Chapter 29
Moments after Maru shut the door to the truck and disappeared into her home, Ry leaned her forehead against the steering wheel and took a deep breath. Her palms were sweaty.
She knew what was happening, exactly what was happening. Why now? Why when she was like this? Only a few steps away from where she now sat, she had explicitly told Maru that it wasn’t her job to figure her out. That had been a year ago? Less? Shit for being less than perfect, for having wobbly legs on her path?
She’d felt bad for how harsh she’d been afterwards, but still she’d stood by her words. Maru had both wanted her and not wanted her. And what was Ry doing now? Putting her truck in park and turning it full off because she wanted to prolong their time together, to be asked in, to be able to lean over and kiss her in the cover of darkness? And Maru so clearly wanted it too. Was obviously too nervous to come out and say anything directly. And Ry, reading the air, could have made it easier on them both and just leaned in. Said, can I see you tomorrow?
That’s what her body wanted, but her mind fought against the impulse. All evening, she’d been waffling between flirtation and avoidance. Unable to pick which was wiser. Knowing what was safer and yet still being compelled towards the risk.
Trying to deep breathe away the confusion roiling inside her, she checked her texts for the first time in hours. Both Shane and Seb had updated her on the impromptu gathering at the farm. It was the perfect excuse to ask Maru to hangout. She bit her lip and stared at her door.
Maru did not read her mind and open it.
She turned the key in the ignition, a slight tremble in her fingers.
Shortly after her return to the farm, Shane approached her. There were enough separate conversations going that she had edged away from the group unnoticed. She didn’t want them to leave, but she was preoccupied by her own concerns, and Shane could tell.
“Well?” He asked, his tone edging into accusatory.
“Well?” She repeated, looking past him at how well Seb and Luann were getting along.
“Supplies?”
“Supplies.”
“For Luann. Who you aren’t dating.” He stated dryly. He’d asked her about Luann before and she had been honest. He’d sort of believed her.
“And Gus, who I’m also not dating.” They exchanged a look and both knew the truth. Shane had enough context on her situation to know she would be in and out of the city a few times over the next couple months, and not for anything to do with farming.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” He sounded mad, which she knew probably meant he was sad.
“I’m not going to ruin your day off. It’s fine. Maru was with me.” Maybe it was the guilt twinging inside her that made her admit to the last part. She shouldn’t still be keeping things from him, after everything that had happened. Giving him the run around was getting old, and yet here she was, doing it again.
“Don’t even start wi- Maru?”
“Seb’s sister.”
“Fuck off. I know you’re...” He trails off, brow furrowing as he scrutinizes her.
Ry’s breath catches. Was she so transparent? “What?”
“Friends? I actually don’t know. She went with you?”
“We ran into each other.”
“Unlikely.” He said it like he wasn’t sure if he should believe her.
She shrugged, “She was there for a school thing. She offered to wait for me.”
“And you let her?”
“She didn’t give me a choice.”
“Good.” Shane huffed, and he left it at that. Things had improved considerably between them, though an uneasy tension had resurfaced alongside her injuries. She’d been forced to pile a lot more work onto him and Seb from being too weak to be able to pull her own weight during her recovery. They both said they didn’t mind, but she could see it taking a strain on them. Not being able to do anything about it was disgusting to her. At least they had Seb, she reminded herself frequently. Unbeknownst to her at the time, hiring him in spring had probably saved the farm in more ways than one.
Limping through early fall, they had almost made it through heavy harvest season. The end was in sight... and hopefully, she’d be fully recovered soon. Hopefully by next spring this would all be a ridiculous story.
As night descended, the useless if-onlys started crawling their way into her mind. She’d tried her best to put them aside , hiding her anxiety in weed. Maybe it would at least give her release from thinking about Maru and the emotional churning the day together caused.
The double feeling of joy and pain she’d felt upon seeing her in the city.
Had Maru clocked it?
She’d felt so embarrassed. Still did.
She tried to deny it, as she tried to deny her attraction. Which was insane, given that six months ago she would have admitted to it easily, at least to herself. And the attraction hadn’t stopped growing then. It had started, long ago, from respecting the woman’s bright intelligence, that was so unique and unlike anything Ry knew. She had been intimidated by it at first, but Maru never made her feel stupid. She loved that glint in her eye when something caught her interest. She loved how she expressed all of her feelings on her face, without meaning to, maybe without knowing she was doing it. How competent she was at so many things. How she felt she could stare at her face forever and always find it compelling. How she made her feel both overly confident and completely shy. Since she’d come back from the island, all of this had come on stronger. It was like a some sort of power had grown in her, drawing Ry to its core like gravity. She could try to resist, but at this point, it was just physics.
Abbi looked up at Haley. Her head was tossed towards the stars. One hand gripping Abbi by the hair and the other clenching a fistful of her own pyjama top. She trembled until her body tensed, going rigid, then shuddering and releasing into slackness, her weight supported by the beige pink panelling of 2 Willow lane. For several moments, all either of them did was breathe.
Abbi was in disbelief. She had been so scared of this for so long. She’d thought she wouldn’t like it, but she was panting, consumed by desire. Haley released a contented sigh and stared down at her, starry eyed and flush with her pleasure. “You owed me that,” she panted, grinning. She slid down the side of the house until she on the ground, level with Abbi’s kneeling form. “You fucking owed me that and you know it.”
Sparks coursed through Abbi, rendering her speechless. Never in a million years would she think she’d be giving Haley head in her backyard. And desperate to continue. Haley reached forward and touched the wetness on her chin. She coated her fingers with it and then slid them into Abbi’s mouth. She obliged, closing her lips and sucking.
Haley grinned, slipping her fingers out and grabing Abbi by the chin. She leaned in close, “I’m going to make you cum so much.”
The hairs on the back of Abbi’s neck raised and she whimpered into the kiss she was pulled into.
Haley slung her arms loosely around Abbi’s shoulders, gliggling into the kiss, her afterglow making her weak and spacey. Abbi was fervid, coursing with a lust that was beginning to scorch her, yet at the same time trembling with relief, with admiration, with nerves.
“Mm” Haley mumbles into the kiss before breaking free, “I want you to smother me.” She unzips Abbi’s sweater as she says this. Lying down in the garden bed, she pulls Abbi with her as she slinks her hand under Abbi’s baggy t-shirt and unhooks her bra.
Abbi, hesitating briefly, straddles her and moves to take her sweater off. Haley doesn’t have the patience, and pulls her forward and down, so Abbi’s chest is hovering over her face. She pushes her shirt and bra out of her way, and her face disappears beneath the fabric. Abbi feels her hot tongue gliding along her skin, sending shivers down her spine, she gasps and then stuffs the hem of her shirt in her mouth in order to get it out of the way, so she can see her breasts pressed into Haley’s face.
Haley’s eyes are closed as she lightly swirls her tongue, letting her hands roam. She pulls Abbi down, truly to smother her, and Abbi can’t see anything anymore, her face an inch from the ground above Haley’s head, her ass still in the air.
When a hand pets her through her pants, Abbi whines into the cloth in her mouth, rolling her hips frantically forward. She needs more. She’ll do anything for more. Haley understands and slips her hand under her waistband, fingers gently gliding downward. She lazily strokes her, without rhythm or intensity, but that’s all Abbi can handle anyway. It’s only moments before she’s pressing her face into the ground, dirt and sparse strands of grass cushioning her as she opens her mouth and emits a strangled cry. The pleasure erupting through her is blinding.
Moments later – brain slowly coming back online – she’s on her side, facing a grinning Haley, who reaches up and wipes the dirt off her face with her clean hand. She pulls the spit soaked hem of Abbi’s shirt out of her mouth, “that’s all it takes for you, huh?”
Abbi half groans, but it comes out more like a whimper, as she rolls on her back, embarrassed. She throws her arm across her face to shield herself from scrutiny.
“Not usually.”
She feels Haley’s hand on the skin of her belly, dangerously low, but she only draws a teasing circle. “So what’s the usual?”
“Lots of toys.”
“I hope I get to see that.”
Abbi moves her arm and sees that Haley’s propped on her side, staring at her with something a little like adoration. Her hand moves from her belly to her face. “You okay?”
Abbi swallows and nods.
Haley leans in and kisses her cheek, and then whispers into her ear, “did you like that?” She almost sounds nervous.
Abbi nods again.
“Me too,” she whispers back, face pink and grinning. She sits up and looks around them, as if she’s just noticing the position they’re in. “We should probably go inside. You’re... coming in, right?” She pushes a strand hair behind her ear, eyes cast low. Nervous. As if Abbi could possibly run away after that.
Earlier, Haley had been commanding, grasp tightening as if she would never allow anything beyond her own control.
After the cries of whoever else had been out so late had passed them by, Haley, straddling Abbi’s thigh from the position she’d fallen on top of her from her window, had sat up straight. She had been shivering visibly as the cool breeze brushed against her skin.
Abbi had tried to prop herself on her elbows, but with one hand she was pushed back. “No, no.” Haley leaned in and pined Abbi’s arms to the earth. “You’re not running away again,” she’d breathed, and moved her knee so it was pressing lightly between Abbi’s legs.
Abbi had gasped at the contact. “I wasn’t – hnnmgh – going to run.” She panted as Haley had sloppily kissed her neck and rolled their hips together.
Abbi was done for in seconds. She would never run away from Haley again, and she never wanted to. But she hadn’t verbalized it, proven herself, convinced Haley. The heat of the moment had passed, and she could see in Haley’s wide eyes, the fear – that Abbi was afraid, that she would repeat her hot exit strategy. She was scared; a terrified, heart pumping wildly, near petrified, level of scared.
“Of course I’m coming in.”
The loveliest smile broke out on Haley’s face and she leaned in to kiss her, softly this time. Abbi couldn’t help but smile back into the kiss. That’s all it took to make her so happy?
“You did promise you were... going to do that a lot.” Abbi reminds her, red faced.
Haley leans in and kisses her again, more gently, lingering, sweet.
Neither of them had the strength to pull themselves back through the window, so they had to walk around to the front. After entering, both realize how dishevelled they are and Haley suggests they take a shower. Now that she had gotten Abbi into her house, her nervousness seemed to be melting away, leading her to the bathroom with an impish smile.
Haley lets her pyjamas slip off, exposing herself in easy intimacy, as she turned on the shower and adjusted the temperature. Her body is like nothing Abbi had ever seen. Her long elegant limbs, her gentle curves, her perfect silk smooth skin. Abbi already knew all this, but having to expose herself in front of someone this perfect makes it hit a little harder, makes her feel a little woozy. Don’t panic, don’t panic. Her insecurity and the depth of her attraction battling for control. A similar concoction of emotions she’d felt that night on the beach. She had different ideas what what she should let win tonight.
Her sweater comes off, and then her t-shirt. Her bra, still unclasped from earlier, falls to the floor. Okay, she’s technically already seen this.
She’d never felt this nervous naked in front of a man before, at least not in a long time. Why was it coming on so strong now? When she’d sent her so many revealing photos? She’d changed in front of her (though they’d only ever stolen glances, never bearing it all to each other like this). Her hands were trembling as she unbuttoned her jeans, slipping them down and off. She pauses at her underwear, though she wishes she wasn’t. It’s no big deal it’s no big deal. It’s been confirmed they both like each other, it’s been confirmed they both want each other. Yet...
Haley was sitting on the edge of the tub, long legs stretched before her and one hand behind the shower curtain monitoring the water temp. She was watching Abbi with half lidded eyes, lips slightly parted.
“What?” Abbi says, sounding more defensive than she means to.
The hot water scorches Haley’s hand and she withdraws it.
“What do you mean, what?” She laughs, incredulous. Standing, she adjusts the water temperature to something more bearable. Abbi was frozen apart from a tremor in her hands that she couldn’t hide in her nudity. She had a look of both lust and apprehension in her eyes.
Haley takes a step towards her and runs her dripping hand down Abbi's stomach, leaving a trail of water droplet across her skin. Abbi shivers despite the warmth.
"You know I've wanted to see you like this for a long time." Haley whispers, the steam rising around them and absorbing her words. Despite her trembling, Abbi didn't look convinced. "You don't believe me?" Her hand drifts ever lower, grazing the waistband of her panties.
"I'm not like you Haley..." It was barely audible over the running water.
"Is that why you were running away from me?" Haley asks, hand pausing, her voice almost as low as Abbi’s.
"No... partially..."
"And here I was thinking you were so confident,” she purrs, leaning in a little closer.
Abbi turns her head to the side, avoiding Haley’s gaze. She’s said the wrong thing. Haley knows what her neat wince means. The veneer was chipping.
"I don't need you to be." Haley whispers earnestly. Her stomach tied in notes to think that Abbi had secretly been dealing with intense insecurities. That anyone was dealing with them. And for her role in perpetuating them, which she could no longer deny had been the centrepiece of so much of her life.
"Let's just drop it... it's not a big deal." Abbi still had her head turned to the side.
"I'm sorry if I'm responsible."
"What?"
"You know what I mean.”
"Haley, that's not-"
"It's the truth. But I've always been attracted to you, Abbi... that's the truth too." She drew her fingers lightly across Abbi's skin as she bent her head and let her breath ghost across her collarbones. Goosebumps were erupting across Abbi's skin as the heat of the steam curled around them. "Can't you feel it?" She whispered. She wasn't going to cure Abbi of her insecurities with one pep talk, hell she had a lot of work to do on her own. But she might be able to make her forget them, at least for awhile, get her so into her body she could let go of her mind's perception of it for a moment. The fact that it had worked on the lawn made her think she might have a chance to do it again.
Her hand, only gently grazing the skin until now, went firm as she wrapped it around Abbi’s back. She pressed her naked body against Abbi’s, her other arm wrapping around her shoulder. “I want you just like this.”
Abbi let out a groan and shifted away from her. Haley was dismayed. Was Abbi’s confidence completely shattering?
But then Abbi stuck her thumbs through her waistband and shimmed out of her underwear. Her eyes were cast down. Submission? Embarrassment?
“You’re beautiful.” Haley whispered. She gently took Abbi’s hand and led her towards the shower, letting her get in first.
“There’s something I want to talk to you about, if you have a minute.” Emily tells Haley after she’s finally closed the front door after Abbi; a quick goodbye turned into hours of lingering.
“I have more than a minute.” Haley hummed, still on a cloud. She sunk into the couch. Amazing how good your body felt when you were in love.
“It’s about Sandy and well...” Haley waits patiently for her sister to collect the words. She’s in no rush, she has everything she needs. “I am thinking of moving out to Calico to be with her.”
“Finally?” Haley chuckles. And her sister is in love too, how incredible!
Emily laughs, “her shop has been doing really well, and I think she could use my help out there.”
“Yes, your helpfulness is definitely why she wants you out there.” She’s sarcastic, but it barely comes out in her usual harsh tone.
Emily smiles, “I suppose I mean that it’s actually viable that it can support both of us, with a little work.”
“That’s amazing, Emily, I’m happy for you.”
“Thank you. The thing is...”
“What?”
“This house.”
“Oh. Right.”
“Are you planning on staying in the valley?”
“Um, well... I have no idea.” Haley frowned. She’d been plagued with fleeting and difficult to follow thoughts on moving ever since she’d first arrived. But now things with Abbi... She didn’t know what the future was there, or how it would tie in with the valley or not.
“You can obviously stay here as long as you need, it’s your house too after all. But if not... we should think about selling.”
“Selling!?” Haley snapped out of her reverie instantly. “What?”
Emily grimaced, rushing to say “I’m not saying we have to! It’s just, if you don’t want to stay here. Renting it out is an option, but that’s not really something I want to deal with personally.”
Haley was on her feet without realizing she’d gotten up, “this is our childhood home, how could we sell it?”
“Money, Haley. We’re not exactly made of it.”
“But things have been okay! You’ve been staying here for years without a problem.”
“The mortgage might be paid but there’s still property taxes, Haley. And you know I’ll always support you, but I can’t afford to pay for somewhere I’m not living.”
“Oh.” Haley felt like she’d been hit in the gut. How had she never thought about this? Emily had always just taken care of things, barely ever asking her to chip in. She was the spoiled younger sibling, happy to be taken care of and ready to throw a fit whenever that was threatened. She slumped back into her seat.
“I don’t mean to upset you.” Emily said sorrowfully, and she knew it took a lot out of her sister to have this conversation at all.
“How long have you been thinking about this?”
Her momentary pause told Haley it was probably a lot longer than she would like to hear. “Just a few months.”
“Since before I showed up? I’ve been holding you back, haven’t I?”
Emily brushes over that, “technically I’ve been thinking about it for years. But it only became possible recently. I’ve only hinted at it to Gus, so there’s still a lot that needs to happen before I go.”
“Yeah, two whole weeks notice, Em.” Haley rolls her eyes, “you don’t need to stretch it out for me.”
“I don’t want to leave Gus hanging, I was thinking I’d stay around until he can find someone to replace me.”
“He’ll be fine. He’s been lucky to have you for so long.” Haley pointed out. She knew it might be years before Gus could find a proper replacement for Emily, if he even could. Who in town would work there? Well, maybe she could... fill in her sister’s shoes and keep the place.
“And you?” Emily asks, her airy voice only betraying a hint of her nervousness.
“I don’t know.” She thought back to her and Abbi the night previous, the glory of it still happily pumping through her veins but now joined by the vague anxiety of the looming unknown. “I’ll figure it out.” She tried to sound confident.
Emily joined her on the couch and pulled her into a hug, “I’ll help you. We don’t need to rush.”
The community centre shocks Maru. She’d heard it was open again, that some mysterious person had fixed it up. Lewis was taking the credit, but with a twinkle in his eye that loudly proclaimed I know something you don’t.
She took one step through the door and knew this was no ordinary renovation. Some of the villagers claimed to have seen someone lugging in supplies, but accounts were foggy and unlikely at best. Magic, Maru thought, fucking magic. It had to be Ry. Suddenly the snippets of information she’d overheard between the farmer and the wizard started to make sense, not that she had any inkling as to why either of them took an interest in a rotting old building.
She hoped to find out. But whether or not she did, she found she was glad they had taken an interest. It was a phenomenal space for activity and gathering. Until now, the villagers had been relegated to outdoor gatherings and the saloon. Which were great, but not suitable for every occasion. Including a goodbye party for one beloved Penny. Despite her recent foray into the space, it went without saying that hosting a surprise party for her was better held somewhere without such troublesome memories.
Gus, Lewis and Pam were discussing the best place to put the buffet table when Maru and Seb showed up with the speakers.
“Ah! DJ Sebastian!” Pam exclaimed where she saw him.
Seb flushed at the horrible recall to his brief tween hobby. “Uhh...”
“We’ve just got a playlist of Penny’s favourites for tonight.” Maru interjected for him.
“That’ll do just fine. Think you can hook it up in the corner over there?” She pointed and Seb rushed to do it, fearing the trip down memory lane might continue.
She was helping Gus out by doing the dishes when she heard the familiar tone of the farmer's voice. "Brought the produce you wanted, and I grabbed some preserves as well, if that’s of any interest."
"Ah!” Gus exclaimed, wiping his hands on the towel he kept thrown over one shoulder.
Ry was carrying two stacked crates, Gus carefully inspecting the contents. She was barely in the doorway, and hadn’t noticed Maru.
“Just great! I’ll take the produce, mind storing the rest in the pantry? It’s getting a bit too cluttered with everything I’ve got going on.” Gus asked her, removing the top crate.
“Sure thing, smells amazing by the way.”
Gus beamed. “That would be the poppy seed cakes I’ve got in the oven. I’ve done the classic one I know Penny likes, but I’m trying out a lemon and spiced one too. I thinking I might even do a forth...”
She heard Ry laugh as she exited the kitchen, “You know I’ll sample every one.”
Maru pondered what to do for a moment. It was the first time she’d seen Ry in a week, as they had disappointingly agreed to. She finishes drying a soup pot, letting it clatter too loudly on the counter. “I’ll be right back Gus, you need me to grab you anything else?”
“No, no, we’re all set for now. But if you catch Ry, can you tell her to let Shane know there’s some hot honey set aside for him?”
“I will.” She was happy to do it, it gave her a real excuse to talk to her.
Ry was unloading her crate of preserves onto a counter in the massive pantry. She hadn’t bothered to turn the light on and was just using the illumination from the hallway. Her brow was furrowed, as if lost in deep, troubling, thoughts.
Maru pauses in the doorway, trying to discern her thoughts from her expression, before giving up and clearing her throat, “Gus wanted me to pass on that he’s got hot honey for Shane.”
Ry jumps in surprise, “damn, uhhh, yeah...” She chuckles and rubs the back of her neck “I’ll pass it along." She seems unusually awkward.
Maru takes a few steps into the room. Without the light on it feels much smaller than it is, and she’s very aware that it feels like she’s cornering her. Ry turns back to what she’d been doing – avoiding eye contact?
Maru leans against the counter, trying not to read into it. "So how have you been?" She tries not to make it sound too loaded, and crosses her arms to avoid the urge to touch her.
A flicker of something crosses Ry’s face, "fine, good, I guess. You?"
Why’d she have to bring up the most troubling topic immediately?
She bites her lip, unsure how to proceed, she opts for something she knows is easy to respond to. "I officially got into the PhD program."
Ry’s head snaps up and whatever difficult emotion had been there before is instantly replaced with pleased excitement. "You did!” She grabs Maru’s arm and squeezes affectionately. “Congratulations, that's really impressive, Maru."
"It's not that big of a deal." She feels herself become shy. Her baggage with the institution rising in her to clash with the pleasure of the praise, the touch.
"Yeah, going straight from bachelor's to PhD isn't a big deal at all." Ry drops her hand and mirrors Maru’s position of leaning against the counter, crossing her arms. The ironic half smile on her lips does even more to her than the physical contact.
"When you put it like that..." She says weakly, embarrassed by how good it feels to hear her say it.
"How're you going to celebrate?"
"I hadn't thought about that." Maru admits, she hadn’t even considered it an option.
"You should." Ry says firmly, but there was a hint of provocation in it as well. She straightens up and grabs her crate, “and let me know.” The last part sounds like a promise, though of what Maru can’t be sure. All she knows is that her face feels hot. She doesn’t remember that she’d intended to ask about the restoration of the community centre until much later.
Penny was furious, as she often was lately. Spurned, humiliated, again. She knew deeper down, maybe that wasn't really the truth. Maybe Seb had a point, and she had been using him. For driving lessons, for physical release, and then for emotional dumping... yeah, not her best moments. She could add it to the pile.
His face, full of understanding but refusing to put himself in danger, that had been awful to see. And then she'd run, crying, like the weak bitch that she was.
It made her cringe, it made her want to hurl something at a wall and to curl up into herself. She spent the week in this fume, angrily preparing herself to move. It should have made her more ready to leave, and it did, but it also made her anxious. Wasn't it just going to be more of this? Except she'd be on utterly on her own. Though maybe that wasn't different than now, she thought bitterly.
Maru had been extremely helpful throughout the moving process. She had given her a lot of the stuff from her old apartment, like a toaster and other small kitchen utensils.
"Won't you need this?"
"No, it's just clutter at my parents. And I'll be mostly staying in the valley during my program, who knows how long that will be."
Penny nodded, in no position to refuse though she kind of wanted to. Even with Maru's donations and the things she'd thrifted, she knew she would be living sparse for quite awhile. She still hadn't found a part-time job, and she was worried that even when she did find one, paying rent was going to be a challenge. Not one that she wasn't accustomed to, but one that got a little tiring, especially with school to worry about... She tried to push that out of her mind, as she tried to push Seb from her mind. It was never going to be anything, anyway. It's best forgotten, in the past. The quicker she got out of there, the quicker that could happen.
The evening before the move she was buzzing with anticipation. Her mother hadn't returned after her bus driving shift, and was in all likelihood already at the saloon. Penny tried not to feel any way about this, as she should be smart enough to expect it at this point. She assumed she would get a hungover, uncomfortably sentimental goodbye in the morning. Pam couldn't shut up about how proud she was of Penny, how destined she was for greater things (no thanks to her). It wore on her nerves. Thinking about what Pam would do without her was another thing she was trying not to think about.
Maru showed up with a spice rack in hand, "do you want this?"
"I don't know. I don't remember if there was already one there..." She squinted and tried to picture the small kitchen. She was moving in with a roommate, another student from school, both of them showing up just in time to begin the semester. They had sorted out the basics of who was bringing what, but it was hard to keep track of the little things.
"I can just take it back with me if there is." Maru said, adding it to the small pile of boxes and furniture. Robin and Maru were going to be accompanying Penny for the move the next morning. They both insisted they wanted to, and Penny decided it was easier to believe them.
"Sure. I was going to make dinner soon, do you want to stay?" Penny offered.
"Oh, um... I was going to wait. Why don't we just go over your checklist and then head to the saloon?"
Penny shook her head, "I have fresh produce my mom will never use if I leave it. I don't want it to go to waste."
"Oh, okay. Why don't I take care of it?" Maru offered instantly.
Penny raised an eyebrow. Maru wasn't the most enthusiastic chef in the world, not that she was incapable, it just wasn't something she usually offered up. "You don't have to do that just because I'm leaving."
"Oh come on! I want to to do it." She said emphatically.
"Fine. But make it quick, I'm starving."
"Of course, boss.”
Penny tried not to smile and went back to her packing. She went over her checklist for the 400th time, all the while certain that Maru was desperately googling a recipe. She heard no noise of cooking coming from the kitchen. When she was about to go and take over, there was a knock at the door. She expected bad news, or something unwelcome. Sam back to visit?
It was Jas.
“Is everything okay?" It was mildly alarming, she’d never showed up like this before.
The gawky teen fidgeted, unable to hold her gaze, "Vincent wants to show you something, actually."
"What?"
Jas shrugged. "You can follow me."
Penny exchanged a glance with Maru, who had joined her by the door. She shrugged and both of them slipped into their shoes and followed Jas outside.
She led them north, walking quickly and just far enough ahead of them that it was difficult to ask questions.
"What the hell could it be..." Penny mumbled so only Maru could hear. She was remembering a particularly disgusting terrarium Vincent had tried to give her one year, but that had been long ago.
"Only one way to find out." Maru said with a smile.
Jas got to the door of the community center and beckoned them impatiently forward. It was dark inside, and in the fading light it looked imposing, almost ominous. When she got to the door, Jas swung it open and let Penny step through first.
"Surprise!" A loud chorus cheered in unison.
Penny nearly jumped out of her skin, clasping her face with her hands as bright lights illuminated a crowd of people inside. "What!" She turned wide eyed to Maru and Jas, who were both grinning ridiculously and clearly in on the surprise. "You knew?" She exclaimed to Maru, who just continued smiling.
Pam emerged from the crowd and took Penny by the arms. She looked down into the smiling, weathered face of her mother, who's eye makeup was already starting to run. "Penny girl, we're all so proud of you, most of all me." She pulled her stunned daughter into a tight hug. "You deserve more than anything I could ever give ya, and I'm just so happy you're making something of yourself." She had tears in her eyes, and despite herself, so did Penny.
Ry and Shane had arrived late, both looking haggard from whatever labour they’d rushed to complete, or maybe just from having to amp themselves up for a social interaction after a long hard day of work. They immediately folded into the festivities, putting aside their exhaustion. Maru kept trying to extricate herself from conversations to talk to Ry, but every time she tried to cross the room, she was pulled into something else.
Pam’s eyes were teary. She was as moved by the evening as Penny was, if not more so. She spent most of it walking between the villagers and thanking them for coming, bragging about her daughter. Now she found Maru and pulled her gently aside, “thanks for all your help, kid. Lord knows my baby girl deserves a good night, and I so appreciate everyone coming together for her.”
Maru didn’t quite know what to say. Pam had never really spoken to her directly like this. Growing up, most of her knowledge of Pam was filtered through Penny, or the rest of the community. She couldn’t remember them ever having a one-on-one.
“We all love her.” Maru said, feeling kind of stupid, though it was the truth. “I think she’s so happy you’ve put this together.” Pam’s eyes threatened to overflow and she pulled Maru into a tight hug.
“Bless you, sweet girl.” Pam sniffled, before hobbling off to find a tissue.
Maru exhaled, feeling a little stunned. She turned to meet eyes with Ry, who was on her own now, leaning against the wall.
“Looks like this was a success.” The farmer said when she approached.
Maru couldn’t help but smile, “yeah, she had no idea.”
“Sorry I missed the surprise part.”
“It’s all good. Chance of heart attack raises significantly the more overwhelming the shock.”
Ry smiled but looked at her shoes.
“I’ve been meaning to ask you something,” Maru began. “This was you, right?” She gestured around the space.
Ry’s eyebrows shot up before she chuckled and lowered her voice. “Maybe ask me later?”
“Okay.” Maru looked over her shoulder, nervously trying to discern if anyone was in earshot. “Maybe we could-” She begins to say, turning back to Ry.
But she’s already in the middle of saying "I got you something,” and was reaching in to the inner pocket of her jacket.
Maru’s sentence is replaced with "what? Why?"
“Congratulations, future doctor." She handed Maru a small packet wrapped in brown paper.
Maru stared at it, her mind having difficulty coming up with a reply. Eventually, "this better not be another diamond."
Ry laughed, "nah, I'm done with rocks for the time being."
Maru gingerly untied the package to reveal another packet, this one white with an illustration of a big juicy strawberry on it, the perfect shade of red.
"What--"
"It's just seeds. I'll plant them for you next spring and you can count on a steady supply." She says it sheepishly, like she’s kind of embarrassed but trying not to be.
Maru was stunned.
"It's kinda dumb I know, best I could do with short notice."
Maru shakes her head, “I used to find wild strawberries around the valley when I was a kid, some of them on the abandoned farm. It was my favourite part of spring.” She hadn’t thought about it in a long time. It had been years since she’d been in the valley during strawberry season.
Ry seems caught off guard by the context her own gift connects to. Of course she hadn’t known that story. But she had noticed Maru’s favourite fruit, or asked about it, or made a very lucky guess. Whatever it was, she’d put in effort and thought, like she always did.
“Some of those plants are still around the farm. Those are yours too, if you want.” An instant promise, and Maru knows she means it.
She doesn’t know what to say. When she looks into Ry’s eyes – who was steadily meeting her gaze now – she knows that something has changed between them. And it wasn’t just that the air had become an electrified current. “Thank you,” she breathes.
“Maru! There you are!” Her dad calls, his face glowing with the excitement it only ever had when he was deep in science talk. He gestures for her to come towards him. “I was just telling the mayor about your new program. He wants to hear more about how you’re tying the valley into your studies!”
“Um, sure dad.” She swallows, looking back once more at Ry and trying her best to say everything she felt with her eyes.
Seb steals off early in the night. He had wanted to participate in the celebration how he could, to help Penny have a night she deserved, but he was worried his presence might potentially ruin it. They hadn’t interacted at all during the hour or so he’d been there, but he knew she’d seen him.
Half out of wanting to be gone from the crowd and half out of cowardice, he’d pulled his hood over his head and sneaked out without saying anything. He and Penny had made no exchange since breaking it off. There was guilt in his gut, despite believing in his decision. Made worse by Lu’s presence and how well he and them got along. How he couldn’t say anything to Luann about it without exposing Penny directly against her wishes. The uncomfortable manoeuvring this forced him into. It was too stressful. He had to leave.
“Seb!” He was only around the corner, slinking off into the shadows of night like he’d so often done in his youth. He’s surprised when he turns to see Penny rushing around the corner, even though he’d recognized her voice. Her pace slows considerably, but she still moves towards him. She looks flushed from laughter. “Thank you for coming.” She pauses now, expression becoming more serious.
“Of course.” He’s not sure what else to say.
“And thank you for being a friend.” She steps forward and pulls him into a brief hug.
She’s already pulling away by the time he can put together a sentence.“Good luck at school. I hope it goes well.”
She’s walking back towards the party. Laughing, she says over her shoulder “me too.”
Penny reenters the community centre, feeling slightly more sombre than she had before she’d left it. She’d known Seb was there the whole time, painfully aware of his presence and trying not to show it. She knew it was his speakers her favourite music was blasting out of, and she’d known he was going to leave without saying anything well before he’d done it.
The surprise party had uplifted her spirits more than she would ever admit to later, but in the moment she allowed it too. She could enjoy being spoiled for one night of her life, even though it might make her cringe later on. Gus had made all her favourite food, and everyone was excited to see her and they were even giving her gifts. Robin had made her a sturdy set of shelves, Maru had built her an adjustable reading lamp, Gus and Ry had collaborated on a basket of both staple and specialty food products, and Alex had given her a special edition copy of one her favourite classics. “You can’t give me this!” She’d exclaimed when she’d realized what it was. The most she and Alex had ever interacted had been sitting quietly in the library together.
He grinned, “yes, I can. I just want someone else to appreciate it properly.” She hugged him tightly, stunned by the gesture.
She’d felt invisible for so long in this town, only to realize maybe that hadn’t been true.
It was getting to her head, and that was why she followed Sebastian. Wasn’t it better to make amends?
Their exchange was kind of awkward, but she was glad she’d done it. It didn’t make her that much less sad about it, but at least it felt like she was making way for healing, instead of festering.
When she came back in Gunther approached her and handed her a thin green velvet box.
“What’s this?” She popped it open to reveal a gold bracelet with a brilliant emerald inlaid at its centre. She gasped.
Gunther leaned in and spoke quietly, “your mother doesn’t want you to know, but this is from her.”
“What?” Penny asked, speechless.
He nodded, “don’t tell her I told you. I just couldn’t have you believe it was from me alone, as I think it’s a bit too extravagant of a gift for an old man like me to give a young woman without being... weird.”
Penny laughed softly, but she could barely muster it, she was too blown away.
“How could she afford anything like this?” She said absently.
“Oh, I wouldn’t worry about it too much. The valley has a strange way of turning up many precious things.” His eyes gleamed mysteriously and he tipped her big blue hat towards her.
She glanced around the room, landing on her mother, who’s head instantly swivelled towards the ceiling, looking at it with much more intensity than the plain wooden beams asked for. Penny shook her head, smiling to herself, “thanks for telling me, Gunther.”
Later that evening, she was getting air outside with Haley and Abbi. “You’ll be back for holidays, right?” Abbi asked her. She was sitting on top of a picnic table, Haley beside her with an arm slung around her shoulder that Penny thought Abbi was trying to act like she didn’t notice.
“The big ones, at least.” She pulled her sweater tight around her, already starting to shiver. “I don’t think I’ll mind missing out on the Flower dance.”
“What! That’s the biggest one!” Haley exclaimed in bewilderment.
Both Penny and Abbi burst out laughing.
“It’s the oldest tradition in the valley!” Haley said, glancing between them, though she was smiling now.
“Yes, you being queen every year is very important to the well being of Pelican town.” Abbi joked, but Penny thought she saw a softness in her eyes.
Behind them they heard the entrance to the community centre swing open, the noise from inside proving the party was still lively. Jodi was exiting, calling over her shoulder, “seriously Vincent, it’s a school night.”
A few moments later Vincent appeared, “I need to say goodbye to Miss Penny! She can’t leave withou-” He locked eyes with Penny across the lawn, his face instantly turning red.
“She’s right here, Vincent. Tell her what you wanted to say.”
When Vincent’s mouth seemed glued shut, Jodi sighed and approached Penny herself. She put a hand on her shoulder, “truly Penny, you’ve been a life saver for us. I can’t thank you enough.”
“It’s been my pleasure, Jodi.” And she wasn’t lying, she would truly miss those afternoons with Vincent and Jas. She smiled at him over Jodi’s shoulder, “don’t forget to do your math homework, okay?” Vincent made a sour face, though he still seemed unable to speak.
Jodi shook her head, “alright, if you’re not going to say anything it’s time to go home.”
As they were walking away, Vincent turned abruptly and yelled, “you taught me everything I know, Miss Penny!!”
Penny laughed for the thousandth time that night. She wasn’t sure that was saying much, but she’d take the compliment.
As promised, Maru and Robin helped Penny move by packing everything in the truck. With all the gifts she had received, the packing job proved a little more complicated than they had anticipated. Penny was visibly bristling with nerves the entire time. Unloading was more simple, and almost went too quickly.
The goodbye was awkward and melancholy. Robin disappeared to give them a moment, and the two friends stared at each other, not knowing exactly how to part ways. It was a mirror of when Maru had first moved away years ago. Maru held back from saying how weird it was going to be not having her in the valley. She settled for, “I’m going to miss you.”
Penny hugged her tightly, choked with emotion. “I’m glad you came back,” she whispered into her ear.
“I am too.” Maru’s voice was cracking with more emotion than she’d anticipated.
It was the first time she’d be in the valley while Penny wasn’t. The whole ride back home, she was overcome with a strange feeling, almost of regret. All the things they hadn’t done together. All the things they had, and wouldn’t be doing anymore. Even though they’d gone through it before, Maru had never been the one left behind.
Abbi hadn’t told anyone about her and Haley, though Seb and Emily obviously knew. She’d avoided asking Haley, but she figured Alex must know too, which would mean Shane knew, which probably meant Ry knew... It had been a long time since she had worried about being the subject of town gossip.
Her mother had inquired into her apparent reparations with Haley, about how she was spending a lot of time at her place. It made her break out in a cold sweat. She didn’t know why. She had plenty of experience disappointing her parents. Yet now, all she could do was give her mom a vague answer. Blame it on Emily’s potential departure, make something up about how they were both job hunting, the uncertainties of life...
Haley was lying in Abbi's bed, the first time she’d been over since everything had changed. Abbi was nervous about having her there, but today Haley was the one with reason to avoid home. Sandy was visiting Emily, and listening to them talk about their move all day was a little grating on her nerves. She would go back for the big dinner planned tonight, work up some courage before then. In conversation with Abbi, they’d mostly ignored the housing issue. Too wrapped up in each other to form cohesive thoughts. "Well you were about to move, weren't you?" Haley had teased once.
Abbi scoffed, "I was running away from you."
Haley pretended to gasp, "oh really? I had no idea."
Devolving into kissing again.
Abbi was still self conscious with her. Blushing and unable to make eye contact in public, nervous of being too obvious, nervous of saying too much, of being too fast. Her internal circuit threatening to overflow and shut down her brain at any moment.
Haley seemed to have a better grasp on herself, though she was known to be overcome with a fit of giggles from time to time, and sometimes smiled so much she said it made her cheeks hurt.
But now she wasn’t smiling. She was sitting on Abbi’s bed, holding open a magazine but clearly not reading it.
Abbi, folding her laundry, threw a ball of socks at Haley's head.
"Hey!"
"You seem miserable." Abbi pointed out.
"And throwing things at me is such a good solution."
"What's up?"
Haley swung her legs over the side of the bed so she was sitting up, "moving. Ugh! I just don't know what to do and I know I'm holding Em back."
"I doubt she sees it that way."
"I don't know..."
Abbi focused hard on folding a t-shirt correctly. "What if I was thinking I might take Emily's job?"
"Work at the saloon?" She could feel Haley staring at her.
Abbi shrugged, "yeah. I could use something else to do. I'm up late anyway."
Haley thought about it, "it's not a bad idea. Except I think I need to work there too and I doubt Gus will hire us both."
"I can work there and cover your costs." Abbi's gaze never left the shirt.
Haley scoffed, "okay, sugar mommy."
Abbi was blushing furiously, "that's not what I'm... it's just an option, ok!" She threw the shirt on her pile of neatly folded clothing, and it caused the entire thing to topple onto the floor. She groaned and started over again, but was glad for something to do with her hands.
"I can't have you pay for somewhere you don't live." Haley stated.
"Well, I do kinda want to move out of here..." She mumbled, still blushing, still not making eye contact.
"Wow Abbi, didn't take you long to transition into a Uhaul lesbian, did it?"
"I'm just trying to think of solutions!" She exclaimed, tossing all the laundry back into the bin.
"I know, I appreciate it." Haley grabbed Abbi by the wrist and guided her towards the bed so they were sitting together. She placed a hand on her chin. “I really appreciate it, Abbi... and... I really want it too.”
Abbi looked into her eyes now. “You do?”
“Yes, I do.” She leaned in and pecked her on the lips, “but you know its way too fast.”
Abbi sighed, “I know... I just... I don’t know how it’s going to go down here when my parents find out.”
Haley grimaced, “you can stay with me, if it’s too hard here. I didn’t mean to sound like I was closing the door on that option.”
“But you’re right, it’s way too fast...” Abbi admitted.
“I just don’t know what the right thing is.” Haley frowned.
“Maybe I can get Robin to build me a cabin on Ry’s farm and work there. Or maybe Seb can move there and I can stay in his room. Or maybe Alex can move in with Shane and I move into his place.” Abbi had spilled over all the options a thousand times already, knowing all of them were just wishful thinking.
“Or maybe your parents are okay with it... I know they like me.”
Abbi frowned now. It wasn’t the first time Haley had pointed this out. Still, Abbi found it hard to trust them. “Even if they are okay with it, I don’t think it’s great for me and them being stuck under the same roof... things were easier between us when I was just coming back for the holidays.”
Haley wrapped an arm around Abbi and leaned her chin on her shoulder “we’ll figure it out.” Abbi puts a hand on Haley’s knee, relaxing into the physical contact. Why had she ever thought running away would be better?
Caroline knocks, but in typical mom fashion, opens the door without waiting for a response.
Abbi jerks out of Haley’s grasp instinctively, and realizing what she’s just done makes it all 1000x more obvious, she tries to make it seem like she’s just knocked over her laundry and was rushing to pick it up. Face bent so her hair covers her red cheeks, she says, “what’s up, mom?”
“Oh, um, I hope I’m not interrupting anything. I just wanted to see if Haley would like to stay for dinner?”
Haley puts on her sweetest smile, “I can’t tonight. Sandy’s visiting, so Emily has a big dinner planned for us. Thanks for offering though!”
“Are you joining them, Abbi?”
“Uhh no, no...” She says without thinking. Haley raises a brow and she instantly realizes her mistake. She bites her lip.
“So you’ll join us for dinner?” Her mom follows up.
“Yep!” She says, her voice too high and cheeks flaming. She tries to tell Haley she’s sorry with her eyes, but her face is a mask.
Haley stands, “I actually should get going, Em might need my help.” She walks out of the room without looking back at Abbi. As she passes Caroline she says, “lovely to see you,” and disappears.
Abbi’s brain swirls in disbelief – She would leave her hanging like this? After everything she’d just said? Was she that mad about dinner? Her stomach tied in knots. Yes, of course she was.
“Abbi.” Her mom was still standing in the doorway.
“Yes?”
“Is something going on?”
“What do you mean?”
“You seem nervous.”
“Nothing’s going on! I’m just folding laundry.”
“You’re acting like you used to after you would sneak out and thought I didn’t know.”
“I am not!”
“Well okay then.” Her mother says flatly, clearly disbelieving. “We’re having dinner at 6. Why don’t you help your father in the shop until then?”
“Fine!” She says immediately, dropping her laundry and then wincing to herself. Immediate acceptance of helping out in the shop had been an admission of guilt ever since she’d turned twelve. She feels her mother’s eyes boring into her as she walks down the hallway. When she’s about to the close the door the shop behind her, she hears an audible sigh.
At least her dad was too far up his own ass to ever say anything to her.
This remains true for two hours.
As they were stocking the cereal shelf, Pierre mentions causally “I saw Haley leaving earlier. She seemed upset.”
“Did she?” Abbi grumbled. She’d texted her, saying she was sorry about dinner and that she’d panicked. Haley hadn’t responded. She’d lied when she said Emily was making it – Haley had been planning to cook, and she’d told Abbi about it a week previously. She’d really fucked up, and was trying to think of an escape plan that wouldn’t end in a blow up.
“You know it’s not healthy to hold in secrets.”
Abbi froze.
“I should know.” Her dad grumbled, ominously.
“Dad... what are you saying?”
“You know I’m not your biological father. Everyone knows. We just never say it outright.”
Abbi’s mouth fell open in shock. She knew. Of course she knew, but she’d never heard either of her parents admit it.
Her dad continued, “your mother was in love with that crazy hermit from a young age. Too young, if you ask me. He reciprocated, once. Yoba knows why. She got pregnant... she was so terrified of what everyone would think. He wouldn’t help her. And her and I... well, everyone had been gossiping about us being childhood sweethearts since I can remember. It was easy to make them believe we’d been engaged in secret.”
“ What? I thought she cheated on you!” Abbi blurted without thinking.
“Yes, that’s what everyone thinks.” Pierre’s mouth was in a hard line.
“Sorry dad... I didn’t mean to say it like that.”
“She hoped you’d look more like her. That nobody would notice. But it doesn’t matter how many of your features are your mothers when you’ve got that hair...” The bitterness in his voice had faded into exhaustion.
“Why would you ever agree to it?” Abbi asked.
He scowled, “you know this shop was in your mother’s family. I wanted it. It was that or being forced to leave to find work. It’s not a noble reason... I wanted security. I wanted a family. This was the best option.”
He was being a little too honest for Abbi’s comfort, and he could undoubtedly see it on her face. His expression softened, “I do love your mother, and I believe she loves me. We’ve built a good life together. I know I haven’t been the best surrogate father... but at least I’m here. That’s more than that lavender bearded asshole can say.”
Abbi tried to recover from her shock and failed. “I don’t know how to take this.”
“You don’t have to say anything. None of this is your fault. We love you, Abigail. I just wish I hadn’t let your mother’s fear of what other’s think effect you so much...”
“I don’t care what people think.”
“You say that, but I know you do.” Her mouth opened to defend herself but before she could he continued, “and I know you’re annoyed that I’m saying that, and you know that’s only because I’m right. So instead of fighting me, why don’t you go after your girlfriend?”
Maru doesn’t realize it’s getting dark until it already is. How late had it been when she’d arrived at the pond? She had a flashlight packed for moments like this, but it wasn’t ideal. Finding her way out of the woods in broad daylight had sometimes proven a challenge.
Feeling the darkness closing in, she tries not to get spooked, which was a lot harder for her now that magic was her legitimate subject of study. She pulled out her phone. Luckily she still had service this far out.
R: Are you free tonight?
Her chest clenches. It had been sent over 3 hours ago.
Her mind starts scrambling. Was it too late to respond affirmative? It would likely take her over an hour just to hike out of the woods, and she was hardly in any condition to go on a date now. Not to mention, she wasn’t exactly sure of her way back. She begins frantically searching through her gear for her compass, knowing she would have packed it, but then drops it because she probably needs to respond to the text first.
M: I’m in Cindersap, sorry I didn’t see this earlier
R: Kinda late to be in the woods?
M: Didn’t mean to be
R: Are you lost?
M: Not exactly.
Ry calls her immediately.
Maru takes a deep breath before answering, a little too chipper sounding for someone lost in the dark woods. “Hey!”
“Are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine. Just lost track of time.”
“Where are you now, can you see the tower?”
“Yes! Wait no... that’s a tree. I’m near the pond, with that statue?”
“Damn, what are you doing so deep in there?” Maru could hear the curiosity in her voice.
“Collecting pond samples...”
She hears Ry laugh, “yeah, of course you were. You want help finding your way out?”
“I have my compass...” It wasn’t a yes or a no. She didn’t want to seem helpless, but she also didn’t want to refuse.
“I can probably speed up the process. I’m guessing you skipped dinner?”
Maru’s stomach growled in response to the question. “um...”
Ry chuckles, “I’ve got you covered. Just stay where you are and I’ll be there soon.”
She does as she’s told. The darkness thickening around her, making it feel as if the beam of her flashlight is shrinking. It’s so unnerving she almost feels she should run away, but she resists.
The pond, underneath a break in canopy, glistens with faint starlight. She approaches it, just for the added brightness, though it is hardly any improvement.
She kneels by the waters edge, investigating it much as she had earlier in the day. She couldn’t understand why it was so cold. Much colder than the air, it felt almost as if it should be frozen. She let her fingers skim across the surface and observed its strange lack of rippling. She didn’t know what to make of it.
She was leaning very far over the edge when she heard rustling behind her. Startled, she slips forward, unable to catch herself. Bracing herself for the ice cold plunge, she is shocked to be greeted by water warmer than the air. She finds her footing, coming up gasping, submerged up to her shoulders. It is so overwhelmingly strange that her panic at being immersed in a pond, alone in the darkness, subsides to wonderment and perplexity. She’s still standing there, dumbfounded, when Ry appears a moment later.
Her appearance does nothing to regulate her mind.
Ry was emitting an impossible glow. Illuminating a circle with a 15 foot radius, defying physics in its lack of shadows. Maru can’t identify the source.
“How are you glowing like that?” She asks, feeling the awestruck wonder of the dual temperature of the water deepening.
Ry grins down at her, and pulls a golden ring from her finger. Its centre is made of light, but looking directly at it did not affect the aperture of her eyes. The illumination was perfectly even and equally gentle everywhere it touched, including its source.
Ry tosses the ring at her without warning, and Maru, not expecting it, fumbles. It sinks to the bottom of the pond, and in turn it illuminates the water and the surrounding area in its soft glow. Suddenly, there is no eeriness left in this space.
When she looks back to Ry, she sees she’s kicking her boots off and pulling her hoodie over her head.
“What are you doing?”
Ry’s answer is her signature half grin, and suddenly Maru’s tongue is glued to the roof of her mouth. Ry pulls her shirt up over her head, revealing her toned body. Her pants come off next, and then she dives head first into the water, wearing only an athletic bra and underwear.
She surfaces, laughing, and then turning to float on her back. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been in here,” she hums, sounding relaxed and pleased.
Maru, though feeling more perplexed than she’d ever thought possible, unconsciously decides she has to put that aside. Something else was taking precedence. She tries to pull her hoodie over her head, but it was soaked and suctioned to her. Eventually she gets it loose and wades over to the edge of the pond, laying it out to dry. It’s easier to get out of her loose work pants. She doesn’t let herself hesitate with her shirt, pulling it over her head and placing it beside her other clothes. Matching Ry’s level of disrobed, she takes a deep breath and turns to face her. She’s shivering faintly, but it’s not from the cold.
Ry’s still floating on her back, staring up at the stars through the break in the canopy. At a complete loss for words, Maru joins her in the floating.
Was she dreaming? How could she not be?
She blinks as if this would provide mental clarity. The water holds her and the stars twinkle down on them. Ry was so close, and so unclothed.
Everything had already changed between them. It had changed multiple times before and it was only bound to keep changing. There was already no going back. So why not just go a little further?
Maru takes a deep breath and lets her feet sink to the squish of sand below. Standing, she turns to see that Ry has done the same.
The distance closes.
The kiss is tentative at first, gentle. All the confidence Maru had evoked to get her to standing, suddenly revealing itself as a forced conjuration and evaporating, knees going weak with only the wavering support of water to hold her up. Ry is unresistant, kissing her back with the same delicate pressure, as if both of them have been weakened by the intensity, the long anticipation of this moment. Ry releases a sigh so serene and unexpected from her, that Maru knows instantly she has gained access to something previously hidden. She places a hand on Maru's jaw, the other on the small of her back, holding her in place without demand. They open their mouths at the same time, tongues touching in gentle provocation.
A shiver runs up Maru’s spine. She feels almost as if the water is tightening around them, wrapping them together in the way they’d been so unable to do themselves. She's never had a kiss so delicate. Never quaked underneath a touch like this.
She lifts a leg and wraps it around Ry’s hip. The new distribution of weight causing Ry to drift backwards, until her back is supported by the edge of the pond. The kiss never breaks.
Maru’s hands tangle in Ry’s wet curls as the farmer holds her firmly in place. Her skin is so warm, even warmer that the water of the pond.
They’re both panting when they finally come up for air. “Fuck,” Ry says, before she gently tugs on Maru’s earlobe with her teeth, causing her to gasp.
“We should have done this a long time ago.” Maru states, only a little breathlessly.
“I know.” Ry says against her neck, “I didn’t trust myself.”
“Why?”
She was kissing along her collarbone now. “I guess I’m not used to being so visible. Having romantic attachments in a small community.”
“But with Haley?”
Ry stops what she’s doing, straightens to look her in the eye, searching for why she’d bring that up now.
“I’m not jealous.” Maru assures her, “but that wasn’t anonymous.”
“You’re right, but I thought she was only staying in town for a couple weeks. It was always going to be temporary.”
“It’s not like that with me?”
Ry hesitates, and she looks genuinely unsure for a moment. “You know it’s not,” she says softly, and Maru feels the shiver in her spine running downward now. “I’m way more nervous with you.”
Maru laughed.
“What?” Ry flicked water on her playfully.
“Haley’s a model. I’m-”
“Brilliant. A genius. And absolutely irresistible in pink,” she ran her finger underneath the strap of Maru’s bralette, her nervousness dissolved. “Though you looked pretty good in that hoodie too. And in your overalls.” Her hand was gliding down her body now, “just in general, really.”
She felt herself heat up again, both aroused and shy of the praise.
“You’re one to talk.”
“hm, I’m no genius.”
“You are in your own way. With people, I think.”
“I’m half recluse.” She joked.
“That doesn’t factor in. You always show up. You see people how they need to be seen.”
Ry quietly scoffs, but then she’s biting back a smile, and for a moment seems visibly flustered. Before she’d left on the expedition to the island, Maru never would have imagined she could get this type of reaction from her.
She leans in to kiss her again, letting her lips just barely trace over Ry’s. She feels the breath of Ry’s sigh on her lips, and instinctively Maru tightens her legs around her hips. She licks across her lips before gently pushing them apart with her tongue. Ry was gripping her tightly around her waist, pulling their bodies flush. The slower and the gentler they kissed, the quicker her pulse raced, the more sensitive her body became. When one of Ry’s hands slips under the back of her bralette and started moving forward, it was almost too much to bear.
A growl from Maru’s stomach interrupts them. Ry laughs against her lips, “you need to eat.”
“Maybe...” Maru says weakly, not wanting to impose, not wanting to stop what they’re doing.
“We should head out, before the air gets too cold.” Ry points out, and now that she’s said it Maru can feel the chill air beginning to prick her skin. Soon, it would be nearly impossible to get out of the warm water.
Ry ducks under the surface to collect her ring from the bottom of the pond. When she resurfaces, she slips it on her middle finger.
“You’re going to have to tell my how that works.”
“I have no idea.”
“And why does this pond feel freezing, but then when you’re in it its warm?”
Ry grinned, “No clue. You’re going to have to investigate for your thesis.” She climbed out of the pond and gives Maru a hand up. “I still need to feed you.”
“You don’t need to do anything.”
“I’m trying to take you back to mine.”
“Oh.”
“Is that okay?” Ry’s drying herself off with her shirt, amused half smile on her lips because she clearly knows the answer.
“Yes.” Maru touches her warm cheeks. “My clothes are soaked...”
Ry pulls a blanket out of her backpack before Maru can finish her thought. She tosses it to her, “I thought you might be cold out here.”
“You’re so prepared.”
Ry just smirks.
As they begin to head away from the pond, their way illuminated by the impossible glow of the ring, Maru remembers something. “And how did you renovate the community centre?”
“I’m afraid all my answers are only going to give you a lot more questions.”
“That’s science.” Maru shrugs.
Ry smiles, taking her hand. “I’ll tell you what I know.”
When Abbi shows up, Haley knows there’s a story. But she’s too busy to hear it. They exchange a few perfunctory words and Abbi, sheepishly, helps her finish making dinner.
Haley was nervous about it. She had been trying to learn how to cook better food since moving back to the valley, especially since quitting her job. Her survival eating of the past, that consisted of way too many “healthy glow” soups and juices, and nowhere near enough calories, was no longer acceptable to her.
Sitting down at the table Haley fretted, “It’s probably terrible...”
“Don’t be ridiculous, darling, it smells wonderful!” Sandy offers, as she takes her seat beside Emily.
“Yes it does!” Abbi concurred.
“That’s only because you helped,” Haley glowered, though it was mostly in jest.
“Oh come on, Haley, give yourself some credit.” Emily smiled gently at her, filling her plate with beet and greens salad. There was salmon Alex had taught her to make, and potatoes and carrots roasted in herbs.
“Is this too many root vegetables? Does any of this actually go together?” Haley worried out loud, putting her fork back down before she’d even taken a bite.
“Yes! Haley, it’s good!” Everyone assured her.
She took a few anxious bites, “oh, I definitely overdid the fish...” She muttered. Abbi shook her head, and Emily patted her on the shoulder.
The rest of the meal passed with Haley unable to accept that she’d successfully cooked anything, and everyone else enjoying it. To finish it off, Abbi poured them all some fresh non-alcoholic cider she’d got from Luann.
“Okay, well, this is good.” Haley mused into her glass. Abbi rolled her eyes at her, but she was smiling.
When Sandy and Emily began doing the dishes, Abbi and Haley sat together on the couch.
Abbi took Haley’s hand, “I’m sorry I’m so messy.” Her eyes were cast down. “I don’t want to be like this... I shouldn’t have acted that way in front of my mom.”
Haley had mostly forgiven her already, knowing it wasn’t Abbi’s fault she was in an uncomfortable situation, but a small part of her was wondering, was she ignoring red flags? “What excuse did you make?” She asks, a little stiffly.
“I didn’t... My dad opened up to me about some crazy family drama... but I don’t want to make this about me.”
“As if you can just drop something like that and except me not to ask???”
Abbi exhaled, and then repeated to Haley everything her dad had told her.
When she finished, Haley was stunned. “Abbi, holy shit, that’s a lot to lay on you all of a sudden. Are you okay?”
“I already knew some of it... but yeah, I don’t know how to feel. Part of me wishes I didn’t know... part of me is relieved he finally acknowledged it.”
“I totally get you needed some space from them after hearing that.”
“Well... he only told me because of you.”
“What?” Haley whispered, “I swear I didn’t say anything.”
“I know, he could just tell. He said having secrets over your head isn’t good for you...”
“Does that mean..?”
Abbi shrugged, “He said I should go after you. I don’t know if it means he approves, I don’t know if he’s just trying to offload his guilt of being self absorbed throughout my whole life – since conception apparently – onto my mom. I don’t know if it means my mom will ever be okay with it... I don’t know.”
Haley pulled her into her arms, Abbi quickly releasing herself into the embrace and resting her head against her chest. Haley stroked her fingers through Abbi’s hair, relishing the feeling of having her close.
“It doesn’t feel so bad when I’m here with you.” Abbi whispered, and Haley’s heart did a flip.
“I love you.” She whispered back, without thinking.
Instantly, she felt Abbi go rigid and her mind started to spin.
Hadn’t it been obvious?
Hadn’t Abbi said she wanted to live with her just hours ago?
But they were only a few weeks into this new dimension of their relationship, maybe she shouldn’t have rushed her... had she lost her mind? Was she becoming a crazy girlfriend so quickly?
“I can feel your heart beat going crazy.” Abbi whispered back, her ear still pressed to Haley’s chest.
“I’m sorry, I-”
Abbi sat up and looked into her eyes, “I’ve been falling in love with you for months.”
Haley felt the blood rushing back into her head as quickly as it had left. The effect was dizzying.
Abbi kissed her sweetly on the mouth and then said “I’m so glad I’m here.”
Haley couldn’t stop the tears from spilling over. How had she ended up here? She had no job and might lose her house, an anxiety disorder that was slowly on the mend, a best friend that lived next door, a surrogate grandmother in the next town, a family in Emily and Sandy (who loved her to the moon), and a girlfriend who loved her back.
“Haley?” Abbi asked, a slight worry in her voice as she brushed her tears away for her.
“I just feel so much better.” She croaked, “oh Abbi, I have so much to be grateful for.”
Abbi smiled, tears in her eyes now too, “I’m so happy you realize that.”
They were both slick with sweat when they finally took a break, and had been for some time. It took them forever to actually get to it. Just like it had taken them forever to get to this point.
Ry took her time with everything. She gave Maru dry clothes and fed her dinner, explaining to her everything she knew about the community centre. The junimos, the foul concoction she’d had to drink to understand them, and the strange and endless errands, until one day, they did end. She answered all Maru’s questions to the best of her ability. And then they had kissed again. Their dry clothes came off one by one. All of it was tantalizingly slow.
Just the way Ry looked at her sent surges of pleasure through her body. She could tell she was more experienced, but Maru didn’t let her take control the entire time. She needed to show her she didn’t have to do everything, that she could let someone take care of her. She thought this would be difficult, but Ry melted beneath her touch as easily as she did hers.
It was almost time for Ry to get up when they finally stopped. They were in bed with their arms slung over each other. “Fuck it, I’m taking the day off.” Ry mumbled against Maru’s hair, on the verge of sleep.
“You earned it.” Maru mumbled back, equally heavy with sleep and profound satisfaction.
“So have you decided how you want to celebrate yet?”
“Isn’t that what we just did?”
Ry’s quiet laugh was the last thing either of them heard before sleep overtook them.
Ry signed off her note for Maru and slipped quietly out the front door. She couldn’t take the whole day off, of course, but she hoped Maru was still asleep when she got back. Nothing would be better than to slip back into the warm covers with her... Even so, it was the perfect fall day. The air was crisp, the sky clear and sunny.
Shane scowled at her from across the animal paddock, “what are you so happy about?”
She climbed over the fence, not even trying to suppress her grin, “life can be good sometimes.”