My arms were shaking and sore as we climbed into the truck for the drive back to the hotel. Between Fallon’s chatter, the farm labor, and our chores, we were too exhausted to do more than fall asleep after dinner the first few days.
Midweek things started to get easier. I don’t know if we hit our stride or if they loosened the reins a bit for us. By market day, even Brayson was more talkative.
*
We sat at the table that Saturday morning helping ourselves to stacks of Mrs. Shaw’s apple cinnamon pancakes. Brayson stole the syrup jar out of my hands and I pouted dramatically until he gave it back. Oleen began to giggle uncontrollably which sent us all into a fit of laughter.
“Where’d you two meet?” Mr. Shaw asked, wiping the happy tears off his cheek. The light in Brayson’s eyes faltered.
I smiled at him warmly before turning to Mr. Shaw. “We kind of knew each other at the orphanage, but it wasn’t until he started dating my best friend that we got close.” Mrs. Shaw put her hand over her mouth in indignation.
“Nothing like that,” I reassured her quickly. “We are just friends. Vorie, my best friend and Brayson’s fiancé, passed away a little while ago. I guess her death accelerated the move we’d been planning for so long.”
“Oh dear.” Mrs. Shaw dropped her hand to her lap. “I’m so sorry for your loss. You should have said something. We assumed you were a couple, so I put you in the same room.”
“Brayson’s been sleeping on the couch.” I playfully bumped his shoulder with mine.
“That won’t do at all.” Mrs. Shaw rushed to the front room and came back with a key. “You move your stuff to the room across the hall,” she told him.
“Are you sure ma’am?” Brayson looked to his plate. “We don’t want to intrude any more than we already have.”
“Nonsense.” She grabbed his hand and thrust the key into it. “You two have been an enormous help. We were a little worried at first, seeing as though you are city folks, but you haven’t stopped working since you got here. You’ve earned a bed to sleep on.” Brayson smiled gratefully at her.
“What was it like in the orphanage?” Oleen asked.
“As long as Vorie was there it was good,” I laughed. We told the Shaws all about Vorie during the rest of breakfast and the sag in Brayson’s shoulders lifted a little bit.
*
The town’s main street was transformed from a dusty road into a flurry of activity and excitement. Kids ran laughing down the street weaving in and out of the stands. Fallon waved us over to help unpack the crates of produce. He introduced us to Mazier who he described as his arch nemesis. The two men joked and laughed between their stalls the whole day.
Other smaller stands were set up by some of the locals displaying various wares for sale. Hand stitched clothing, jars of honey, bars of soap, and bags of dried meats filled the market stalls.
Brayson stopped to look at the clothing. “Why would anyone buy this?” he whispered once we were out of earshot. “They can get this for free from the stuff left behind in the big stores.”
“I don’t think there are any big stores around here,” I laughed. “But it seems to be a self-sufficiency thing. The real question is why did they wait so long to do this? Everyone seems so happy today.”
“I can answer that.” I spun around to see Theo right next to me.
“I don’t mean to eavesdrop,” he smiled. “That was rude of me, wasn’t it? I was just going to say that the actual town coming together didn’t happen that long ago. Juniper was the one who incorporated all the little outposts into one community about ten years ago when she arrived. It’s taken about that long to get everyone to open up and trust each other. They were used to doing it all alone for a long time.”
“I see.” Brayson and I continued down the street.
Theo stayed right beside us. “If you don’t mind me asking, I’ve been dying to know where you are from and what your city is like. I’ve lived here all my life and always dreamed of moving to a city one day.”
Brayson excused himself and disappeared into the crowd, leaving me alone to deal with the questions. Thanks a lot there, friend.
“Honestly.” I looked over the faces of the people milling about the market. “This is much better than the city.”
“You only say that because you chose to leave it. It can’t be as backwards as this place.”
A girl ran by me with ribbons tied in her hair trailing behind her in the wind. “It is though.” I looked at Theo earnestly, willing him to understand. “There is no life in the city. No laughter. The streets are filled with forgotten trash. Nothing grows through the abandoned ruins of concrete.”
Theo’s jaw clenched, reminding me vaguely of Fergus. I unconsciously took a step back and he looked concerned.
“I didn’t mean to offend you. It’s just so frustrating. The people here don’t aspire to be anything more than they are. Everything is stuck in the present, and I know there must be a better future. We have to work toward something bigger.” He smiled and gave me a half-hearted shrug. “I’m probably rambling. I apologize. Also, I never introduced myself. My name is Theo.”
“Fawn,” I said, shaking his outstretched hand. “And don’t worry about it. I think out loud too. We already know the future though, it’s the here and now that counts.”
Theo studied my face. “Are you talking about the realm? That’s the future after this one. It’s not the future of our lives right now, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy it there.”
My heart skipped a beat, but I made my voice sound as disinterested as possible. I picked up a trinket from a stall and ran my fingers over it. “Oh. The realm. Do you go there often? Is there even a portal here?”
“In this backwoods village?” Theo smirked. “No, but I know a place less than an hour away that has one. I can take you there sometime if you’d like.”
“That’d be nice.” I set down the beaded necklace and smiled at the shopkeeper. “Some other time maybe. I need to go find my friend.” I slipped away through the crowd of market goers leaving Theo standing there staring after me.
*
The haunting melody started once I closed my eyes.
“Vorie,” I groaned half awake. “Go see Brayson. He needs you.”
“I can’t do that yet,” she spoke into my ear. I thrashed my arm out at her ghostly essence to make her go away. She started singing again until I sat up and turned on the lamp.
“I’m physically exhausted,” I yawned. “Why don’t you ever come when I’m awake?”
“It’s easier for me this way. When you’re asleep you are closer to the realm and I can draw myself to you.”
“Well Brayson is probably dead asleep in the other room. Why don’t you draw yourself over there?”
“I can’t.” Vorie frowned. “He won’t let me go a second time. He needs space to grieve and heal.”
“He probably doesn’t see it that way.” I crossed my arms. She began to fade. “Stop! Come back. I’m awake now. I’m sure you are right with your new all seeing, all knowing capabilities.”