Unforgettable (OLD COPY DISCONTINUED)

Chapter 2

Our walk to the stables is relatively quiet as orange light is cast over the fields where several horses are grazing. There are few people out since it's a Saturday and most everyone is either still in town or have already gone to the dining hall for dinner.

I whistle for Hera as we approach the stables, the dark, nearly black mare lifting her head from where she's standing in a nearby paddock. She whickers eagerly when she spots me and trots for the fence-line, her ears pricking up at the possibility of a treat.

"Head for the barn," I tell her as her tail swishes and she stomps one of her back hooves impatiently.

Indigo smiles and nods at the mare as we walk into the breezeway of the barn, "She looks better."

Hera had been a rescue and was adopted into Greenwood last year since most any other person wouldn't be able to help her the way a witch could. A couple dozen spells from a stable-hand to help her heal what had once been scars from a previous owner, along with a balanced diet has resulted in an overall spoiled mare who enjoys stealing food from any unsuspecting, neighboring horses.

I unlatch the door for the stall and lock it behind me as I open the door to the outside, the large mare already waiting for me in the threshold. She squeezes past me and heads straight for her feed-bucket, which she shoves her nose into before she pulls it back out and looks at me expectantly when she finds it empty.

"I know," I mutter as I shut the door to the outside and step out of the stall.

I walk for the tack room where the feed is kept and scoop a healthy amount of grain into a bucket before I return to her stall. I dump the grain into her trough and she immediately starts to eat as she noisily chews her food and snorts in a way that could almost be taken as her saying 'it's about time'. Indigo clears her throat suddenly and I glance up to see that she has her phone in her hand.

"Mom and Dad want to meet for dinner, do you want to take a taxi or Uber?" she asks as she lifts an expectant eyebrow.

"I think I'll pass, Hera could use a good brushing," I insist as I reach over to stroke the mare's cheek.

"Kara," Indigo crosses her arms as she tilts her head, "come on, do you ever take a break?"

I open my mouth to protest, but she cuts me off.

"I'm back in town, they want to take us out to eat, it's free food and good food," Indigo continues.

I sigh, "Where do they want to meet?"

"Firenze," she says with a knowing smile, since the restaurant is one of my favorites.

"Fine, it's a deal," I relent as Hera blows out a heavy breath behind me.

****

After texting Connor and having him say that he's in town playing basketball with a few friends, Indigo and I take a taxi over to the relatively upscale restaurant on the far side of Salem. She and I had changed of course and I readjust the neckline on my blouse for the hundredth time as we step out onto the sidewalk in front of the restaurant.

"Are you okay with this?" Indigo inquires as she gives me a sideways look.

"I'm fine," I assure her as I briefly rub my palms together and start walking for the door to open it.

The scent of Italian food washes over me as I step into the restaurant, which is already buzzing with evening traffic as my nerves are set on edge. I glance around before I spot my mother waving at us from where she's sitting in a corner booth against the far wall. My father is sitting next to her and across from them is Tessa, who grins as we approach.