Shang dips down to kiss her chastely, and Eden can’t help but notice how different he is the farther from La Rouge he gets. It’s a subtle change, but one she latches on to. He’s always been leagues gentler with her compared to everyone else, but especially so now. Tender, adoring. He’s still strong and solid, but he’s uniquely soft around her. Only for her.
Eden really loves it.
As Shang leans away, Eden gives chase, unwilling to let go of his lips. Her attempt is cut short, however, when Xu Hong calls from the kitchen.
“Shang! Can you do me a favor?”
He sighs. “What is it?”
“Can you run to the farmer’s market for me? I forgot that I put in a fresh order for scallops. I need it for dinner tonight.”
Eden stands up on her toes, suddenly excited. “You guys have a farmer’s market around here?”
Shang smirks. “Uh, yeah?”
“Can I come? I’ve always wanted to check one out.”
“You’ve never been to a farmer’s market? Seriously?”
“Never had the time.” And then, much quieter, “Or the money.”
A flash of sad understanding sweeps past Shang’s dark eyes. He nods once before taking her hands, giving her fingers a gentle squeeze. “Then what are we waiting for?”
* * *
It’s flippingcoldthis mid-March day, but Eden uses this as an excuse to hold Shang’s hand nice and tight.
He, in turn, stuffs both their hands in the pocket of his jacket.
She retaliates by bumping up against him as they walk, arm sealed to arm.
As it turns out, this offers him the perfect angle to press kisses into the top of her hair.
The indoor farmer’s market isn’t that busy—it’s almost noon and a Thursday, so really what was she expecting?—but there’s still plenty to capture her attention. There are two sections, an outdoor area where vendors’ booths are lined up beneath white tents to shield from the cold, as well as an indoor area occupying what looks to be a decommissioned ice rink. There are even more booths there, circling around the perimeter with items on display.
It’s overwhelming at first. Eden wants nothing more than to run from stall to stall, checking out all the different goods people have to offer. But she also wants to keep holding onto Shang’s hand. She’s a child in a candy shop, and he’s her anchor.
There’s all manner of things here. Stalls full of homemade fudge piled high behind glass. Hand-painted art pieces on carved wood. Fresh fruits and vegetables lovingly grown by local farmers. There’s an artisan who’s crafted an entire display of cheese, the packaging stamped with the business’ adorable little logo of a cow jumping over the moon.
Shang zeroes in on a wheel of parmesan. He asks if he can purchase a smaller wedge, to which the vendor says he can.
Eden, meanwhile, is suddenly distracted by the glint of something shiny in the stall not three feet away. There’s a printed banner draping over the front of the booth, the business’ name on full display: Jane & Cass Jewelers. Every inch of surface space is covered in all sorts of rings, bracelets, earrings, necklaces, and hair pins. There’s one bracelet in particular that catches her eye, an intricate piece of silver and gold intertwining one another.
“That’s a couple’s bracelet,” the woman standing behind the counter explains. She has a name tag pinned to the front of her shirt: Jane. There’s a man beside her, too, and Eden assumes that he must be Cass.
“Crafted it myself,” he states with pride. “The pieces come apart, so you can keep one band and give the other to your partner.”
“It’s lovely,” Eden replies and means it. It really is a gorgeous peace. Simple, elegant. She can easily imagine the silver portion of the bracelet around Shang’s wrist, gold one on hers.
“You seem like a sweet girl,” Jane says. “Tell you what, I’ll give it to you for half off. Call it eighty bucks?”
Eden’s smile is stiff. She appreciates the offer, but money’s always been a terrible pinch point for her. A mental block. An impossible mental barrier that she can’t figure out how to climb over. She’s spent so long collecting every penny, hoarding every dollar, that it just doesn’t feel right to spend it on something so frivolous. She’s always been this way. With food. With that dress she saw in the window. Small, trivial things in the long run. Especially compared to her overall goal.
But this time is different. Because this time, it wouldn’t be just for her.
Eden glances over her shoulder and notices Shang wrapping up business with a different vendor. A warmth blooms in her chest as she watches him interact with the little old man behind the counter. There’s an ease to Shang that wasn’t there before. A kindness in the way he smiles and indulges in a bit of small talk.
She wants to get him something. As a way of saying thank you. For giving her a chance at La Rouge, for her new knife set, for being a shoulder to cry on. As a way of showing how much she appreciates him. For his strength, for his ambition, for his patience and tenderness.
