Shifter's Baby(30)

Callie stopped and turned towards the man. She looked harder at him and she realized he was about her mother’s age or rather, how she would have been. “That is my mother. How do you know her?”

It was too convenient to be a coincidence and she looked around nervously, not really sure what she was looking for. Her eyes could not meet his dark grey ones and she wished that she was not the one wedged by the window. “I am sorry if I startled you. I knew her a long time ago and you look just like her. Though I am sure you know that.”

Callie relaxed slightly and she nodded. “Yeah people used to always say that about us.”

“Used to?”

“My mother passed away five years ago. I am sorry to have to be the one to tell you that.”

The stranger seemed more upset than a mere acquaintance would have been and it piqued her interest even more. Callie started to wonder how long ago he had known her and under what context. He was in too much pain though to bother him with questions and she sat awkwardly next to him for over ten minutes before he seemed to regain his composure.

“I am sorry that I had to tell you like that. I thought everyone knew. How long ago did you know her?”

“Oh a little over twenty years ago. She was about your age when I met her. I just can’t believe she is gone. She was the one that got away for me and I had always hoped to see her again one day.”

His eyes misted up again and he looked away. Callie was not sure how she was supposed to respond. It all seemed so incredibly strange and she kind of thought that she may be dreaming. There was another long silence and Callie dozed off. When she awoke she was alone and then she really did think that it had all been a dream. There was not much time to think about it though, because she was there and her stop was the next one.

Her insides shook with trepidation, but she had to get off of the bus, it was the end of the line for her. Her eyes scanned the few faces in the car with her, but she did not see the face of the man that had sat next to her.

Callie wrestled with the large duffel bag and carry-on that she had brought with her. She already knew that she would be semi isolated and in a place that did not know what Wi-Fi was, she had to bring some essentials. In the end though, her petite frame was piled down with bags as she tried to get to the outside of the terminal.

Callie was out of breath and clutching her sides when she finally set her bag down and looked around. The scenery was beautiful, if a person liked the outdoorsy kind of appeal, but all Callie could see was bugs and wilderness. She flipped her phone out and was amazed when she saw a few bars left. Someone was supposed to be there to pick her up, a house attendant or something. It was one of her Aunt’s employees and it seemed as if he was sleeping on the job.

She waited patiently for twenty minutes and was close to blowing a top, when a man pulled up in a black car and rolled down the window, hollering her name like she was the auction block. She waited for him to get out or open the door at least, but she realized quickly that it was not going to happen. Callie got in after she put her bags in the trunk, after having to repeatedly ask him to pop the trunk. “Thanks.”

“No problem chick. I was just on my way when I had to do a few things. You understand right?” Callie nodded, though she didn’t.





Chapter 2


The land before her seemed foreign and incredibly open. There were mountains on both sides and her eyes could not imagine how high the tops were. There was a strange shadow overhead that seemed far larger than any bird she had heard of. She craned her neck up to get a better look, but the image was gone and she was left to wonder if she had actually seen anything at all.

“So how is Aunt June?”

The man shrugged and the woman sighed. He was no use to her, so she ignored him the rest of the way home. She was surprised at the large manor that they drove up to. She had for some reason envisioned a house strangled in vines with large metal scrap pieces littering the yard. That was far from the truth. The house and yard were immaculate and everything was in such a larger scale. There was even a strange third story room that seemed open to the elements. It looked strange, but somehow seemed to fit into the house. Callie made it a point to remember to check that part of the house out first.

The man did not offer to help her with her bags and she didn’t ask. She should have been thankful that he managed to get her there and pop the trunk. She waited for him to walk up with her, but he turned and left as soon as she had the trunk closed. She waved at him and then flipped him off at the last minute. “What a jerk.”

“He is, isn’t he?”

Callie started and looked up at the porch and the older woman that was sitting in the corner rocking chair. As she walked up, the woman was not what she had expected. She had expected some frail woman and in front of her was a vibrant older woman. She had a twinkle in her blue eyes and it reminded her of her mother. “Aunt June?”