Chapter 7 #2
‘Enzo can memorize entire books just by reading them once,’ Azam said. ‘It’s brilliant.’
As Azam finished speaking, Winnie appeared, scowling as she heard. ‘If you’re going to praise Enzo, please don’t do it in front of me,’ she said, pushing her glasses back.
Enzo cocked his head, amused. ‘Jealous, Winifred?’
‘Of you?’ She scoffed. ‘As if.’
‘Your skin’s turning green with envy,’ Enzo said, bopping her nose. She glared, biting the air, narrowly missing his finger as he pulled his hand back.
‘Get away from me,’ she snapped. ‘You smell like blood.’
Enzo narrowed his eyes, annoyed, and then it was Winnie’s turn to smile, but Enzo was quick to come up with a retort.
‘Maybe that’s why you’re attracted to me,’ he said, tone smooth. ‘Since you’re so bloodthirsty.’
She made a sound of outrage. ‘Attracted!’ Her face was red, and there seemed to be something going on between them that made Sonya feel like she was intruding. Winnie snapped her attention to Azam. ‘I cannot believe you are friends with this miscreant.’
Enzo snickered.
Winnie shook her head, then took Sonya’s arm. ‘Come, darling, we have better things to do.’
She pulled Sonya away, until they were behind some bookshelves, out of sight of the boys. Winnie caught her breath. ‘Ugh, I hate him,’ she complained. ‘I don’t know what my father sees in him when he is so absolutely vexing.’
‘Did you want to be your father’s apprentice?’ Sonya asked.
Winnie let out a breath. ‘No. It isn’t that which bothers me. It’s just … Enzo gets all my father’s attention and time, while I’m forced to watch over the shop as they study.’
‘That sounds frustrating.’
‘Papa says it’s because he doesn’t trust the shop to anyone else—it’s our livelihood,’ Winnie explained.
‘I’ve been looking after the shop since I finished school a year ago.
Enzo is just so annoying. Couldn’t Papa have picked anyone else to have as his apprentice?
’ She blew out her cheeks. ‘He always comes straight from the butcher’s shop—his father is the butcher—and I wouldn’t put it past him not to get the manuscripts dirty, he’s so careless.
And he really knows how to push my buttons. ’
‘Even Rowenna the Just has her foes,’ Sonya said, referencing the main character from Mirabel Summer’s books. That seemed to cheer Winnie up, and she smiled.
‘Which book is your favorite?’ Winnie asked. There were over a dozen books about Rowenna the Just, chronicling her adventures and romances.
‘Oh, that is too difficult a question!’ Sonya said, and they began discussing the merits of different books, as well as their favorite side characters and subplots.
‘I love your hair,’ Winnie said suddenly. She reached out and touched the ends, and Sonya smiled. ‘I just noticed. And your dress! Gorgeous.’
‘Thank you,’ Sonya said. ‘Azam trimmed my hair, and he tailored the dress for me, as well.’
‘Ah, no wonder,’ Winnie said. ‘He’s remarkable with his hands and with a needle and thread. It looks like he put special care into your dress.’ Winnie wiggled her brows, giving Sonya a pleased look that Sonya didn’t quite understand.
‘What?’ Sonya asked.
Winnie laughed. ‘Oh, nothing.’
They perused the shelves, and Winnie pointed out other books Sonya might enjoy, while Sonya pointed out books she thought Winnie might enjoy.
‘Have you read this one?’ Sonya asked, pulling out a book. She opened it, and at the same time, she and Winnie leaned forward to inhale the scent of ink and paper. They exhaled together, then their eyes met. They both laughed.
The book was one of her favorites, though this edition was different; it had illustrations and speckled edges, along with a thick olive-green ribbon bookmark. She was admiring the book when Azam popped by the shelves she and Winnie were between.
‘Enzo’s off with Jerome,’ Azam said, referencing Winnie’s father. ‘Shall we head back?’
‘Yes, sure,’ Sonya replied. She gave the book a final glance before setting it back on the shelf. Azam’s gaze tracked hers.
Winnie walked them to the front door, then gave Sonya a hug. ‘Come again soon!’ she said. ‘We’re going to be thick as thieves—closer than Rowenna and Morwenna—I already know it!’
With a smile, Sonya hugged Winnie as well. Winnie waved goodbye to Azam.
‘Be nice to my friend,’ Azam said, gesturing to the office door Enzo was behind.
Winnie rolled her eyes. ‘You need better friends.’
‘Well, I’ve got Sonya, now,’ Azam replied, bumping Sonya’s shoulder with his. ‘That must count for something.’
‘Definitely,’ Winnie agreed.
They headed out into the sun, turning to go back home, and Azam said, ‘I’m glad you made a friend already, though I’m not entirely surprised.’ He glanced over at her, eyes warm. ‘You’re lovely company.’
Her heart expanded in her chest.
They walked together, leisurely. The sun was shining bright above them, and there was a heavenly breeze in the air, carrying little pink petals in the wind. Some flowers were already in bloom, and Sonya paused by a thicket of bright purple and blue wildflowers, picking a handful.
‘For Grandma Kiri,’ Sonya said, pressing the flowers to her nose.
They continued walking until they reached a courtyard, and Azam led her to a bench, where they both sat. There were children playing in the courtyard, and he pointed out a larger building across from them.
‘That’s the school,’ he said. ‘Dania will go next year, when she’s five.’
‘Is this where you, Enzo, and Winnie went?’ she asked.
He nodded. ‘I had to leave a year early, when I was fifteen, after my parents passed away. It was only a year, but I was sad to miss the time with my friends.’
‘I’m sorry.’ She frowned. ‘How did your parents die, if you don’t mind my asking?’
‘I don’t mind,’ he said. ‘Strangely, I like talking about them, even if it hurts.’ That was so different from the approach her father and brothers had.
‘They both got an infection and passed from the illness, just a day apart. Dania was still less than a year old.’ He closed his eyes, eyebrows pinched.
Feeling bold, Sonya reached across and took his hand in hers. He squeezed.
‘I was meant to finish school,’ he said, opening his eyes.
‘Then, maybe go somewhere for an apprenticeship and learn all about tailor-magic before coming back to work with my mother, but that didn’t happen.
Luckily, I did still get a job at a tailor, though I’m not learning as much as I wish, and the shop … well. Without my mother here …’
He let go of her hand and wiped both his hands across his face, sighing.
‘I’m sorry.’ She didn’t know what else to say.
‘Thank you,’ he replied, voice soft. ‘You said your mother died as well?’
She nodded. ‘During childbirth. I never knew her. I was born a bit early, and I was sickly as a child, which made my father very afraid. My family is very protective, to the point of being too much.’
‘Which was why you ran away?’ he asked. There was a strange emotion on his face as she spoke about her family.
She nodded. ‘I do love them, but I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life the way it was. I—I wanted to be free.’
‘And are you?’ he asked. ‘Free?’
She smiled. ‘I am.’ He looked relieved. ‘How did your parents meet?’ she asked, changing the subject.
‘My father used to work in the cotton factory,’ he said with a small smile.
‘He made the deliveries to the tailor my mother used to work with as an apprentice. Mama always said he was persistent, bringing her letters and flowers and other gifts until she finally agreed to walk with him, and then walks turned to shared cups of tea, which turned to dinners. Before they knew it, they were married.’ A fond expression came across his face.
‘She was always so happy talking about that time.’
‘It sounds like such a joy to be loved,’ Sonya said. She had never seen her parents together, but she knew they had loved each other. She knew it was too painful for her father to speak of her mother, so Sonya had stopped asking years ago.
‘Love is its own magic,’ Azam said, smiling at her, and she thought he was right. They stood and began walking home.
‘When did you learn you were a witch?’ Sonya asked. ‘And how did you learn to wield your magic? Was it very exciting, or was it frightening?’ She wanted to know everything.
‘Aren’t you curious,’ he teased.
She nodded. ‘Very. I don’t have magic, but everyone else in my family does. I’ve always been a bit envious.’ She stopped. She hadn’t admitted that to anyone before.
‘I learned pretty early on,’ he said. ‘When I was around six years old. I would often sit with my mother in her shop. I spent all my free time there with her, watching her, helping her however I could, and then one day, there was a tear in one of the dresses, and I fixed it using magic.’
‘Wow.’
‘Then, I learned all I could from her. My father didn’t have magic, but he was thrilled I took after my mother.’
‘She must have been brilliant if she’s the one who taught you,’ Sonya said, looking down at her dress again. She twirled, still obsessed.
Azam blushed, though he appeared pleased by the praise.
When they returned to the cottage, Sonya looked at the closed door to the left. ‘Can you show me?’ she asked.
Azam hesitated, and she worried that she had asked for too much, too soon. Then, he swallowed. ‘Alright.’