“You learn a few things when you’ve been in a truly terrible relationship followed by an unbelievably amazing one,” she titters, clasping her hands to her chest.
“I’ll take that to heart,” I promise her.
She worries her lips while she watches me. “I was really depressed after everything that happened with Mark. He and his family were horrible to me. When I had to leave Chicago, I left behind everything that was familiar to me. I was alone in a new city and scared for my future. Mark took almost everything. My pride, my home, and my career were methodically dismantled by him. And it had a lasting effect. I was so sad and mentally beat down that I just couldn’t get myself to eat sometimes. Obviously, I was really depressed and mourning my old life.” Her sad eyes roam over me. “Do you think anything like that is going on with you since Samhain? That’s a lot like losing your old life too. Someone took it from you just to be cruel. And now every day is filled with reminders of painful memories.”
I nod empathetically. “I imagine that’s part of it. With this fae business and losing my magick and Norrell showing up again,I’ve been a hot mess. And my future here is up in the air, if I’m being honest. Losing my magick has stirred up a lot of old, unresolved emotions. And it’s been harder than I thought. I was slipping away without even knowing it. I didn’t go out, I wasn’t eating. It’s still hard for me to bring myself to do so sometimes even though I love socializing and eating good food. Doing both at the same time is my very favorite hobby! When Norrell figured this out, he made it his mission to get me to eat full meals every day. I swear he’d feed me himself like I’m some kind of chirpy baby bird if I’d let him. So, if I’m looking spindly lately, it’s not been for lack of food!”
She grins at my description of Norrell’s behavior. “You know, I’ve put back on several pounds since I moved here. My wardrobe fits better, funny enough. But more importantly I feel better too. Ben likes that. And the extra pounds. He, uh, voices his appreciation quite a bit,” she laughs, squeezing her hips with her hands.
“I believe he does! Ben has never acted this way toward anyone except you. I’m sure he loves seeing you healthy and happy and curvy. That male thinks you hung the moon!” I enthuse.
“I suppose he does,” she responds, blushing furiously.
“Because it’s true!” We both laugh and it seems to melt away some of her modesty. Her blush fades and her expression turns thoughtful. “I heard you just got back to work this week. How’d it go?” She had been out during the entire month of November, taking a break from her job as the new city planner to recover and relax after the Samhain attack. Most town hall business had also been suspended for a time because of the safety council.
“Really well. I’m glad to be back. The month off was probably unnecessary after a couple weeks of recovery, I won’t lie. But it turned into a sort of honeymoon for me and Ben. That time together helped clear my mind of the fire and even all thebad things that happened earlier this year. I never had time to process any of it. I was in survival mode for so long. Anyway, after my first project got off the ground so quickly, I’m ready for more. About that…” She pauses and chews her lip for a moment. “There’s something I want to bring up with you concerning my plans for the town. It involves bringing someone in from… the outside…” she trails off, sounding a little guilty.
Cracking up, I clap my hands in delight. “It’s probably someone very specific?” I guess.
She exhales loudly, flinging herself back against the sofa and jostling Earl Grey, who looks offended to have his slumber disturbed.
“Sorry little man,” she apologizes with a long pet down his spine. “Yes, it’s a specific someone. My best friend Rose.” She puts her hands up in a pacifying gesture. “It’s not what you think. I’m not just asking because she’s my best friend and it sucks keeping secrets from her. She’s a very talented transportation planner. Since the town is growing, we need a reliable bus system sooner rather than later. It wouldn’t be too difficult to fund, even with the initial expenses of purchasing buses and hiring her along with drivers and a small support staff. It’ll be way more effective if we can lay the groundwork before the Howling Road development is complete. I’m sure there are plenty of people moving there who will convince themselves they’ll need to buy a car to drive downtown. I want to prevent that. We don’t need more cars here. I’m about to sell mine, to be honest. I really don’t need it.”
“That will be a big project for the town, but certainly worth it, especially if you include her in your proposal to town council. If you’re worried about her accepting us, then we may need to talk about how you should break it to her. When she sees you happy and thriving, it may calm some of her fears of Whispered Folk,” I consider.
“I worry about that too, obviously. It’s a shock to the system.” She waves at herself since I witnessed her fear firsthand when I introduced her to the town. “But she seems upbeat about everything else I’ve been able to tell her. She’s ready to leave her job. And to be honest, she would probably only leave Chicago and her unbelievably awesome apartment for me. I need to consider her mom, too. She’ll have to be moved into another assisted living facility close to here so Rose can easily visit. I’m getting in over my head. I need to ready my pitch to her as much as I do to town council.” She sighs loudly in exasperation.
“You’re already proving to be a good friend thinking ahead like this,” I assure her.
“I hope so. I don’t want her to hate me after she finds out the full truth.” Cara grimaces, shaking her head in uncertainty.
“She won’t. Do youhateme or Clancy?” I tease.
“No! Keep that word out of your mouth. I could never!” she scoffs lightheartedly.
“Then don’t be so worried. She may surprise you.” I give her a knowing smile. Cara claims she didn’t take it well when she learned who lives here. To my eyes, she took everything in stride, publicly at least, much better than I could have even imagined.
“Alright, I’ll try not to.” She blinks exaggeratedly like she’s trying to clear it from her mind. “There’s so much else to do first, I shouldn’t fixate on that right now. I’m so excited that Walt is going to be on the town council. I called him yesterday to congratulate him. I think my next presentation will be so much easier.” She moves in another excited little dance on the sofa. I can’t help but join in her enthusiasm.
“The meetings will be easy as pie from now on. The town is in good hands again. The three new council members should have run long ago,” I agree.
“I was able to vote in the election. I couldn’t believe it, being so new here. But Ben and Clancy assured me I’m an eligiblevoter. The only person I knew on the ballot was Walt, so I asked Ben who he was going to vote for to help me decide. Those are the three he wanted to win too,” she remarks.
“Hon, this is your home now. Your voice matters as much as everyone else’s,” I assure her. I hope she knows how lucky we are to have her.
“Norrell, we should get a tree tonight,” I tell him from over my laptop screen as he comes into the kitchen. When he got home not long ago, he went straight upstairs to take a shower. He was sweaty and smeared with mud after a long day at Walt and Acton’s. It looked like they really put him to work, though he isn’t one to complain. Nor do I believe that landscaping is all that strenuous for him since he is as strong as an ox.
“Alright. There is a tree lot near town hall. We’ll pick one out together. Should we go after an early dinner?” he suggests.
“That sounds nice.” I can’t help but grin. I love decorating for Yule.
He pulls out ingredients to start cooking while I sit at the table. I offer to chop vegetables, but he shakes his head and gestures for me to stay, looking affronted that I’d dare ask. I roll my eyes good-humoredly but stay put like he asks and continue working on my laptop placing orders for the shop.
Most of my Yule decorations were magickally shrunken for space and stored in a closet since last year. Luckily my tree stand is in the attic ready to go. I’ll have to ask Sunny to bring everything else back to size the next time she’s here. Still, there’s plenty else we can do tonight to start decorating the house.
The tree lot is busy when we arrive, unsurprising on a Saturday night, but there are still plenty of nice trees to pickfrom. The town usually starts to decorate in earnest around now in early December. Norrell parked the Wagoneer nearby, but he’s had his arm around me the entire time—something he’s initiating more often—like we’ve had to walk some great, exhausting distance. I’m fine right now, especially since I took a nap this afternoon after Cara left, but I don’t mind the wall of warmth he provides.
“I hope they have some balsam firs left. Those smell the best,” I comment absently, scanning their selection.
