Chapter 23
Chloe
The fantasy festival was my favourite weekend of the year.
Last year had been incredible – a perfect combination of music, fantasy costumes, free-flowing mead, and the kind of magical atmosphere that made everyone around you feel like a friend.
The whole thing was set in the grounds of a castle, which loomed majestically over the tents and stages, interspersed amongst the gardens and grounds.
When tickets had gone on sale, we’d all had to fight through the website crashes and queue systems, but somehow, we’d all managed to snag spots for the completely sold-out event.
Which also meant that I’d been easily able to sell my ticket when I realised I’d be working the mead stand with Teddy and would get to enter as a vendor.
I was a bit bummed that I’d have to experience it from behind the table, but Teddy had promised me a break to see my favourite band, and working the festival was a huge opportunity for the farm, so I wanted to help her make the most of it.
The fact that Teddy would be staying in our holiday house rental was another matter.
It meant three consecutive days of being around her, with no escape.
Though, lately she’d been like a completely different person around me – kind, funny, relaxed – so maybe we were settling into a new, easier version of normal.
Now, Fatima sat sandwiched between Teddy and me in the van whilst Jack ferried Grey and the others in the Defender. I was buzzing about seeing Grey again; despite their promises to visit every month, I hadn’t actually seen them once since they’d moved. Work had been keeping them busy, apparently.
I caught Teddy’s gaze for a moment as she glanced in the rear-view mirror. The van was so packed that I was surprised she could see out the back – unless, of course, she was looking at me the way I kept sneaking looks at her.
The weather had been awful for the past two weeks, between the first torrential rain and the oppressive heat, to the point that I’d stayed in the shepherd’s hut every night I could justify to avoid walking in either extreme.
But it was mild and breezy for the drive up, if still a bit warm.
I zoned out for a while, watching through the window as the countryside whizzed by, but I tuned back in suddenly when I heard my name.
“What’s that?” I asked.
Fatima looked over at me innocently. “I was just giving Teddy the details for your birthday party next month.”
My mouth fell open. It wasn’t until I saw Teddy glance over, concern pinching her face, that I thought to snap it shut.
“I can’t believe you forgot to invite her,” Fatima said. “You’ve been way too focused on that event.”
I narrowed my eyes at my friend. She wasn’t wrong – we were now only weeks out from the festival at the farm, and things had really picked up – but I knew what she was doing.
“Is that okay with you?” Teddy asked, leaning forward slightly to glance at me. “I don’t want to impose.”
I found myself nodding before I’d fully processed the question. “Of course! The more the merrier.”
I caught Fatima’s eye and saw her grinning like the cat who’d got the cream. She threw me a wink before turning back to Teddy and changing the subject. She really was an Olympic-level meddler; I would have been more impressed if I weren’t currently on the receiving end of it.
My phone buzzed in the front pocket of my dungarees, and I pulled it out to see that my dad was ringing me.
That was next-level strange; I’d been ignoring Mum, sure, but that was nothing new, and Dad never rang.
I felt a flutter of panic in my chest as I turned down the music and swiped to answer the call.
Fatima and Teddy looked over at me, my concern catching.
“Hey, Dad,” I said, my voice breathy.
“Hello, Chloe,” Dad said, sounding downright jovial, if a bit formal. I knew immediately that nothing was wrong, and a wash of both relief and annoyance passed over me.
“How are you?” I asked politely.
“Oh, I’m just fine,” he mumbled. “And how are you?”
I heard what sounded like whispering, and my spine stiffened reflexively.
“I’m just in the car,” I said. “What’s up?”
“Well, your mother was hoping to get you,” he said, and I closed my eyes and bit back a groan. “I’ll just put her on now.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but before I could, Mum’s bright, faux-cheery voice came down the line. To be fair, she probably was feeling quite cheery. Her plot had worked. But for me, there was never an ounce of cheer to be found there.
“Hi, Mum,” I said, trying my best not to sound put out – she’d almost certainly have something to say about that – but she talked straight over me.
“I’ve been trying to ring you for weeks,” she said. “So strange how none of my calls go through, but your father’s does first time. Perhaps there’s something wrong with your phone?”
We both knew there was nothing wrong with my phone, but I played the game. “Yeah, could be,” I said. “I’ll take a look.”
I glanced over at the others, who were dutifully looking forward, pretending they weren’t listening.
“Listen, Mum, I’m with friends. Is there something you need?”
“Well,” she said, huffing as she did, clearly put out that I was rushing her. “Can’t a mother ring her daughter after not speaking for ages?”
“Of course you can, Mum,” I said, as restrained as possible, “but now’s really not a good time.”
“Then, when is?” she asked. “I can ring you back whenever is convenient for you in your busy schedule.”
She emphasised these last two words, and I understood it for what it was – she was letting me know that she knew I was ignoring her.
“I’m not sure, Mum. I’m away for work this weekend.”
Mum laughed. “Really? What kind of work at a dog rescue needs you to go away for the weekend?”
So Patricia still hadn’t told her about Gwenynen. That was for the best; I knew Mum would have plenty to say about a sudden career change, especially to work on a farm, and even more if she knew it was only temporary.
“Mum, I’ll ring you in the week, okay?” I said, catching Teddy’s gaze ever-so-briefly before she looked back at the road. I was just desperate to get off the phone at this point. “When are you free?”
“Well,” Mum said, drawing out the word as if she really needed to think about it. “I have the Women’s Institute meeting on Monday evening, and then I’ve got Whist with some ladies on Wednes—”
“Chloe!” Teddy yelled suddenly, making me jump. I looked up to see her aiming her shouts at the window, cupping her mouth with her free hand. “Gimme a hand really quick?”
I smiled over at her, even as she kept her eyes on the road. “Sorry, Mum,” I said. “Gotta go. You’ll just have to text me.”
Mum started to say something about her texts not going through, either, but I wasn’t really listening. For the first time in, well, I didn’t know how long, I let myself hang up on my mother.
* * *
The rest of us had stayed at the same holiday house last year, so Jack, our human pack mule, knew where to take our things when we arrived. The only difference was that Teddy would be sharing with Fatima, whilst I’d be bunking with Grey this time.
After a quick round of hugs and excited chatter, Teddy and I headed off to set up our vendor tent for the next day.
We’d learned from our previous experiences.
This time we’d brought significantly more stock, confirmed multiple times that sampling was allowed, and even coordinated with some of the food vendors who’d be nearby.
We weren’t the official mead supplier – people would get that at the bars, and they would be selling bottles at the merch stand – but we were hoping festivalgoers might want to take some home after trying the official stuff, and we knew ours was better. And, importantly, cheaper.
“This should work well,” Teddy said, surveying our setup. We’d been placed near the main thoroughfare, in a spot busy enough to get plenty of foot traffic but far enough from stages to be able to actually speak to customers. It was perfect.
“Ready for tonight?” I asked. Tonight was Pirate Night – the Friday evening kick-off where everyone dressed up and listened to sea shanties and drank far too much mead before the real crowds arrived on Saturday.
The market where our stall was placed stayed shut on Friday, so we’d actually get to enjoy the festivities for the evening.
I’d gone practical with my outfit, choosing a maroon corseted dress that would be comfortable for dancing but was just piratey enough to be on-theme.
We changed in the tent, which should have been awkward but somehow wasn’t, especially after we rigged up a makeshift changing screen between us with the spare tablecloth we’d packed.
I was adjusting my hair, using my phone as a mirror, when Teddy’s fist appeared at the side of the cloth.
She made a knocking noise with her mouth as she rapped against the fabric.
“Come in,” I giggled, but my laugh died in my mouth when she swept the curtain back and I saw her.
She looked like Captain Elizabeth Swann, who certainly, if I hadn’t already been acutely aware of my own queerness, would have been my gay awakening.
Teddy’s costume was incredibly detailed, with a long, brown leather waistcoat, a billowing beige shirt, battered boots, and a tricorn hat that looked like it had sailed the seven seas several times over.
Her hair was loose and slightly wild, with braids around her face – I could see from where I stood that she’d used the method I’d taught her, adding a wild, organic look.
“Wow,” I said, definitely staring longer than was appro-priate. “You look—”
“Like I’m trying too hard?” Teddy cut in, but she was blushing under my obvious appreciation.
“No. Like you didn’t even have to try,” I said honestly, watching her blush deepen. “You look so natural in it – it’s incredible.”
“I wanted to be the Dread Pirate Roberts,” she said, “but Phil insisted it was too close to my normal outfit.”