Chapter 18
The sun hadn't even started peeking through the curtains when Daniel rolled out of bed.
The house was completely quiet with Elowyn still being asleep and his father having gone to work already.
He brewed a pot of coffee, the rich aroma filling the air, and leaned against the counter, enjoying the solitude. His mind wandered, loosely, to the day ahead—or rather, the lack of one. No appointments, no errands, no plans. Just time.
Once the coffee finished, the mug was carried to the small table by the window.
Outside, the sky had begun its slow transition from indigo to a muted gray, early light slipping between the buildings and stretching thinly across the floor.
He lingered there before sitting, fingers wrapped around the warmth as the quiet settled deeper into the apartment.
The phone lit beneath his thumb as headlines scrolled past, attention pausing now and then without fully committing to any one story.
A local news channel murmured softly from the television after it was switched on, more background than focus.
Time moved without asking anything of him — the coffee cooled, the light strengthened, and after a while, the familiar creaks of the building signaled the world waking somewhere beyond the walls.
Down the hallway, a soft groan came from Elowyn's bedroom causing him to smile. She wasn't a morning person, and it was obvious from the low, muffled sounds of her waking. Daniel poured her a glass of apple juice and set it on the counter, knowing she'd eventually wander down for her own cup.
Fifteen minutes later, her door creaked open, and she appeared, hair sticking in unpredictable directions, eyes half-lidded, a blanket still draped over her shoulders like armor.
"Morning," Daniel greeted, keeping his tone light.
"Mmm," she groaned, shuffling toward the kitchen. Her steps were slow and deliberate, as though each movement was an achievement.
Daniel handed her the cup. "Juice?" he asked.
Elowyn accepted it gratefully, wrapping both hands around the glass. "Thanks," she mumbled, taking a careful sip.
"Did you take your meds?" Daniel questioned.
"Mmm," Elowyn groaned again, nodding her head slightly.
The quiet comfort of the kitchen seemed to settle her further into wakefulness.
A morning with no sense of urgency.
Breakfast was simple—toast and fruit, just enough to start the day without creating a production. Conversation meandered lazily, thoughts drifting in and out of focus.
Just as Elowyn was taking another sip of juice, her phone buzzed insistently on the counter. She frowned, groaning softly as she picked it up.
"Hello?" she said, still half asleep.
"Elowyn, dear! I'm so sorry to bother you," Miss Loretta's voice came through, flustered but warm.
"We just received a new shipment—books, baking ingredients, everything—and those darn delivery boys just left the boxes and bags everywhere, blocking the aisles.
Could you possibly come in today? Or tomorrow? "
Elowyn's eyes flicked toward Daniel. He raised an eyebrow, silently asking if she wanted to go.
"I can go today," she said after a pause, looking back at him. "If that's okay?"
"Of course," Daniel said immediately. "I'll come with you. Make it easier."
Her shoulders relaxed, and a small smile appeared on her face. "Thank you."
They lingered over breakfast a while longer, the quiet stretching comfortably around them.
Daniel watched as Elowyn moved slowly but purposefully, sipping juice, nibbling at fruit, running a hand through her messy hair.
It was unhurried and peaceful—the kind of morning that felt suspended in time, where nothing needed to be done until it was.
When they finally cleared the dishes and got dressed, Daniel grabbed his jacket and motioned toward the door.
"Shall we head out?"
Elowyn nodded, slipping on hers. She moved at her own pace, while Daniel fell in step beside her. They walked to the car quietly, only the soft sounds of their shoes against the driveway were heard. The morning air was cool, carrying the faint scent of dew and the distant hum of the city waking up.
Daniel drove them, the engine a steady, comforting drone beneath the soft chatter between them. They didn't need plans, didn't need schedules—this was enough. Just him and Elowyn, moving with the rhythm of a day that had nowhere in particular to go.
Halfway there, Elowyn glanced at him. "Thanks for coming with me," she said quietly.
Daniel smiled. "Of course."
"So, what do you want to do later. After Miss Loretta's?" Elowyn asked.
Daniel thought about it for a moment before answering, "I kind of want to just binge some shows or movies at home, maybe stop at the store to get a few snacks and drinks."
"We can set up the projector in the living room so we can get the full cinematic experience," Elowyn said, already excited for the movie night.
"I forgot to ask, when did you get a projector? Dad mentioned it a while ago."
"A little over two months ago. Will wanted to get himself one, but he accidentally ordered four, so he gave me one."
"Four!?" How the hell did he accidentally order four?" Daniel laughed.
"He said he doesn't remember, so I'm pretty sure he was drunk," Elowyn giggled.
"The first two are in his living room and bedroom, then he gave me the third one," Elowyn added. "Wanna guess what he did with the last one?"
"What?" Daniel asked, already knowing it's probably going to be the stupidest thing he's ever heard.
"He mounted it in his bathroom," Elowyn said, fully laughing at this point.
Daniel stared. "No."
"Yes. He watches documentaries while he showers. Says it's 'immersive," Elowyn replied. "But I heard Beyonce coming from the bathroom once and shampoo bottles falling, so… interpret that however you like."
"Knowing him, the man is probably performing full on concerts in that shower."
Laughter lingered between them as the car carried on through the late morning traffic.
Elowyn pressed her lips together, trying — and failing — to keep another giggle from escaping at the mental image, while Daniel drove with an easy smile that refused to fully fade.
The humor softened into a quiet warmth just as the familiar storefront came into view, the conversation giving way naturally to their arrival.
Daniel parked the car, and together they stepped inside, ready to tackle the chaos.
The bell above the door jingled as Daniel pushed it open, Elowyn close behind him.
The shop smelled of paper, ink, and a faint note of vanilla from the small baking section tucked at the back.
The boxes and bags from the morning delivery sprawled across the aisles exactly as Miss Loretta had described—tilted, leaning, teetering—but Elowyn stepped in without hesitation.
She moved carefully, scanning the piles, already noting which ones would need immediate attention.
Daniel set down a crate of supplies that was thrown directly in front of the door, brushing dust from his hands. "Wow," he muttered. "They really didn't bother placing anything gently, did they?"
Elowyn barely looked at him, already bending to pick up a stack of books that had spilled to the floor. Her fingers traced the edges, aligning each spine precisely before setting them neatly back on the shelf.
Miss Loretta bustled over, apron fluttering, voice bright and urgent. "Daniel! My goodness, it's been forever! How have you been? Are you still scaring people in court, or have they finally caught on to your ways?"
Daniel chuckled. "Surviving," he said smoothly, keeping his tone polite as he nodded along to her rapid-fire questions.
"Oh, and you've been eating properly, haven't you?" she pressed. "You can't survive on sandwiches forever."
Miss Loretta leaned closer to Daniel, dropping her voice into a conspiratorial whisper. "I don't know how you do it, Daniel. The energy in this place! I barely survived this morning myself."
Daniel smiled, tilting his head politely. "I've learned to roll with it," he said.
Elowyn's hands moved rhythmically, placing each baking ingredient carefully where it wouldn't topple. She didn't speak much, but the gentle hum of her movement filled the space in a way that was soothing rather than empty.
Minutes stretched into a soft routine. Daniel lifted and moved boxes to the counter, occasionally dusting off a book, while Elowyn straightened shelves, shifted ingredients, and aligned baking supplies with meticulous care.
Miss Loretta hovered nearby, fussing over Daniel occasionally but mostly giving space, her bright energy weaving around them.
After a few hours, Daniel pulled out his phone, checking the time. "I'm going to run and grab lunch," he said, glancing at Elowyn. "Is pizza okay?"
Elowyn nodded, hands still full of bags. "Sure."
"Be careful on the streets!" Miss Loretta called after him, though the words were more habitual than urgent.
Daniel smiled and left, the front door chiming behind him. The shop felt quieter instantly, though Elowyn's attention never wavered. The chaos of boxes and scattered ingredients became her world, her own little system of order.
She crouched low, reaching for a bag of flour that had slipped awkwardly to the bottom of the stack. The paper crinkled softly beneath her fingers as she tugged it free, but the moment she tried to lift it, her arms stalled.
Heavier than expected.
She adjusted her grip, drawing it closer to her knees, trying again with careful determination. The weight didn't even shift.
A faint crease formed between her brows.
She rose, disappeared briefly into the back, and returned with a folded towel. Kneeling once more, she nudged the corner of it beneath the bag, fingers working patiently to wedge more fabric underneath. After a moment, she tried to lever the flour onto it.
The bag refused to cooperate.
She shifted her hands, pushed again — harder this time. The towel bunched uselessly beneath the weight.
A small breath escaped her nose.
She sat back on her heels, considering it, then leaned forward for another attempt.
She inhaled once, preparing to try again.
"Here."
The word was quiet, close enough to startle.
The weight disappeared instantly.
Elowyn's gaze dropped first, the hand holding the flour commanded her attention before anything else could.
Long fingers curved securely on top of the bag, tendons shifting subtly under the skin with controlled strength. Fine veins traced faint lines along the back of the hand, visible only because she was looking closely enough to see them.
The nails were shaped with care and painted a deep wine red that nearly drank in the light. Rings rested along fingers, minimal, deliberate. Nothing excessive or careless.
Elowyn knew those hands.
Slowly, she let her gaze rise.
Seraphina stood in front of her, composed as ever, the bag held effortlessly as though it weighed nothing at all.
Green eyes met hazel, causing Elowyn's heart to stumble.
"Oh—uh… thank you," she said softly.
That was when it hit her—she was still on her knees, looking up at the woman. Seraphina, already tall, seemed even taller from this angle, her heels sharp and commanding. The sight made Elowyn's chest tighten and her pulse picking up pace.
Seraphina adjusted her grip slightly, lifting her eyes from the girl and scanned the nearby shelves.
"Where would you like it?"
Elowyn pushed herself to standing, brushing faint flour from her palms.
"In the kitchen," she said. "I was, um, moving the baking things there."
Seraphina nodded her head once. "Lead the way."
They moved together through the aisle, Seraphina matching Elowyn's unhurried pace without appearing to slow herself. The quiet authority she carried never felt like pressure; it simply existed.
As they walked, Elowyn became acutely aware of the soft, controlled cadence of Seraphina's steps behind her. Not loud or tentive, but certain.
She glanced back once.
A mistake.
Seraphina was closer than expected, the faint, elegant scent of her drifting through the notes of paper and vanilla that filled the shop.
Elowyn looked forward again quickly.
The kitchen doorway appeared, and she stepped inside, gesturing toward an open stretch of shelving Daniel had cleared earlier.
"Right there is good."
Seraphina lowered the bag onto a higher shelf, but she did not release it immediately. Her fingers remained there a moment, ensuring it was balanced, that it would not tip, that Elowyn would not have to wrestle with it again in thirty seconds.
"You shouldn't be carrying fifty pounds of flour alone," Seraphina said, her voice low, composed, yet carrying an unmistakable thread of warmth.
Elowyn nodded once, suddenly very aware of how close Seraphina was, how easily she occupied space without crowding it.
"I thought it was lighter," she admitted.
A flicker of something softened in Seraphina's eyes.
Her gaze swept the shelves as they walked back to the book area, taking in the neat rows, the deliberate spacing, the quiet logic behind every placement.
Seraphina paused, letting her fingers brush a row of books. "Looks good."
Elowyn's hands stayed at her sides. "Thanks," she whispered.
The girl felt something in her chest loosen, but before she could say anything, a familiar voice drifted in from the front of the shop.
"Well I'll be—Seraphina Monroe, is that you?"
Miss Loretta appeared in the doorway, wiping her hands on her apron, her expression brightening instantly.
"My goodness, you move quietly. I didn't even hear you come in!"
Seraphina turned smoothly.
"Good afternoon." Her tone warm and respectful. Exactly as she always was with her.
Miss Loretta clasped her hands together. "I was just thinking about you! Are those the options you mentioned?" She nodded toward the tablet Seraphina had placed on a shelf.
"Yes. I wanted your approval before ordering anything."
Miss Loretta beamed. "Exactly why I trust you. No surprises."
Her gaze flickered briefly toward Elowyn, then back to Seraphina.
"And nothing drastic, remember," she added, lowering her voice slightly, though not enough to exclude Elowyn.
Seraphina's eyes shifted to Elowyn for just a fraction of a second.
"Of course," she said. "Everything will feel the same."
Elowyn hadn't realized she'd been holding a small thread of tension until it dissolved.
Miss Loretta nodded briskly. "Perfect. Come show me."
Seraphina retrieved the tablet, but before turning, her gaze dipped briefly toward Elowyn's hands, still faintly dusted with flour.
"If anything else is too heavy," she said calmly, "come get me."
The wording was gentle. Assumptive in the quietest way.
Heat touched Elowyn's cheeks before she could stop it.
Seraphina seemed to recognize the effect immediately. She granted her a fraction more space, composure settling back around her.
Then she stepped out with Miss Loretta, their voices fading toward the front of the shop.
Elowyn remained still for a moment.
Her gaze dropped unconsciously to the shelf… to the place where Seraphina's hand had been.
Letting out a slow breath, she bent toward the next stack of books, but her focus no longer felt as seamless as it had moments before. Awareness pressed at the edges of her concentration now.
Miss Loretta appeared beside the counter, wiping her hands on her apron.
"Seraphina," she said warmly, lowering her voice as if instinctively matching the calm that seemed to follow the woman. "Thank you again for agreeing to this. I meant what I said — I don't want anything to truly change. This place, it matters."
"I remember," she replied.
There was no flourish in the words, no dramatic reassurance. Just certainty.
She angled the screen so Miss Loretta could see.
"I pulled options that mirror what you already have," she continued.
Miss Loretta leaned closer.
On the screen were bookshelves nearly identical to the existing ones — the same warm wood, the same gentle arch along the sides — only sturdier, the finish smoother, the structure subtly reinforced.
"Oh," Miss Loretta breathed. "You can hardly tell the difference."
A small swipe revealed the next image.
"The couch," Seraphina said. "Same color family. Similar cushions. Slightly deeper seat for comfort, but visually consistent."
Another swipe.
"The counter options. Nearly the same design. Just better materials."
Miss Loretta's shoulders softened at that.
"You understand better than most," she said gently.
Seraphina gave a small nod, then shifted the tablet slightly.
"Let's confirm," she said. "The second bookshelf option — reinforced frame, same finish?"
"Yes. That one," Miss Loretta answered without hesitation.
"And the couch with the deeper seat?"
"Oh, absolutely. People linger here. They should be comfortable."
Seraphina tapped the selections.
"The walnut counter, then? It matches your current tone almost perfectly."
Miss Loretta studied it one more second before nodding. "Perfect."
"And the tables?"
"The round ones," Miss Loretta decided.
"They feel friendlier."
Seraphina made the final notes, movements precise and efficient.
"I'll place the orders now," she said. "That way, we can have everything delivered as soon as possible."
"You think of everything," Miss Loretta smiled.
Seraphina did not acknowledge the praise. She simply smiled, locked the tablet and stepped away from the counter.
Her gaze drifted once more through the shop.
Order was slowly reclaiming the aisles. And at the center of that quiet restoration was Elowyn — crouched near the shelves, aligning books so precisely.
Seraphina watched only a moment before moving toward one of the tables near the front windows. She sat, crossing one leg over the other with absent grace, tablet waking beneath her touch as she finalized the orders.
The gentle chime of the front door being opened broke her concentration, causing her to glance up.
"I got the pizza!"
Daniel stepped inside carefully, one hand balancing the warm box while the other nudged the door closed behind him. The rich scent followed immediately, cutting through paper and vanilla.
Too preoccupied with the pizza in his hands, he never glanced toward the tables — never noticed Seraphina seated there in unstudied elegance, tablet resting against the table as her eyes rose briefly.
"Sunshine, your brother's here," Miss Loretta called.
Elowyn glanced up only briefly before returning a book to its proper place.
Daniel set the pizza on the counter and shrugged off his jacket.
"Where do you want—"
He stopped himself, already stepping around Elowyn to reach a crate perched a little too close to the edge of the shelf, looking like it was about to topple over any second.
As he leaned across her, his arm passed directly in front of her face, the sleeve brushing her cheek.
Elowyn froze.
The thought appeared instantly, and she didn't even try to fight it.
She watched his forearm for a long second, eyes narrowing slightly in quiet consideration, like a cat deciding whether something was, in fact, chewable.
Then she leaned forward and sank her teeth into him.
"—OW! What the hell, Elowyn!"
Daniel jerked back so fast he nearly knocked over the bookshelf behind him, one hand flying to his arm.
Seraphina did not startle.
But her attention sharpened.
Elowyn released him immediately.
Two perfect indentations were already blooming against his skin.
He stared at them.
Then at her.
Then back at his arm.
"You little shit," he said, half offended.
Elowyn pressed her lips together, but the giggle escaped anyway — soft, airy, completely unrepentant.
Daniel rotated his arm, inspecting the damage.
"…Why are your teeth so sharp?" he muttered.
"They're efficient," Elowyn answered.
"That is somehow worse."
He squinted at her. "You know most adults don't just bite people when the urge strikes."
She considered that.
"I don't bite most people."
He pointed at himself. "Wonderful. I feel honored."
"You should be."
From across the aisle, green eyes flicked briefly to Elowyn's mouth… then to the mark forming on the man's arm.
For the first time since entering the shop, Seraphina looked caught off guard.
Something unreadable crossed her expression. Surprise, first — brief but unmistakable — followed by the faintest suggestion of amusement, quickly gathered back beneath her usual composure.
It was, perhaps, the first unscripted glimpse she'd had of Elowyn.
The shy girl, it seemed, possessed edges.
Miss Loretta glanced over from where she was sorting receipts, entirely unsurprised.
"Did she get you again, Dan?"
"Yes," Daniel said flatly.
"Well," Miss Loretta replied, adjusting her glasses, "stop putting your limbs near her mouth."
Daniel let out a disbelieving laugh. "I was grabbing a box!"
"And yet," Miss Loretta said serenely, "you were within range."
Elowyn hummed softly, already turning back to the books like nothing had occurred.
Daniel shook his head, the sting already fading.
It wasn't a new development. Every so often, without warning, Elowyn simply… bit him. Just when some silent internal switch flipped and the impulse won. No buildup, no apology afterward. Just a quiet return to whatever she'd been doing, as if nothing unusual had occurred.
William had learned the same lesson the hard way. Apparently, proximity was risk enough.
He had discovered this once and had since learned to keep a respectful distance when she grew thoughtfully quiet.
Daniel nudged her gently with his elbow as he stepped past.
"One day," he muttered, "you're going to bite the wrong person."
"I choose very carefully," she replied.
"Oh good. Premeditated biting. That makes me feel much safer."
Miss Loretta chuckled under her breath.
Elowyn rocked once on her heels, clearly pleased with herself, then walked over to continue her work.
Seraphina returned her attention to the tablet before Miss Loretta spoke again.
"Well, we certainly can't eat in front of you," Miss Loretta said suddenly, hands planting on her hips as she looked at Seraphina.
"Would you like a slice?"
Seraphina glanced up.
"No, thank you. I've already eaten."
"Nonsense — at least let me get you something. Coffee? Tea? I made lemon squares this morning."
"Coffee would be lovely," Seraphina replied after a brief pause.
"Coming right up!"
Miss Loretta turned toward the kitchen, then stopped abruptly, her eyes widening just a fraction.
"Oh goodness, where are my manners?" She pivoted back. "Daniel, this is Seraphina Monroe. Seraphina, this is Daniel—Elowyn's brother."
Daniel turned, just now registering the unfamiliar figure nearby.
So this is her.
His father's employer and the woman who had taken his little sister out for dinner the other night.
She looked older than he had expected. Still young, but unmistakably mature– possibly around to his age, perhaps even a bit older, but she carried herself with a self-possession he more often associated with people well beyond it.
He had imagined someone more approachable. Someone warmer at a glance. But there was a precision to Seraphina Monroe, a careful command of herself that made him instinctively straighter in his posture.
Seems like Elowyn liked them older. Or maybe he was just overthinking it. Either way, he would have to keep a closer eye on his little sister.
"Pleasure to meet you," he said smoothly, extending a hand.
Seraphina rose just enough to meet it, her
grip firm and professional.
"Likewise."
He nodded once, releasing her hand before turning toward Miss Loretta.
"I'm going to organize the last bit in the kitchen before I eat," he said. "Otherwise, it'll bother me."
Miss Loretta waved him off. "Always so responsible. Go on."
Daniel disappeared toward the back.
Miss Loretta gathered herself again. "Oh, the coffee!" she declared, vanishing into the kitchen a moment later.
And just like that, the shop fell back into silence.
Seraphina turned her attention back to Elowyn.
"Come eat before it gets cold, sweetheart."
Elowyn turned, blinked once, then obeyed without thinking.
"Okay."
A quiet note of approval crossed Seraphina's face, subtle enough that most would have missed it.
After Elowyn grabbed her meal, she remained standing near the counter, pizza plate in hand, gaze drifting uncertainly across the tables as if they had rearranged themselves purely to confuse her.
A quiet sound broke the stillness.
Seraphina let out a small, almost breathless laugh.
"You can sit, Elowyn."
Elowyn looked at her.
Then at the tables again.
Decision, apparently, was not immediate.
Without comment, Seraphina extended her long leg slightly and nudged the chair across from her heel. The wood slid back with a soft scrape — an uncomplicated invitation.
"This one is available," she added.
Elowyn hesitated only a second before walking over, movements careful and controlled. She set her plate down first, then lowered herself into the chair as though sudden motions might disturb the air.
Elowyn took a bite of her pizza, chewing carefully as the pair sat in in the quiet.
Seraphina allowed the silence to stretch for a moment before, almost idly, she said, "You bite people."
Elowyn choked.
The reaction was immediate and spectacularly ungraceful.
The bite she had just taken lodged halfway down, and her throat seemed to forget its most basic responsibilities. She inhaled wrong, coughed once, then again, sharper this time, shoulders drawing inward as she turned slightly away from the table.
A quiet, panicked calculation flickered across her face.
Do not spit it out.
Do not make noise.
Do not die in front of her.
She grabbed for her napkin, pressing it to her mouth as another cough betrayed her effort at composure. Her eyes watered faintly. Heat climbed her neck with ruthless efficiency.
Across from her, Seraphina remained very still.
Not quite alarmed, but alert.
There was something almost deliberate in the stillness, as if stepping in would embarrass her more than the choking itself. So she simply supervised, ready to step in if needed. Her green eyes steady, giving Elowyn the strange dignity of recovering without witness to panic.
Eventually, air returned.
Elowyn drew in a careful breath through her nose, then reached blindly for her drink. The cup made the faintest sound against the table as she lifted it, hands just shy of trembling.
One sip.
Two.
She set it down with surgical care, blinking rapidly as she forced the coughing back into submission.
Silence settled again, thin but not uncomfortable.
Seraphina's mouth curved.
"Noted," she said.
Elowyn looked at her, stunned.
Color bloomed across her cheeks, unstoppable now.
Then, very quietly, "You saw that?"
"Mhm."
The sound was soft and low, almost thoughtful, but the tiny smirk forming at the corner of Seraphina's mouth made it clear she had seen far more than Elowyn would have preferred.
Elowyn dropped her gaze to her plate.
"I forgot you were here– in...in the front with Miss Loretta..."
A small pause opened between them as
Elowyn folded the edge of her napkin. Then unfolded it. Then aligned it carefully with the table's grain, only to realize what she was doing and stop altogether.
Seraphina watched with quiet attention.
"You didn't strike me as someone impulsive," the woman said. The words observational rather than corrective.
Elowyn glanced up before she could stop herself.
"I'm not," she replied, a touch too quickly, almost defensive.
"No?" Seraphina's smile deepened, her head tilting slightly.
Elowyn shook her head once, then immediately seemed to reconsider the confidence of that gesture. She took another bite of pizza, smaller this time, clearly unwilling to repeat the ordeal.
Seraphina leaned back slightly in her chair, crossing her leg over the other.
Elowyn swallowed.
"…It happens."
Something warmer flickered through
Seraphina's expression at that.
"I see."
Elowyn dared a glance at her.
There was no judgment there. No visible confusion. Just attention, steady and composed as ever.
The absence of reaction eased something small in her chest.
Then —
"I'll remember to stay out of range,"
Seraphina added, a touch of humor in her voice.
Elowyn ducked her head, a reluctant smile pressing briefly at the corner of her mouth before she hid it with another bite.
"You should be fine," she murmured.
"How reassuring."
A soft hush returned, companionable now.
For a few moments, the only sounds were the faint rustle of paper, the distant clink of a mug somewhere in the kitchen, and the muted life of the shop around them.
Elowyn became gradually aware that she was no longer perched on the edge of the chair.
At some point during the exchange, she had settled back.
Not fully relaxed. That might have been too ambitious a word.
But closer.
The change did not escape Seraphina.
She noticed the way Elowyn no longer seemed poised for flight… the way her shoulders had lowered a fraction… the way her gaze lifted more easily now, even if it never lingered long.
Progress, however slight, did not escape her.
"Elowyn."
The quiet sound of her name pulled her eyes up again.
"Yes?"
Seraphina studied her for a brief moment, something unreadable passing through her gaze before it softened almost imperceptibly.
"You don't have to look so alarmed every time I speak."
Elowyn blinked.
"I don't look alarmed."
A pause.
"…Do I?"
"A little," Seraphina responded.
That should have been embarrassing.
Strangely, it wasn't.
Elowyn exhaled, something close to a shy huff leaving her.
Elowyn took a deep breath before blurting, "I'm scared of you."
Seraphina's green eyes widened for the briefest moment, a flicker of surprise passing through them.
"Have I… ever done something to make you feel that way?" she asked, voice calm, though curiosity softened it.
Elowyn thought about it for a moment, then shook her head. "No. You're actually really nice to me."
Seraphina exhaled softly, the faintest trace of relief flickering in her expression before confusion set in.
Seraphina's gaze was steady, voice soft but unmistakably direct. "So why are you scared?"
Elowyn froze, staring at her plate. Her mind stumbled over the question, circling it, refusing to land on an answer. She traced the edge of her napkin absentmindedly, then lifted her eyes and looked past Seraphina, as though the walls of the shop could offer an explanation.
She thought about the times her pulse had spiked when Seraphina was near, the times her stomach had fluttered or her hands had grown clammy, and the odd, unspoken tension that had always followed the older woman's presence.
But that had always been instinct, reaction—never something she'd consciously named.
"…I… I don't know," she admitted at last, softly, almost to herself. Her gaze dropped again. "…I've never really thought about it."
She chewed carefully, working through the feeling, then completely serious she said, "…I guess… maybe because that night at dinner. You… could have chased me and—and kidnapped me, and I don't like running, so I would have been a goner."
Seraphina blinked, green eyes narrowing slightly as a flicker of a smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. "…Kidnapped, huh?" There was a teasing lilt in her voice, but it didn't mask the subtle tension beneath it—the worry that maybe she had pushed too hard.
She leaned forward just a fraction, careful not to crowd Elowyn. "Did you feel pressured to go with me that night?"
"No," Elowyn said softly, shaking her head. "I– I was hungry. And I wanted to go."
Seraphina's brow lifted, a flicker of confusion passing through her expression. "Then what made you think I would kidnap you?"
Elowyn shrugged, shoulders lifting slightly as if that might explain everything and nothing at all.
Seraphina studied her, a mix of curiosity and amusement in her gaze, trying to parse the logic of the girl before her.
Then again, the girl blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
"You're really pretty."
Seraphina didn't respond right away.
Not because she didn't hear it — but because something in the way Elowyn said it caught, then clicked into place.
Her expression didn't sharpen, nor did it brighten. It simply shifted, curiosity giving way to something more deliberate.
"…Ah, I see," she said at last, realization finally setting in.
Elowyn's shoulders tensed the second the sound left her mouth. She stared at her plate as if it had personally betrayed her.
"I— I didn't mean it like—" She faltered, then gave up, pushing her pizza around instead of eating it.
Seraphina watched her closely now, the pieces rearranging themselves.
Elowyn fumbled with her slice. "…I—uh, I didn't mean it. I shouldn't have— well, I didn't not mean it— I mean—"
Seraphina's gaze didn't waver. "It's okay," she said quietly, and with that one phrase, the tension in the air loosened slightly.
Elowyn's face heated further. "…Really? I… I just—"
"Yes, really," Seraphina said. "Relax, dear."
Elowyn nodded, swallowing hard, her fingers now resting neatly beside her plate.
Seraphina's gaze softened, patient and unwavering.
"And for what it's worth," she added, "I don't intend to kidnap or chase you in that way."
Elowyn's heart betrayed her again, picking up for the same reason she still couldn't name.
She nodded, swallowing. "…Okay."
Elowyn took a sip of her drink, then gathered a small thread of courage.
"You're easier to talk to than before."
The admission seemed to surprise them both.
Seraphina's brow lifted slightly.
"Before?"
"Yeah…" Elowyn searched for the word, eyes glancing up briefly. "…I think I was more scared before."
"Is that so?" Seraphina replied, a knowing smile gracing her lips.
Elowyn simply nodded her head once, before another gentle silence unfolded.
And this one felt… good.
Elowyn took another bite, entirely without incident this time.
Across the table, Seraphina allowed her gaze to rest there a moment longer than necessary.
Observing.
Learning the small shifts.
The shy smiles that appeared when
Elowyn forgot to guard them.
The steadiness growing, thread by delicate thread.
And when Elowyn glanced up again, catching that gaze waiting patiently across from her, her heart gave a quiet, unsteady beat.
Seraphina caught that as well.
Miss Loretta appeared at the table carrying a mug, the dark surface of the coffee trembling faintly with each careful step.
"Here you go."
Seraphina gently took the mug from the elderly woman's hands. "Thank you."
Miss Loretta's gaze flicked briefly between them — Elowyn seated a touch straighter than before, Seraphina composed as ever — and something quietly approving settled into her expression.
"I need to go take care of a few things," she said, "I'll be just behind the counter if either of you need anything."
She gave Elowyn's shoulder a gentle squeeze as she passed, then returned to the counter.
Seraphina lifted the mug, pausing just once as the scent reached her.
Across from her, Elowyn pretended very earnestly to be focused on her pizza.
The chair beside them scraped lightly as Daniel lowered himself into it, folding easily into the space as though he had always been part of the table.
He took one look at Elowyn, then at
Seraphina.
"Well," he said mildly, reaching for a slice, "no one looks traumatized."
Elowyn looked at him, confusion written across her face. "Should we?"
"That depends," he replied. "Did you bite her too?"
Seraphina's mouth shifted into a small, subtle smirk.
Color rose instantly in Elowyn's face.
"No."
"I was told I'd be safe," Seraphina said calmly.
Daniel huffed a quiet laugh. "Then you're lucky."
He bit into his pizza, attention drifting without tension, the easy vigilance of an older brother present but not pressing.
For a moment, the three of them sat in silence.
Daniel wiped his thumb along the edge of the crust, then glanced at Elowyn again.
"You remembered to eat this time," he noted.
She frowned slightly. "I always eat."
"When reminded."
A small pout formed on the girls face.
Seraphina took a slow sip of her coffee.
"I told her to eat before it went cold."
Daniel's brow lifted.
"And she listened?"
Elowyn answered before she could stop herself. "Yes."
The single word hung there.
Daniel leaned back a fraction, studying that — not suspicious or amused. Simply filing it away.
"Good," he said at last.
Miss Loretta's voice floated faintly from the front of the shop, speaking to a customer who had just wandered in.
Chairs shifted softly as the meal wound down. The last slices had long since cooled, untouched at the edge of the box.
Daniel gathered the leftovers without comment, Elowyn stacked the plates and Seraphina rose, fingers closing around her mug before she carried it toward the counter to be washed, as naturally as if she had done so a hundred times before.
Seraphina returned a moment later and reached for the tablet where she had left it.
As she picked up the device, Elowyn spoke.
"Was I keeping you from work?"
Seraphina met her eyes. "Not at all. I was only finishing the orders."
Elowyn nodded, but her fingers folded together on the table, a quiet tension gathering in her posture before she asked, "For the shop?"
"Yes."
Seraphina watched her for a brief moment, taking in the way Elowyn's shoulders drew in, the way her hands tucked closer together on the table.
"Everything will look very much as it does now," she said. "The new pieces are simply better built, so nothing will change at all."
Elowyn studied her face, searching for something, then let out a breath she had not realized she was holding.
"…Okay."
Seraphina regarded her quietly, then asked, "Would you like to see what was ordered?"
Elowyn glanced up before nodding.
Seraphina stepped around the table instead of taking the chair beside her, coming to a stop just behind Elowyn's shoulder, and placed the tablet carefully on the table within her line of sight.
Elowyn froze for the second time that afternoon.
Awareness arrived all at once — the subtle shift of air as Seraphina leaned in just enough to angle the screen, the faint warmth of her presence, the quiet brush of her breath near the top of her head.
Elowyn sat very still, afraid that even a small movement might betray how suddenly alert she had become.
Seraphina seemed not to notice or perhaps chose not to acknowledge that she did.
"This is the counter," she said, drawing the image forward. "Same shape and tone. The surface is sealed better, so it won't wear as quickly."
Elowyn leaned forward a fraction despite herself, studying the familiar lines. Relief loosened something small between her ribs.
Seraphina shifted to the next image. "The bookshelves match the ones already here. These are just reinforced, so they won't bow once they're full."
Another slide.
"The lighting is nearly identical, just a little warmer toward the evening."
And then the couch — the same welcoming color, the same soft structure that invited people to linger.
Elowyn hadn't realized she was bracing until the tension quietly left her shoulders.
Elowyn nodded slowly, eyes still on the screen. "I like them."
Seraphina allowed herself the smallest hint of satisfaction before straightening again, giving the girl her space without making the movement obvious.
"I thought you might."
Seraphina's gaze slipped briefly to her watch. "I should be going."
Elowyn rose almost immediately, pushing her chair in before brushing her palms lightly over the front of her sweater, smoothing fabric that did not truly need smoothing.
"I'll just say goodbye to Miss Loretta," Seraphina said.
From across the shop came the low murmur of parting words, Miss Loretta's warm gratitude carrying faintly between the shelves before the front door chimed once as a customer departed. A moment later, Seraphina returned, composure settled neatly around her as always.
She paused in front of Elowyn.
"Elowyn," she said, lowering her voice slightly, "whenever you're with your father while he's working, you're welcome to come to my office if you need the quiet.
Elowyn blinked, clearly caught off guard by the offer.
"You wouldn't be in the way," Seraphina continued. "You may come and go as you like."
Something softened in Elowyn's expression, surprise giving way to a small, earnest gratitude.
"…Thank you," she said.
Seraphina held her gaze for a brief moment, then reached for her purse.
"I'll see you soon, Elowyn."
And with that, she turned toward the door, her heels sounding softly against the floor as she stepped back into the afternoon.