A Passion for Potions (Petalfall #1)

60. Sixty - Three Words

Sixty - Three Words

Viggo

Thankfully, Staci’s monstrosity of a gift gives people plenty to talk about, and when someone distracts her, I snatch Ana’s hand, pulling her away and taking her to the small space they’ve set aside for dancing.

The band had started up again when it looked like Staci might have more to say and we slip in with the others whose earlier dance was interrupted.

She’s wearing a thick length of fabric as a shawl, the apricots on it are blocky, but woven with care and despite the base fabric being a dark, dark green, it still looks nice against the buttery yellow of her dress.

“I can’t believe she did that.” Shaking her head, Ana lets me pull her closer.

“Can’t you?”

“She’s getting worse.”

“She thinks she’s losing you. If I thought I was losing you, I’d do plenty to try to get you to stay.”

“She’s not losing me. But she’s certainly making me consider it.”

We twirl around the field and everything else seems to melt away. The band, the people, even the stars…

I know they’re there, obviously, but I could fool myself into thinking we’re alone.

“I love you Ana.” I would kiss her if there weren’t so many people watching. “I can’t imagine not loving you. And whatever life you want to live, I want to live it with you.”

Her lips part and her smile is so sweet, but if she wants to say something, she doesn’t get the chance.

Celese pounces from our right, hauling us to a stop and worming her arm into Ana’s. “You’ll have to excuse us, it’s time for the birthday girl to open her presents.”

Ana’s fingers squeeze mine as she’s bundled away and I watch her go. Wondering what she might have said if given the chance, but content, knowing I’ve said what I’ve wanted to for far too long.

Trailing in their wake, I stand at the back edges of the crowd gathered around her.

There’s a gift table piled high with things and Penny joins me as Staci pushes through to sit beside her.

While Staci is focused only on Ana and the gifts she opens, Ana seems to genuinely care and be thankful for each one.

“It’s no wonder the village loves her.” I say quietly to Penny.

“It’s no wonder we love her.”

“You heard?”

He tips his head to the side and says, “No, I was watching.”

“Is this the part where you tell me I’m moving too fast again?”

“Not at all.”

A small commotion erupts as she opens a wooden box and draws out a literal sword.

Staci starts to sputter.

“Don’t go slaying any dragons,” Mirella calls from her place toward the middle of the crowd. “Your daddy sold that to me when he came back from the war. Never seemed right to pass it on to someone else.”

“Thank you.” Ana holds it lightly in her hand. “I can promise you I won’t go hunting dragons.”

“Put that away before you hurt yourself.” Staci hisses, her words are low, but harsh enough everyone can hear them.

Ana does as she’s told, but not, I think, because she was told to.

The weapon is too big for her, and the steel is too bright and cold, all at once.

She sets it aside, but keeps it close, and when someone tries to move it away, she places her hand on it, even as she takes the bag of perfected apricot tea from Misses Whipple.

Each following gift comes with a small comment from Staci, and I can tell, by the time Morganna finally brings Ana a glass of wine that she’s not certain if she wants to drink it or dump it on her mother’s head.

But when the last gift is given and the glass is drained dry, Staci has made it out unscathed.

And luckily, she is distracted by the logistics of getting her statue back down to the village when Ana is free to join us again.

She holds the wooden box with its sword and wears the shawl, still, but everything else, she leaves in the pile of gifts.

Looking ruefully at the box in her arms, she says, “I don’t want one of the boys to get ahold of it and end this night with blood and tears.”

“That would certainly dampen the festivities.” Penny says, leading her to one of the benches near the path that leads back to the village.

It’s quieter here, but it places her exactly where she’ll need to be when things wind down.

When we finally draw her down, she leans on me a little more than she did before and even though the whole village could be watching, she places her hand on my cheek, turning me so that she can kiss me.

“I love you too.” She looks at Penny. “Both of you. I didn’t mean to, I don’t know how we’re going to manage the coming years, but... I do love you and I don’t ever want to be parted from you.”

“We’re very glad to hear it.” I say, looking at Penny.

His smile is soft, but he doesn’t say the words. I don’t know what he’s waiting for, but I do know that he loves her too... It’s only a matter of time.

She kisses him too and drops her head to his shoulder.

“Tonight has been lovely. Despite one small thing.”

I wouldn’t call her mother small, but I’m not going to argue with her on her birthday, either.

Others start to leave—those with children go first—and I glance at the moon. It is high in the sky, and many of them have been here throughout the day, getting ready.

They all pause to say goodbye to Ana, even Blicks, whose cheeks are purple with the flush of a few too many drinks.

The others help him along.

“Would you like me to take that home?” Loric looks down at the box and Ana lets out a little sigh of relief. “Yes. I would. It would set my mind at ease.”

“Of course.” Taking the box, he rejoins Yenna and Blicks as they walk toward the path that leads down the hill.

That too, is lit by what looks like Penny’s magic.

Good. The safer the way down, the easier Ana will feel.

Staci sneaks up on us behind another group and I am not the only one who flinches.

“Are you coming home?” She looks pointedly at me and I give her a smile, because I know the answer.

“No. I have a few more birthday wishes to collect.” She takes a deep breath. “But I will see you tomorrow.

Staci wants to argue, but she doesn’t. I can see the desire warring in her from the way she fidgets and turns.

But eventually, she turns to leave and we all watch her go.

“I need to get Mina’s apartment built out, soon.”

She stands, brushing off her skirt and starts to walk back to where others have already started to clean up, but Leaf heads her off.

“Absolutely not. You do not get to help clean up. You are to leave.” She looks at us with a grimace. “Go get laid and make sure they make you come at least twice each.”

Ana laughs and hugs her friend and I don’t hear what she says to the gnome woman, but it gets her an eye roll.

“Go away.”

Coming back to us, Ana holds out her hands and we each take one.

“Take me home,” she says.