11. Ambrose
Ambrose
Keep your head up, Amby.
I repeated the phrase to myself as I finished lunch with Annabelle at one of Everdeen’s finest eating houses.
My mood was rather sour after the exchange between Zeth and me yesterday at the laundry, and it had been hard to focus on talking, especially with how many people stopped by our table for a quick chat with Annabelle.
Her popularity as the wealthiest woman in Everdeen had me a little baffled.
Didn’t they know it was rude to chatter on while someone held company? Perhaps manners were fading away.
After lunch, we made our way to a boutique that sold figurines and other accessories, as well as a few clothes. I hoped to buy Annabelle another statue to replace the one I broke in the parlor. While she searched for one, I browsed other areas of the store until she came up to me.
“Isn’t this a lovely bracelet, Amby?”
I glanced over to see colorful leather bands woven like a braid with three beads in the middle. Two were white, and the other was real silver. “It’s very pretty. Would you like that too?”
“Actually, I was thinking of getting it for Millie. As a get-well gift.”
“For… Millie? Oh, of course.” I put out my hand to buy it, but she held onto it.
“I’ll pay for this myself, Amby.”
“Very well. Did you find another statue?” I glanced around at the porcelain dolls—which I found unsettling—and statues of various people in romantic poses. Hopefully, Annabelle didn’t pick out the most expensive one. It would be difficult to explain the purchase to my father.
“I think I’ll only get the bracelet. Don’t you worry about the statue.”
“But I owe it to you. Especially after how foolish I acted for pushing Zeth in the lake the other day. I ruined our time together. I want to make it up to you.”
Annabelle smiled as if she held some joke I didn’t know about. “I don’t think you realize how much fun I had that day. And Zeth and Millie brought life back into my big, empty house. I… Well, I enjoyed it.”
“Oh.” She had enjoyed it, and yet I had been flirting in her upstairs room with the other man trying to win her hand. What a jackass I was.
“You’re such a good friend, Amby.” She beamed at me before she turned toward the counter.
I was a good friend ? Did she just…
“Wait,” I started, and Annabelle turned back with wide eyes. I rubbed my thumb, needing a clear explanation. “If you see me as a friend, then whatever we’re doing now…”
“You’re a wonderful man…”
That was as clear as mud. “But?”
Annabelle faltered. “But there’s no spark between us. You know, that spark when you meet someone, and you know they’re the one? I’m certain I feel it with someone else.”
Did she mean… Zeth? It was hard to imagine them together, but Annabelle seemed to know what she wanted, and it wasn’t me. Maybe Zeth already caught her fancy and lit her spark. Now they would marry, and have kids, and stroll into every event as a happy couple…
Why did thinking that make me so… jealous? My heart trembled so much, my hands began to shake.
“Amby?” Her face creased in concern.
I managed a weak laugh. “You’re right. I’m sorry, I understand.”
“You’re going to make someone very happy one day.
I would love to remain your friend, if that’s alright.
” Her gesture of friendship was nothing but pure grace, particularly in the face of my awful, deceitful intentions.
Annabelle was an incredibly kind, clever, and fun person. She deserved the best.
I gave her a friendly nod. “Of course, we shall remain friends.” Even so, worry gnawed already at my bones about what my father would say. Another rejection from a potential bride. I would have to face that later.
“Did you see the rings, Amby? They’re gaining popularity among men,” she suggested before making her way to the clerk.
Straightening, I searched through the jewelry in various baskets.
A few rings with small, colored stones embedded in the metal caught my eye.
Beside the basket was a placard explaining that the colors changed from blue to purple to red and even black, depending on how one was feeling.
People used them to stay calm and collected.
My shaking thankfully subsided as I picked up one of the rings and tried it on. The colors seemed to swirl as the ring turned an amber color. I read over the placard to find what that meant: Nervous, mixed sentiments.
“Hm.” I turned it around on my finger and rubbed my thumb along the silver designs of the band.
What a unique ring. A handsome ring. The place where the stone lay was wide and flat, setting it apart from the others.
It also appeared well made. For some reason, it reminded me of Zeth.
Would the stone shift to black if he put it on? He certainly needed to cool his temper.
God, even a piece of jewelry was reminding me of Zeth.
I thought back to yesterday at the laundry.
When I delivered the letter to him, and he mentioned he only had water, I was concerned for his well-being.
But now I could see how my actions could have come off wrong.
I did flirt with him to distract him away from Annabelle, after all, but it’d also come so naturally to me.
Everything came naturally to me with Zeth.
His words to get the fuck out of his life had hit me hard.
But Zeth had recently lost his mother. Not even two months ago.
It had to be difficult to lose your mother and have to pack up and leave to sell his inheritance.
I knew the feeling of losing a mother, and knew Zeth was in pain.
Maybe that’s why he lashed out. Part of me wanted to comfort him, even if he was cruel. Perhaps I could make it up to him.
Taking off the ring, I made my way to the counter to pay for it.
“Oh, you found something?” Annabelle asked.
I held it out in my palm. “I did. Nothing fancy.”
“An aura ring. I do love those. They make great gifts for friends. And you know, bonds formed through friendship can never be broken.” She winked before she whisked away.
What was she on about? A good friend? Yes, but she spoke in riddles, and I hated those. Was she talking about me and her, or someone else?
After we paid for our things, we left and walked along the shops outside. I was surprised by Annabelle’s quick pace and had to focus on keeping up with her swishing skirts.
“Would you like to head to the bookshop?” she asked. “I’d like to get a new collection of poems since the poetry salon is coming up soon. Do you have a poem you’re going to recite?”
“Oh… I’m not sure yet. My mother had several books. I sometimes read from one of them.”
“I remember your mother fondly. She’s so missed.”
My spirit glowed hearing that. “Thank you. My mother loved reciting poetry at the meetups. It’s why my father still attends them. Going to the bookstore sounds lovely. I think I may find something too.”
Annabelle suddenly walked faster.
I was so wrapped up in following her that I ran right into someone else. The impact knocked my cap back, and I let out a breath as several cans of beans fell onto the sidewalk.
I immediately bent to pick them up. “My apologies—” My voice trailed off when I saw Zeth squatting beside me, hurriedly scooping the cans into his arms.
I picked up the last one, hesitating as I stared at him.
Zeth snatched it from my hand with a glare and stood.
Gritting my teeth, I rose as well. Of course, he was still angry with me.
He’d accused me of spying to tell Annabelle he had nothing but water, and now here I was with her the very next day. This wasn’t good.
“Zeth!” Annabelle exclaimed. “So good to see you.”
Zeth stood tall in his blue suit, but a few water stains marred the fabric. He shifted his armful of cans in front of him awkwardly, nodding to us both. “Miss Winters. Mr. Somerset.”
Oh, how I fucking hated him calling me that. He had to know it by the way my face soured. From how Annabelle hesitated, the sudden formalities threw her off too.
For a moment, we all stood awkwardly, until Zeth said, “Pleasant weather, isn’t it?”
I peered up to see white clouds spanning over the sky. Was he trying to make the space between us less tense?
“Spring is so unpredictable,” Annabelle replied politely and glanced at me, expectant.
I straightened, already hating this small talk. “Um, yes. The air is damp. I think it may rain later.” What an idiotic thing to say.
“Don’t worry, Amby, there’s sunshine behind every storm cloud.”
Annabelle’s positive outlook on life was far too chirpy in the given moment. Even Zeth rolled his eyes.
“Well… I actually don’t mind a good storm,” I clarified. “Too much sun really is flustering. I’m not sure why everyone hates the rain so much.”
“Only you would describe sunshine as flustering,” Zeth said with a snarky bite. “Did you not appreciate that lovely quote?”
“Of course I did. And I do… like sunshine. Just not all the time. Surely you have a quote about rain?”
Zeth’s brow lowered at me as he snipped out, “Rain, rain go away, come again another day. Little Ambrose wants to play.”
I cocked my head at him. “Cute. Still being childish, I see.”
“Me, childish?” He laughed. “Did you come to that conclusion before or after you pushed me into the lake?”
My eye twitched as I glared at him. His challenging stare kept us both rooted firmly to the sidewalk, neither of us willing to move.
“Oh! There’s Margaret.” Annabelle suddenly waved across the street to someone I recognized from Chapel. “I’ve been meaning to ask about her daughter. One moment, you two.”