Ever since she was a child, Allie had possessed the Knowing. It was a trait that was passed down from mothers to first-born daughters since her ancestors made history as being among the first women burnt for alleged witchcraft. Knowing enabled her to perceive events before they happened, to have a sense of where things belonged or fit and to understand or have empathy on a deeper level than most.
Amelia was stacking her packets of Lebkuchen, roasted almond brittle and marzipan sweets on the makeshift counter of her stall. She tried not to check her watch for the umpteenth time. Ella had left for the lot more than an hour before and neither hair nor hide of her had been seen since. She hadn't even been on her phone, according to the "last seen" time stamp. It's not that Amelia was worried. On the contrary, she was excited.
For
three months, Norah tried to ignore her grandmother, but the elder
lady, having lived through more than Norah could imagine, was persistent
to a fault.
