“Whatever do you mean I can’t leave Charm? I’m expected at home. I’ve got an important research job. I’ve got a life in Crestview. I’ve got—correction, I had a boyfriend up until an hour ago.” Abby grabbed a breath, wondering what made her spill about her disintegrating love life. “Listen, Nash, I truly appreciate your listening, and I’d like to take you up on that offer to help me. Here are my map and a pen. Would you please highlight the route out of here? Clearly, I keep missing the unmarked road. Maybe the road guys pulled the detour sign? I don’t know.” Abby’s tone turned to a pleading. “Please, have at it.”
Nash pushed the map and pen aside and looked directly at her. “You’re not missing the road. You’re missing the explanation for what’s happening to you.”
Abby jumped up. “What explanation? Am I having some psychotic episode? At this moment, I’d welcome that diagnosis over—”
Nash stood. His features remained relaxed. “Let us take a walk. I’d like to show you a nearby waterfall.”
“Please excuse my rudeness, but I don’t have time to see your waterfall. I want to get home before dark. Tell me this explanation and send me on my way out of Narnia,” said Abby, recalling author C.S. Lewis’s novel The Chronicles of Narnia.
Laughter overcame Nash. “Now, that’s a novel explanation. Don’t pardon that pun. The waterfall asks for a ten-minute walk. In case you’re worried about your safety, don’t. I have references besides the B-Boys.”
“The B-Boys?” Abby’s eyebrow raised. “You mean Bill and Bob?” She kept the smile inside. The guy was nice enough, and why his handsomeness registered on her mind in the middle of this insanity, she couldn’t say.
“Come on. Trust me, the view is worth the time invested.” Nash walked over to the two children at the swings. “Hi, Aubrey and Will. Need a push?”
Aubrey nodded, displaying a missing bottom tooth. “Would you get Will swinging? I’m plum tuckered.” The little girl went to stand next to Abby.
“I suppose they’re your character references?” Abby’s smile broke through when Aubrey reached for her hand.
“Kids don’t lie,” replied Nash as he released Will’s swing.
“Keep pushing him, or it will stop,” Aubrey hollered to Nash before turning to Abby. “You’re pretty. What’s your name?”
“Thank you for the compliment, and my name is Abby, and you’re Aubrey. Both our names start with the letter A. Isn’t that neat?” Geez, she was acting like everything was hunky-dory, talking to a six-year-old. The serene feeling inside of her kept intruding. What’s in Charm’s air? she wondered.
“I like things that start with A, like apple, angels, and artichokes.” Aubrey hopped around, expending energy. “I also like the letter N because it spells Nash.”
“See how I’m beloved?” Nash gave Will one more strong shove. “See you later, kids. Ready to see that waterfall?”
“Sure. If it means you’ll help me get home sooner, then lead the way.” Abby waved goodbye to Aubrey and Will. “They’re beyond precious. Lucky parents.”
“Lucky parent—that’s my sister.” Nash didn’t slow his gait.
“Hold on a sec—about that biased reference, Mr. Walker—”
“The best kind, Ms. Drake,” Nash teased. “I’m putting on my mayor’s hat. As you’ve likely noticed, our town square is flanked on three sides by businesses. The remaining side has been left to nature’s decorating. We’re taking the wide path to your right into the woods.”
After walking a few hundred yards, Abby paused. Her eyes feasted on her surroundings. “I’ve never seen anything so awash in vivid colors like the land around Charm. The glistening ferns on the forest floor seem to sway together in unison with the breeze. They look like a giant green wave.” Abby pointed. “What’s with the bluebirds hanging out with the blue butterflies? And the sunlight acts like a spotlight on everything, including you.” She quieted and shook her head at the sensory overload.
“That’s some keen observing. Give me one word to describe what you’re experiencing.” Nash’s hand swept wide.
Abby grew thoughtful by the odd question. “Enchantment. Yes, that’s my word.”
“Enchantment earns you a gold star. You’ve made a divine kind of connection to Charm. Want to ask me questions while we walk?” Nash picked a rainbow petaled wildflower and handed it to Abby. “Souvenir of our first meeting.”
“Thank you. What a unique flower.” Abby glanced in Nash’s direction. “As for questions, I’ve no shortage of that inventory. I’m starting with the most obvious. “Why can’t I leave Charm?”
“Because Charm has something you desire, something you need to tap into. Call it your life’s intention.” Nash halted and turned to Abby. “Look, I know what you’re thinking. How can this curious mountain village in North Georgia have anything of value to offer when all I want is out of here?”
“Bingo.” Abby followed the confounding man to a carved tree trunk seat.
“What I’m about to share won’t sit well, and words like impossible and mystifying frequently get used by newcomers like you. It’s okay to feel whatever shows up. When I told you earlier that you can’t leave, that was true. You can hop in your vehicle and take as many turns around the road as you like, but you’ll end up back in Charm. How long you choose to argue and doubt that truth is up to you, Abby. You’re exactly where you’re supposed to be, at this moment, on July tenth…with all of us…in Charm.”
“My inventory of questions just grew exponentially. Okay, for some reason that defies my logical brain, I’m inclined to accept my exit road is currently MIA. However, your explanation sounds— Oh, never mind.” Abby grabbed another breath. “Say I pull the thread on your mysterious reveal and accept that I’ve traveled through some wormhole to tap into my life purpose, or whatever you called it.”
“Your life’s intention,” supplied Nash.
“Right, that.” Abby gave a quick nod. “I’m wondering why me? Why not the white sedan that passed me at the detour?”
A smile played about Nash’s lips. “I appreciate an easy question. Because that driver didn’t have your gifts.”
“Do tell. What are these gifts?” Abby watched a squirrel give a broken nut to a bluebird. “Did you see that?”
“Every day. As for your gifts, through a series of what we call lessons, you’ll soon become a kind of explorer and figure that out.”
“What am I? A modern-day female, Ferdinanda Magellan, skipping around in dimensions? This all sounds outrageous, bizarre, and flat out weird,” Abby huffed. “Not to mention impossible.”
“I agree. In fact, I felt exactly the same as you when I arrived in Charm, maybe even more disbelieving. I came to understand my mind’s rationale could no longer serve me as it had before. Until I made a shift away from relying on my mind, my dubious discontent woke with me every morning.”
“Dubious discontent?” Abby tossed the two words around in her head. “Hmm, that’s an apt description. Listen, I don’t have a clue what to think or do next. Can you promise me what I’m experiencing is real and not some psychedelic flight of fancy? Triggered by what I assumed were portobello mushrooms on my lunch pizza? Maybe they weren’t. Maybe they were Magic Mushrooms.” Abby observed the same bluebird drop a blackberry to the squirrel. Her eyes grew wider. “Did you catch that?”
“I did. Those two are teachers, in case you’re wondering,” Nash replied. “Hear this, Abby. I have so much to share with you, as do others here. You’re about to embark on a quest, an exciting, life-changing quest. Start from that place, and then you must try to accept things as they appear.”
“Hold on. You expect me to go merrily along with what you’re saying? Listen, mister, I’m closer to throwing a hissy fit than swallowing this guff.”
Nash’s eyes reflected indulgence. “You may throw any kind of fit that suits your mood. I’ve witnessed some doozies. Tell me, Abby, is that really what you want to do? If so, I don’t have any other commitments for the rest of the day. Hissy with abandon.” Nash grinned and sprinkled nuts on the ground for the squirrels.
Abby paused to get a read on him. The rascal was failing at hiding his amusement, which to her shock, awakened hers. The simmering anger evaporated. She grabbed some nuts from Nash’s hand and offered them to a begging squirrel. “Maybe I’ll take a raincheck on my hissy. I’d prefer to save it and allow my incredulous feeling over my state of affairs to build.” Abby managed to grin at the absurdity of their conversation.
“Your choice. I’m amenable.” Nash dusted off his hands.
“Moving on. Let me get this straight.” Abby sucked in a breath. “You’re saying I need to accept Charm is my lot and forget my other life? I shouldn’t even try to noodle out an escape plan because it’s closed temporarily until I do my lessons and discern life’s secrets?”
Emotions of jollity and compassion vied for dominance on Nash’s face. “Yes, something like that.”
The absurdity and futility of her situation forced Abby to tap her sarcasm gene. “How’s this?” Enacting a fairytale character persona, she clapped her hands and blinked three times. “Shazam! I’m one with Charm and all that is Charm. Now, I go home.”
As soon as the words left Abby’s lips, something peculiar happened. With eyes closed, her mind quieted, and air that smelled like ambrosia infused her body. The sensation flooded Abby with utter and complete peace. Every cell in her body felt bathed in it. She couldn’t explain the why. Unable to process what was happening, her mind’s chatter ceased. She was wading into the unknown. Only when a bird chirped and intruded into the silence did her eyes open.
Having witnessed Abby’s shift, a pleased Nash nodded. “Are you feeling more at one with Charm?”
“Crazy as this sounds, I think so. At least for the moment anyway. I don’t understand any of what’s happening here, and I lack rational explanations. It appears I’m trapped in this place, at least for now.” Abby stood and put her hands on her hips. “Make no mistake, going home with the speed of light remains my primary goal. That’s not changed. Are we clear on that part?”
“Yes, we’re clear on that part.” Nash’s demeanor lightened. “In a bit, we’ll need to focus on some basic needs—for example, food and shelter.”
“Goodness, I hadn’t gotten to that place yet. I hope Charm takes plastic?” Abby noticed the amused expression return to Nash’s face.
“We don’t use or need money here. Before you react, that’ll get explained to your satisfaction later, but first, the waterfall wants to meet you.” Nash rose and offered his hand.
Abby took it, sensing a subtle tingle move through her body. She dismissed the feeling and blamed it on some exotic male pheromones. Despite finding herself stuck in Charm, evidently, her body still reacted to a man who checked all the boxes on masculine appeal.
Tossing the thoughts aside, Abby turned to Nash. “I suppose I’m accruing some big debt to you.” She halted, contemplating her next words. The whole encounter felt more and more surreal. She tapped Nash’s shoulder. “Here’s a thought. If Charm has a shrink, you might want to refer me first thing tomorrow, assuming I’m here, of course. I’m past willing.” She grabbed another breath of ambrosia.
Nash chuckled. “We don’t require that particular doctor in Charm. Nor do you. Come on.”
They walked the short distance in silence while Abby observed nature’s expression. All of the nearby trees appeared to grow in a protective way, creating the image of a woven ceiling over the path. Rhododendrons and laurels provided a wall of green thickets. The sun’s rays cast dancing light upon the trail, showcasing particular fauna and flora. Abby surmised the scene existed as a kind of prologue for the waterfall.
“We’re almost there. Do you feel the serenity and the coolness?” Nash drew in a deep breath.
“I do. Plus, I’ve been admiring the trees. They’re like living sculptures. Still, my mind has run amuck, bringing all matters of worries to me. If I must remain in Charmville for these so-called lessons, I need to let my friends and coworkers know my return is delayed. Can you offer any plausible ideas on how I might explain—the unexplainable?” Abby’s head turned to Nash.
“Okay, those questions carry weight.” Nash grew thoughtful. “Let’s enlighten and unburden you. First, your cell phone will quit functioning by nightfall, so those necessary calls should go out soon. Second, as you know it, technology doesn’t exist in Charm. Last, you tell others only what they’re capable of accepting, which frankly, isn’t much.” Nash paused. “I’m expecting the customary reaction of anger and defiance to find you upon learning about the disconnect.”
Abby stared, thinking she had a choice in how to react. She didn’t. The sweet-scented air held her captive to Charm’s…bewitching charm. “Talk about going off the grid with no tech. You all nailed that big time. Believe it or not, Nash Walker, that’s the best thing you’ve told me so far.” A chuckle escaped.
“No tech is my best offering? That’s disappointing.” Nash rubbed his finely chiseled jaw.
“Not at all. I hate technology, and it hates me back. Colleagues have banned me from entering their offices or labs because I cause their equipment and readings to go haywire. Yes, that’s the best news ever. I’m free to roam about Charm without apology.” Abby resumed walking. “Am I right?” she hollered over her shoulder.
Nash jogged to catch up. “Roaming is encouraged. See? You fit in already.”
“I’d hardly jump to that conclusion. Believe me. I’m an emotional mess inside. You can’t see it, but it’s in there simmering away.” Abby picked up her pace.
“And that’s why you’re here,” Nash replied.