to you for a moment?” Peter approached me.
I turned off the TV. “I guess so.”
I still wasn’t used to Peter and Maddy. They had been nothing but nice to me. I swallowed.
Maddy sat down across from me with a tiny silver package wrapped in her lap. I wasn’t sure what that was about.
“Go ahead, Pete.” Maddy’s eyes were less than patient.
He nodded twice. “I’d like to tell you a story. Is that alright?”
I nodded at my biological father. I had seen a lot of my tendencies in him. It was in the way we both held ourselves. It was his quieter nature. It was in how he seemed to see what was going on with me when the others seemed oblivious. Part of me wondered if I just really wanted a Daddy. I had been without mine for over a decade and now I had the opportunity to get to know my father.
“I’m going to tell you about the first Povestitor.” Peter’s eyes were kind, but firm.
I had never heard of that word before, but it sounded a lot like Poveste. I merely nodded. This conversation seemed a little too serious to be telling me a story.
“Her name was Angeline. She was kind and poised. Everyone that met her felt loved and welcomed.” He paused and glanced at Maddy.
Maddy nodded for him to continue.
“One day, Angeline was at home with her mother and…” He paused. “…it seemed like everything she ever loved was going away from her. Her father died in the war and so did her brothers.”
I understood that pain all too well. Peter seemed to understand too, because he didn’t continue right away. I nodded for him to continue.
“Her mother became sick and Angeline knew soon that she would be all alone.” Peter continued.
That had been one of my fears growing up. I knew if my Mom died, I would be all alone. I had a few distant cousins that might have taken me in, but no one permanent in my life like my Mom. My gaze fell on Maddy and flickered back to Peter. My family had seemingly tripled over night.
I would never have to be alone again if I didn’t want to. Tears welled up in my eyes and they wouldn’t stop. I started sobbing.
Peter froze in place. Maddy stood up and sat beside of me and wrapped her arms around me. I just kept crying. What was wrong with me? The kindness Maddy showed me made it worse.
“Pete, why don’t we pick up this conversation later?” Maddy told him.
“Sure.” He agreed immediately.
“We don’t want you to be sad, Annabeth.” Maddy’s tone was kind. “Pete, I think there are tissues in the…”
“I’m on it.” He got up quickly and came back with a box of tissues. He sat them beside of me.
“Thank you.” I smiled and pulled a few tissues out and started dabbing my eyes.
“We're sorry.” Maddy's voice was full of warmth.
“No, no. I’m fine.” I pulled back and wiped my eyes. “Please continue.”
Peter sat down. I wiped my eyes again. Maddy gave me a little space.
“Really.” I sat ups straighter.
Peter scratched his head. “Angeline told her mother, 'I wish stories were real.' Her mother answered, 'I wish every story you ever tell comes true.' She kissed her daughter on her forehead and said, 'May God make it so.'
'If God granted me that, the first thing I would do is make a story where you are healthy and we were safe forever.' Angeline whispered. 'With plenty of food to eat.'
'Amen.' The mother said.
When they woke up the next day, the mother was well. The cupboards were full of food. After that, every story that Angeline told came true. They lived there safely for many years. Angeline became the first Povestitor or Storyteller. She met Dorin and married him. They had four children together: Andrei, Anton, Calin, and Zamfira Poveste.” Peter stopped talking for a moment. “We're Angeline's descendants.”
“We're Storytellers too.” Maddy added.
Peter nodded. “That's how we found out Anna wasn't biologically ours. We love Anna.”
“We'll always love Anna. We already love you and we hope someday you'll come to love us as well.” Maddy had tears tugging at the corner of her eyes. She took a tissue out of the box and smiled.
“Because we are Storytellers... we knew that Anna wasn't ours. She didn't have any Storyteller Abilities. That's when we had a DNA analysis done and contacted the hospital.” Peter continued.
“Abilities?” I was confused.
“You've noticed them too.” Peter's eyes were full of wisdom. “The day at the restaurant. Your drink didn't spill. You did that.”
My mouth fell ajar. I started rationalizing the situation. My mind drifted to yesterday. The pizza man showed up out of nowhere. I couldn't rationalize that away. I closed my mouth and nodded.
“One way to help your Storyteller Abilities to work a little more accurately is by this.” Maddy handed me the package.
I glanced at her and then at Peter. Peter nodded. I unwrapped the present and found a silver locket with Annabeth scrawled on the outside of the locket. I pried it open. On one side was a picture of Peter and Maddy. On the other was the Mom and Dad I had always known. I put a hand to my mouth. It was incredibly thoughtful.
“It's beautiful.” I unclasped it and put it around my neck, and re-clasped it. I closed my eyes to compose myself.
“We're glad you like it.” Peter smiled.
“You can tell stories without a necklace, but if you rub it when you tell the story, then it's a little more direct, shall we say?” Maddy smiled.
I nodded. I glanced at the paper. I brushed my finger over the necklace and told myself a story that the wrapper was in the trashcan. It disappeared immediately. I sat up straighter in surprise. I hadn't expected that to work.
“There is one catch. You can't tell Anna or your Mom about being a Storyteller. Non-Storytellers aren't allowed to know.” Maddy's words were sincere.
I nodded. I saw movement out of the corner of my eye and looked up.
“Annabeth, your turn for the shower.” Anna walked in, combing her hair.
“Thanks.” I glanced from Maddy to Peter.
They both smiled at me. I felt the love in the room. I had a lot of things to think about. If I hadn't felt something was off the last few weeks, I would think it was a trick, but somehow I felt in my soul that it was true. I was a Storyteller. I walked towards Anna.
“I put towels in the bathroom for you.” Anna smiled at me.
“Thank you.” I smiled back.
“Oh, nice locket.” Anna pointed to my necklace. “Mom and Dad said they wanted to surprise you with it.” She untucked a gold locket from her shirt. “Mine says Anna.”
“It's very pretty.” I glanced at Peter and Maddy again. They were already looking at me.
“Well, you better hurry up. We are meeting Mom at church in an hour.” Anna gave me a slight shove out of the room.
I laughed and touched my necklace. My life had just changed in a way I had never expected. There was a lot of that going on this month.