Eternal Youth (26 page)

C
allie caught a ride with a passing soldier, who deposited her at the broad, open gates of the greenhouses where Nailah worked. She had told Nailah that she would visit, and after the revelations of her morning, Callie figured it was a good time.

Her mind was still reeling from the encounter with Charlotte. Callie had a folder in the bottom of her shoulder bag that held notes from Charlotte’s research, as well as the woman’s address. She couldn’t wait to get home and read through it all.

The building right inside the gates was large, boxy, and white-washed. Callie stepped through the dim doorway and into the cool interior, where a perky blonde receptionist greeted her warmly.

“Welcome to the Farm! How may I help?” She had a thick French accent and eyes that were almost purple. She was also too chicly dressed to work at a farm.

“I’m looking for Nailah?”

“Of course!” The receptionist pulled a binder across the desk and flipped it open with long, fire-engine red nails. She drew her finger down a handwritten list, and then smiled at Callie. “She’s in Greenhouse E today. If you go out the front door and take a left, you’ll find it on the left.”

“Thanks!”

Callie followed the woman’s instructions. The greenhouses didn’t look like the normal, all-glass buildings Callie knew from California. The outside walls looked like clay—a thick, dark paste of mud that formed four seamless walls. The sloping roofs faced the afternoon sun. They were the first instance of glass Callie could remember seeing in Aionia. It was probably too much of a production to make, particularly on an island that was proving to be mild in weather.

She passed through a swinging door into Greenhouse E. Nailah stood before a long row of tables—weighed down with lush greenery—a stone pitcher in her hands.

“Hey! What are you doing here?” Nailah set the pitcher down and gave Callie a hug. She had dirt streaked across one cheek and a leaf in her braids. “Did you come to see the Farm?”

“Yes and no.” Callie grinned. “I met someone today who has done some investigating on Aionia. She thinks there
is
a way out, and that the parliament is keeping it secret.”

Nailah laughed, scooping her pitcher up and turning back to her plants. “Seriously?”

“I know you’re skeptical, but hear me out.” Callie told Nailah what she had heard in the temple, and the ensuing conversations with Alaric and Charlotte. “I think this author chick might be right. And I’m going to search for the book.”

“Callie.” Nailah sighed. She dumped the last of the water into the base of a broad-leafed fern, and turned to grip both of Callie’s wrists. She shook them. “I think you’re getting fired up over nothing more than speculation. I’d hate to see you get let down.”

“I admit that you were right about the Bermuda Triangle and the Fountain of Youth existing.” Callie stared at her friend, her tone low and even. “But you need to trust me and my instincts on this one. I will find a way home.”

Nailah let go of Callie’s hands and shrugged. “Fine.”

There was a long, awkward pause. Callie finally motioned to their surroundings. “So. Tell me about the Farm.”

“Ah!” Nailah’s face lit up. “Well, there are twenty-six greenhouses—one for every letter of the alphabet. And there are the same amount of outdoor plots, but they’re numbered.”

Callie followed her friend as she rattled on about what vegetables they grew, and how she worked only with the plants, while the other section of the Farm was dedicated to raising and supporting livestock. They stepped into a couple of greenhouses—which all looked the same—and Nailah took her to see the football field-sized plots sitting on a backdrop of the ocean.

“We’re having a Fall Festival,” Nailah said happily as she walked Callie back to the gates. “In three days. It’s open to everyone. There will be dancing and music and food. I was going to tell you guys about it tonight when I get home. Do you think Mom and Gran would want to come?”

Callie felt a twinge of jealousy at Nailah referring to Emma as “Mom”, but she squelched it. Nailah might as well have been her sister after all they’d gone through together. “Well, yeah! It sounds like fun.”

“Awesome!” Nailah leaned in and hugged Callie. “Thanks for stopping by. And I’ll keep in mind what you said. If you need any help, I’m there.”

Armed with the knowledge she gleaned from Charlotte Rossier’s detailed notes, Callie went to work the next day with every intention of slipping away for a search. But as if they knew her intentions, the six members of parliament managed to keep her steadily busy for the rest of the week.

By the time the Fall Festival rolled around, Callie had two days off work and was tempted to stay home and sleep the entire time. She was upset she hadn’t had a chance to search at the temple, and she was worn out from running errands for six of the neediest grown-ups she’d ever known. And on top of that, Alaric had been kept so busy, too, that they hadn’t been able to do more than say “hello” in days.

“But, you have to come!” Nailah whined. She was sitting at the foot of Callie’s bed, frowning. “We put so much work into this festival. I want you there.”

“Nailah, I’m so tired.” Outside the open window, the sun was bright and the morning was clear and cool. The bedroom was alight with the warm colors of sunrise.

“Tired?” Nailah cackled. “Girl, you work on a farm for three days and then tell me what being ‘tired’ is.”

Callie rolled her eyes and buried her face in the pillow. “I just want to sleep.”

They paused as they heard footsteps on the stairs. Callie rolled to stare at the door just as her mom stuck her head in.

“Callie? Alaric is downstairs to see you.”

“Ohmigod!” Callie jumped from bed, almost hitting Nailah in the process. “I’m not dressed. I haven’t even brushed my teeth! Tell him I’ll be down in a few minutes.”

Emma laughed and went back downstairs.

“She sure is sympathetic!” Callie groaned.

“Calm down, crazy.” Nailah stood and threw open the doors to Callie’s armoire. “Look, purple. It brings out the dark highlights in your hair.”

Callie accepted the high-waisted tank dress with the princess skirt and shed her night clothes. Tugging it over her head, she screeched, “What about my teeth?”

“Well, go brush them! Seriously, Calista, you’re being stupid.”

Callie hurried off to brush her teeth. The only bathroom was at the bottom of the stairs, but if she rushed from the bottom step and across the alcove, she wouldn’t be seen. As she did, she heard the low murmur of his voice in the kitchen, and it made her heart skip a beat.

Seeing her mess of hair in the mirror made her want to scream. After she rinsed her mouth, she tore a brush through her hair, trying to tame it. She gave up and tossed her brush to the counter. Storming back upstairs and into the bedroom, she hissed, “I can’t go. Look at this hair! Of all days it doesn’t cooperate…”

Nailah laughed from where she sat cross-legged on her bed. She hopped up and opened the squeaky drawer in her nightstand, rummaging inside for a second before her hand emerged with a ponytail holder and several bobby pins. “Let me help. I learned a few tricks in my modeling days.”

“Where were you hiding that?” Callie asked, flabbergasted.

“It was in my pocket during the crash. One of my personal rules: always have a few pins and hairbands ready.” Nailah sat on the bed behind Callie, her own brush in hand. She ran the brush through Callie’s hair before expertly manipulating two braids on either side of her head. She pulled them back and twisted the rest of Callie’s hair up into a messy bun.

Callie admired the final product in the tiny mirror that hung over the dresser. She caught Nailah’s gaze in the glass. “Do you miss it?”

Nailah crinkled her brow. “Modeling?”

“Yeah, and your old life.”

“Sometimes, but it already seems like a lifetime ago. I’ve always believed you should live in the moment and accept the curveballs that life throws at you. We can either be miserable or happy. In the end, it’s up to us.”

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.”