Lewis shook his head. "I figured that should come from you."
Vivienne nodded, grateful.
Lewis continued, "I explained everything to Johanna, though. She agreed to look after Briar. Didn’t even hesitate."
Vivienne’s chest tightened with emotion.
"We don’t deserve her," Lewis added.
"We really don’t," Vivienne murmured.
She stretched her arms behind her and cringed. The movement intensified the odor clinging to her skin.Gods above. I can’t believe Lewis was willing to sit so close to me.
"I need to clean up before I see Briar," she muttered, already standing. "Meet me at Johanna’s in an hour?"
Lewis drained the last of his coffee. "I’ll be there."
* * *
Vivienne steppedonto the bustling street, the late afternoon sun warming the cobblestones beneath her boots. Her body felt lighter, refreshed. Her headache dulled to a whisper instead of a relentless drum. But the relief was short-lived. A familiar nervous energy curled in her stomach, tangling with anticipation. She had spent months apart from Briar before, but never like this. Never with an impossible deadline hanging over them.
The tinkling chime of the bakery’s bright blue door rang out as she approached. Briar burst onto the street, her dark curls bouncing in the golden light.
"Vivienne!" she cried, her voice bright and unrestrained, her smile radiant.
A matching grin spread across Vivienne’s face. She closed the distance between them in seconds, arms outstretched. Briar barely had time to brace herself before Vivienne swept her up, lifting her off the ground in a crushing embrace.
"Okay, okay! Put me down!" Briar giggled, squirming in her grip.
Vivienne reluctantly let go, stepping back to take her in properly. She memorized every detail—the freckles dusted across her nose, the sun-kissed glow in her deep brown eyes, the way excitement radiated from her like warmth from a fire.
"I'm so happy you're here," Vivienne whispered, pulling her in again, pressing her face into Briar’s curls. "I missed you so much."
The bakery door creaked open again, and Lewis stepped outside. His half-smile did little to mask the heaviness in his eyes. Vivienne knew that look. He was bracing himself for what came next, the moment when joy would give way to devastation.
Briar, oblivious, launched into a rapid-fire monologue, words tumbling over one another. "I've been telling Lewis about everything I learned this summer! He says I can visit the castle gardens, and the greenhouse has some of the plants I worked with in Eboncrest. Did you know that if you want to be a chemist, you have to apprentice for, like, a million years?"
Vivienne forced a chuckle, trying to match Briar’s enthusiasm, even as her heart ached. "A million years, huh? That’s a long time."
"Feels like it!" Briar beamed.
Vivienne listened, nodding along as Briar chattered, letting her words wash over her like a familiar melody. She wanted to hold onto this moment, this unburdened happiness, just a little longer.
"Hey," she interrupted gently, squeezing Briar’s hand. "It’s hot today. What do you say we go talk at Rocky Beach? The sea breeze would feel nice."
Briar tilted her head, eyes narrowing. "You always said I wasn’t old enough to go to Rocky Beach."
Vivienne offered a sheepish smile. "Well, today, I’m making an exception because I haven’t seen you in so long."
Briar considered this, then grinned. "Let’s go.”
The ocean air carried the scent of salt and sun-warmed stone. Waves lapped at the shore, their steady rhythm at odds with the storm brewing in Vivienne’s chest.
Briar flopped onto the smooth rock bench, breathless from the quick walk. She resumed her endless stream of stories, painting vivid pictures of her summer in Eboncrest. Vivienne let her go on, absorbing every word, every gesture, every spark of excitement.
When Briar finally paused to breathe, Vivienne reached across the space between them, taking her small hand in hers.
"Briar…" Her voice was softer now, careful.
