
“Do you want my coat?”
“Are you crazy?” I asked. “You can’t walk around in only a sweater.”
“Nah, I’ll be fine. It’s obvious you’re freezing.”
“I’ll be fine too. I swear the temperature dropped twenty degrees since talking to Mrs. Stein. I think she hexed the weather or something.”
“Or—and this may be a wacky idea, but hear me out—it could just be wintertime in Bigfoot Bay.”
“Maybe,” I grumbled.
He laughed. “It’ll be much warmer in the tunnels. You still up f
or that or are you too old and stiff now to crawl through them?”
I elbowed him. “You’re older than me, you know.”
“By only six months, and if you remember, that used to be a sore spot for you.”
“Funny how things change.” When we were kids, it used to irk me to no end that he was older, and now, I was calling it to his attention. Perception was tricky like that.
“You need to talk to Violet that badly you’d come back here at 6:00 a.m.?”
“Yep. Not sure if she’ll be on the bridge again, but it’s worth a try.”
“Need any company?”
“No, that’s okay.” When I did talk to her again, it would not be a conversation suitable for non-witchy ears. “Hey, check it out.” I motioned to the ice tunnel, the last sculpture of the exhibit. “We lucked out. No line.”
We went right over, and the attendant lifted a rope and waved us through. “First ones this weekend. Enjoy.”
“How can that be?” Griffin asked him.
“It took a bit longer than the others to set up. You sure made it through the park quickly.”
“We skipped to the end first,” I said.
“Smart.”
Griffin and I entered what had always been my second favorite of the festival. The tunnel’s opening was high enough to walk upright at first, but if I recalled, that’d soon change. I hadn’t grown more than an inch since my last visit, and I found I could still judge it correctly.
I ran my glove over the wall as we passed through, over the pulsing rainbow lights embedded in the ice. “This is incredible.” More than a decade later and it still impressed me.
Griffin pointed where the tunnel narrowed before expanding into a small chamber. “Remember that?”
I unintentionally touched my lips then yanked my hand away the moment I realized. My cheeks blazed. Griffin was right—it was warmer in here. Much warmer.
“I wasn’t talking about that, Sammi.”
“Okay,” was all I said, feeling like an imbecile. Again.