Chapter Nine
A field of green rolled on for long enough it could’ve fit the whole town, and probably would within the hour.
Flags of yellow, orange, green, and pink blew in the wind, carried by the tune of troubadours singing and strumming their instruments.
Children of all ages ran around, some laughing, some screaming as they were chased.
Games and painting booths were set up throughout.
And of course, the same water bender who’d been attending since I turned seven.
His blue shaved hair was very recognizable.
Mia and Micah ran off to their friends; I kept a keen eye on the both of them. But they’re good kids—and they’re kids. They needed to have fun, run wild, and relax.
So Blaze and I stood out with nowhere to go.
On our left, our options were a group of couples, so an immediate no, and a group of women around my age.
During my school years, I’d tried to make friends, truly.
However, not a lot of girls were actually interested in being friends.
My parents didn’t attend the events their parents hosted; we didn’t compete in the same sports.
I never took to athletics; anything with flying animals or flaming equipment took me out.
I went to sporting events to watch Laken play spellball, a competitive game where guys chase each other carrying a ball but only specific players in positions can physically touch it while the others have to use magic to move it or whatever and pass it into a goal—I never really understood all the rules.
Anyway! Even then, I sat with his mother.
On the other hand, to my right perched the vultures of the town, the elders who had nothing better to do than gossip and prey on others’ misfortune.
There were gossipers like Goldie, nice and respectful.
Then… there was them. The Hamiltons, Audrey and William.
They worked at the legal office, handling licenses and whatnot.
The Redsworths, cousins of Collin. They handled money.
And the Briars, who only came to Honey Brooke when their trade ships were docked for storm season.
The last time I’d seen them, I had the smoke of a burning building behind me. Their eyes remained as cold. As harsh.
Standing alone, I reminded myself I came here to sell creams. But I couldn’t work on an empty stomach. Hunger or procrastination? Who knew.
To the food, then.
Considering there were only two different places to eat in town, one being the pub, I knew what to expect.
After grabbing two pieces of Goldie’s white raspberry cake, one steak-and-vegetable kabob, and something with bread, Blaze and I planted ourselves along the outskirts of the field. Blaze torched the meat.
It was an effort not to wrinkle my nose or growl under my breath at the crowd. In a town I’d grown up in my entire life, I felt like a stranger. These people might’ve known me once, or thought they did, but they didn’t anymore. Nor I them. And I wasn’t sure I wanted to.
Right when the sun hit my skin, food hit my stomach, and peace nearly hit my mind, another voice came for me.
“Reece McCarthen, if it isn’t my favorite ex-almost-daughter-in-law.” I’d recognize her cheerful, light voice anywhere. Faye Augustus.
Laken’s mother.
Strawberry blond hair waved next to me as she sat and I turned to her, shoving cake into my mouth. Sea-green eyes narrowed with laughter, and my heart sank. Her comfortable familiarity hit me. Hard. I did miss her.
“Hello, Mrs. Augustus.”
She leaned into me, accidentally hitting Blaze who, in return, nearly torched her fingers.
“How are you, my dear? Laken told us he saw you, but he hasn’t revealed too much; you know how he is.” She rolled her eyes the way a mother does when talking about her son.
“I’m good.” I forced a smile. “I’ve missed this.” My hand gestured to the festival, the laughs, the town. I didn’t know if I’d lied or not.
“Ah, yes, Honey Brooke is home,” she agreed. “Laken mentioned you nearly killed him the other night?” I saw it in her eyes; she pried for more.
And as soon as my mouth opened to defend myself, behind Faye, on the other side of the field, I caught a glimpse of said almost-murder-victim.
He talked with some others from town, a few from our school days.
He must have felt my stare because after a second, he went rigid then slowly turned to me.
Before our eyes could catch, I immediately whipped my attention back to Faye.
I recovered my place. “Oh Gods, yes. Well, yes, but no. I didn’t know it was him, but yes. ”
She waved her hand with a smothered chuckle, gesturing that it was nothing to worry about.
I needed something to talk about before she tried to stay on the topic of Laken. So I entered into Faye’s expertise. “It feels weird sometimes, being back. Feels like everyone is watching and judging me with their hawk eyes.”
Faye furrowed her brows. “Oh, let me tell you, honey—these people have nothing on you.” She searched the crowd for a familiar face with a story, and of course, she found one. “Danny Greenwood over there.” She nodded to our left. “Just lost his job for having sex with a client. On his desk.”
I couldn’t help the shameful smile on my face.
“I love a good scandal.” She bumped my arm.
When I said “her expertise,” I meant exactly that: town gossip.
Goldie and Faye were the people to go to for the good tea.
For one simple reason: there are two types of people willing to spill anything—children and drunks.
Faye hears everything from the children at school while Goldie gets the spill from the drunks at the tavern. It’s a team system.
But after our laughter cleared and I thanked her for a bit of relief, silence resumed.
Her eyes narrowed the way they do when someone notices how small they are in this world.
My breath became uneasy, unsteady. If she brought up Laken one more time…
I, once again, got distracted by her son standing a good distance away.
Except this time, he faced me, mouthing something I couldn’t understand.
I narrowed my eyes, trying to focus on his lips without his mother noticing.
Wait, I couldn’t focus on his lips. My heart thundered against my ribs.
My stomach dropped. Terrible idea—abort mission.
But his hair fell over his face as the wind blew, and he raked a hand through it.
All of a sudden I forgot Faye sat in front of me.
I watched him mouth his words as though caught in a daydream.
Do I need… I watched him repeat the words. Do I need to save you?
Oh.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get the chance to answer before another man slapped his shoulder, pulling his attention as Faye spoke up.
“I’m sorry, Reece.”
What? My brows pinched with a sharp turn of my head. “What do you mean?”
“About Laken and you,” she carried on, offering a sympathetic smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
“He used to ask about you every day. For years, in his letters. Each time, I told him you were still away, but he always asked.” Despite the pity in her tone, her chuckle of an exhale somehow sounded calming.
Familiar. It took all of two seconds for her features to turn conniving. “He’s single, you know?”
Clearing my throat, I tried to hide my discomfort. “I’m surprised, you know. Considering his way with people and the way the girls in town still swoon over him.”
Faye rolled her eyes, wiping dirt off her floral skirt. “I think he’s been holding out for something…” she teased, knowing I knew exactly what she meant.
How do you tell your ex’s sweet, caring mother that you’d rather see her son dragged through a field of flaming poisonberry thorns than love him again?
Saved by a wide-eyed Mia skipping across the field, I dodged that conversation all too gladly.
“Mia…?” Her name dragged off my tongue, suspicious from the giddy look in her eyes.
Mia came to an abrupt stop. Her bright smile ignited, and I knew something would follow. “They’re about to start the Mayhelm dance and I need a partner.”
Even watching her enthusiasm, I shrank into my body a bit. “What about your friends?”
Her face dropped into a deadly glare. “We’re a friend group of three.”
It took me no time at all to understand what she meant. Swallowing my pride and probably better judgment, I tossed my hand out, waiting for her to help me up. I needed the rescue as much as she did. “It was good to see you,
Mrs. Augustus.” I turned to see Faye standing as well. “It seems I’ve been called to the dance floor.”
“Oh, of course, Reece.” She smiled, and it immediately brought my mind back to Laken’s grin. Damned good genes. “It’s good to have you back.” A twinkle of something like peace glinted in her eyes.
With a quick nod, skip, and a hop—I stood across Mia on a makeshift wooden dance floor lit with strung-up lights and lanterns.
It’d been years since I participated in the Mayhelm dance, but when the music began, it felt as if I were right back at eighteen and being spun around in Laken’s arms, young and na?ve.
Mia’s a much better partner. “Thank you,” she mouthed as the violins started in.
She barely rose to my shoulder, but she knew the steps. Our arms locked, we spun, stomped, and clapped before time came to rotate partners.
Goldie twirled into me first. “You smell much better than Hickory down the line.” She nodded to old Hickory, an older man missing teeth and wearing his fishing overalls.
“I’d hope so.”
George Bartins came next. A few years older than me, tall, dark hair, tanned skin. “Reece McCarthen, I didn’t know you were back in town.” His light eyes glanced down at me, and a flirtatious smile tugged at his lips, reminding me why I hated most men in the first place.
“Well, now you do.”
“You’ve grown up,” he said—and I couldn’t hold back my laugh.
“Goodbye, George.” Spinning out of his arms, I prepared for one last partner.