Chapter 26
DERYN, BURNISHED brICK BAKERIES & OMENS (GOOD ONES)
THE FIRST MONTH OF MAYOR ALLENDE’S MANDATE IS A RESOUNDING SUCCESS!
The record-breaking popularity comes on the heels of ground breaking for the Survivors Center, the intersectionality of the approach to care for female and male survivors of domestic violence, which has been drawing increasing attention from the media.
Mayor Allende’s order that Crow’s Nest is a sanctuary town for any and all survivors of domestic violence has raised eyebrows on national TV, but it ultimately won a lot of points for the new mayor from women’s groups all across the country.
In other news, the Tavern has finally reopened and is already sold out three months in advance, after a fire broke out in the kitchen due to faulty wiring of the walk-in freezer.
The break-ins have stopped, and Sheriff Redding conjectured that a transient perpetrator could be responsible and has since departed the island. The Caw is skeptical of this statement and will continue reporting on any and all law-and-order issues arising in town.
With the Tavern being out of commission for four weeks, the Astronomy Resort has kept the hospitality business of Dragons booming, and the inclusion of Chef Deryn Crowhart’s yummy creations on the menu has drawn a considerable crowd from the mainland.
Chef Reem Alami has wowed the clientele with her impeccable risotto and pastas, too.
Additionally, construction teams have been spotted working on the old pier warehouse.
Watch this space as we bring you news on what new attraction will be opening in town.
—Crow’s Caw
Deryn stood in front of the little orange-yellow brick building and wondered where the time had gone.
Sooty purred at her chest under her jacket.
Their peace was tenuous, but Deryn figured out that the kitten, who was born outside, hated being cooped up the most. So these days, Sooty went places.
Book Nest. Crow’s Blossoms. The construction site.
She had told exactly nobody about the project.
In fact, she had submitted the paperwork for it before Paloma had taken office officially, which had therefore been processed by the Office of the Town Manager instead of the mayor.
Ceridwen, busier than ever helping Victoria restore the Tavern, was also blissfully unaware of where Deryn was spending her afternoons.
And Deryn had been spending them here. She could already see the walls, the brick and glass facade, the large window showing off her creations.
She told herself it didn’t mean that she would stay, but the little warehouse would be transformed into a little brick bakery, and it would also have a small studio attached to it, so if she were back in town, she wouldn’t have to stay at any of her sisters’.
Khalid showed great interest in running the place on a daily basis.
It would mean a fight to the death between her and her aunt if Victoria ever found out that her beloved pastry chef had set his eyes on a new adventure, but Deryn figured she could probably beg and charm her way out of any reprisal.
Plus, she had saved Victoria’s life, which must count for something.
As she watched the workers replace the shingles on the roof, she felt her. She scented her—that woodsy, smoky smell of her, topped with a burnt sugar aroma.
“Madam Mayor,” Deryn said without turning around. Sooty popped her head out from underneath the jacket, sleepy ears twitching at the approach of her favorite human.
“Ms. Crowhart.” Paloma came to stand shoulder to shoulder with her, both now looking at the little one-story building.
She gave Sooty a scratch. The cat meowed contentedly and snuggled back against Deryn’s chest. Paloma smirked.
“Well, this makes it two things I didn’t know.
You and Miss Sooty are very copacetic. And I didn’t know this place was snapped up.
Are you admiring the construction work, or moonlighting as a foreman? ”
Deryn did not take her eyes off the workers, refusing herself the pleasure of turning and looking at Paloma.
She had denied herself that pleasure for a few weeks now, making herself scarce before Paloma came down to the kitchens at Astronomy, not staying anywhere Paloma was for too long.
Standing next to her now, breathing her scent, told her that it had been a useless endeavor.
Hadn’t Deryn known from the very first night, when their eyes met over the fire, that Paloma was the woman…the woman of her fate…the woman of the dark amber eyes who held her as life left her heart all those years ago?
Deryn slowly shook her head, pushing the vision further away. She had been good at doing that lately.
“Just out for a walk, Madam Mayor. Sooty here wanted to see the roofers.” Deryn unzipped her jacket and pulled out a little hard hat. Sooty allowed her to put it on her fuzzy head.
“It fits,” Deryn said.
“Meow,” Sooty replied. She burrowed deeper into the jacket, hard hat and all.
Satisfied that the cat was happy, Deryn turned and headed to the pier, walking slowly to give Paloma a chance to decide whether to follow or remain at the construction site. When she heard footsteps behind her, she exhaled.
“You don’t have to call me that, you know. People still think we are together.”
Deryn bit her lip, trying not to say anything at all, but words formed and slipped out anyway.
“I don’t think that’s true any longer.”
Paloma stopped her with a hand on her elbow, and they stood in the middle of the wooden pier, the ocean foaming around them, waves splashing high. The scent of salt water filled her lungs, but the smoky perfume lingered. She couldn’t escape her, even if she tried, so why was she still trying?
A question for the ages… But maybe no more. Maybe it was time?
When she lifted her eyes to Paloma, she saw instant understanding. Instant fear, and on the tail end of that fear, rejection.
No, Paloma was not going to let her in, not after nearly dying twice.
Not that Deryn thought either of these events would matter.
In fact, they were pretty much strikes against her, what with Paloma’s history.
And certainly, sharing her magic didn’t.
After all, it had helped Paloma and her sisters find her at the Tavern that night.
This connection that they seemed to share.
Seemed to? You fool…
Deryn lowered her hand, Paloma’s fingers falling off her elbow, and Deryn caught them, lifting them, placing the palm on her heart.
“I missed you,” was all she said, and the fear in Paloma’s eyes doubled. It was painful to see.
“Deryn… Please. You can’t… You promised.”
“I lied.” Deryn knew her heart was going wild under the touch of those warm fingertips.
“You didn’t. You didn’t, Deryn, and I didn’t either. I have reasons…” Paloma trailed off, her eyes following a particularly curious heron.
“Death, heartbreak, ruin, pain, and fear. These are your reasons.” Deryn closed a finger on her other hand for each word and watched Paloma sigh, deflated.
“They are valid. As is your reason not to stay on Dragons. Your season of Bake Your Heart Out is beginning in two months, and my place is here, in Crow’s Nest. I can’t have you for two months and watch you leave.
And I can’t have you for two years and watch you leave then.
I will not survive another divorce in seven years. And I cannot lose you again.”
Paloma’s eyes went wide, clearly at the admission of something—something Deryn didn’t quite understand until that last line pierced her consciousness.
“Again?”
“I nearly lost you twice already. Is that not enough?” Paloma looked away, eyes lowered and cagey.
“I don’t think that’s what you’re talking about.”
Deryn lifted Paloma’s chin, forcing their eyes to meet. There were tears in Paloma’s. Something wasn’t right…
But before Deryn could ask, Paloma’s tears spilled, and Deryn’s heart broke.
No, she couldn’t do this. Not to this woman. She couldn’t push and press and convince… Not when she was crying. Tears made Deryn weak, made her want to do anything, give anything, just to make Paloma happy again.
“Deryn, you don’t understand. You will leave, so go.
Why are you even here?” Paloma’s breaths were coming out as sobs, tearing at Deryn’s already bruised heart.
“Leave. Take your cat and go. To your fame and to your celebrity and to all the women, and I won’t have to see you…
” Paloma trailed off, walking the rest of the way to the end of the pier, the waves higher there, the foam spilling over the boards.
To Deryn, she looked like a goddess rising out of the foamy ocean.
She heard Paloma say, “Go!” once again and turned, taking a few steps in the direction of the little brick cottage where the glass was being installed for the display windows that would one day hold cupcakes, breads, and muffins.
She could lease it to Khalid. And they could bake there side by side every time she came back…
She heard the wind bring Paloma’s murmured, “Go. I can’t stand to see you leave me, not again.
” And the puzzle pieces fit in her mind, clicking firmly together, making that satisfying cardboard sound.
Click. Deryn was a fool. Click. She had seen these eyes all her life.
Why would it never occur to her that maybe the woman in her dreams would too?
Fool…
“Fuck it!” Deryn whirled around, finding Paloma actually just a few feet away from her, and closed the distance in a second, her hands reaching for the tearstained face, holding the cold cheeks, watching the amber eyes well up again.