Chapter 13 #2
After cleaning up the kitchen with Thom’s help, Poppy wandered down to Blackweather Green to meet Wren at the Saturday morning farmers’ market.
Dane was finishing his surgical rounds at the county hospital two towns over, and Thom was with Hayes, checking out a vintage bike in a barn.
As a result, she and Wren had the opportunity for some best-friend, girl time.
As she walked down the path running parallel to Main Street, she took in the controlled chaos that was the farmers’ market.
Because it was October there was bat-and-pumpkin printed bunting, and the trestle tables—holding bottled goods, a range of cakes, pies and tarts, fresh fruit and vegetables, cordials, and a sprinkling of Halloween-related merchandise—were covered in Halloween-inspired fabric.
Despite the bright sunlight, strings of purple fairy lights twinkled in the trees—because subtlety was not Luna’s, or the town’s, strong suit.
Coming closer to the action, Poppy inhaled the smell of butter, spice, pumpkin, chai and coffee.
Visitors wandered between the tables, clutching their coffees or spiced chai, stopping to inspect something here, or to chat there.
It was all so very normal. Next weekend, at the bake-off competition, the same people would offer unsolicited opinions, praise, and the occasional snide criticism, while four judges sported the solemn expressions of people about to make world-shifting decisions about baked goods.
There would be laughter, a fair amount of trash talk, and a few baking catastrophes hastily disguised with icing.
It might be Halloweenified now but, as during the bake-offs in her grandma’s day, both locals and visitors alike would leave on a sugar-high; sticky-fingered, full, and if Luna had her way, enchanted.
“Popsicle.”
Poppy turned and smiled at Wren holding two cups of coffee. She took one, took a sip, and sighed. “You are a lifesaver. I needed this.”
Wren peered at her, frowning. “You look tired. I hope that’s because you were up all night having great sex, and not up all night worrying about your cheating-bastard ex?”
Thanks to Thom, Poppy hadn’t thought about her family or Benji at all lately.
“I’m so proud of you for leaving him, Poppy,” Wren said, with a broad smile. “It couldn’t have been easy, but you did it.”
Guilt twisted in Poppy’s chest. Wren believed she was strong when she was absolutely weak. It felt like Wren was looking at a completely different version of herself, one she didn’t recognize. She wanted to correct her but still couldn’t make her tongue form the words.
She knew she should tell Wren, she was wise enough to know her silence, hard to carry already, would become heavier with every day she kept this from her best friend.
Wren’s highest value was honesty, and Poppy had already lied—not directly, but by omission.
And with every second that passed, she was perpetuating that lie.
And when Wren found out, she’d react by thinking that Poppy didn’t trust her enough to be truthful, or she’d be incandescently angry because Poppy had been prepared to sacrifice her happiness for her place in a family that didn’t value her. Or both.
Poppy winced, knowing that she’d caused a hairline crack in her friendship. Wren might not be able to see it or feel it yet, but Poppy knew it was there. She just prayed she’d work out how to solve this dilemma before it widened into a dangerous chasm.
“Has anyone from your family contacted you?” Wren asked.
Poppy shook her head. “Nothing apart from the one message Mom sent me.”
“Someone should’ve checked in on you,” Wren muttered. Poppy sent her a fond smile; Wren was a lot more upset about her family’s silence than she was.
“Bird, it’s their MO. They’ll just pretend that it didn’t happen, and the longer I stay away and out of sight, the happier they’ll be.”
“Did you ever find out what happened between Thom and Benji?” Wren asked, as they wandered through the market.
Poppy, inspecting a range of organic toiletries, shook her head. “Not all of it, but I do know that Benji was instrumental in Thom losing the CEO position.”
“Not surprised,” Wren stated. When they were out of earshot of the stallholder, she spoke again. “He always was a fucknugget.”
He had been, still was. Poppy thought back to the previous night, to the way Thom had loved her, how right and safe she felt in his arms. She’d had a few lovers, but never anyone who’d made her feel as secure as Thom did.
She felt completely comfortable telling him what she liked, what she didn’t, how he made her feel…
She’d never even talked to Benji during sex.
She didn’t know where she and Thom would end up; she still needed to work out where she was going, what her life looked life post-Benji and post her Halloween-in-Solstice-Springs vacation.
For now, she was determined to enjoy an uncomplicated fling with a man who made her body hum and her heart lift.
“Are you Poppy?”
Poppy looked up at the woman standing in front of her and immediately clocked her intensity.
In her hand was a copy of the newly printed maps of the town, the ones Poppy had designed.
She felt a flush of pride. Luna, as out-there as she could be, hadn’t wasted any time getting the maps printed, and they were now being distributed everywhere.
And the council had cut her a fat cheque for her art. “That’s right,” she said.
“Great! I spoke to somebody called Luna, and she said I should look for you here.”
Poppy exchanged a quick look with Wren. What was Luna up to now? “How can I help?” Poppy asked.
“You drew this map!”
“I did.” Did she mess up? Get something wrong? Mislabel something? No, Luna had checked and double-checked it, it was fine. “Is there a problem?”
Bright pink lips revealed slightly yellow, oversized teeth. “No, it’s great! Fantastic! I’m Melody Vein, by the way.”
Her name sounded vaguely familiar, but Poppy couldn’t place it.
“The author of the Myrrhwen series, I don’t know if you’ve heard of it.” Melody shifted on her feet, looking a little bashful.
Wren shoved her hand in the sky and bounced on her toes. “I have! I read books one and two and need to read book three. Isn’t four coming out soon?”
Melody blushed. “At the beginning of next year.”
Wren looked at Poppy. “You’ve got to read her books, Pops. They are witchy and wonderful, and a bit smutty.” Wren winced and pulled a face. “No offence, sorry.”
Melody released a booming laugh. “They are smutty! I’m glad you like them.”
Poppy smiled. Melody seemed fun, but what did she want with her? “How can I help?”
Melody gestured to the coffee truck behind them. “Can I buy you something?” she asked, coming across as a little unsure.
Poppy shook her head and lifted her takeout cup. “I’ve just had coffee, but thank you.”
Melody thrust the now crumpled map at Poppy. “I want one of these.”
Poppy frowned. “Uh, you can get as many as you want from the information center. I think they are also distributing them at most of the tourist hotspots, at the coffee shop, art gallery, and bookstore.”
Melody poked her finger at the paper and cursed when her fingernail went right through it. “I don’t want this map. I want you to draw me a map. Of my fantasy world, for my book.”
It took a moment for her words to land. “Oh. Really?”
Melody nodded. “I have one in my books already, but I’ve never been happy with it.
It’s a bit bland, a bit ugh. I saw your map and knew that you could capture Myrrhwen.
” She pushed her hair back, almost jittering with excitement.
“You might need to read my books to get an idea of the world, or if you’re not a reader, I can take you through it, but I like your style, I like your vibe. ”
She had a vibe? Good to know. Poppy bit the inside of her lip and rocked on her heels. She’d had so much fun drawing the map of the town and would love to work on another one. “Would you pay me?” she asked.
Though, to be honest, it sounded like such fun she might do it for free.
Melody looked a little affronted. “Of course I would pay you,” she emphasized, before naming a figure that made Poppy blink. That much? Seriously? “If it’s as great as I expect it to be, I’ll ask you for character art.”
Poppy had no idea what character art was, but she was up to the challenge.
“I’m also part of a group of romantasy authors who are pretty prolific. None of us has found an artist we are completely happy with, so I could probably get you more work.”
Wow. This was all a bit much to take in. She was going to be paid to play with pencils and charcoal, with paint and pastels? Holy shit, how lucky could she get?
Melody pulled a face. “I’d love to talk to you about this some more, but we’re leaving this morning,” she explained. “We came to Solstice Springs for a weekend break. Well, it’s a weekend break for my wife, and it’s a research trip for me. That’s why I was hoping I could buy you a cup of coffee.”
Wren took her cup and angled her head. “Go chat with Melody, Pops. I’ll see you later.”
Melody winced. “I’m sorry, am I taking you away from something important? We can video-chat at another time if that suits you better.”
“No, it’s fine,” Poppy assured Melody. “Why don’t we go to Spirited Grounds, the coffee shop across the road, and chat there?”
Melody beamed. “That would be awesome! Now?”
Poppy nodded and smiled at her enthusiasm. “Now is good.” She looked at Wren. “Speak later, Bird?”
Wren nodded, and when Melody turned her back, gave her a not-so-subtle thumbs-up. Grinning, Poppy followed Melody out of the tent. As they crossed the street, Poppy asked her to describe her fantasy world and to tell her about her books…
And, apart from ordering a latte for Melody in Spirited Grounds and a matcha tea for herself, Poppy only managed to get a word in about fifteen minutes later.