26. Decisions
Decisions
Cerise
Ipulled my feet beneath me, sipping on a cup of hot cinnamon tea as I regarded my best friend and her wife sitting on the floral couch across from me in my living room. A fire crackled in the stone fireplace, a soothing sound in the otherwise quiet room.
Arthur was curled up asleep beside me, unwilling to leave my side since I had returned just over a week ago.
“Are you all right, CeCe?” Emberly asked, leaning into Rosamund who had her arm across the back of the couch.
“Yes, of course. Why do you ask?” I threaded my fingers through Arthur’s soft, black fur.
“You’ve seemed…morose since you returned.”
“I’m just tired.”
Rosamund tilted her head, her wavy auburn hair brushing her shoulders.
She was shorter than Emberly and the bridge of her nose and cheeks were sprinkled with freckles, accentuating big brown eyes.
Eyes that could always tell when I wasn’t being truthful.
And she never held back with me. “Tell us about what happened with Liam.”
“There isn’t much to tell. We formed a bit of a friendship. Had fun together. That’s it.”
“And?” Emberly raised a black brow, her tawny complexion warm in the firelight.
“And what?”
“What now?”
I sighed, taking another sip of tea. “Nothing. We’re just friends.”
“CeCe…” Emberly began.
I held up my hand. “I know. I just…I’d like to hear about your discovery first. My love life can wait. Tell me everything that happened.”
Emberly’s eyes lit up as she settled against the back of the couch, Rosamund toying with her dark curls.
The discovery had been a fluke. They were all reeling from losing Liam and me, and the rest of the expedition was cut short.
But on the way to meet with the authorities to report us missing, Emberly had been the one to spot it. A tiny lizard, just about an inch in size and covered in silvery glimmering scales. A new species.
And now Emberly would be honored—along with the rest of the team—at the annual awards gala in a couple of weeks.
Held in a different town every year, the awards gala was where all of the beastologists, botanists, naturalists and other experts in our field dressed up and celebrated the accomplishments of the year.
Though it wasn’t my favorite event—the crowd of people was a little too overwhelming at times—I never missed it, and would definitely be attending to support my best friend and celebrate her accomplishments.
“All right.” Rosamund waved her hand at me. “Emberly told you what you wanted to know. Tell us everything that happened after you and Liam went missing.”
I poured each of us a fresh cup of tea, sat back, took a sip, and began.
I told them about Liam saving my life and our trek through the jungle. About the leeches, how we escaped poachers and then saved the animals.
“Of course you refused to leave without freeing those poor creatures,” Emberly said. “I’m not surprised in the least.”
I gave her a smile.
“And the way you escaped those men,” Rosamund said. “Amazing. Who knew you were a bad-ass?”
“That was mostly Liam. He was the one who took charge and helped me stay calm.”
I paused as I recalled how he soothed me when I was on the edge of panic; the way he carried me as we were chased through the woods after making our escape; how he punched that man and broke his own hand to protect me.
“Hello?” Emberly brought me back. “You there, CeCe?”
I smoothed my shirt, clearing my throat. “Oh, um yes. Sorry. I just got…distracted.”
“Mmm hmm,” she said, giving me a knowing look. “What happened after you escaped the poachers?”
I finished the story, explaining how we found the beautiful grotto and were rescued not long after.
“They found the two of you naked in a tent?” Rosamund blurted.
I felt the heat of my face flushing as I fidgeted with the navy throw in my lap. “Yes…”
“Gods above, CeCe I am impressed!” she said. “I never knew you had it in you.”
“Had what in me?”
“Well, Liam, apparently.” Emberly murmured.
I gasped. “Emberly!”
“Well…how was it?” Rosamund asked. “Not that I want to hear about sex with a”—she grimaced—“man…but for you, I will.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “I’ll just say…better than I have ever had.”
Rosamund grinned.
“But your mother was with them when they found you?” Emberly’s eyes were wide.
“Yes. It was mortifying. I can’t get the look of disgust on her face out of my head.”
Rosamund scowled. “Your mother always looks like that. It’s like she permanently smells something foul all the time. You did nothing wrong.”
“Yeah…I know…so, anyway…why did my mother show up?”
Emberly crossed her legs, leaning into her wife.
“I’m so sorry, CeCe but when we went to the authorities, they immediately contacted both of your families.
I knew she was the last person you wanted to see, but she showed up when they gathered the rescue party.
They didn’t want to let her come, but she strong-armed her way into the group, insisting that each of you deserved to have a family member present. ”
“I’m surprised she didn’t insist on coming because she felt like they would search improperly and she’d have to supervise their attempts.”
Emberly snorted. “Oh, she said that too.”
We spent another hour catching up, discussing Rosamund’s job—she owned a local coffee shop not far from my house—and sipping tea. But we never spoke about Liam again, my friends obviously aware I wasn’t sure how I felt about the situation.
The hour now late, I bid Emberly and Rosamund goodnight and shut the front door. It was well past my usual bedtime, but since returning home, I found it difficult to resume my previous routine. I just didn’t care to.
Liam and I hadn’t spoken since we said our awkward goodbyes after the rescue. We’d reached a set of carriages after our long horse ride and dismounted, joining our respective families. Liam had subtly clutched my hand before I walked away and whispered, “I’ll be waiting for your letter,” in my ear.
Then I’d come back to my life and he had gone back to his.
And now, I was home. Back to my old routine with little to show for the expedition I had hoped would turn my career around.
I hadn’t made some newfound discovery that would guarantee I’d move up.
I wasn’t receiving an award at the gala as I’d so painfully longed for.
And my mother was even more dissatisfied and disappointed than usual.
I hated the unknown and loathed not being in control. I had to get things back in order. I would feel better if I had some semblance of a plan. And I knew what I had to do to get my life back on track.
So I sat at the little wooden desk in the corner, pulled out a pen and a piece of paper, and began to write.