She started crying, "Elizabeth Joy Masterson, here I am. Mommy’s here," she called, her voice breaking from the pain. Her eyes scanned the pond, and finally stopping, she focused. She smiled and held out her arms and knelt down. Her fingertips motioned 'come here' and then she wrapped her arms in front of her chest, stood up and turned to Ryan and Sonya. Backlit by the moon, they could both see Emmy holding Elizabeth. The baby was looking at her mother’s face, her tiny fingers touching it. Her hands running through her golden blond hair, laughing, and then she laid her cheek against her mothers. They seemed to meld together. Emmy closed her eyes for a long second and opened them; looking at Ryan and said, "Thank you." As she took a deep breath, she smiled and held Elizabeth tighter. They faded, leaving Jillian standing there alone with the moon as her backdrop.
The next day as Jillian walked down Main Street, she felt a sense of pride from the community. The sidewalks were clean. There were old-fashioned street lights and hanging pots overflowing with flowers. The store fronts were all older and extremely well kept. Quaint.
She was sure she knew where she was going, and as she rounded the corner she could see the beautiful antique looking sign, “The What Not Shop,” hanging above the large store windows. They were adorned with aqua and blue stained glass. This motif ran both sides of the block, giving it symmetry. There was already a crowd gathering outside. A large, purple ribbon with a bow hung across the front doors. The local television station van was parked in front to publicize the opening.
Jillian walked a bit slower, feeling shy again. She saw Ryan walking towards the shop from the other direction and felt relieved. She knew that Sonya was already inside, helping out Doreen. Her aunt had left the house early this morning, filling her car with more boxes of her home-made herbals to sell in the store. As Jillian met Ryan, he offered her some of what he was eating, wiping his forehead.
“Well, there's hot and then there's HOT,” he said, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye and putting a napkin in his pants pocket. He must have been at Jorge's restaurant getting a bite to eat. As they stood there, at the side of the crowd, more people walked up. When the mayor arrived, he was complaining that he had to walk three blocks, because all the parking spaces had already been taken.
The anchorwoman for the TV station was very smartly dressed. She was tan with prominent white teeth and long, thick, black hair that was styled and sprayed in place. She wore a pink skirt and jacket with pink heels. Jillian wondered if she would shop here since she was thinking that it was going to be more of a hippie type store. Doreen stood beside her. She looked like an angel. She was tall and slender, with long, curly, ginger-red hair, and an ivory complexion, lightly kissed with freckles. She wore a flowered cotton dress that was light and airy, a sprinkling of jewelry, and flats. She was introduced on camera, and she gave a brief description of the store they had owned in Boston. She told of how they traveled down the coast and found this little town. They decided to pack up shop and move here. She talked about what kinds of things you could find inside. Then she and the mayor cut the ribbon, the crowd applauded, the doors swung open, and everyone flooded inside.
Ryan and Jillian hung outside for a little bit, letting everyone else go in first. As they walked through the heavy double doors, adorned with beveled glass and brass, they could smell the incense. Something like tangerine and sandalwood. The first section of the floor was composed of tiny mosaic tiles in the pattern of a sun with rays extending outward. The rest of the floor was made of unusually wide, polished, hardwood planks. Oversized decorative crown molding gave way to an ornate tin ceiling. Under the large glass windows were what looked like deep window seats, but they used them for a display area, Some things faced out to the street and some faced in toward the store.
The wall to the far right was the street corner, so it had sunlight streaming in. That is where the Book Nook was. Rows of tall wooden bookshelves with books in every topic imaginable filled them to the brim. New and used were sorted together by categories. There were even stacks of books on the floor and on the window seats. There were a few oversized chairs and some cafe type tables to sit at. You could relax and read and have tea, a latte or a smoothie from the bar.
A banner that said “Getting into Your Vortex Videos” was hanging above a large screen TV just past the Book Nook. It was playing soothing music and was showing a motivational video to encourage positive changes in people’s lives. There was a woman explaining to guests how to custom order the videos.
Further to the back and on the right of the store they had clothing racks where antique and newer cotton and hemp clothing hung. On the left wall was the old soda fountain. Jillian had never seen one like this before. There were red, button-top bar stools that spun around forever on shiny silver bases, the glass window overlooking all of the ice cream tubs, and behind, on the back wall they displayed all of the condiments you could imagine in large glass jars with large scoopers. The mayor was the first to be served, a triple-sized banana split!
"This is awesome!" Jillian said as she walked with Ryan.
"It was the general store for the town. I think it said established in 1854. What you couldn't grow or make yourself came from here. Everything! Can you imagine what it must have been like?" Ryan asked, pointing to some old photos on the wall. "Probably taken around the turn of the century."
Jillian studied them, amazed how different everything was back then. She knew that everything has always been in color, but the photographs and TV shows that were in black and white just seem so lifeless. “Did people throughout history experience all of the same feelings we do? They must have,” and just that one thought seemed to breathe life into history for her. “They sang, they danced, and they were artists and lovers. Their hearts broke just the same way. There must have been some, like me, that must have felt different too, like they didn't fit in. Maybe now things will be different. With Sonya and Ryan, and what we did, we can make a difference in the world.”
"Hey! Time for a smoothie?" Sonya came running up to Jillian and Ryan with two cups in her hands. "I made these. Tell me what you think!" she said.
They looked at each other and nodded. They both said, "Cheers," and pretended to smack their cups together. They both tried their samples, and Jillian grabbed her throat with one hand and gasped as if she had drunk poison. Ryan finished his, smiled with his frothy smoothie mustache, and acted like didn't know it was there.
There were so many people here. When Jillian looked at Doreen, who had seemed so laid back and easy going, she was sorta buzzing, maybe overwhelmed at how many guests were here. She was at one of the jewelry display counters explaining the properties of the crystals that were wire wrapped into pendants, rings, and pendulums. A couple had picked up a pair of dowsing rods from the counter and were trying them out. Thomas was manning the soda fountain, pretty well, but people were starting to line up! Sonya was back at the bar making smoothies and lattes and serving samples of teas. Aunt Jana was talking about her products that were beautifully displayed and scooping up bulk herbs for some of the customers.
There was a woman she met yesterday at the picnic, Elise, standing by an easel at the back of the shop. Listings of the class schedule were posted and she was taking down reservations and answering questions. Her daughter, Seelie was back at the dressing rooms helping customers with the clothing.
"I never expected it to be this busy!" Jillian said looking around in amazement.
"Jillian, Ryan?" Doreen called. The two walked up to the jewelry counter.
"So, you said you'd like to help. Is now a convenient time?" She said as she smiled. "I know where you could be of immense help, it you want to."
"Sure." Ryan said looking at Jillian.
"Count me in!" Jillian said, honestly meaning it. She wanted to be wanted. The excitement cancelled out the fear of doing something new.
Doreen told Ryan to see Thomas at the soda fountain, and she took Jillian over to the Book Nook. She explained to everyone standi
ng there how it worked. You were welcome to sit and read, or you could sign the books out like a library, using the honor system, or you could buy them. She put Jillian in charge of signing people up for the lending library and walking around getting email addresses for their monthly newsletter.
While Jillian was helping someone sign up for the lending library, she saw Allison walking towards the books. She started looking through them, not aware that Jillian was watching her. At one point Jillian thought it was time to go say hi and maybe sign her up for the newsletter. Allison looked up towards the front door. In walked Jorge. Allison’s body language changed. Jorge looked her way and she dropped her head, trying to look like she was reading. Jorge was walking and looking, and then walked over to the soda fountain. He sat down, and he and Ryan began talking. Allison scowled and slammed the book shut, shoved it back onto the shelf and walked out the front door. Jillian just stood there, taking the whole thing in. Guess she didn’t like Jorge being friends with Ryan, huh?
Both Sonya and Ryan made sure that Jillian had enough goodies to eat throughout the day. The hours went by so quickly and before they knew it, it was 5:00. It was time to close the doors, and then classes started at 5:30. The three sat in the oversized chairs in the Book Nook, feeling beat but exceptionally good about what they had done today.
People started lining up at the back of the shop where two different rooms where set up to hold the classes. Ryan and Sonya got up and headed for one of the doors.
"Hey, what did you sign me up for?" Jillian asked Ryan.
"This one is called 'Your Gifts and the Veil.'“ He waved to GG, who was standing at the other door.
"What class is he taking?" Jillian asked, thinking it was kinda cute.
"He's not taking a class. He is teaching a class on solar power in that room. Tomorrow Lois, his gramma, is presenting on heirloom seeds and later I think she's doing one on canning." Sonya said. "My Grandma Hilde said she is thinking about teaching classes on manners and etiquette, “ she said, rolling her eyes and shaking her head.
As they walked into their room, they marked their name off the list and took a handout. Some of the people were standing around talking, so Jillian spotted three chairs together and immediately sat down so Ryan and Sonya could sit next to her. At 5:28 there were about 20 in attendance, and all but four chairs were taken. Elise closed the door and sat in the back of the room. Doreen started the class with an introduction of herself when four more people walked in. You could almost cut the tension with a knife as they took the last seats. Jillian tried not to stare, but they scared her.
They would stand out in any crowd. The taller one had short, spiky white hair, and he was wearing a black muscle shirt and black saggy pants with chains on them. On his left wrist he wore a thick bracelet, with spikes protruding from it. One girl had black and white hair that looked like it had been blow dried to death and then teased. She wore a tank top and baggy carpenter pants, with a camouflage pattern. The shorter of the boys had reddish brown hair, was frightfully pale and had black eyes. He was wearing a skull cap sideways and a dirty ripped t-shirt and droopy pants. They were falling down so his underwear showed, and his costume was set off with red tennis shoes, and of course no laces. And last to sit down was Allison.
Jillian looked at Ryan, who was looking at Sonya. You could tell they understood something, and they didn't like it. They didn't look at the three at all.
Doreen said welcome to them and gave them handouts as if they were no different from anyone in the room. But they were. Very different.
When Doreen concluded the class, Ryan and Sonya looked at Jillian and motioned to the door. Ryan got out of his seat, grabbed his backpack off the back of his chair and they quickly made their way out. They were the first ones leaving either classroom and walked swiftly through the store and out the front door.
"Can we go to your house?" Ryan asked Sonya, walking quickly, heading in that direction.
"Yeah, sure." She said knowing that they had to talk about what just happened.
Jillian had a hard time keeping up and walked into Sonya's, closing the door behind her. "What is going on?" she asked, out of breath, flopping down into a chair, trying to catch her breath and watching Ryan pace the floor.
"Those three were the ones that were in the cabin," he said sitting down, looking at Jillian. "They are bad news."
Sonya handed them each a can of pop. "At least they can't hurt Emmy and Elizabeth, right? So we don't have anything to worry about, right?" she said, sitting down next to him.
"Well, no, they are safe now, but I don't like that they were in the shop, in the class. That's like sacred ground. They don't belong there," he said nervously.
"Yeah, why were they there?" Jillian asked. "I know why we belong. Now I see what has been happening. All of the supernatural things. They are our gifts. Like Doreen said, there are so many types. If we can focus on the ones we know we already possess, we need to learn more about them and strengthen them. That in turn will align us up to the other gifts we have. The veil is thinning, and we are becoming more conscious of our spiritual nature. Science and spirit are coming together. Ya, so why would those three be there? I thought they were going to be loud and obnoxious, but they were totally silent and acted like they were listening. No matter what, it's not a good sign," Jillian said, shaking her head, her eyes now wide.
"It's like what I learned about myself in the regression," Sonya said. "Some types of information shouldn't be handed out freely. Some is so powerful that it can't be risked getting into the wrong hands. Doreen must not have known who they were when they signed up. I don't know. Does she have to let everyone in that wants to attend? I'll keep an eye out for her and Thomas when they come in tonight and ask. Hopefully it was too dull, and they won't ever come back."
"So, what do you think the chances are that they were at the cabin, and then they showed up tonight?" Jillian asked. She didn't know anything about these kids, except for what Ryan told her about Allison. But just the feeling she got from them, she didn't want to know anymore. Then she started to feel sick. "Nooo, do you think they have gifts, too?"
"Well duh..," Ryan said. He didn't mean for it to come out that way, but it just did. "Sorry, that's what worries me. Do they already have some that they are using, or are they just curious? I seriously hate to think that there are people like that, but I know there are, and believe me, they wouldn't use their gifts for anything good. They would just manipulate people and situations to get whatever they want." He looked to Sonya.
She nodded her head. "I have heard stories about them. Deryk is 18. I think he was expelled a couple of years ago. Roberta and Gage constantly get kicked out of school. They have all been in juvenile detention. Their parents gave up on them, so they run the streets doing whatever they please. Pretty much everyone is afraid of them. I don't think the police want to deal with them, either. Who knows how they will respond if they get angry? Allison, I don’t know. She seems kind of…Edward Sissorhands."
"Something else worries me," Ryan said, folding his hands like he was in prayer. "When we were at the cabin, when Emmy was letting me see what happened, Gage fell through the floor by where you did Jillian, and he pulled out a book too. But when I saw this book, I heard Emmy say, ‘Oh no,” and I started to feel sick. I had to take myself out of the vision."
"I heard it, too. I heard her say it, too," Jillian responded. "Why would Emmy have something that would be so hurtful? What kind of information could she have been hiding?"
"I don't know. How could we answer that question without asking them?" he said, looking to both of them.
"Let's send Sonya in, like it's a covert operation, and she can be the double agent and steal it from them! Let's take a vote," Jillian said, raising her hand as if to nominate Sonya for the job.
Sonya's eyes got all big, "Oh yeah, maybe I'll try flirting with Deryk and see if I can discover some deep, dark secrets."
"Sure, and then we will be there every day to v
isit you in the hospital after Roberta gets done with you," Ryan said, shaking his head.
"Sonya, I think you had a good idea about talking to Doreen to see what she thinks about the whole situation," Jillian said, draining her pop can.
"I honestly liked the class. I want to keep going, but not if they’re there. I want to talk to that lady, Elise, about Indigo, Crystal and Rainbow Children. And I’d like to get to know Seelie. She feels… well, soft. Like I could trust her, and her being able to talk to all kinds of spirits! She seems pretty interesting," Sonya said as she pulled a flyer out of her pocket. "I got the list of courses and syllabus from Doreen. They have healing, mediumship, psychic abilities, meditation, crystals, herbology, hydroponics, solar power, astrology, tarot cards, Geriatric herbs, and Ryan, the one you will excel in, belly dancing!" Sonya said laughing. She put the flyer under a magnet on the refrigerator. "Doreen said that we will work something out in trade. I will be able to help out at the shop in exchange for classes and things in the store I want. It would almost be like a real job. Maybe she would work something out with you guys, too," Sonya said, thinking it would be neat if all three of them could have jobs there.
Paranormal Summer (Indigo Moon Rising) Page 13