So Excited

After Catherine called me for dinner, I left. I didn't even think about asking Mr. Briar to come with us. After realizing that fact, I felt really bad about it. I should have invited him to come and eat dinner with us so that he wouldn't be so lonely. I guess I was just not used to considering him just yet.

I would get better, though. I would have to. I was going to be spending a lot of time with him in the future. I was excited about that too, but I couldn't believe that I nearly gave away that I knew things outside of this world. I needed to be more careful. I don't know how other people would react if they found out that I was reborn. For now, I think it was best to keep it a secret from everyone

The next day, I spent my time like I used to before I got sick. I was trying to be as normal and active as I always was so that I could stay healthy. I realized that I didn't need to do anything specific to exercise and be healthy. I just needed to move around a lot.

While I had been running around and playing with Catherine outside, I was thinking about the different flowers, herbs, and plants that would serve to help someone who was sick and injured.

Catherine was getting a little annoyed with me at times because I wasn't paying enough attention to her while I did my best to try and remember everything that I had read previously. The problem was, I had read it about two years before Adelaide died and now I have been living here for thirteen years. OK, I didn't get the memories back until I was six but that still was seven years ago. I was having a really hard time trying to remember some of the things from my previous life. I would have to work hard to not fully forget them all.

"Come on, Addie." Catherine grabbed my hand and pulled me along. "Play with me. You start training tomorrow, then you won't have time for me then." There was sadness in her eyes even though I knew that she was happy for me.

"I will make time for you, Catherine. I promise." I smiled at her, reassuring her as best as I could.

"You had better." She smiled at me and hugged me tight.

The time between when I agreed to become Mr. Briar's assistant and when he came back to fetch me for my training felt like it took forever to pass, but I know that to the others it probably felt like it passed in the blink of an eye. Then again, it's always the person eagerly anticipating something that it takes forever for. That's just the way that life is, and I guess that isn't limited to life on earth, because it was the same way here in Athea.

"Hello, Addie." I heard Mr. Briar call out to me when he approached the house. The entire family had gathered and were waiting for him to arrive. "And hello to the rest of the Mercer family. How are you all this morning? Are you doing well Catherine? And you Helen, I hope all is going splendidly. And gentlemen, how is the store going? Did you make any good sales, Arthur?"

I think that Mr. Briar was wanting to show that he was both interested in the family but also that he was taking us all very seriously. He was a really good guy that just wanted to prove himself to everyone else. I was happy to be working with him.

"All is well, Briar, thank you." Dad was the one to answer, nodding at him with a smile.

"I see the entire family gathered here to see Addie off on her first day of training. Fear not, everyone, she will be back later."

"Mr. Briar, sir, what are you going to teach my sister? I know she will be a healer but how?"

"Well now, Catherine, she is going to learn a lot of things. I am sure she will show them to you later." Mr. Briar smiled and crouched down so that he was looking her in the eyes as he spoke. "Maybe when you get older, I will teach you as well."

"Really?" That made Catherine squeal with delight as she thought about the prospect of learning from him as well.

"Mr. Briar, please take care of my daughter." Mom looked worried and was acting like I was leaving the village for a quest or something.

"I will be fine, Mom, I promise." I hugged her then walked over to my new teacher. "Isn't that right, Mr. Bri-, I mean, Briar?" He smiled and held back the laughter that I had caused in him.

"She is absolutely right. She will be just fine. I will even walk her back this evening."

"If you will be walking her back, why don't you join us for dinner, Briar. I am sure we would all love to hear how your first day ends up going."

"Thank you, Mercer, I think I will join you."

After a round of hugs, it was time for me to leave. I don't know why they were all acting like I was leaving and never coming back. Geez, people, I was only going to be gone most of the day. I would be back before dinnertime, that was hardly a long haul trip.

Mr. Briar and I walked silently as we made our way to his house. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence or anything, just a calm and peaceful silence. I think that I was so quiet because I was just memorizing the route for the future, and because I was so excited. I couldn't wait to see which house in the village was his, what it looked like, what sorts of interesting things that he had, all of it. This was going to be so much fun.