Chapter 20 At a Loss for Curds
AT A LOSS FOR CURDS
The sun was setting but the tile beneath their feet was still warm from the afternoon sunshine.
Two outdoor spaceheaters, twin pillars of lit flame, would continue to keep the space warm for hours.
It was a private setting; the thick vines that grew on the trellis walls provided a barrier, sheltering the patio from the rest of the courtyard’s view.
Candles covered every spare surface, their light reflecting off the stone walls.
It was the perfect setting for a romantic alfresco dinner, and the scene was set for precisely that.
A small table sat in the center of the space, draped in white linen, set for two diners.
Wine glasses. Fresh flowers. And in the center of the table, a perfect wheel of Queso Luna, topped with blue orchids.
It was already sliced and arranged on a board alongside some bread, olive tapenade, and sliced fresh fruit.
Soft music played from somewhere. Bayard recognized something classical and nauseatingly romantic.
And standing beside the table, looking entirely too pleased with themselves, were Minerva and Zephyr. They were clapping.
Clapping.
“Congratulations!” Minerva said warmly. “You two did it! You escaped with time to spare.”
Bayard stared. “What the devil—?”
“The escape room!” Zephyr exclaimed. “Quite clever, wasn’t it? Raoul and Geraldo designed it for team-building exercises. We thought it would be perfect for—”
“Wait a minute...” Exandra’s voice was dangerously low and quiet. “The escape room?”
“The telegram was fake?” Bayard asked, his face going pale. “The emergency? The countdown?”
“The whole thing?” Exandra gasped.
“All part of the game,” Minerva said. “Though you took it wonderfully seriously. Really committed to the—”
“You—” Exandra’s hands clenched into fists at her side. “You tricked us and you trapped us. You faked an emergency. You made us think—” Her voice rose. “Do you have any idea how worried we were? We thought the entire facility was going to be destroyed! We thought—”
“We thought people would be hurt,” Bayard added, his voice shaking. “We thought the Culture Vulture’s efforts to destroy Yuletime celebrations had escalated. We thought—” He had to sit down. Once seated, he looked up at Minerva, anger and betrayal written across his face. “How could you two?”
Minerva and Zephyr exchanged a nervous look. This was not exactly going how they’d imagined it would.
“We were only trying to help,” Minerva squeaked. “You two have been dancing around each other for days, for decades, and neither of you will just talk—”
“So you manipulated us?” Exandra’s voice boomed. “Locked us up in a room together? Thought you’d force us into some sort of—of—” Her lip curled as she gestured at the romantic setup. “This?”
“Well, yes,” Zephyr said, stepping in front of Minerva protectively. “That was rather the point, Exxie. It’s not like either of you were going to listen to reason. You needed a good shake-up, if you ask me!”
“Well, we didn’t ask you!” Bayard objected.
“Didn’t you?” Zephyr’s brow raised. “I seem to remember chatting with you on the frozen deck—”
“That still didn’t give you the right to do this!” Bayard growled. His hands shook as he gripped his cane and stood back up. “Poorly done, you two!”
He turned and stormed away, his cane thwacking sharply against the stone floor.
“Bayard, please! Wait—” Minerva started to follow.
“Oh, no, you don’t! You leave him alone,” Exandra snapped, glowering at Minerva as she blocked her path. “You’re going to leave us both alone. You’ve done enough for one day.”
With this, she stomped off in the opposite direction, her footsteps echoing through the courtyard.
Minerva and Zephyr stood alone in the candlelit chamber, surrounded by their carefully planned romantic setup.
“Well,” Zephyr said after a long moment. “That did not go quite like we hoped it would, did it?”
“No,” Minerva agreed softly. “No, it didn’t.” She hated to admit it, but maybe they shouldn’t have meddled. “Maybe we shouldn’t have…” she said sadly.
They looked at each other, then at the beautiful dinner they’d arranged. The tapas smelled delicious.
“Think we should go after them?” Zephyr asked.
“I don’t think they’d welcome that right now.” Minerva sighed. “I think in our desire for our friends to be as happy as we are, we pushed too hard, too fast, Zippy.”
“Maybe we should have waited until after they ate the Queso Luna cheese.” Zephyr heaved a sigh. “So what should we do now?”
Minerva looked at the table, at the wine and cheese and candles. It would be a shame to let it all go to waste.
“I think we need to let them be and we have some dinner,” she said. “We give them space. And tomorrow, we’ll have to apologize.”
They sat down at the table meant for two other people, and Zephyr poured the wine.
Minerva bit into her slice of Queso Luna, enjoying how it was both sharp and creamy at once and how it made her tongue tingle.
“Do you think they’ll forgive us eventually?” he asked.
“I hope so,” she said. “And I hope they find a way to get over themselves, too. Because they really need each other. Even if they don’t know it yet. Just like we needed each other. And Zippy?”
Zephyr bit into his slice of cheese and made a “mmmmm?” sound.
For a moment, the two of them just stared into each other’s eyes.
“I know, Minnie. I love you, too. Always have, always will. “