Page 27

I do one last check to make sure everything is exactly how I envisioned it, before checking the cart to make sure nothing was left out. Leaning over the edge, I see the sage stick sitting at the bottom. My heart speeds up at the sight of it. In the haste of the day, I’d forgotten that I’d slid it in there this morning, determined to find my mystery wolf.

I look around to see if anyone is watching before I swoop down and grab it. I’ll put it on the table right next to me, maybe I’ll catch someone reacting to it, maybe inquiring about it? Surely, he’ll see it and react, right?

I’m just placing it on the table when I hear a squeal to my right.

“Girl, yesssss! I knew it was going to be gorgeous, but I wasn’t expecting it to bethisstunning! For someone who only found out about this two days ago, you sure knocked this out of the park!” Odes comes running up and pulls me into a hug! “It’s going to be the talk of the town, mark my words.”

She pulls back, holding both my shoulders in her hands. “Speaking of, I’ve got a gift for you. Thorne, over there…” she hooks a thumb over her shoulder in the direction of his booth, “has some amazing leather stuff that we should look at together. But, that’s not what I’ve got for you.” She flips open the flap to her over-the-shoulder bag, pulling out a beautifully-bound journal. She pushes it towards me as I grasp it.

“I wanted to get you something in honor of your very first gallery, even if it’s a mini one. I thought it would be cool if you set it out on the table for guests to write little notes in or sign it. Whichever you want them to do.”

I run my thumb across the beautifully carved tree of life on the front cover. My eyes well up with tears, this is the sweetest thing anyone’s done for me, outside of my parents. “It's…Odes you didn’t…” The first tear falls from my lashes, splashing on the apple of my cheek as I blink my eyes quickly as my vision blurs.

“Oh man, don't cry. I wasn’t expecting tears this early or I would have given it to you yesterday so your mascara didn’t run!” Her thumb swipes the tears.

“It’s beautiful Odes. I wasn’t expecting a gift today, thank you.” With one arm I pull her into a hug, smooshing the journal between us.

“Alright, no more tears. Today, we are celebrating our future National Geographic photographer who will always come back to take photos of our pups.”

We both giggle as we turn back to the stand, arms crossed across each other’s back as our heads lay against each other. I wouldn’t be here without the support of her and my little group of cheerleaders. With a sigh, I lift my head to look over at those three crazy, yet amazing elders chatting away with my beautiful mother. I’m one lucky girl to have such an incredible group of people around me.

The alarm rings on my phone. The festival is opening.

“Alright, it’s time guys!”

Fern and Grammy both walk over planting kisses on my cheeks and squeezing me into breathtaking hugs before they walk off arm in arm towards the booths.

Gail comes over, standing next to me as we watch them walk away. She clears her throat. “I think today is going to open many doors for you, some you were expecting, some you were hoping for, and one that you didn’t know you needed.”

Without another word, she gives me one of her signature smiles before she too walks away.

My mom walks up to the place Gail just left, chuckling when she looks at the expression on my face.

“Let me guess, Gail gave you another one of her utterly cryptic messages and walked off before you could ask anything?” She laughs as I slowly nod my head.

I look at my mom in confusion. “How did you know?”

“Because that is just Gail for you. Nobody knows how she knows, why she knows, or why she is always right, but what we do know is that when something big is coming in your life, Gail is going to be there meddling and pushing you in the direction you need to be.” Mom just shrugs her shoulders before turning to go sit down behind the table.

With one last glance in the direction Gail went, I turn to follow Mom to my seat. Flipping open the journal Odes gave me, I place a pen next to it.

Mom shifts her arm along the table, grasping my hand in hers. “You know when you finally told Dad and I about you wanting to do this photography thing, I never imagined this is where we would be shortly after. Don’t get me wrong, I always knew you would do something that involved nature, but I didn’t see photography as the thing. I’m so glad you finally told us so we could actually support you.” Her golden brown hair is glowing in the morning sun as her eyes glisten with tears.

Sheesh, seems we are all going to be tearing up today. “Awe Mom, you and Dad have always been a wonderful support system. Even when I told you guys that I wasn’t sure my place in the pack. Instead of demanding I take my place at the hospital, you let me figure it out. I couldn’t ask for better parents.”

Her hand releases mine as she gently taps the top of it. “You’re the best daughter a mom could ask for. Now, let’s dry our tears and get ready for your first guests. I see some heading this way.”

The festival comes alive with vibrant booths: Bea from Crust Issues offers pastries; other vendors display handcrafted candles, leather items, and vibrant clothing. Guests begin pouring in and out of my booth, each leaving a small note in the journal that I can’t wait to read later. I’ve already sold all my copies that I had on my table, and so many have asked my mom why we have been hiding this talent all along. Mom’s been fantastic with fielding these questions, almost as if she’s been doing it all her life. I guess years of dealing with pack member families when they want to know how their family member is doing, would give you lots of experience with dealing with awkward, hard questions.

Time is flying by, I’m just walking a guest through the booth as she tells me all about a tale of her own from our town, when the final bell chimes. Thankful that the vendor portion was only the first part of the day, my shoulders sag in relief. I don’t think I’ve stood on my feet this long in my entire life. The soles of my feet are sore and cramping, my lower back is on literal fire, and I’m pretty sure the only thing I’ve eaten today is one of the lemon and lavender pastries that Granny Fern left earlier today.

As the last guest files out of the booth, I plop down in my chair and heave out a loud sigh. “Thank the Goddess that it’s over. As much as I loved hearing everyone’s thoughts on my story, I’m exhausted and my feet are killing me. How do you do this every single day?” My arms fall to my sides as my head dropsover the back of the chair, my legs sprawling out in front of me. My long, sunflower sundress thankfully keeping me modest and protecting my lady bits.

My mom chuckles as her hand taps my knee. “You get used to it. You had a wonderful turnout though! We sold every copy you brought and you even have bidders on the copies you have hanging up! I have to say, not that I’m an expert or anything, that it’s a success, wouldn’t you agree?”

Without lifting my head, I look at my display from a different perspective. I don’t know how I didn’t notice until now, had to be because I was slammed busy, but my sage stick is tucked beside the photo of Shadow in my display. Nestled into the sheer fabric, the stick sits perfectly tucked next to the photo exactly where Shadow is looking. What the fu…

I scramble out of the chair, almost tripping over the skirt of my dress, startling my mom who was mid-sipping her sun tea, when I rush around the center pole to where the stick is. Pinching it between my fingers as if it’s possessed and moved itself over there, I look between it and my mom.