The first question might’ve made the younger Crowharts smile and elbow each other, but the second one immediately wiped those smiles away. Because it was very clear, as Paloma held Deryn’s head in her lap, that someone had indeed locked Deryn and Victoria in the freezer, and if not for the circle, theaftermath could’ve been drastically different. It could’ve been deadly.
26
DERYN, BURNISHED BRICK BAKERIES & OMENS (GOOD ONES)
THE FIRST MONTH OF MAYOR ALLENDE’S MANDATE IS A RESOUNDING SUCCESS!
The latest resident poll shows unprecedented levels of 85% satisfaction with the way Ms. Allende is performing her job, which exceeds her victory margin in the election, meaning that her management of the town has even swayed some of her opponents to her side.
The record-breaking popularity comes on the heels of ground breaking for the Survivors Center, the intersectionality of the approach to care for female and male survivors of domestic violence, which has been drawing increasing attention from the media.
Mayor Allende’s order that Crow’s Nest is a sanctuary town for any and all survivors of domestic violence has raised eyebrows on national TV, but it ultimately won a lot of points for the new mayor from women’s groups all across the country.
In other news, the Tavern has finally reopened and is already sold out three months in advance, after a fire broke out in the kitchen due to faulty wiring of the walk-in freezer.
The break-ins have stopped, and Sheriff Redding conjectured that a transient perpetrator could be responsible and has since departed the island. The Caw is skeptical of this statement and will continue reporting on any and all law-and-order issues arising in town.
With the Tavern being out of commission for four weeks, the Astronomy Resort has kept the hospitality business of Dragons booming, and the inclusion of Chef Deryn Crowhart’s yummy creations on the menu has drawn a considerable crowd from the mainland. Chef Reem Alami has wowed the clientele with her impeccable risotto and pastas, too.
Additionally, construction teams have been spotted working on the old pier warehouse.
Watch this space as we bring you news on what new attraction will be opening in town.
—Crow’s Caw
Deryn stoodin front of the little orange-yellow brick building and wondered where the time had gone. Sooty purred at her chest under her jacket. Their peace was tenuous, but Deryn figured out that the kitten, who was born outside, hated being cooped up the most. So these days, Sooty went places. Book Nest. Crow’s Blossoms. The construction site.
She had told exactly nobody about the project. In fact, she had submitted the paperwork for it before Paloma had taken office officially, which had therefore been processed by the Office of the Town Manager instead of the mayor. Ceridwen, busier than ever helping Victoria restore the Tavern, was also blissfully unaware of where Deryn was spending her afternoons.
And Deryn had been spending them here. She could already see the walls, the brick and glass facade, the large window showing off her creations. She told herself it didn’t mean that she would stay, but the little warehouse would be transformed into a little brick bakery, and it would also have a small studio attached to it, so if she were back in town, she wouldn’t have to stay at any of her sisters’. Khalid showed great interest in running the place on a daily basis. It would mean a fight to the death between her and her aunt if Victoria ever found out that her beloved pastry chef had set his eyes on a new adventure, but Deryn figured she could probably beg and charm her way out of any reprisal. Plus, she had saved Victoria’s life, which must count for something.
As she watched the workers replace the shingles on the roof, she felt her. She scented her—that woodsy, smoky smell of her, topped with a burnt sugar aroma.
“Madam Mayor,” Deryn said without turning around. Sooty popped her head out from underneath the jacket, sleepy ears twitching at the approach of her favorite human.
“Ms. Crowhart.” Paloma came to stand shoulder to shoulder with her, both now looking at the little one-story building. She gave Sooty a scratch. The cat meowed contentedly and snuggled back against Deryn’s chest. Paloma smirked. “Well, this makes it two things I didn’t know. You and Miss Sooty are very copacetic. And I didn’t know this place was snapped up. Are you admiring the construction work, or moonlighting as a foreman?”
Deryn did not take her eyes off the workers, refusing herself the pleasure of turning and looking at Paloma. She had denied herself that pleasure for a few weeks now, making herself scarce before Paloma came down to the kitchens at Astronomy, not staying anywhere Paloma was for too long. Standing next to her now, breathing her scent, told her that it had been a useless endeavor.
Hadn’t Deryn known from the very first night, when their eyes met over the fire, that Paloma was the woman…the woman of her fate…the woman of the dark amber eyes who held her as life left her heart all those years ago?
Deryn slowly shook her head, pushing the vision further away. She had been good at doing that lately.
“Just out for a walk, Madam Mayor. Sooty here wanted to see the roofers.” Deryn unzipped her jacket and pulled out a little hard hat. Sooty allowed her to put it on her fuzzy head.
“It fits,” Deryn said.
“Meow,” Sooty replied. She burrowed deeper into the jacket, hard hat and all.
Satisfied that the cat was happy, Deryn turned and headed to the pier, walking slowly to give Paloma a chance to decide whether to follow or remain at the construction site. When she heard footsteps behind her, she exhaled.
“You don’t have to call me that, you know. People still think we are together.”
Deryn bit her lip, trying not to say anything at all, but words formed and slipped out anyway.
“I don’t think that’s true any longer.”
Paloma stopped her with a hand on her elbow, and they stood in the middle of the wooden pier, the ocean foaming around them, waves splashing high. The scent of salt water filled her lungs, but the smoky perfume lingered. She couldn’t escape her, even if she tried, so why was she still trying?
