Chapter 5 #2
Yerina’s fellow shopkeepers were none too happy abut her misfortune, if secretly relieved to have escaped a similar fate.
Many stopped by to offer condolences. To see the damage, too, but Yerina didn’t begrudge their horrified curiosity.
Plenty stayed for a bit or sent assistants or extra staff to lend a hand for a while.
They accepted her thanks and shrugged off her apologies at being unable to repay their kindness.
Bittersweet happiness suffused her as she swept up ruined tea leaves. In the teashop’s final days, she’d finally been accepted. Whatever came next, Yerina knew that Sylvan had her heart. Finances might force her back to Graelynd for a time, but she would find her way to the Valley again.
Dexter stayed with her the whole day. Lending his physical strength around the shop, helping to right the toppled display cases and shelves, and hauling furniture from the waterfall.
He was with her, silent but present, when members of the town’s guard came to take a statement. Though she was still a citizen of Graelynd, Valley folk didn’t take kindly to someone vandalizing their town, and the Leaf had started to build a small but dedicated following.
Night was falling when Yerina shooed the last helper away. Terryl took the children off for dinner, leaving Yerina and Dexter alone.
But not for long. Bioon strode in, her step faltering the slightest bit as she took in the damage.
A day’s worth of cleaning had removed the worst of the damaged furniture, though giant piles of junked pieces remained.
Mounds of destroyed pottery destined for the Sylveren reclamation center formed an ungainly line by the counter as they awaited crates and the time to transport them to the school.
The same could be said for the many piles of trash, but Yerina had run out of sacks hours ago. The burn pile would have to wait.
“I’d heard it was bad, but…” Bioon murmured, eyebrows rising. “How unfortunate. My apologies, Yeri. Even I didn’t want this.”
“You didn’t know?” Dexter rumbled from where he stood at Yerina’s shoulder.
“How could I?” Bioon said calmly. “I’ve been in Renstown, working with the Thomases on this.” She handed Yerina a paper embossed with the Coalition of Trade’s sigil of a scale and coins.
Yerina scanned the document. “They want to buy the Leaf?”
More the property on which it stood. The Thomases, on behalf of the Xavienne family, offered to take over the Leaf’s loan repayment and give Yerina a modest sum in return for ownership of the teashop.
“I even convinced the Thomases to let you stay on and manage the new place,” Bioon said.
“They’re not going to finish renovating the Leaf?”
Bioon laughed. “Oh, gods no. They’re thinking a wine bar, maybe a tasting room attached. The Xaviennes have an interest in south Graelynd’s vineyards.”
It was a lifeline, of sorts. A way for Yerina to remain in Sylvan. Remain with the Leaf. Except it wouldn’t be the Leaf anymore, but a business that was all wrong for the town.
“I-I don’t know what to say, Bee,” Yerina croaked out. “Can I think about it?”
“The Thomases would like to get this squared away so they can file the paperwork in Central,” Bioon said. “However, out of respect for the shock you’d had, this can wait until tomorrow.”
“How generous,” Dexter muttered.
“I’ll be back tomorrow at lunch.”
Yerina and Dexter watched her leave, the door shutting with an audible scrape. Yerina sighed, slumping against the counter.
“What are you going to do?” he asked.
“I don’t know.” Yerina looked around at what was left of her beloved shop. “I can’t pay off the loan. It might be my only way of staying here.”
“I’m sorry, Yerina.”
“Don’t be. It’s not your fault, and you’ve been amazing—”
“I’ll always help you. Whatever you need.” His fingers brushed against hers. “I’m sorry for what I said last night.”
“Dex.”
“I shouldn’t have said…” He shook his head. His eyes shut, shoulders rising and falling with a heavy sigh. He faced Yerina. “I don’t like her, but I’ll try for you, Yeri. I’ll be here for you.”
Yerina cupped Dexter’s face between her hands. Pressed her lips to his in a soft kiss before murmuring, “No, Dexter.”
He blinked rapidly, his mouth falling open but no sound emerging.
“I love you, Dex. I never stopped. But we will never work. We don’t see family the same way,” Yerina said. “I never want to make you change. You shouldn’t, not for me or anyone.”
Yerina picked up the Thomases’ business proposal and ripped it in half.
“Yeri.”
She gave him a lopsided smile. “Bioon’s my sister and I love her. I’ll love her even when she doesn’t feel the same. She’ll hate me for this, and I will hurt, Dexter.”
“Then don’t—”
“I’ll always forgive her. Give her another chance.
I can’t stop.” Yerina squeezed his hand, leading him toward the door.
“You said you’re afraid that you’ll resent her, and what it would mean.
It’s about to get worse. You think you don’t like her now?
Can you stand here and watch her be awful to me, and do nothing? ”
He stood in the doorway, jaw working. Finally, he murmured, “No. I don’t think you should either.”
“I know.” She kissed him again, letting her lips hold onto him one last time. “That’s why you shouldn’t stay.”
Yerina closed the door, leaving a piece of her heart on the other side.