Page 21 of Wateredge

And then she looked around. She was standing in a busy, Michelin-star kitchen, surrounded by sous chefs and mise en place and wood oven heat. The smells were heavenly. Her skin was not pruned, and her hands were not hurting from the hard work of washing dishes. Soon she’d be engulfed in flowers at Ceridwen’s shop. Everything was different. She was… different. Her world was different. Maybe it was time she made different choices? Allowed herself to be just a little brave?

Lark let the back door of the restaurant slam behind her and ran after Seren, who was now almost at the end of the block.

“Seren!” Her own voice sounded panicked to her. And she was a little bit. Panicked, but mostly excited to even be considering doing what she was about to do.

Seren turned, all wide, gorgeous eyes and sharp cheekbones.

“Ah… Did you need something?” The confusion was absolutely adorable on the beautiful features. Lark skidded to a stop in front of her and tilted her head up to meet her eyes.

“No, you. You need something, Captain of the Fire Brigade.” Lark stood on tiptoes, lifted a hand slightly, and brushed off the tiny crumb that remained on Seren’s lip.

The sumptuous mouth under her thumb smiled, the movement turning the innocent touch into a sensuous caress. They remained locked in the moment for a second too long, just long enough for Greg from the sandwich cart across the street to whistle shrilly at them.

Seren gave him the bird, and Lark smiled. Any other time, she’d have wanted to hide, to not be seen with anyone in case⁠—

Not today. Today, Lark Thibodeaux had made cod for the town’s mayor and ran after a beautiful woman.

“You should stop by the Tavern more often, Seren Crowhart. Victoria might give me more dishes to make. And I might need a taste-tester.” With that Lark turned on her heel and left Seren staring after her with a wide smile on her face.

Today, Lark had been brave. She smiled all the way back to the Tavern and felt Seren’s eyes on her like sun rays.

7

SEREN, PERKS OF SISTERHOOD (TEASING) & WOOLY HATS

INTERESTING TIMES ON THE CROW’S NEST COUNCIL!

Following the massive defeat at the mayoral elections and the lack of support for the purported Museum of Faith to be built on Dragons, the land having been adjudicated for the Refuge instead, two of the Crow’s Nest councilmen have resigned after losing the vote to designate a brand-new site for the aforementioned museum.

Councilwoman Crowhart, who led the charge against the museum, has expressed her well wishes to the departing councilmen and informed the Caw that they will serve as provisional members till new ones are elected in the November cycle.

Mayor Allende was unavailable for a comment, but her Chief of Staff, Lachlan Vesely, stated that he wishes for the pillows of the outgoing councilmen to always be sweat-moist on both sides and their coffee lukewarm.

After years of quiet sabotage by the Council of social justice projects, as well as the gutting of the library, the Caw adds its wishes to those of Mr. Vesely.

—Crow’s Caw

“There has been another break-in. Or maybe there hasn’t, and I have been imagining things.”

Ceridwen sat down at the counter next to Rhiannon—still gazing at the Caw—and nodded toward Seren, who placed a tall latte in front of her.

The coffee shop was almost empty, the winter still wreaking havoc on the ferry schedule. Some stragglers from the resort were playing Jenga on the table by the far wall, and an occasional local came in for a coffee fix, but her sisters had been the only customers within earshot.

Seren picked up the cleaning towel and stepped closer. Clearly, whatever this was had not yet made the island news. Come to think of it, the Caw had been mysteriously mundane for a few days now. Some town hall news, some tourist information. Nothing out of the ordinary. Seren looked at her phone, but there had been no notifications from the app since morning. She was fairly certain Rhiannon, who had been perusing the paper for the duration of her first cup, would’ve said something to her anyway.

Ceridwen, as always seeing through her with ease, shook her head.

“It hasn’t gotten to the Caw yet. And I’m not certain it ever will. Or that it should. Paloma and I are the only ones who are aware. She’s on the fence about informing Redding.”

Seren’s eyes widened. Rhiannon covered her mouth with her hand, quietly gasping.

“No, no, it’s not that she doesn’t trust him.” Ceridwen hurried with an explanation.

“She doesn’t know him.” Rhiannon finished the thought. “Well, she is right. He’s been on the island for a year, and nothing that has transpired so far has been made easier or simpler by his presence. One has to wonder why he was elected at all.”

“He wasn’t elected,” Seren whispered and decided against making herself another shot of espresso. She was already getting jittery as it was.

Rhiannon glanced at Ceridwen, who nodded.