Aunty M was busy being her Aunty M self, stopping first over at New Downing to visit with Granny for a while, passing Wayne nd Mr. Stringham through town. "O, there you are Wayne,"
nearly stopping in her tracks. "David, I see the shop is coming on well," trying to find a way around them yet to be polite, after all, she was in a hurry today. No time for idle chit-chat.
"Margaret, glad to see ya out and about," said David as he tipped his hat in her direction.
"Yes, just need to run a few errands today chat's all," patting her purse. "How're things with the boys and our little shop coming along?" She asked. "Fine, just installed the counter, finest work I have done in years. If I do not say so myself," he replied.
"Good, and how's young Dave doing uptown in your other shop uptown?" Margaret asked.
"Just fine Margaret, in fact, we had to hire another helper we have been so busy."
"Well, imagine that. Another helper you say sounds like things are picking up."
"Yep, sure has, thanks to this here town."
"Well best not be keeping you, Wayne, boys. I will have lunch sent over in a while," patting his shoulder.
"Thanks, Aunty M," as they nod to her saying their goodbyes.
"It's no trouble you know that" She waves them back down the street.
"Now then, where is that house?" Pulling out the sheet of paper with Granny's new address on it. "She said turn left on the old road and then make a quick right. It is the fourth house down the lane."Oh my," shaking as she climbed the steps as chills ran down her spine, seeing the old brown jug sitting outside the window gave her unpleasant memories. Aunty M slowly knocked on the door as Ned opened it. "Hi Ned, is Granny at home?" She asked.
"She's in the back," Ned said, busting at the seams to ask her a question, finally getting up the nerve to ask. "Aunty M, is it alright if I go over and see Anna for a while?" Ned asked as his eyes gazed down towards the ground as he kicked it with the tip of his boot.
"You like her, don't you boy," she asked.
Ned smiled, showing his teeth a little. "Huh, huh." "What does your Granny say?" She asked.
"That I am still too young for fellas like me to be thinking the way I do about girls like her. But all I want to do is talk," he said looking down at the floor. Maybe a little kissing and holding her hand he thinks not saying out loud. "That's all."
"Well, she is pretty, I'll give you that," patting him on the back. "Tell you what I will do. I will speak with your Granny about it, maybe you can have supper with us sometime this week, would ya like that?"
Ned lifted his chin and looked her in the eyes. "You would do that for me?" He asked.
"I would, now take me to her boy. And find me her jug so we can sit awhile."
"Yes ma'am," Ned said, pointing her to the living room. "Granny we have company," he said. Opening the door showing Aunty M through to the living room door.
"Well bless my aching feet. If it is not my old friend Margaret, how have ya been Margaret?" She replied.
"Fine and not too bad considering," Aunty M turns her head towards Ned.
"Go on Ned. Fetch me that jug, the one by the window," Granny said. "Yes Granny, but what about what Mr. G and what he had said-." Not finishing what he was about to say. Regarding this jug and what is inside that makes it "extremely special "but never said how special except was from an old family recipe.
"I know what he said, dear, but we have guests, and she's an old friend." What could be the harm in a little moonshine now and again? However, she questioned it because ever since she started drinking it, she began to feel younger, and strange and peculiar things were starting to happen to her.
"Yes, Granny."
"Now git," Granny replied as she waited for Ned to bring her old brown jug and two glasses. ''Alright son, now leave us for a while." Granny sat back into her old-stuffed brown chair taking a quick swig. "O that's it, warms me gills," quickly gazes over at Aunty M in the room. "Now then what can I's do fer ye child, seeing's I' m not's as young I 'ds used to be. These blasted storms take it right out of me joints," she said. She rubbed her two hands together to get the circulation moving and noticed a slight static of electricity encircling her hands. Odd that has been happening a lot lately she said to herself.
"Actually, I am here on a personal matter Granny." Aunty M said as she patted her purse and quickly looked out the window and sat down on the couch across from her.
"Personal matter ye say, well then this is serious," pouring herself another glass. "Come child, try some, made it this last year, me own special recipe." Well, part of it anyway thinking of Mr. G (aka Mr. Golden Eyes.) and what he might have added to it. That makes her body feel so young again. Then there are these other things she is not sure if they are related to the aftereffects from drinking from that old brown jug.
Aunty M grabbed the jug and poured a just a little bit into a glass, "maybe just a sip," she said cocking her head to one side."O my, that is something," slapping her knee and feeling it gives her an extra kick in surprised energy.
"Warms the belly too dear," as Granny pours Aunty M another glass that goes down her throat hard.
"Now then." Aunty M said looking Granny straight in the eye, "like I said I'm here on personal business," taking out an IOU out of her purse and placing it into Granny's hand. The same IOU she used already to save EJ last summer from Morgan trying to take him from the Marriot that fateful night, and now he is trying to do it again. Morgan is now getting bolder with every passing moment. After using the second IOU, she only had three more remaining, which made her choose her options wisely.
With no other options available, she reluctantly cashed in the second IOU, knowing that it was the key to uncovering the truth about the missing adoption papers. Their unconventional approach, guided by the Gods of Light, ensured that the majority of them were retrieved. At least, they were able to find the key parts, which enabled them to continue the procedures temporarily at cost, as they say, nothing is for free.
Everyone must pay the unavoidable price. However, the price that would be and required for d1e Gods of Light's help was. The Downings would need to forgive Linda Sturt and by doing so offer Linda the opportunity to regain her soul, and give her a second chance, which will enable her to become a part of both EJ's and Danny's lives, not exactly the life she had expected to have with them, but it was better than nothing at all.
Despite the fair cost she had to bear, it would come at a steep price. Because she had to face the consequences of her actions and make up for the pain she had caused her boys throughout the years, the cost was high. Taking on the role of mediator, Mrs. Jennings would deliver the bill of sale to Linda Stuart in person, clarifying that this was her last and only chance. Or meet the same fate as her husband Jim.
However, another opportunity would also come Jim Stuart's way, one that would prove even more challenging than his wife Linda's. It was not the duty of the Downings and their two boys, EJ and Danny, to forgive him or ask for a fresh start, as dictated by the Gods of Light. Ever since they were born, he has harbored a sinister plan to take their lives, the evidence of his dark deeds marking his hands with blood. The scars on their bodies told a tale of not only the repeated beatings they endured, but also the pets they mourned and the animals he savored in their suffering and death. His wrath knew no bounds as he targeted anyone who stood in his way, including innocent children and even his own family members.
Jim had to know that no matter how much he paid, it would never be enough to make amends for his past crimes. His actions were on a whole different level compared to their mother's transgressions. Jim. Sturt the way things stand. He won't like the price he is going to pay in the end. The rest well, let's just say it will not matter to them. A wry smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she realized the insignificance of it all.
The other part that left a smile on her face, was that it gave her the opportunity to see her husband, Mike, again. In the flesh, she believed it to be of flesh and blood as he held her in his arms. The warmth of his embrace enveloped her, bringing a sense of comfort and familiarity. Even being dead did not have the same meaning to her anymore. Then it did, at least among the mortal realms. She, too, could be part of that category. She was on the verge of awakening, of becoming something more. But first, she had a lot of learning to do, and not a lot of time to do it.
The ticking of the clock on the wall grew louder, a reminder that time was running short. Like her and the others like the Downings and more so her nephew EJ. The urgency of the situation hung in the air, palpable and overwhelming. Time was slipping through their fingers, like sand in an hourglass.
"What's this?" Granny asked as she turned the papers over in her hands reading the print.
"It's a promise I made, checking to see if you're willing to be part of the deal," as Aunty M finished off her glass.
Aunty M had already assumed at the time that she had chosen for her, and Mr. Golden Eyes known as Nathaniel himself was a member of Death, and a major player among the Brotherhood of the Council of Light the same Council her late husband Mike belonged to before he died. After all, they had been going steady as were for little over a few months she reckons.
"What kind of deal are ye referring to child?" Granny asked a little confused.
"Let us just say. Remember when you asked me if I might know of any gooms".
"Yes, I remember." Granny thought about what had happened over last summer, some of it caused an extra reding in her cheeks. Thinking about Mr. Golden Eyes and how they met and kept meeting soon after. "What a strange, wonderful man he is, "she thought. Granny said thinking of one guy in particular who would get her off her back so to speak.
"But I found me a fella already, I think," Granny thinks of Mr. G. Aunty M smiles with a twinkle in her eye hoping it was true. "Yes,
I know dear about that. Just wanted to know if he asked you the tie the knot yet?" She asked.
"No." Granny looked her straight in the face, "he hasn't, come to think about it, but I have been sure hopen he might soon." In fact, the question keeps her up at night wondering the same thing.
You are not the only one. Aunty M thought. "I see, so you're interested in him?" Watching her smile with all her crooked yellow teeth.
"Interested? Heck, I marry him tommra if I could!" Taking another swallow of her jug. Making up her mind that it was time to take matters into her own hands. "But he left town on some business. A couple of days ago. Why?"
"No reason," Aunty M placing the IOU's back into her purse. Nearly having to tear it out of Granny's hands.
Realizing how much stronger she has become since the last time they met. Strange, as she looks at the Jug of Moon Shine sitting off to the side and changes her mind when Granny brings her back to reality and to the conversation.
"Ye don't think he out chasing another felly, do ya?" She said as she gave a hard stare at Aunty M, starting to lose her calm a little bit as she rolled up her sleeves. "Because I mean to keep him for me-self," planting a foot down on the floor hard causing a slight spark of blue lightning to discharge around her. Taking another swallow of her jug eyeing Margaret sideways, if she was trying to still her man, and if she noticed the strange, odd things that were happening to her. Besides the lack of aging, more like reversed aging noticing the few wrinkles and aging spots have vanished and then there was this overpowering of strength she never had before, plus the extra strange charge of electrical charge going through her body some mystical power she didn't have before.
"No." Aunty M said deep in thought for half a second. "Could it be?
Na, that had he already had claimed her as his, "patting her purse. "No granny, he just had some loose ends to tie up that's all," trying to simmer her down some.
Thinking just for a minute, she saw a blue discharge of static electricity coming off Granny, and her eyes started to glow white for a mere second. "No. she must be losing her mind," she thought.
"I hope so because I'm not getting any younger," rubbing her hands smiling, and then laughing at herself. Thinking she would ever be the jealous type.
"Say now, thinking of younger. I promise your boy Ned that he could come and have supper with us some night this week. Why don't you come and bring your friend along, or dare I say fiancee, will make a party of it." Granny laughed seeing they both liked the idea and had come to a real understanding.
"That sounds like a swell I 'dear Margaret, he should be back tommra. I will ask him then and have him stop by with an answer." Either way, he was going to be her's and no one else's, feeling that jealous rage inside of her. "You do that," Margaret said helping herself to the door. "Now ya
go easy on that stuff," pointing to the brown jug sitting on the TV tray near Granny. A little too close for comfort in her opinion. Especially with that strange static charge of hers, one wrong move-.
Granny laughed watching her pick it up with her left hand and cocks her head to the side before she takes her another swallow. "Ahh shucks, do not worry about me. Ever since that house burnt down. I allowed," frowning "a jug a week and this is the weak stuff as Ned keeps adding more water and vinegar to it. Keeps taking the good stuff away from me." She thinks she feels invigorated after taking another swallow. Yet so tired afterward as she starts to nod off the moment, she sets it back down on the tray. Aunty M helps herself back down the hall seeing Ned. "She's all yours," shaking her head.
"Thanks, I think," Ned sighs. "Come on Granny," placing the quilt back over seeing that she had fallen asleep again, and had noticed the extra changes in her, plus the aftereffects of her dozing off more often. Ever since Mr. G had given her that jug, telling them it was from his private stash, from way back home. Yet far as he knows he has never said where that home was.
Ned slowly, but carefully takes the jug away from her as he closes the door, said. "She'll sleep for hours now," as he puts the jug back into the window of the kitchen and walks Aunty M back down the hall.
Aunty M turned back to Ned. "Come by the house any old time Ned," brushing his soft cheeks. "Anna will love to see ya, just talk now." As she smiled thinking about young lovers knowing they were doing more than talking. After all she and Mike did too when they were young once. Oh, what wonderful old memories of their times, they spent just the two of them "just talking." She waved down the road and headed back to the farm and sighed looking at the time. "There's some much to do and so little time," she thought as she patted her purse with her IOUs.
After returning back to the farm, Aunty M quickly puts some lunch together for the boys in New Downing. where Wayne and the boys were working on Martha's and Renee Whitmore's new sewing shop. "Julie dear, you mind taking this into town for me?" Placed some sandwiches and cookies and a large jug of hot chocolate and other things into the basket for the boy's lunch over at the shop. "Thanks, dear," Aunty M handing her the basket, "now then." Aunty M checks her list of things to do around the house, noticing Martha trying to do too much in her condition, and shakes her head. "Martha please let me do that," setting her back down in a chair near the fireplace and placing a blanket over her shoulders. "You heard what the Doctor said Martha, you need lots of rest and as little exertion as possible."
"I know. I know," Martha grumbled, Aunty M shaking her head at her once again. "I am trying," Martha replied.
"We all are dear, now rest."
Martha sits by the fire watching the clock go by hour after hour as Aunty M runs her house for her, which has been a blessing, yet sometimes a curse but she loves her all the same. If it weren't for her life would have been boring. "I just wish I had something to do that's all," Martha said looking out the window, "I hate just sitting here helpless." Sounding bored and tired at the same time as life goes on without her.
"Is that all?" Aunty M laughed and ran upstairs to her room grabbing a bunch of cloth and some thread, and Martha's sewing basket. "Now then," sitting it down beside her. "You dear have a shop and a window with no curtains in it and all this fabric that you could ever dream of," laughed. "You complain you have nothing to do dear." Places the shears in her right hand and a copy of the measurements of the window in her left," Now, make your window."
Martha laughs, reaching up and putting her arms around her. "Thanks," with a tear in her eye begins sewing her shop window.
"Hey, Martha that's what family is for."
Leaving Aunty M to her work, placing Martha's apron around her waist and went back to running the Downing Farm, as if it were the only place she rather be. For now, at least things were about to change. Some are not so good and some just have to be whether we want them to be or not. Nothing ever stays the same, even behind the looking glass.
Derrick watches unseen by the real world gathering his forces as quickly as human and inhumanly possible. Thinking about all those worlds beyond the looking glass. That so desperately needs this family's help as he watches from afar into the glass mixture of distant magical waters from an old lake, he once came upon that allows him to watch from within the shadows. He knows that time is running out.
With a wave of his right-hand says the words "Nera far sya.-day-nasta" he moves some more of his stars of light in his personal destiny chamber, and removes the souls of ones of many before he separates them from the Dark side into the Light once more. Like sifting grains of sand as he begins to change their destinies. Ma.king the ha.rd choices whether they live, die, or journey onward from the path they were on.
Derrick gives a heavy sigh, as he realizes all the work he still must do.
Now sitting in his new role as the Judge of Time, no longer a simple man of Death as he once was. Now others have and must change to their new seats of life and take on new responsibilities once more.