Page 31 of Homegrown Magic

Yael kicks the door closed behind them, and despite the noise drifting up from downstairs and their ebullient, tipsy conversation, it’s suddenly too quiet in the room. There’s just the sound of their breathing. The one bed. Yael’s nest of blankets on the floor.

“Well…” Margot says through an enormous yawn.

Yael catches the yawn and stretches as they yawn too. “Well indeed. I’d love to stay up, charm you some more, drink another bottle of wine, but do you want the truth, Daisy?”

“Of course, always the truth,” Margot says before she can help herself. The truth is not her custom when it comes to Yael, but no reason to get into that now. Plus, it turns out it’s adorable when they call her Daisy. She enjoys that very much after all and has decided not to fight it any longer.

“The truth is, I’ve never been more exhausted in my life.” Yael flops onto their pile of blankets, groaning.

Margot understands. She sits down on the bed, slipping her shoes off. Another yawn overtakes her.

They’d sold through most of their flowers, seedlings, and strawberry jam before sunset, thanks in large part to Rastanaya, and spent the rest of the evening restocking what few wares they had left for their second and last day of selling tomorrow. Since they’d gotten up so early and worked so hard, now—as she’s finally sitting still on a comfy bed—Margot’s exhaustion crashes down on her. Not bothering to undress, she falls back on the mattress, sinking into the feather pillow. A moan of tired happiness escapes her lips.

“Oh gods, I know it’s late spring, but this floor is freezing.” Yael pulls more blankets around themself, making the floor creak as they burrow in.

“Get in the bed, then,” Margot suggests before she has the chance to stop herself. She shifts over, making room on the side closer to the window. It’s the best idea she’s had all day, she thinks sleepily.

“Margot Greenwillow, are you trying to seduce me?” Yael’s voice is all testing and teasing.

“Perhaps, if I weren’t so tired and we weren’t such good friends.”

“So we are friends now?”

“Yes,” she admits. “And I don’t seduce my friends.”

“Why not?”

“Because it never works out.” Margot takes two extra pillows and rests them between her half of the bed and Yael’s, making a plump, feather-filled barrier between them. “I’ve seen enough proof from the very small pool of Bloomfield’s population who’s eligible to date. Dara had to move and build a whole new cottage for her and Poppy when her romance with Genevieve ended, you know. It simply isn’t worth it.”

Yael slips into bed, propping themself up on one elbow. “I’m not sure I like this rule.”

Margot isn’t sure she likes it either, but she’s in no position to untangle her complicated feelings for Yael tonight. “Let’s talk about something else, please. Was it strange to see Rastanaya here, in Olde Post?”

“Very.” Yael pauses, and Margot hears a hundred unsaid things in the pause that follows.

“What is it?”

Yael fluffs their pillow, restlessly sitting up and then lying back down again. “It’s just…well, seeing Rastanaya reminds me of my life in Ashaway, of course. But also, it’s my parents.”

“What about them?” Margot prompts, unable to keep a note of interest from her voice. The last thing she wants to talk about after such a happy day is the Claunecks, but her curiosity is overpowering. Besides, if she’s ever to finish this mysterious remedy they think she’s capable of making, eventually she’ll have to become…reacquainted.

“Apparently, they’ve told everyone I fell off a mechanical steed while out riding at Oreborn’s city compound and was badly hurt. They’ve said I’m now recovering in the countryside.” Yael flings the pillow at the wall between them, causing a minor explosion of feathers. “I suppose I am in the countryside recovering from, well, life in Ashaway. But it seems I’m such an embarrassment to them that they would rather lie to the world than come find me and ask why I ran off in the first place. I should be grateful they’ve let me be. I’ve always known I’m not what they expected from an heir, or wanted…” Yael’s voice breaks on the last word.

Margot feels a surge of compassion. If there’s anything in the world she understands, it’s not living up to who she’s supposed to be. But for Yael, it’s different. They haven’t got their family’s entire future on their shoulders, no matter what they’ve been made to believe as the Clauneck heir. “Yael. Hear me.” Margot lightly rests a hand on their arm. “Your deviation from your parents’ expectations of you is not a failure on your part. It’s a failure of imagination on theirs if they can’t see you for who you are. And…well…you’re pretty spectacular. Not just at washing windows or wrangling famous people to our fair stall.”

Yael looks up at Margot, dark eyes wide. “I…that’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.”

“I’ll tell you a secret.” It’s not the biggest secret of her life, but it’s a close one.

“What?” As Yael moves to settle back against the headboard, their shoulder brushes hers, and they seem to take their sweet time shifting away again.

“I’ve also disappointed my parents.”

“Oh.” Yael exhales. “Margot, how is that possible? You’re so good at everything.”

She can’t help cracking a smile. “Well, I may not have a fancy degree from Auximia, but I know a few things.”

“You know everything, and you’re good at all of it. Trust me, you’re going to be huge, especially after Rastanaya tells everyone about her inspiring visit to the Greenwillow booth. You’re amazing, Daisy. Your parents will be so proud of you when they wake up.”