December 11 – Indi
Neil’s words echoed in Molly’s head as she watched the next person come up. “Sometimes, it’s something you just stumble across that’s what you need.”
That could be the motto for Carter’s Cove, Schrodinger said. I mean, just look around you. How many of us just managed to find our way here when we needed it? Even those of you who were born here.
“I can’t deny that,” Molly said out loud, and Drew looked over at her, puzzled. Schrodinger and she had a deeper bond than he and Drew had, and sometimes she forgot that he couldn’t read her mind as the CrossCat could. “Talking about the motto of Carter’s Cove,” she said, and explained the conversation to him. She didn’t mention the seeing of the visions. That felt like it was something only she and Schrodinger were privy to.
“He’s not wrong,” Drew admitted, and pulled her close to his side. “After all, I had no idea I needed to be here until I came.”
“I’m glad you did, and that you didn’t leave like you intended to,” Molly said, grinning up at him. “I’d still be in my brownstone apartment.”
“And I’d be eating my own cooking, which while not terrible, is not as good as yours,” he replied, grinning back at her.
Get a room, Schrodinger grumbled good-naturedly, including Drew in the mental conversation. Some of us are trying to listen to the stories.
Drew and Molly shared another smile, and then she put her head on his shoulder as they watched their friend Indi come up.
Indi and her family ran the skating rink that formed every year in a sheltered inlet of the Elizabeth River. In the summer, it was a good swimming hole: the faster current curved around the edge of the two spits of land that cradled the cove, leaving the water smooth and perfect for swimming in. But in the winter, it came alive in a wonderfully magical way. The calm waters became a glassy ice rink. Indi had strung white Christmas lights in the trees around the beach, and there were old sofas and chairs that had been donated over the years for tired skaters to rest and eat some of the burgers and other fair food that came from the small kitchen trailer.
“My family has lived on our land for seven generations now,” Indi said proudly. “We’re old Carter Cove stock – one of my ancestors came over with Captain Carter. And we’ve always loved hosting people in our little cove.” She held up her ornament.
When the grey cleared, Molly and Schrodinger were standing in the skating cove, but it was far different than they were used to. Instead of all the lights, the only light source was the full moon that hung overhead, giving a silver gleam to the ice and the snow drifts. There was a small fire in the rocky island in the middle of the cove, where in the present, there was a large bonfire that warmed all the skaters. There were no speakers, no Christmas music, and only one person was skating around the ice.
She was young, her long hair held back from her face in a single plait that fell to mid-back. The mittens on her hands matched both her scarf and the earwarmer that framed her face. She had on a short skirt over tights, and an oversized sweater, and it was apparent that she was in her own world.
Is that Indi? Schrodinger asked, as the girl skated in graceful circles around the island, switching feet and direction as if she had been born skating.
“I think so,” Molly said. This Indi’s hair wasn’t shot with silvery strands, and the laugh lines on her face weren’t there yet, but it was definitely the skating owner. “I’d heard that she competed as a child, but that she quit. I never knew why.”
She’s so good.
The sound of clapping from the beach shattered the quiet, and Past-Indi glided over to the man who had been watching her. “You’re spying on me, Daniel.” she chided him.
“Guilty as charged,” Daniel said to her. “Are you surprised?”
“No, I guess not.”
“You’re throwing away a career, you know,” he said. “You could be on the national team. Don’t you want that?”
Past-Indi shook her head. “No,” she said. “I want to stay here and enjoy my skating. I don’t want it to be a job. Besides, it costs too much. Even with you donating your coaching time. There’s costumes, and travel…”
“You could get sponsors. You’re good enough.” Daniel stepped onto the ice and put his hands on her shoulders. “You’re too good to moulder here.”
She pushed away from him, skating backwards as she shook her head. “My heart’s here, Daniel. I’m sorry. But I don’t want it as much as you do.” She spread her hands. “I hope you find someone who does.”
The scene faded and Molly watched Indi hang the gleaming white skate on the tree as the woman said, “The thing that I like best about this town is that they understand, on some deep level, that not everyone has to be a bright star in the middle of the solar system. Sometimes, stars need to remain in the darker part of the galaxy to share the light with the shadows.”