Chapter 6
SIX
Opening her door the next morning, Yerina yelped in surprise to see Dexter waiting in the courtyard below. After peering through the loft’s window to make sure the girls were still asleep, Yerina hurried down the stairs.
“Dexter! What are you doing here?”
He straightened up. “Yeri.”
A handcart was parked next to him. Crates were stacked three high, an assortment of cups and mugs visible through the wood slats. A teapot crowned the top, cushioned by a pile of fabric.
“What— What is— Oh, Dexter, this isn’t for the shop, is it? You— when did you—”
“It’s not all from me,” he said, pink tingeing his cheeks. “Some of the folks around town pitched in.”
“But, why?” Yerina whispered, emotion clogging her throat. “The Leaf, I’ll probably lose it. It still needs—”
“Because the town cares about you and this place. They want you to succeed.”
“Everyone is so kind.” Yerina looked up at him, willing herself not to cry again. “You, Dexter, you’ve been, you’re a—”
He took her hands in his, raising them to his lips.
“Wait,” he murmured. “I will always be your friend, Yerina. Nothing changes that. But if you’ll let me, if you still want us to be more… we will.”
“But Dex—”
He kissed her fingers. “You aren’t forcing me to change. I already did. Years ago. For you, but for me too.
“No, we don’t think of family the same. That might never change.
I won’t try to fight your battles for you, but you’ll never face them alone, either.
I can stand there, by your side, and be there for you.
That’s not nothing.” A tremor ran through his hands.
“Is it? Can I— Can that be enough? Whatever you need, I want to be able to give it to you.”
Yerina slipped her hands from his grip, letting her fingers splay on either side of his face instead. Her heart beat wildly in her chest, like it might burst. The wild ride her emotions had been on over the last day made a hoarse laugh catch in her throat.
But it was a sound of joy, and Dexter must have heard it, and seen it reflected on her face, for hope filled his.
The man of few words. Only passion spurred him to find more, and Yerina had fallen into assuming the only strong feelings he’d express were negative. But no, Dexter, her Dexter, he found more for her.
How had she ever thought she could be content with platonic friendship when he offered more?
“You will always be enough for me,” she said, kissing him soundly.
A relieved, hoarse laugh of his own gusted across her face. Then he picked Yerina up, swinging her around the courtyard as if she was a feather. They narrowly missed clipping the handcart, but neither cared, their laughter echoing off the stones.
The loft door opened and the girls came hurtling out. Eunny threw herself at Yerina, yelling, “My turn!” with Anadae right behind.
Yerina stepped back to catch her breath. Watching as Dexter spun around, one squealing child under each arm, Yerina’s heart felt as if it would burst all over again. Burst with joy, and love. Ever so much love.
More surprises awaited when Yerina and her miniature entourage finally trooped into the teashop. The mountains of debris hadn’t magically repaired or disposed of themselves overnight. But a group of people lounged around the front door, clothed and equipped for cleaning.
Yerina had been grateful for the help the day before.
It had been unexpected, but at the same time, perhaps unsurprising that her neighbors and most loyal customers had stopped by to help.
It was a kindness, but everyone had their own lives and livelihoods to look after.
She’d thought the next day would be quiet, the shock of the destruction blown over.
Perhaps it was her years in Graelynd talking, a vestige of cynicism from her time in Central that the Valley hadn’t yet displaced. There was always a new disaster or otherwise momentous event to capture attention.
Fading concern was true to any place. Yet Yerina had failed to consider how the damage to the Mighty Leaf was more than a shock. It was an affront. Not an act of misfortune that befell a stranger, but a direct attack on a member of the community.
Judging by the growing crowd of over a dozen people from Sylveren, the students and staff were taking the damage personally. As Yerina opened the door, she overheard a muttered, “How dare they wreck our fucking shop.”
If Yerina had never expected help on the first day, she’d never dreamed that people would come back.
That they would turn up in numbers, with gloves and work aprons and wagons for hauling the wreckage away.
That her local tea vendor would drop off a hefty batch of loose leaf.
Only four varieties, but it was four more than she’d had yesterday.
Students or staff representing each of the elemental magic departments came bearing gifts.
The water mages brought alembics in all shapes and sizes.
Vessels suitable for brewing or pouring or drinking directly from, if one didn’t mind the unconventional.
The earth mages took charge of hauling all things bound for their reclamation center.
A faculty member from the fire tower brought a trio of warming stones, calibrating each to work safely with a teapot—or designated vessel—of a particular size and material.
Yerina immediately put the warming stones to work, making batches of tea for the entire work party.
She enlisted the help of a pair of eager wind mages, undergraduates who’d stayed for summer classes.
They’d attempted to rig up a magic-assisted fan system to speed the drying of the floorboards, to less-than-helpful results.
Using them to cool brewed tea to a comfortable drinking temperature left everyone happier.
The bakery set up in front of the teashop, offered all manner of pastries to the cleanup crew. The weavers’ guild soon joined them, setting up their looms and running public demonstrations as they worked on replacements for the destroyed linens and wall hangings.
Through it all, not a single person would accept even the promise of future payment.
Not monetary, at least. The weavers and several students were quick to stake claims on future booths and tables.
But the rest? Where the day before, Yerina’s offers had been met with kindly shrugs and gentle declinations, today it was almost akin to good-natured exasperation.
Murmurs about how the town looked out for one another.
Maybe a pot or two of a favorite tea on the house once it was back up and running.
It was taken as a given that the Mighty Leaf would open its doors again. Open as a teashop, with Yerina as its guide.
Yerina was filling some temporary storage jars in the back room when Eunny ran up to tug on her sleeve.
“Auntie! The milk lady’s here. Uncle Dex said to tell you.”
Uncle Dex. Oh, Yerina didn’t think there was any room left in her for so many emotions. Yet, hearing her niece’s voice speak the words, the way they rolled so easily off her tongue, it about did Yerina in.
“Eunny dear, you’re—” Yerina bolted up from the stool. “The milk la— Do you mean Milksplash Brewaway?”
Eunny giggled at the way Yerina’s voice rose. “Yeah! She’s funny.”
Yerina hurried to the front room. Milksplash stood out, and not simply because Yerina already knew the cleanup party.
“You must be Yerina,” Milksplash said, offering her hand. “Sounds like some shit happened— Oops, cover your ears, babes. Sorry. Sounds like a lot has happened since your last letter.”
Milksplash had umber skin and jet black hair so shiny it seemed to have its own lighting. It was cut in a dramatically asymmetrical bob, accentuating sharp cheekbones and full lips stained a berry red.
“Yes, we-we’ve had a bit of trouble,” Yerina said.
“Vandalized!” Milksplash motioned dramatically with her hands. “What cowards. Who targets a teashop?”
“I’m afraid this will affect our collaboration plans. I’m so sorry you came all this way for—”
“Are you kidding? It’s terrible it happened, but this—” Milksplash’s arms spread wide to encompass the shop, and the bevy of townsfolk gathered to help “—is exactly what I wanted to see. Community. Any place that has this kind of loyalty, it’s the right place for my blends. Good energy. You get it.”
“I don’t know how I’ll be able to pay for the order,” Yerina said, regretful. “Not right away.”
Milksplash clucked her tongue. “Oh no no no, this first collab? We don’t deal in things like money.”
At a loss, Yerina glanced at Terryl, who’d come up to show Yerina a new set of curtains.
Terryl shrugged. “She’s the expert.”
“I’m going to poke around for inspiration,” Milksplash said. She eyed Eunny and Anadae. “You two look like you know this place best. Want to give me a tour?”
The girls dragged her off.
“Is your name really Milksplash?”
“Unless you can find someone who says otherwise, babes.”
Terryl gave Yerina an amused look, but it faded as she glanced past Yerina’s shoulder.
Bioon walked toward them, a satchel in one hand. “Yerina, a word?”
Yerina nodded reassuringly to Terryl, mumbling, “It’s fine. Keep an eye on the kids for me,” before she motioned for Bioon to join her in the back room.
Dexter broke off from where he was working on the warped floorboards, coming to stand beside Yerina.
“Do you want me here?” he asked in a low voice.
To stand with her, a bulwark, if she wanted. Or, simply company. A hand offered in support.
“Yes, please.” She gave him a quick smile before turning back to her sister. “Bioon, I’m not selling the Leaf.”
Bioon watched the pair of them, her dark eyes lingering where Dexter’s hand rested, wrapped around Yerina’s waist. She stared at Yerina, her expression mask-like, calculations Yerina couldn’t begin to fathom whirring through her head.
Bioon’s lips twitched, the shadow of a wry smile crossing her face.
“That deal is no longer on the table. You probably haven’t heard, but…
” Bioon opened her satchel and withdrew several papers.
“The Thomases fled back to Graelynd last night. Some unscrupulous characters were caught trying to smuggle aboard a Renstown ship headed home. Vandals, hired by certain Central businessmen.”
Yerina sighed. “That’s disappointing to hear. I’m sorry, did that disrupt your business with them?”
Bioon shrugged. “Nothing that can’t be undone.” A smug look crossed her face. “I’ve been hired to manage the reputation of the Xavienne family. They have a generous offer for you, provided this unfortunate incident and the involvement of their name ends now. Quietly.” She handed Yerina the papers.
Yerina quickly read, her eyebrows going up. “They’re transferring the Leaf’s loan?” She held the papers out so Dexter could read.
“And refinancing, with terms that are frankly speaking, unprecedented in their generosity,” Bioon said.
No interest, and a decade to repay the balance owed, with the loan now held at Sylvan’s bank.
“Bee, did you do this?” Yerina whispered.
Her sister’s face went carefully blank once more. “I made… suggestions.”
“Bioon.” Yerina rushed to her, hugging her sister tight, uncaring of how stiff Bioon remained. “Thank you.”
Bioon didn’t hug her back, but she did grip Yerina’s arm. “If this is what you want. To stay up here, to run a teashop, then…”
“It is. You’re welcome here, always. You know that, right? I will always have a place for you here.”
Something like pity flashed across Bioon’s face, quickly replaced with mild disdain. “I shudder to think of it.” She eyed her sister. “You are too good, sister. You give too much, too freely.”
The words weren’t compliments. More like rebukes, a mixture of exasperation and warning, or perhaps entreating for Yerina to heed Bioon’s words and change.
“I know. But I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t,” Yerina murmured before she stepped back.
“At least you have your watchdog,” Bioon said, gaze turning to Dexter. “You aren’t wholly a lost cause. Now, sign the agreement so I can be on my way. Eunji and Anadae can stay with you until summer’s end, I presume?”
“Of course—we’d love to have them,” Yerina said as she signed the proffered papers.
As Bioon turned to leave, Dexter called after her, “It’s all pretty convenient, don’t you think?”
Bioon stopped, slowly turning toward him. “You’ll have to be more specific.”
“About what happened to the Leaf. The Thomases getting caught out. Your promotion.”
“Dexter,” Yerina admonished.
A cold smile curved Bioon’s lips. “Take care of her.” She nodded toward Yerina. “She’s far too trusting. Of everyone. Be a shame if someone took advantage of that.”
Bioon walked out, her voice drifting back to them as she commanded Eunny to come say goodbye to her.
Yerina turned to Dexter, her hands on her hips as she gave him a mock glare. “I thought you weren’t going to pick fights.”
He hung his head, the picture of contrite. “I’m sorry, my love.”
Yerina’s arms snaked around him. “Your love, am I?”
His mouth lowered until it hovered over her. “Forever.”
Yerina melted against him, her lips pressing to Dexter’s jaw.
Though she felt a pang of hurt, of loss for her sister, for the distance that had proven insurmountable between them, it was a small pain.
One that faded in the face of all the love surrounding her.
The Mighty Leaf, its future secure. Her family, and friends, and a whole community who welcomed her, ready to return the same care and affection she felt offered.
And Dexter. Her friend, her partner. The quiet side who sustained her big heart.
Dexter’s mouth covered hers, and Yerina let herself be lost in his kiss.