Party With the Kraken (Creatures & Cottages)

1. Juniper

Juniper

Q uirking my head to the side, I assess the plastic goose’s purple mohawk, then reach forward and adjust the wig until it’s centered. A smile spreads across my face as I take a step back and admire the entire window display of my shop.

A gaggle of quirky porch geese stare at me with their beady eyes and what I’d like to think is approval. The one with the mohawk and silver-studded denim jacket is my centerpiece and by far my favorite. Not that I’d tell any of the other geese that.

Flanking him, there’s a cutie in a yellow polka-dot bikini—with a matching sun hat, of course—and a gentleman goose dressed in a charming blue sweater with a pair of glasses perched on his beak.

My shoulders have no choice but to do a little cheerful shimmy. This might just be the best display I’ve ever done.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

I whirl around at the sound of gentle knocks against the window, only to find a smiling goblin waving at me. My face splits into a grin, my surprise quickly morphing into delight as I recognize Doc Calla.

She gestures to the door and I nod. Treasure Hunters is technically not open for business yet, but for Doc Calla, I’ll always be available. I hop down from the platform, my seashell bracelets clinking together with the move, and practically bounce toward the door to unlock it.

“Doc Calla!” I greet her warmly, holding the door open to let her in.

Kindness radiates off the doctor and my heart fills with joy.

There’s something so disarming about her, like she has this air of acceptance that never requires me to dim myself for even a fraction of a second.

I’ve always been a little weird by most people’s standards, but I’ve never gotten a hint of judgment from Doc Calla.

I think she rather appreciates my knack for taking some people’s discarded items and giving them a new lease on life.

Everyone deserves to be someone’s treasure. That’s a motto I live my life by and apply to “things” too.

Sometimes an item only needs some sprucing up and a fresh coat of paint before it can bring a new owner a ton of joy. Creatures too—a change of hair color, a new outfit, a tattoo, or a fresh piercing can be a catalyst for happiness.

The elderly doctor places her hand on my forearm, her long green fingers splaying gently over the constellation of freckles dotting my sunkissed skin, and I put my own hand on top of hers.

A soft smile tips the corners of Doc Calla’s mouth up. “Juniper, it’s good to see you again.”

I lean forward to admire the jewelry dangling from her large pointed ears. “My goodness, you’ve got some magnificent earrings on today.”

Doc Calla shakes her head to make her clunky earrings swing back and forth, the light catching on the blue sea glass. “A friend made these earrings for me. They’re pretty wonderful, aren’t they?”

“They’re gorgeous!” I say and bend down further to admire them more closely. I’m not particularly tall for a human, but next to Doc Calla’s three feet even I have to lean down to see them more clearly. Not that her height makes her feel much smaller than me, quite the opposite in fact.

She inclines her head toward the geese. “I like what you did with the display. Particularly the one in the center. There’s just something about purple hair that gets your attention.”

I playfully puff some air upward, making the wispy bangs of my freshly dyed hair flutter with the movement.

“I’m glad you appreciate the purple. I touched up my roots last night and thought it a good idea to dye the goose’s mohawk to match.

If I honor my own head with such a vibrant color, it only makes sense to give my favorite goose the same treatment.

Unfortunately, only one of us can pull off a mohawk. ”

Doc Calla raises a single brow at me. “I think pulling off purple hair is a feat in itself. I can’t even tell what your original hair color was.”

I lift my chin. “That’s a secret I’ll take to my grave.” I wink at her and both of us giggle. “How long are you in Cape Easton for? I hope nothing too serious brought you here today.”

Doc Calla squeezes my arm gently. “That’s sweet of you to worry, dear, but it’s just a checkup for a patient. We don’t have fancy MRI machines on the island, so it’s best to make the trip out to ensure she’s properly recovered from her injury. Plus, I get the benefit of seeing you.”

Cape Easton University Hospital is right next door to my thrift store.

Whenever Doc Calla is in the city to escort a patient she usually pops in to say hi.

Tilly, her daughter-in-law who runs her practice with her, used to frequent the shop before she settled in Starry Hill and got married to Doc Calla’s son.

Apparently the whole island knows about Tilly’s love for thrifting and the beautiful set of dishes she found here.

On one trip to Cape Easton, Doc Calla stopped by to see if we got anything Tilly might like and introduced herself to me.

I was instantly charmed by her and have grown quite fond of the wise old lady.

We move to the back corner of the shop and take a seat on some old armchairs I reupholstered.

“I also came today to give you your invitation.” Doc Calla reaches into her bag and places a card in my palm.

“Ooo! The answer is already yes. What’s the occasion?” I ask, not even looking at the card in my hand.

Doc Calla’s brows lift in amusement. “Bodin and Tilly have insisted on throwing a birthday party for me and the whole town has decided to make it a big to-do. Something about it being a milestone and needing to celebrate it properly. I’d love for you to come too.”

“That sounds absolutely wonderful. When’s the party and what can I bring?”

“Next weekend. Bring nothing but yourself. We’re having a bonfire and barbeque on the beach.

It’s all very family friendly and will start in the afternoon, but I can imagine things will kick up a bit once the sun’s down and the young ones—and old ones—have gone to bed.

There are a few creatures I invited from the city, so we’ll be ferrying everyone across to Starry Hill in the morning and have returns to Cape Easton scheduled for early evening, another around midnight, as well as the next morning for those who want to stay over on the island. ”

The look Doc Calla gives me makes me think she knows which option I’ll pick. I don’t know how she does it, but it sometimes feels like she can see through me or that she knows something about me that I don’t yet know myself.

Not too long ago, I asked her if goblins have special abilities and can see the future, but she explained it as only having a good feeling about certain creatures and, luckily, I’m included in that. I’m not quite sure what it entails, but it can’t be anything bad. Of that, I’m fairly certain.

I put my elbow on the armrest and plop my chin in my palm. “Where do I sign up for all night?”

Doc Calla’s eyes crinkle with pleasure. “I thought you might say that.”

I fake outrage, my mouth opening in a gasp. “See, there you go again with that future-telling business.”

Lifting one shoulder in a shrug, Doc Calla says lightly, “It was merely a feeling. I think you’ll enjoy your time on the island.”

I ignore the loaded meaning in her sentence and toy with one of my dangling earrings, fingering the cowrie shells as I contemplate what I can make her as a birthday gift. Doc Calla deserves something special.

“I’m really looking forward to it. I’ve been wanting to visit Starry Hill.”

Doc Calls folds her fingers together and rests them on her lap. “Starry Hill will be happy to hear that. You never know, you might fall in love with the island. That tends to happen.”

Something sharp pinches in my chest. I love the idea of Starry Hill, but what if I love it too much? Moving to the island isn’t an option for me.

My conflicting thoughts are transparent in my voice when I say, “I have no doubt. Tilly is certainly evidence of that. But I can’t afford to fall in love there when I have my shop to take care of.

But I can still have maximum fun, if you get what I’m saying.

” I add another wink and Doc Calla wiggles her eyebrows at me, getting my innuendo easily.

Her face turns serious and she reaches forward to take my hand.

“Please know, dear Juniper, no one would ever want you to give up such a big source of your joy. Just… allow yourself to be open to whatever Starry Hill wants to show you. Trust your intuition. Have fun. Things always have a way of working out.”

Doc Calla stares at me with her large hazel eyes and her words settle in my heart, slowly sinking down to grow roots.

I suck in a deep breath, square my shoulders, and say brightly, “Okay. Bring it on, Starry Hill.”

I’m not a nervous person and have quite a free spirit, but Treasure Hunters has been in my family since my grandparents opened it before the hospital was even built.

When my parents retired last year, I became the sole person responsible for the shop and have steered Treasure Hunters in somewhat of a more artistic direction. So far, it’s been working well for me.

Call me sentimental, but I don’t see myself giving up this store, my family’s legacy, not even for an idyllic island full of kind creatures.

On the other hand, there’s something so inherently shrewd about Doc Calla that her asking me to be open to whatever adventure awaits makes me want to dive forward without hesitation and say yes.

Maybe I’ll do just that. I’ll let go of my responsibilities to the shop and just focus on whatever the island has in store for me. But only for one night. It’ll be an exercise in saying yes. No overthinking. I can do that.

I turn the invitation in my hand over and look at the number. A cough escapes me and I ineloquently sputter, “You’re turning a hundred years old? Wow! Congratulations.”

Doc Calla scoffs playfully and leans back in her seat.

“You don’t have to say it quite like that.

I own every single one of my one hundred years on this earth.

Besides, I’m a goblin and we have long lifespans, so I’ve got quite a bit left in the tank.

Wait until you meet Starry Hill’s vampire. He’s around four hundred years old.”

“Uhm, I’m not really into older guys, but it would be cool to meet him.”

“And what kind of guys are you into?”

“Got anyone purple out there?”

The way Doc Calla’s mouth tips up into a smirk makes me think there might just be a purple creature waiting for me. She doesn’t elaborate though, just stares at me with a knowing look until I’m squirming on the spot.

I clear my throat. “The cutest antique teapot came in the other day and the moment I saw it I thought of Tilly. I think it might match the dishes she got before she left for Starry Hill.”

“Show me, please. And then, let’s talk about the goose gentleman in the window. I think there’s a spot for him in my garden.”