Chapter twenty-three: Family Warmth
The entire day, Pama walked me through the small town– explaining everything from someone named Tomas who liked to smoke tobacco in the evenings while yelling at the town's kids, to Mrs. Mille's baked pies that would put chefs in the capital to shame.
I knew far more than I wanted to know about the town by early afternoon. She took me to the river that snaked past the fields– showed me a spot where she secretly caught frogs to scare her older sister a while ago– and let me know to never eat berries that are red with pink spots since they were poisonous.
By the time the sun began to set– I just wanted somewhere to lay down. All the walking around and the lack of sleep was starting to catch up with me.
"Pama, is there an Inn in this town?" I asked, as we walked back. She shot me a look like I was crazy– which made sense considering it was a weak hope in the first place.
"We have a barn." She pointed toward the tree line. "But you can't sleep there. Don't you know anyone here? No one comes here unless they have family in the town."
"No." I repressed a sigh.
I suppose I'll be sleeping outside again.
"You can stay with my family." She proclaimed. "My parents are really nice."
"I appreciate the offer, but-"
"Look! There's mama now." She sprinted, running toward a woman who looked like she stamped her face on the girl– while waving her arm in the air. "Mama, I made a new friend! Can she stay over?"
I sighed and picked up speed, walking after her.
The woman glanced over at me– doing a once over. "That's your friend?"
"Yeah! She just got to town today and I guided her around. She's a nice lady, mama."
"I apologize." I said, coming to a stop and taking a few deep breaths. "I should have asked if it was alright to be shown around by her."
"No." The woman shook her head, tapping her fist against Pama's cheek lightly. "You're way too friendly, Pama." Pama stuck out her tongue and rolled her eyes. "She probably didn't give you much of a choice. Every new person that arrives here she takes it upon herself to show them around."
"I'm a good guide." Pama grumbled. "No one's complained so far!"
"Probably because you talk their ear off." Her mother laughed. "Go help your father carry in some firewood."
"But, what about my friend?" Pama asked, crossing her arms. "Can she stay the night?"
"Pama, do as I say."
"Fiiiine." Pama grumbled, jogging away. "Let her stay, mama!" She called over her shoulder before sprinting toward a two story home.
"You don't have to offer me a place to sleep." I said quickly.
"If I don't– Pama won't stop bothering me all night." She smiled softly. "You don't have any relatives here?"
"No." I shook my head. "The driver took me to the wrong location and wanted too much to take me somewhere else."
The lie rolled easily off my tongue. Too easily. Am I just going to be a compulsive liar for the rest of my life?
"I did try and get a ride from the wagon driver in town." I continued. "But he was too drunk to give me a ride today."
"I see. Willy has a habit of…being perpetually drunk." She sighed. "If you don't mind sleeping on the ground floor– you're more than welcome to stay the night."
"Thank you."
"Of course." She began to walk, motioning me to follow her. "What's your name sweetie?"
"Cara." I walked up beside her, thankful to be moving at a normal speed.
"I'm Meredith."
We chatted lightly on the way back– about inane things that didn't really matter much. She told me about her husband Dreden and how he just got back from hunting rabbits. I also found out that her eldest daughter, Summa, had married a man from a different village and had moved out a few months ago.
She didn't ask me any personal questions or push for me to supply any. Pama was right– her mother was a nice woman who knew what boundaries were.
By the time we reached the house– Pama had come running out beaming when she saw I was still talking with Meredith.
"Papa said she could stay, mama. So that means you'll let her too, right? You seem like you're friends now."
"Yes, Pama, now go back in. It's going to get chilly soon." Meredith scolded, ushering her into the house.
"But-"
"Pama, do as I say for once." Her mother sighed. "Or you won't get those cookies next week that you like so much."
"I'm going!" Pama turned away from the door and disappeared.
"Come on in." Meredith said, holding open the door.
I followed in behind her. The warmth from the house enveloped me instantly– along with the voice of her husband and daughter laughing from the back of the house.
I walked behind her toward where the voices were drifting from to see a modest sized kitchen. The scent of food already simmering in a pot over an open fire had my mouth watering.
"Papa, meet Cara." Pama said, bounding over to me. "She's pretty and smart. Just like me."
"Welcome to our home, Cara." Dreden said, smiling.
"Thank you."
Meredith walked over to the pot and began to stir it while Pama continued to prattle off anything that she could think of.
By the time dinner was served– and we sat down– Pama had decided that I would be her penpal once I left and I would tell her all about my 'adventures'-- whatever that meant.
I didn't have the heart to tell her that I wouldn't be able to send her a single note.
While we ate, the family joked with one another and teased each other. It was strange to see what an actual family dynamic should be like.
Kyla never had that and neither did I. I didn't even know who my parents were back in my original world. I never cared either– they had abandoned me outside a hospital and I had no room in my life to even consider the why or how.
But watching them interact so happily with one another had my heart squeezing. Stop it, body. I spooned in another mouthful of the stew. You can't miss something you never had.
When we finished dinner– Meredith gave me some blankets and had to force Pama to stop bothering me and to go to bed.
After we said our goodnights– I sprawled out on the floor. For the first time in a while I was full from a good meal and warm.
It didn't take me long to fall asleep that night. The content feeling lulled me into a false sense of serenity and no dreams plagued me.
If only things had stayed that way.