With a few short reminders to behave, we were out the door.
CHAPTER NINE
A field of green rolled on for long enough it could’ve fit the whole town, and probably would within the hour. Flags of yellow, orange, green, and pink blew in the wind, carried by the tune of troubadours singing and strumming their instruments. Children of all ages ran around, some laughing, some screaming as they were chased. Games and painting booths were set up throughout. And of course, the same water bender who’d been attending since I turned seven. His blue shaved hair was very recognizable.
Mia and Micah ran off to their friends; I kept a keen eye on the both of them. But they’re good kids—and they’re kids. They needed to have fun, run wild, and relax.
So Blaze and I stood out with nowhere to go. On our left, our options were a group of couples, so an immediate no, anda group of women around my age. During my school years, I’d tried to make friends, truly. However, not a lot of girls were actually interested in being friends. My parents didn’t attend the events their parents hosted; we didn’t compete in the same sports. I never took to athletics; anything with flying animals or flaming equipment took me out. I went to sporting events to watch Laken play spellball, a competitive game where guys chase each other carrying a ball but only specific players in positions can physically touch it while the others have to use magic to move it or whatever and pass it into a goal—I never really understood all the rules. Anyway! Even then, I sat with his mother.
On the other hand, to my right perched the vultures of the town, the elders who had nothing better to do than gossip and prey on others’ misfortune. There were gossipers like Goldie, nice and respectful. Then… there was them. The Hamiltons, Audrey and William. They worked at the legal office, handling licenses and whatnot. The Redsworths, cousins of Collin. They handled money. And the Briars, who only came to Honey Brooke when their trade ships were docked for storm season.
The last time I’d seen them, I had the smoke of a burning building behind me. Their eyes remained as cold. As harsh.
Standing alone, I reminded myself I came here to sell creams. But I couldn’t work on an empty stomach. Hunger or procrastination? Who knew.
To the food, then.
Considering there were only two different places to eat in town, one being the pub, I knew what to expect. After grabbingtwo pieces of Goldie’s white raspberry cake, one steak-and-vegetable kabob, and something with bread, Blaze and I planted ourselves along the outskirts of the field. Blaze torched the meat.
It was an effort not to wrinkle my nose or growl under my breath at the crowd. In a town I’d grown up in my entire life, I felt like a stranger. These people might’ve known me once, or thought they did, but they didn’t anymore. Nor I them. And I wasn’t sure I wanted to.
Right when the sun hit my skin, food hit my stomach, and peacenearlyhit my mind, another voice came for me.
“Reece McCarthen, if it isn’t my favorite ex-almost-daughter-in-law.” I’d recognize her cheerful, light voice anywhere. Faye Augustus.
Laken’s mother.
Strawberry blond hair waved next to me as she sat and I turned to her, shoving cake into my mouth. Sea-green eyes narrowed with laughter, and my heart sank. Her comfortable familiarity hit me.Hard. I did miss her.
“Hello, Mrs. Augustus.”
She leaned into me, accidentally hitting Blaze who, in return, nearly torched her fingers.
“How are you, my dear? Laken told us he saw you, but he hasn’t revealed too much; you know how he is.” She rolled her eyes the way a mother does when talking about her son.
“I’m good.” I forced a smile. “I’ve missed this.” My hand gestured to the festival, the laughs, the town. I didn’t know if I’d lied or not.
“Ah, yes, Honey Brooke is home,” she agreed. “Laken mentioned you nearly killed him the other night?” I saw it in her eyes; she pried for more.
And as soon as my mouth opened to defend myself, behind Faye, on the other side of the field, I caught a glimpse of said almost-murder-victim. He talked with some others from town, a few from our school days. He must have felt my stare because after a second, he went rigid then slowly turned to me. Before our eyes could catch, I immediately whipped my attention back to Faye. I recovered my place. “Oh Gods, yes. Well, yes, but no. I didn’t know it was him, but yes.”
She waved her hand with a smothered chuckle, gesturing that it was nothing to worry about.
I needed something to talk about before she tried to stay on the topic of Laken. So I entered into Faye’s expertise. “It feels weird sometimes, being back. Feels like everyone is watching and judging me with their hawk eyes.”
Faye furrowed her brows. “Oh, let me tell you, honey—these people have nothing on you.” She searched the crowd for a familiar face with a story, and of course, she found one. “Danny Greenwood over there.” She nodded to our left. “Just lost his job for having sex with a client. On his desk.”
I couldn’t help the shameful smile on my face.
“I love a good scandal.” She bumped my arm.
When I said “her expertise,” I meant exactly that: town gossip. Goldie and Faye were the people to go to for thegood tea. For one simple reason: there are two types of people willing to spill anything—children and drunks. Faye hearseverything from the children at school while Goldie gets the spill from the drunks at the tavern. It’s a team system.
But after our laughter cleared and I thanked her for a bit of relief, silence resumed. Her eyes narrowed the way they do when someone notices how small they are in this world. My breath became uneasy, unsteady. If she brought up Laken one more time… I, once again, got distracted by her son standing a good distance away. Except this time, he faced me, mouthing something I couldn’t understand.
I narrowed my eyes, trying to focus on his lips without his mother noticing. Wait, I couldn’t focus on his lips. My heart thundered against my ribs. My stomach dropped. Terrible idea—abort mission. But his hair fell over his face as the wind blew, and he raked a hand through it. All of a sudden I forgot Faye sat in front of me. I watched him mouth his words as though caught in a daydream.Do I need…I watched him repeat the words.Do I need to save you?
Oh.
