Chapter 26 Faye
FAYE
“I’ve got to stop by the Manor,” Peter said, holding Faye’s hand as they walked back to Stoker’s from a town hall meeting about this year’s Autumn Festival.
“Sure,” she agreed happily, and they headed in the direction of the Matherson hotel.
For the first time ever, she had signed up for her own pie stall at the festival.
If she was going to enter a baking competition, then running her own stall was just another step.
Still, it was a milestone she’d only ever dreamed of reaching.
Peter had agreed to help with the Hawthorne candy apple stall at his brother’s not-so-subtle nudging.
It was already the last week in September, and with each passing day, Faye grew more anxious and excited about the competition in Ravenstown.
Peter paused outside the Manor’s breakfast room, looking rather guilty.
“Why are you acting all squirrelly?” Faye asked. “You’ve been oddly quiet since we left the town hall.”
“I’ve something to confess.”
“Okay…” She loosened her grip on his hand, afraid of what was waiting for her on the other side of the doors.
“I know I promised you no more surprises, but everyone really wants to wish you luck for the competition, and I tried to convince them not to do a surprise party, but Lucy insisted we celebrate you. Rosie argued you wouldn’t let us do this if you knew about it.
I didn’t want you to get a fright, and we can leave if you get overwhelmed by the amount of people or for whatever reason.
I’ll whisk you away in an instant.” Peter’s frantic speech sounded like he had been practising it.
“I’m not mad, and thank you for warning me.” Faye stood on her tiptoes and kissed his worries away.
Peter let out a sigh of relief, holding her close. “I thought I was going to burst during the meeting.”
“I can’t believe you were able to keep this quiet. Though I was wondering why Lucy seemed to be busier than usual recently,” Faye said.
“Just act surprised. I don’t want to get on the wrong side of Rosie’s claws.”
“I’ll put on my best performance.” Faye took a deep breath and readied herself for the jump scare.
“Surprise!” Lucy exclaimed as the Manor’s breakfast room lit up, revealing all Faye’s frequent customers gathered around the room while massive good luck banners hung from the ceiling. To her surprise, tears threatened to spill.
Lucy ran over and hugged Faye as she admired all the cakes, pies and tarts on the tables. “Everyone baked something in your honour.”
“This is really special, thank you so much,” Faye said to the familiar faces. She couldn’t believe they’d gone to the trouble of baking, and everything looked so delicious.
“We’re so proud of you,” Mrs Crawford said, her beehive extra large today as she squeezed a stunned Faye too tightly. When she glanced at Lucy, she thought her friend would catch flies in her gaping mouth.
“Thank you, Mrs Crawford. I’ll try and do Foxford proud.”
“You already have,” Mrs Crawford said, releasing her as quickly as she had embraced her.
“Did you get Crawford drunk?” Faye asked Lucy, who looked utterly bewildered.
“No – I wish that was all it took to warm her up,” Lucy said. “I wonder if Luisa spiked the punch with that weird tea.”
“I think she just has a soft spot for you,” Peter said, hovering by her side. Lucy didn’t believe it for a second and went off to inspect the punch.
Peter glanced at Faye, silently asking if she was okay, and she nodded.
They weren’t as secretive about their relationship these days; she was sure the rumour mill was running wild, given that they were inseparable, at the café or not.
No one said anything directly to them about the laws, and it was strange for the citizens of Foxford to keep their opinions to themselves.
If asked, they proclaimed they were friends, and even if no one believed them, they played along.
Faye wondered if everyone just wanted them to find some happiness after everything they’d been through.
“He told you, didn’t he?” Rosie glared at him.
“Be nice to him, he didn’t want me to get a fright.”
“Fine, I’ll let him off this time.” Rosie pouted. “That’s only if you try my brownies.”
“Lead the way,” Faye said, ready to taste all the goodies and thank everyone for coming and supporting her.
Faye walked along the Manor’s garden paths, lit up by mini lampposts buried amongst the flowers, for a moment’s peace.
If she ate any more baked goods, she’d end up in a sugar coma.
Socialising for long periods of time was still a struggle, but it was getting easier each time.
She was expecting to find the inner hedgerows that surrounded the fountain empty, but instead she saw an older man sitting on the wooden bench, feeding some small birds gathered around his brown leather shoes.
“Hello – sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb you,” Faye said, about to leave when he smiled at her over his shoulder. She recognised something in his eyes. Maybe he was a guest at the Manor; many of the tourists who passed through town stopped by the café.
“I’m afraid I’m the one disturbing you. I’ve been waiting for you,” he said coolly, dropping the remainder of the bird feed to give her his full attention.
Faye took a step back from the fountain, glad it was between them for her own protection. Just because Ian was gone didn’t mean he didn’t have friends.
“Ms Parker, there’s no need to be afraid. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”
“Who are you?”
“It’s been many years. Gregory Hawthorne,” he said, confirming why he seemed so familiar. All Hawthornes had a gentle, inviting disposition.
“You’re Peter’s mentor,” she sighed, relieved he wasn’t one of Ian’s friends.
“I am.”
“Why are you looking for me? Peter’s inside if you want to see him. Lucy’s inside as well. I’m sure she’d love to see you.”
Gregory shook his head. “I’m afraid this isn’t a social visit, and it’s you I’m here to see.”
“How can I help?”
His tone was devoid of emotion. “Break Peter’s heart.”
Silence fell over the garden; even the spiders didn’t dare weave their webs in fear of breaking it. How could he speak of such matters so callously?
“You want me to hurt Peter? Why? You’re his mentor, his friend. He’s always spoken of you as though you were like a substitute father,” Faye managed, though she’d known deep down this day was always going to come.
“It’s for those very reasons that I’m here to tell you to separate yourself from him. Be cruel to be kind, or neither of you will survive.”
Faye’s blood ran cold.
“Survive?”
“You didn’t think it was odd that a Grim Reaper suddenly appeared in your life, had all the time in the world for you? Think, Faye, has he tried to alter your decisions? Has he stepped in when you were hurt or in danger?” Gregory tapped the side of his forehead, but she didn’t want to hear it.
“He was trying to protect me, as any friend would.”
“He’s in love with you.”
“I know,” Faye said, staring at her hands.
“It’s forbidden for a Grim Reaper to fall for the living.”
“We aren’t hurting anyone,” Faye snapped, wishing this day hadn’t come. At least not so soon.
“No, you’re not. However, dereliction of duty is a crime which carries the penalty of soul destruction. If you love him, then you must let him go, or his very soul will cease to exist,” Gregory pleaded.
Faye saw the fear in his eyes. His coming to her reeked of desperation.
“Dereliction of duty? He’s still been collecting; his working with me hasn’t stopped that.”
“But there’s one assignment he refuses to collect.”
“I don’t understand—”
“Yes, you do.”
“My soul—” Faye struggled to speak, her mouth bone dry. “He was ordered to collect my soul?”
“In coming here, I’ve committed a crime, and in telling you this, I’m risking my own soul. However, I fear that this has gone too far, and that the fallout will hurt not just Peter, but everyone you both care for.”
“There’s nothing I can do?” Faye’s legs went out from beneath her; thankfully, she landed on the fountain’s ledge. She was going to die.
“You can’t bargain with or trick death.” Gregory sat down beside her.
His delicate way of saying no. “But Peter isn’t willing to accept it.
I’ve tried to keep him from you, I’ve explained what will happen to him, but he’s willing to accept any fate so long as you live.
But all that will happen is that another Reaper will come for you, and he’ll be destroyed. ”
Destroyed felt like it was being etched onto her heart.
But it all made sense now – his overprotective nature, his interference in her work, with Ian.
He’d been playing with her fate, buying her time.
She loved him even more for trying so desperately to save her.
Thinking of how long he’d suffered in fear of her loss, how he’d been trying to outsmart death, made her chest tighten.
And there was only one thing to do. He couldn’t save her, but she could save him.
Her time would come, and she wouldn’t take him with her.
His love had brought her back to life; it was only fair she return the favour.
Faye wasn’t sure how long they sat there, or how long it would take for the others to come looking for her.
She gazed at the illuminated manor, packed with her loved ones.
She’d had so little time – she’d only just started living.
She wasn’t ready to say goodbye. She wiped the tears from her cheeks, trying to stay focused on what needed to be done.
“When?” she asked, choking back the fear, the hurt in her voice.
“Soon.”
Faye swallowed her grief and sat a little straighter.
“I need you to keep this meeting from Peter; he can’t know we’ve spoken,” she said, taking a deep breath. “And I need you to make me a promise.”
Gregory nodded and listened to her plan without interruption.