Chapter 11
OPHELIA
Broderick should have known I was a fan of selkies. One of my bosses is one after all.
And Owen MacNamara’s house is exactly the destination the witch had in mind. Well, more like the MacNamara homestead. Turns out, the family of selkies—one of Folk Haven’s founding families—owns a stretch of land along one of the coves. Multiple houses litter the property.
And one Airstream trailer.
Delta Novac is mated to Calder MacNamara—Owen’s brother—and she used to use the trailer as an office before she stopped working remotely as a professor and recently joined the Ramla staff.
She’s Broderick’s colleague—also a faculty member in the English department—and mentioned to him that her trailer wouldn’t get much use with her having an official office at the university.
He called her as I was busy washing ashes off of my skin in the library bathroom. The dragon shifter was happy to immediately start renting me the place for the rest of the summer, especially when her brother-in-law gave me a glowing review.
I didn’t realize my work ethic had impressed my boss so much.
“Is it going to be weird, having me living here? As one of your employees?” I ask.
Owen lingers in the doorway of the Airstream as I maneuver around the compact space. He showed up with the plan to help me move in, only to discover all my belongings fit into two duffel bags.
The selkie smirks. “Nope. As long as you keep your mouth shut about my nude sunrise yoga routine.”
My horror must show on my face because he bursts out laughing.
“I’m kidding!” He chortles. “It’s fine. You’re an outstanding employee. And now, my parents can grow enamored with you and forget about their errant son. Mark my words—less than twenty-four hours from now, you’ll have a dinner invite.”
I try not to grimace. After last night’s horrendous dinner, I’m antsy at the thought of future social events.
Unaware of my disquiet, Owen turns to acknowledge someone over his shoulder. “And here’s the professor.”
I lean down to glance out the small window above the desk in time to see a red head of hair passing by. Owen steps down from the entryway, and Broderick appears.
“She found the spare.” He holds up a key.
Delta greeted me when I first arrived, giving me a brief tour of the camper, then went back to the house she shares with Owen’s younger brother to search for the second key. Broderick offered to go with her so I could unpack my belongings.
I find I like how small this space is. The compact camper makes it feel like the tiny number of items I own was planned.
When I returned to Georgiana’s house to pack up my life, I realized how little of a mark I’d made, even after being free for six months.
A handful of outfits.
A coat, sandals, and sturdy boots.
My cell phone. Some personal hygiene items. A few secondhand paperbacks I bought from Never Judge a Cover, the town’s bookstore.
That was it.
If I incinerated along with my fire, my entire existence could easily be done away with through one trip to a trash can.
Still, Georgiana—who was up, waiting for me, when I arrived—seemed livid about my abrupt departure.
“After taking care of you all these months, this is the thanks I get?” She glared at me while I packed up my small life. “Your rudeness to Franklin, then leaving without warning?”
In a way, she was right. Georgiana had done a lot for me when she had no reason to, and I was making a fast exit without a thank-you.
Because those words were still so hard to say.
But I wouldn’t be guilted into remaining, and I certainly didn’t want to stay in a place where someone thought I needed taking care of.
There’s a difference between caring for someone and caring about them.
I doubted that Georgiana could claim the latter.
“You have done a lot for me,” I admitted while zipping up my bag. “But now, it’s time I take care of myself. If I owe you any money, please let me know.”
I’d been trying to contribute financially for months, but she always pushed the offers away. Maybe the gesture would have seemed kind to others, but for me, I only felt more beholden.
“And there is a gift. Something I made. For you.”
I’d left the vase of glass flowers on her dining room table.
Matching the single one I’d originally crafted for her when I made everyone else’s thank-you gifts.
The siren had claimed to love the fragile bloom, so I’d fashioned her an entire bouquet.
Hopefully, through them, she’d understand that I did truly appreciate her generosity.
I suppose I’ll find out the next time we cross paths in this small town.
“Well, it’s getting late,” Owen announces. “I’ll bid you both good night. Ophelia, I’ll see you at work on Monday. Broderick, I’ll see you tomorrow. Bright and early. Ready to get your ass whooped.” Owen offers a jaunty wave before heading up the hill toward the main house, whistling as he goes.
I turn to find Broderick rolling his eyes.
“What’s happening bright and early tomorrow?”
He offers a sheepish smile. “We’re playing cricket.”
That means absolutely nothing to me. “And cricket is …”
“Sorry.” Broderick tucks his hands in his pockets, and a blush steals over his cheeks.
“I keep forgetting that it’s not big over here.
Cricket is a sport. Kind of like baseball, but not really.
It’s a pretty huge thing over in England.
And I think it might be the most popular sport in India.
Have you met Anthony’s partner, Zara?” When I shake my head, he explains, “She’s a harpy and a veterinarian.
You might have seen her in town. She’s also Ame’s boss.
Sorry, that’s a lot of information to throw at you without answering your question. ” The witch gives me a rueful grin.
“You don’t need to apologize,” I tell him, coming to lean against the tiny kitchen sink, where he lingers. “I like hearing you talk.”
The blush he had before now looks like a full sunburn, and the heat under his skin is both endearing and enticing.
“Oh. Okay. Well, anyway, Zara’s father, Sanjay, is a huge cricket fan.
His parents came over from India, and he grew up on the game, then raised Zara to love it too.
And Anthony wants to do anything he possibly can to get on Sanjay’s good side.
Not that he’s on his bad side, necessarily.
But when he found out Sanjay wanted to have a cricket league, but didn’t have enough interest from townsfolk to get a game going, he made it his mission to conscript a decent amount of us in order to play. ”
“That’s sweet. So, you and Owen and others are going to be playing this cricket game tomorrow morning?”
“Yep. Luckily, I played a few matches when I lived in England, so I have a good idea of how the game goes. I still have a feeling that I’m gonna get my ass handed to me.” Broderick ducks his chin as he offers the self-deprecating words.
I find the witch’s humble nature extremely appealing. Maybe it’s from spending my life under the thumb of men who thought they knew better than me. Sometimes, you just want to be around someone who doesn’t think they’re God’s gift to the world.
“Could I watch?” I don’t really do much on the weekends. I don’t do much in general. And I want to change that.
“Of course you can.” Broderick glances up at me, his eyes sparkling with excitement. “But would you want to play instead?”
Do I want to play? Do I want to participate? Do I want to be part of the fun instead of an observer?
Yes.
I’m annoyed with myself that I didn’t even consider asking. My entire mindset needs a shift. I need to remember that I don’t have to be a simple spectator in life.
I can fully be a part of it.
“Yes. I have no idea how to play, but, yes, I would.”
“I can teach you the rules.” Broderick starts to grin. “And I think this will be good practice for Galen’s Gauntlet.”
“How so? Do they usually incorporate sports into it?”
“No.” He reaches out, almost absentmindedly, claiming my hand and lacing our fingers together.
“Or maybe they will. I honestly don’t know what those sirens have planned.
But this should get your competitive nature going.
Because”—now, he smirks—“I don’t expect any of these players to go easy on you just because you’re a newbie. ”
A fire starts in my chest, but this time an excited one. Not an anxious, scared flame. But a beautiful, roaring, life-sustaining fire.
“Good. I think I’d like the challenge.”