“Is ithishelp or any help?” Aurelia wonders.
“Both, I guess,” I answer honestly. “I’ve been self-reliant for so long. And now my life is turned on its head. That loss of independence is as difficult a pill to swallow as the effects of this fae curse. It’s one more thing taken away from me.”
All three of their expressions turn pensive. Cyrinda puts a comforting hand over mine on the table. “You’ve got this. It’s not a failure to ask for help when you need it. Though he better not mess up. Niven may have given him the benefit of the doubt, but he’s still on my shit list. Remind him I have my eye on him, even from afar.” Her tender tone only slightly softens her pointed words about Norrell.
“I don’t think anyone wants to attend a pity party tonight, so instead let’s toast to new and lasting friendships,” I exclaim, holding up my glass. Everyone raises theirs to mine.
“To badass babes leading Whispered Folk into the future!” Aurelia rhapsodizes.
“To independent females unafraid to take what they want in life,” Cyrinda adds.
“To all the fun we’ll have invading each other’s homes,” Tallie jokes.
We clink glasses and take a sip. I have a feeling we’ll remain friends long after this council is behind us.
After finally connecting with the farmers market organizer, I compiled everything needed for Sunny’s booth application. I’veworn a smile since I opened the shop this morning, eager to show her when she arrives.
Sunny walks in, bright and bubbly as usual, her beaming smile lighting up her face as we greet each other. When we have a break between customers, I ask her to sit with me, unable to hide my excitement.
“What’s going on?” she asks lightheartedly. “You look almost giddy today.”
“I have some fun news to share,” I begin, as we take our seats. “You’re under no pressure whatsoever, but I have everything you need to become a vendor at the farmers market. I want to keep selling your potions here, but that will open even more doors for you if you want to run your own shop in the future.”
Her jaw drops and she looks stunned. “Mother Earth, I guess I hadn’t thought about going for it yet! I still have time left in my apprenticeship. Are you sure you wouldn’t mind? I don’t want it to affect your shop at all,” she frets.
“Absolutely not! Don’t worry about me or the shop. Your apprenticeship will continue and you can adjust your hours however you need. You’ll be a hit at the market. The organizer says you’re a shoo in. It’ll be a good stepping stone for your own shop someday,” I assure her.
“Thanks, Ada. You’re the best! I’m so lucky you’re my mentor,” she gushes as she leans over and squeezes me in a big hug, rocking me back and forth in her enthusiasm.
“We’re friends above everything else,” I remind her. “I can’t wait to see what you’re going to accomplish.”
When I leave work that afternoon, Norrell meets me to walk over to Walt and Acton’s house. Walt and I worked together to design the campaign posters he picked up from the printer’s this morning.
“Did Walt come up with a slogan?” Norrell asks curiously, having already heard bits and pieces of our phone calls over the last few days.
“Walt barely needed any help with that,” I tell him, laughing at the memory of Walt’s and my last conversation. “He chose ‘A vote for Walt is a walk in the park.’”
Norrell chuckles heartily. “That suits him.”
When I told Walt that Norrell would be joining us this afternoon, he was upfront about his hesitance to include him. Walt still hasn’t warmed up to Norrell, and I don’t blame him. My feelings are stillthawingas well. But eventually Walt relented since Norrell seemed very serious about not just coming with me but also lending support to the campaign. I made sure Walt understood that, and he seems to have accepted that he can’t actively ignore Norrell any longer—a big leap forward for Walt, who is as loyal to me as they come.
Walt and Acton are waiting outside, posters in hand. He immediately hands half the stack over to us, looking pleased as punch. “They did such a fine job at Inkling Press. See how bright this green is?” he raves, pointing at the lush shade of green framing the edges of each poster.
“It’s eye-catching!” I agree.
Walt grins at us. “I’m tickled pink that we’re doing this. I never thought of myself as a man who would run for office. I always figured myself to just be a civil servant who tries to spend his days outdoors. But I can’t ignore Ada’s good ideas,” he enthuses.
“There are countless virtues I could extol about my mate, but he is too modest to receive my boundless praise,” Acton chimes in affectionately.
“Oh, Acton, you know just how to make me blush,” Walt says sounding adorably flustered. “Why don’t we walk downtown,and we can each take a side to poster up the street. Then I’ll treat everyone to dinner afterward.”
We split up, and Norrell and I uneventfully visit the first few shops along our side of the street, asking to affix a sign in the window. I’ve quickly grown tired, walking to Walt and Acton’s house and then back here again. Norrell notices my struggle and holds out his arm for me to take. I tightly wrap my hand around the crook of his elbow, locking myself to his strength. He guides us down the sidewalk, essentially holding up most of my weight. It doesn’t slow him down a bit.
The heat of his skin is a shock to the system, warming me all over in ways I wish it wouldn’t. His physicality was always so alluring to me, both sexy and comforting. He made me feel like I could let go and he would carry me through anything. Well, he showed me that it was just a fantasy. Still, it’s hard not to let that feeling creep back in again, to fall back into old habits.
When we reach the tailoring shop In Stitches—always a busy place to accommodate Whispered Folks’ many sizes and specifications—the owner, a soft-spoken elfin named Finch, comes out from the back room to greet us. His eyes widen at the sight of Norrell.
“Why Norrell, I haven’t seen you in an age. It was so long ago, but I don’t believe I properly thanked you for helping with my deliveries after I broke my foot. I was about ready to hobble all over town dropping off those garments. I’ve never forgotten your kindness. Please accept my very belated thank you for helping me when I needed it.” There’s genuine warmth in his voice.
