In Parched Gardens: Book 2

Chapter 5: Was this the Work of the Wicked

Fin walked up to the small crowd gathering at the steps of the Allbrook Historical Society. He examined the old brick building. It used to be a home, long ago, and it still looked like it could be. Its large black front door was surrounded by carved white wood. On either side of the door, a small lantern pane held a dim light. White window frames dotted the front of the building. Old, black shutters were opened, like wings, on either side of each window. On the dark roof of the home, two brick chimneys and three dormers were easily visible. Inside, through the windows, Fin could see several people milling around the rooms. In one room, he saw colorful wallpaper of reds and greens and yellows, and a large dark, brown dining table.

He'd gotten there a little early, so that crowd was still fairly small. Near the front of the crowd he saw Isaac talking with several people, including Tom Roberts, the tour guide who'd volunteered for the past 30 years. Isaac scanned the crowd and he saw Fin standing near the back of it and grinned. Knowing Fin wouldn't want to join this conversation, he didn't motion him over.

More and more people began to arrive at the historical society. The crowd filled the sidewalk in front of the building and spilled out into the street there. As he stood, waiting, Fin saw them approach from toward the Circle, and he was excited. Natalie scanned the crowd and found him standing there and waved to him, as if she didn't expect him to be there. He waved back at her, and beside Natalie, Maria also waved at him politely.

Walking up to him, Natalie spoke. "Hey Fin," she said, "Did Isaac talk you into this too?" she asked.

Fin shook his head. "He did, as a matter of fact," Fin answered. "Have you ever been to this before?"

"More than I'd care to admit," Natalie replied. "It's been a while though. You?" she asked him.

"No," Fin answered. "Somehow I've always avoided it."

Maria chimed in now. "Really? You haven't been to this more times than you can count?" she asked him, smiling.

"Somehow," he started, "I have not. I know that's kind of shocking."

"Well I'm gonna go say hi to Isaac real quick," Natalie said. "I'll be right back."

Fin and Maria watched her wade through the crowd, near the front, where Isaac was. "Hey!" Isaac said when she got to him, "You made it!" He paused a moment. "Did you both make it?" he asked, turning from the others he had been talking to.

"We did," Natalie said, motioning over her shoulder. "So are you excited for tonight?" she asked.

"For sure," Isaac answered. "I've already made a few trips around town practicing," he said. "I hope you brought a tip," he added.

"Funny," she said, dryly.

Just then, a woman approached them. "Natalie," the woman said warmly, and Natalie turned to see her. She reached out her arms to hug Natalie, and Natalie returned the gesture, though she didn't appear immensely comfortable. "It's been so long since I've seen you," the woman said.

"It has been a long time Mrs. Allbrook," Natalie replied. "How have you been?"

The woman smiled, looking out toward the crowd. "Busy," she started, "but I've been well. Are you still working at the library?"

"Yes," Natalie answered. "Probably will be for a long time," she added.

"And," the woman said, turning toward Isaac. "I see you know our star tour guide this year."

"I do," Natalie replied. "We talk a lot. He's a big reader."

"Don't I know it," the woman continued. "The amount of times I've found him with a book in the Historical Society library..." she said, shaking her head at him. "Well, it's great seeing you, Natalie," the woman said, "but I've got to go kick this off."