“You say that now, but I’m pretty sure you’d feel terrible if either of us got hurt.”
As I cradle my feline brat, the image of Ravok working with focused intensity on his spaceship lingers in my mind. How long will it take for him to fix the ship? Do I really only have a week left with him? Thinking about that reminds me that I need to extend my stay here.
Setting Mango down, I put a clean pot on the stove, drop a packet of ground beef into its bottom, and then dial Koko’s number. The other line rings a few times before she answers. “Hello, darling! What great timing you have! I was about to call you. How are you faring up in the cabin?”
“Koko…we’re—I mean, I’m doing great,” I reply, as the meat starts to sizzle. “It’s actually been nice to get away from the daily hustle and bustle, you know? And this cabin is so lovely,” I gush, hoping to butter up my host.
“That’s good to hear, Lily. What can I do for you?”
Anxiety prickles at my skin as I consider my request. But Koko, she’s been so accommodating and kind so far… “Koko, I need to ask a big favor,” I confess, hesitating.
I plow on, ignoring the knot in my stomach. “I’m hoping to extend my stay. Until the end of the month, at least. I will pay rent, of course.”
Her warm laughter tinkles through the phone, making me feel better. “Oh, Lily! No need for that, dear. I don’t have any rentals lined up for the cabin after you. So, I’d much rather you stay there. It’s better than having it sit empty. I’d rather have it filled with some life. But if you insist on paying, I’ll figure out the rate and text you the amount. It will be something reasonable, I promise.”
Relief floods through me, making my knees feel weak. Before I can thank her, Koko says, “Also, darling, I’ve talked to Rog, and he says your car will be ready for pickup on Wednesday, which is perfect! We’re having a fun food festival that day – there will even be a contest. Everything offered is a food of love, likeoysters or chocolate-dipped strawberries. Isn’t that clever for a love festival? Obviously, it’ll be mostly seafood, but who doesn’t love seafood? Oh! And you absolutely must come on Saturday! It’s the last day of the festival.”
“Oh yeah, the festival,” I murmur. I had forgotten about the festival with everything else that had been going on.
“You remember – the Krasnaya Gorka! The spring love festival.”
“Oh, yes. Sorry. I can’t believe it slipped my mind. I’ve just been so relaxed here that I’ve almost forgotten about life outside the forest,” I lie in a chipper, silly-me voice.
“Well, the final day is Saturday, and it’s an event not to be missed,” Koko enthuses. “It will do you good to leave the cabin for some fun. There’s music and food and games and dancing. Oh! And the best part is that it’s a costume party. Everyone dresses up – the whole town participates! It’s a total blast. I can’t decide whether to go as Baba Yaga or a vila.”
“I’ve heard of Baba Yaga” —all I remember is that she was an old witch with a house that stood on giant chicken legs— “but what is a vila?”
“Ah, a vila is a fairy from Slavic mythology similar to a nymph.” As she finishes her explanation, Koko makes a noise as if she’s just remembered something. “Oh, I’ll need to find my butterfly wings. Now, where did I leave those?” Full of infectious joy, her laughter echoes in my ear, pulling a grin to my lips.
“I’d better go find them. I’ll talk to you later,” Koko says, sounding distracted. Her warm laughter fills my ears as she signs off, leaving me relieved about not having to worry about where to hide Ravok and his spaceship.
Setting my phone on the counter, I quickly cut up an onion. I check the contents of the pot, then toss them in and give everything a stir. Once the onion is soft, I add the beans, tomato paste, and canned tomatoes.
My eyes flit towards my phone once again. I take a deep breath and pull up Aunt Zinnia’s name and type. “Hey Zizi, I think I might stay in Lublin Harbor for a few more weeks… I’m really liking it here and think I’ll take some downtime like you suggested.” I hit send, and no sooner than I set down my phone, it blasts off again with Aunt Zizi’s ringtone, a chirping of forest birds that reminds me of her adventurous spirit.
“Zizi?” I answer cautiously, pressing the device to my ear.
“Lily, darling,” she chirrups, “are you finally taking my advice and treating yourself? Is the town really that nice, or do you not want to go to my empty house?”
She’s always been quick, her mind racing a million miles an hour ahead. I chuckle lightly, “Maybe a bit of both, Zizi. They put me up in this charming log cabin and said I can basically stay as long as I want. And the town is darling. It’s a stereotypical New England port town – super tranquil and quirky. It’s stolen my heart.”
It’s the truth, I tell myself with a grimace. Besides, it’s not like I can tell her I’m housing a healing alien with a damaged spaceship. Aunt Zizi is all about adventure and the road less traveled, but that might be too much even for her free-spirited ways. And I don’t want her to worry. I guess I could tell her, but it’s not my secret to share. Besides, it’s not really a lie; healing Ravok in the quiet of this place, away from the bustling city life and Marcus’s memories, has been a balm to my wounded spirit. Ravok has become more than just an alien I’d found in the wilderness; he’s the friend I didn’t know I was missing. And maybe more. To admit it is a leap, a terrifying one that lands me smack in the middle of the unknown, and yet…
“Well, for whatever reason, I’m glad, kiddo,” Zizi affirms, and I can almost see her vigorous nod over the phone. “I know you’ve been in a rough patch, Lily. But remember, every shadow proves that you’re standing in sunshine. Embrace it, darling.”
“I will, Zizi… I will,” I assure her, a growing warmth spreading through me as I stare out the window at the garage that contains Ravok. I can see shadowy movements through the grimy window as he walks past it. I do not feel alone for the first time in a long time. I realize now that I often felt hollow and lonely even when Marcus was right next to me. I turn back to the stove and start tossing in spices as Aunt Zizi chatters in my ear about glow worms and boat rides.
“So, have you done anything fun while you’re there?” Zizi pauses and then, in a sly tone, asks, “Any interesting men there?”
How the hell would she know to ask that? I swear, she’s like a bloodhound when it comes to my love life. “I’m just relaxing. I am not interested in men at this time. It’s too soon,” I fib.
“Beep beep beep beep… Oh my gosh! My bullshit meter is going crazy!”
“Aunt Zizi—” I try to warn but even I can hear the whine in my voice.
“I’ve never seen readings like these before, people. The bullshit is off the charts!”
“Z!”
