I inhaleddeeply. “God, that smells like home.”
“Let’s go in,then,” she suggested. “I’m sure the boys wouldn’t say no to somefresh biscuits!”
We were liketwo giddy children as we loaded up on delicious buns and cookies.The kind baker, a short and plump lady with grey curls thatreminded me of Aunt Mary, neatly wrapped everything and handed itover in a pretty basket. We thanked her and went on our way,weaving in and out of shops, stopping to strike up casualchit-chat with people walkingabout. Because, even though we seemed light-footed and carefree, our mission was never far frommy mind.
FindMaria.
A fact thatLottie never forgot, either, I realized as she began slipping inquestions about the port and recent pirates that may have comethrough. We spent the better part of the morning there in the busymerchant square, asking and prodding and listening, but were still no closer. I truly began to panicat the thought of my wish not working. I only had one more left andI wanted to use it to get us home.
After I’deaten half of the contents in my basket, we planted our defeatedselves on a cold stone bench on the upper section of the square,surrounded by the larger shops that were clearly for the wealthiercustomers. The windows boasted bright colors of reds and blues,radiant emerald green dresses, sparkling jewelry and handbags. Butone store stood out to me among the rest. An apothecary.
“Mind waitinghere for a moment?” I asked Lottie and she followed my gaze.
“Theapothecary?”
I shrugged.“There’s a few things I’d like to get, if they have it.”
She didn’tlook convinced. Lottie leaned back against the bench and replied,“No, I go where you go.”
“Alright,then,” I told her. “I just wasn’t sure if you were sick of walkingaround.” But the tired look on her face told me I was right. Thensomething dawned on me and I chortled. “Henry told you not to leavemy side, didn’t he?”
My friendfailed to hide the way her cheeks flushed, her eyes flittering awayfrom mine. “Not really,” Lottie started. “I saw how torn up he wasabout the idea of you leaving without him, so I told Henry Iwouldn’t let you out of my sight. He never replied but the look onhis face said, ‘you better not’. So…”
I heaved asigh but smiled for my friend. For the way she always jumped in,ready to protect anyone. “To the apothecary we go.”
Inside theold, charcoal colored store awaited an interior unlike anything I’dever seen before, sitting in a cloud of incense and herbs. Wall towall, ceiling to floor shelves that were completely full of jarsand tiny boxes. All sorts of sizes, shapes; glass, stone. Each onelabeled in a fancy scrawl. I titled my head to the side andapproached the shelves closest to me, straining to read what theywere. Crow’s Foot. Amethyst Dust. Milk of the Poppy. No rhyme orreason to the way items were placed. Still, it was beautiful.Wondrous chaos.
“May I helpyou, ladies?” croaked a voice in the distance. Lottie tightened atmy side as I scanned the shop for its source. My eyes landed on anelderly woman, freakishly tall and mostly bones. A strangenavy-blue fabric draped itself over her narrow frame, tucking andtwisting around limbs. Mesmerizing jewels and brooches pinnedpieces and a gold sash kept it all together. Dry, grey curls fannedaround her arms as she stepped forward, giant wooden braceletsclanking. “My name’s Theodora.”
“Pleased tomeet you,” I replied and stepped to meet her in the center of thebeautiful shop. “I’m Dianna andthis,“ I motioned to Lottie, “Is Charlotte.”
Theodoralazily smiled and turned to light a flame under a tiny pot ofincense. Sandalwood, by the smell of it. Like my father used towear.
“I’m lookingfor some lavender, as well as some loose, dried chamomile. If youhave it?” I wasn’t a hundred percent sure things like that wouldexist in this era. But it would have been great if they did.
The old lady’seyes looked interested as her brows raised. “Having troublesleeping, are we?”
I could feelLottie next to me, her curiosity peaked. “Yes,” I told Theodora.“I’m pregnant. Nearly five months. And it’s become fairly difficultto sleep.” I wanted it for myself, but also for Henry. I knew mydisrupted, broken sleep kept him up all night, too. And with thestress of saving my mother on my shoulders, I found it impossibleto relax enough to sleep through the night.
“A woman whoknows herbs and oils,” Theodora said and grinned before steppingcloser. “You’ve had trouble sleeping before?”
“No.” Istuffed my hands in the large pockets of my red skirt. “I just knowthose help.”
“Very well,then,” the woman seemed satisfied with my answer then glanced toLottie. “Anything for you, dearie?”
Lottie wavedher off as she stepped away. “No, thank you. I’ll just lookaround.”
“So,” Theodoraregarded me curiously, “Pregnant, are we?” I nodded. “Do you knowwhat you’re having yet?”
My facetwisted in thought. “How–”
“Oh, I havemany ways to tell.” I watched as the kooky old woman roamed aroundthe store, eyes scanning shelves, until her hands reach up on ashelf to pluck a small brown box, just big enough for a pair ofshoes. From inside it, she pulled a long golden chain which dangledwith a jagged stone. Milky white, like marble. “Do not be alarmed.‘Tis no witchcraft.”
“What are yougoing to do?”
“Just hang itover your stomach like so.” She held the chain up high and thestone hovered just a few inches from the surface of my belly.Quietly, she waited until it was perfectly still. Suddenly, thepale rock began to gently sway back and forth, and I lit up withcuriosity. “When the pendulum swings side to side, it’s a boy. Butwhen it begins to move in a circle–” she paused and grinned as thestone started to change its motion. “It’s a girl.”
I didn’treally believe in that sort of stuff. Or so I thought. But whenTheodora spoke the words, my mind filled with bright colors of pinkand purple. Of long, blonde curls bouncing around as she wentthrough life. A girl. My girl. “Well,” I replied, “thatwould be wonderful.”
“Now, let’sget you your things, shall we?” Her long boney fingers curledaround my arm after she pat it once,
