Free Eternal Youth by Julia Crane

groaned.
    “Kidding!” Avery stood up and pulled Callie to her feet. “Let’s go look around. I saw a hot guy at a pottery stand on the way in.”
    As they merged back into the crowd with the sun beating down on them, Callie laughed. “ Now I know why you wanted to come here. Hot guys that are into something you love. It’s brilliant, although I don’t think your boyfriend would approve.”
    “Speaking of boyfriends,” Avery said, dodging Callie’s condemnation with aplomb. “Do you think you’ll see Jonathan again?”
    “I hope so. He’s perfect.”
    Avery did a double-take of a nearby booth, and dragged Callie in that direction. “No one is perfect.”
    “I really think he is.” Callie sighed, an image of Jonathan in her mind. Dark hair, that pale, pale shade of blue in his eyes…
    Picking up a small statue of Artemis, Avery said, “Not perfect.”
    “But, he’s so cute…so thoughtful…and kind….did I mention cute?”
    They shared a laugh, and Avery put down the goddess carving so they could move on to the next stand. Conversation moved to other topics, and boyfriends never came back up.
    Callie’s mom was on her knees, pulling weeds out of Gran’s backyard garden when Callie parked the Beemer on the parking pad.
    Gran’s backyard was like a mini-paradise in the suburban neighborhood. The postage stamp yard was surrounded by a white picket fence, and the gate was rarely closed. A stepping stone path led from the driveway, through the gate, and to the back door, while another line of river rocks led to the garden. It was always in full sunshine, which could wreak havoc on a lot of the things Gran enjoyed growing, so she had erected a sun shield from tinted glass and four-by-fours on one corner. Her greens grew like weeds underneath it; Callie had never met someone with such an affinity for plants.
    Emma glanced up, shielding her eyes from the sun so she could see Callie. “Hey, babe.”
    “Hey. What are you doing in Gran’s garden?” Callie asked. She knew her grandmother was picky about anyone in her veggie patch.
    Her mom tugged another crabgrass-type plant from the damp dirt and didn’t bother to look up as she answered, “Gran’s back’s hurting her. She’s in bed with a heating pad.”
    Callie laughed. “How’d you manage to convince her to do that?” Gran would just go-go-go until she collapsed; it was one of the things that always worried them.
    Glancing up with a smirk, Emma said, “I spiked her tea pot.”
    Callie burst out laughing. “No way.”
    “Way. Did you guys have a good time?” Emma turned back to her battle with the weeds.
    “Yeah, it wasn’t too bad.”
    “Did you buy anything?”
    Callie shook her head. “There was nothing good. It was all too expensive for the quality.”
    Emma sat back on her heels and squinted up at Callie with a knowing smile. “You’d much rather go to a street market in India, huh?”
    “I hate to admit it, but…yeah.”
    Her mom reached out and slapped her on the leg with her trowel. “Told ya.”
    “Whatever. I’m going inside for something to drink. Avery should be right behind me. Will you send her in when she gets here?”
    “Sure, babe. Make some iced tea, would ya?”
    It was much cooler inside. Callie closed the kitchen door behind her and dropped her mom’s keys on the counter, making a beeline for the fridge.
    She had just pushed the “on” button for the coffeemaker when Avery came through the door, followed closely by Callie’s mom.
    “What are you doing?” Avery chirped, skipping over to stand by Callie.
    “Brewing some hot water to steep the tea.”
    “Let me know when it’s ready, baby, I’m going to take a quick shower. I’m covered in dirt.” Callie’s mom kissed her on the temple, one hand brushing back Callie’s dark hair.
    “Wait, Mom, Avery and I wanted to talk to you.” Callie draped another tea bag over the glass pitcher, and then turned to face her mom. She leaned against the counter,