16 | Commotion

                                    

                                          
A few days had passed since the storm; the roads were cleaned up, and walkways dug out. Life was returning to its normal winter rhythm in the village. Riley was headed into the Harbour Haven Market to get contact information on a basement renovation quote Sarah had connected him to. He was going to need to start paying her a finders fee for all the help she provided in keeping him busy with side jobs in the off-season. Fishing paid well enough during the season, but the off-season and what little unemployment provided made the winter a difficult stretch without the extra work. He wouldn't be able to keep up with his childcare payments without it. But he loved the job, and he couldn't imagine not being on the water fishing. It was a hard life, not an easy route, but when it chose you, there wasn't much you could do. Riley came by the life, honestly. His father and grandfather had all been fishermen. Even the untimely death of his grandfather at sea couldn't deter his own father from following. His father followed his grandfather in drinking as well. Riley suspected that alcohol likely had played a role in his grandfather's passing. Whose death only furthered his father's drinking. It was a generational cycle. It was in their blood, the ocean and the drink, which is why Riley had sworn to never touch the stuff. Instead, he threw himself into the life of fishing, something his ex-wife hadn't appreciated. They were young and in love as you were. They had had two children close together early on. Riley loved his girls and was relieved that they were girls, hoping that meant that they would be saved from this hard life. He couldn't blame his wife for being unhappy. He was unavailable and married to the boat, but in those early years, he still was. She was left alone to raise the kids, and when she asked for a divorce, it didn't surprise him. They had separated ways, and she had full custody. He didn't hold any hate toward her and worked hard to keep supporting his kids. While he might have been unavailable and a terrible father, he could at least do right by them when it came to providing for them. Riley wasn't a stranger to hard work; in fact, the busier he was, the happier he was. 
Riley pulled into the Harbour Haven Market, taking note of how busy the parking lot was. It's a normal site in the height of tourist season but not in the dead of winter. He wondered if a town meeting of some sort had been called as he stomped into the market. There was a fair amount of commotion over in the corner of the store, the Quinn sisters arguing over a glass jar. Riley noticed old man Murray looking smug, standing off to the side and holding a similar jar. What on earth? He hadn't seen old man Murray out and about in years. He had been housebound with severe arthritis, his two sons and family taking turns coming in to help. 
Riley approached the old man and nodded, stealing his attention away from the squabble. "Murray, it's good to see you, old chap. It's been a while."
Old Man Murrary nodded in return. "That it has."
"Any idea what's got the Quinns all in a fuss?" Riley asked.
Holding his jar up with a shit-eating grin, Old Man Murray answered, "Fighting over the last jar of that new lady's magic arthritis salve. My bet's on Violet!" He shook his cane in her direction. 
"You mean Charlotte Grace's stuff?" Riley knew she had set up a display in the store for her teas and such. 
"Ya, that's the gal. She really has worked some kind of magic. I thought Sarah was crazy to suggest some fancy new slave when she dropped it by last week. But by the Jesus, it's worked wonders. I haven't felt this good in years, as lively as a clam in high water! I think most of the village has also caught on by the looks of it." 
"It would seem so," Riley murmured, as he heard Sarah raising her voice and quite sternly telling Beatrice that her sister Violet was getting the last jar and she would be the first on the restock list. Riley held back, waiting for the ruckus to simmer down and the customers to make their way out. Sarah must have sensed Riley waiting and didn't partake in her usual gab at the checkout. Either that or she had had more than her fill for the day. Riley headed on over after the last customer with a cup of coffee he had poured from the back. "Looks like maybe you could use this more than me." 
"My god, those two haven't settled down at all in their old age! I might just need to get a bouncer in if Charlotte doesn't ramp up her production." Sarah joked. 
"All that fuss over some herbal teas? Really?" 
"I don't know how she does it, but she has a gift, Riley. I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't experienced it myself. But they really do work. Not just in that natural store whoo hoo way, but honest to god, it works. Did you see old man Murray here? I swear he damn near knocked Beatrice out of the way!" She shared, looking very amused by it all. 
"Well, that, what does she call it, apothecary, of hers makes more sense now. It was a little bit of a shock when I first saw it. I mean, it's not something you would expect to see in someone's home." Riley trailed off a little. "And she is a little on the strange side, not to mention stubborn, stubborn as a fox. Did I tell you I found her out at the lighthouse the night of the storm?" 
Sarah's eyebrows lifted in surprise. "No, you didn't. What on earth was she doing?"
"Good question. I found her standing out by the water, in the midst of the storm, coat undone, flapping the wind, and she had her arms out like she was playing in the wind. It was the strangest thing." 
"Not to mention dangerous," Sarah said with worry. 
"Exactly; I convinced her to head home and led the way. The roads were really bad, Sarah. When I got her home, she wasn't in great shape either; I think she was in shock. She all but passed out once I got her inside." 
Sarah resumed her usual position, leaning back onto her stool and looking quite intrigued. "What did you do? Is she ok?"
"I got her settled on the couch and warmed her up, lit a fire, and then passed out myself." 
"You stayed the night!" She stood up, sensing a story brewing. 
"Not like that, Sarah, calm down. I slept on a chair and left in the morning once I knew she was ok. But something doesn't seem quite right." He said with concern on his face. He really was worried he hadn't been able to stop thinking about her. Yes, she did seem quite capable, even if it involved some chaos, but there was something that worried him. 
"Riley Keane, you're worried about her!" Sarah smiled wickedly while Riley grumbled. "I need to pop by to return her empty jars. I'll check in and see how she's doing. Don't worry. Something tells me that Charlotte has a history of preservation."