The unfamiliar sound of the fan buzzed comfortingly overhead. Luna had insisted they leave the fan on during the night– even the idea of sweating in her sleep disgusted her. At barely 6 am, the humidity was oppressive; what little wind had found its way to Castanet had disappeared without a trace. And without that breath of wind to slacken the heavy weight of the damp air, the heat was becoming more and more intolerable. Even though Gra'mama and Candace believed Luna deserved name brands and labels and a glamorous big city life– Paris, Tokyo, New York!– neither actually wanted Luna to leave. They had made a lot of concessions and changes for Luna's sake, and, despite the expense she could never allow herself when she slept in her room alone, this one change Candace easily capitulated to and with none too little relief. She had never liked the heat, far preferring winter with its snowy days, brisk chilly air, and hot cocoa evenings.
Across the large room, Luna grumbled and turned over in her sleep. With a fond smile, Candace swung out of bed and started her morning routine. A short lukewarm shower (to save the hot water for Gra'mama and Luna), then turning on the kettle for tea and fixing up toast with blueberry jam. Her current novel, an embarrassingly trashy romance Luna had brought from the city, sat unopened by her plate. While the toast grew cold and the steam dissipated from the cup in her hands, Candace stared out the window at the sunshine breaking over the sea.
It had been spring when her mother died. On a sunny, windless day too much like today was shaping out to be. Their house and shop had been filled with flowers from the Festival, and her weak, pale, beautiful mother had looked happy. For the first time in weeks, Candace had thought 'She'll get better now. She'll be fine.'
Sighing softly, Candace broke her gaze with a sweep of lashes. It had been over 11 years. There was no reason to be this melancholy. Not when her life had been so blessed this year, full of friends and family and those Bells with their heart-lifting melodies ringing at last. Candace shook her head self-deprecatingly and forced down her cold chewy toast and tepid tea so she could get started on breakfast for Luna and Gra'mama. She finished eating just in time to hear the shower begin to run in her grandmother's part of the house. A hot breakfast of egg-white and tomato omelettes and grapefruit halves were waiting for her family when they made it to the kitchen. The clink of utensils on flatware played out behind her as Candace serenely wiped down the stove and washed the dishes she'd used.
"Candace, you know I hate it when you work while we eat. Sit down, please," Luna pleaded. She hummed appreciatively at her first bite of omelette when Candace turned to face Luna's way. The college cafeterias must've had very poor dining options if Candace's food made Luna gush that much.
"I already ate. I'm leaving early today. That's… that's all right, isn't it, Gra'mama?" Candace asked worriedly. Sudden guilt, at having party planning on today of all days, had Candace fidgeting and shrinking at the sink.
Shelly gave Candace her reassuring, kindly smile that instantly mollified Candace. "Of course it's fine, sweetie. We'll see you at the festival after, and that's more than enough."
"Hold the phone, if you think you're going to the cemetery alone–?" Luna demanded incredulously, fork falling to her plate with a wince-inducing clatter, those blue eyes narrowed suspiciously.
Candace hurried to interject, "Oh, no! Not that! I do go alone sometimes, Luna, but today is about remembering loved ones with family. And friends, too," Candace explained quickly while wringing her hands, but returning Shelly's proud smile with a wibbly one of her own.
Luna frowned thoughtfully, no longer concerned, although her perfectly manicured fingernails tapped against the tabletop. "Well, then. Where are you going?"
Candace tugged at her rubber gloves. "Ah, uhm. To Evie's. To finish up what we were planning. Phoebe said she'd be bringing down the fireworks on the way to the festival, since it took her and Barbara so long to find them."
"Yes, but… do Evie or Phoebe need you for that? Can't you wait until after today to bother with it?" Luna asked, her mouth drawn into a little moue of annoyance.
"There's still decorations to put up, and… h-he's my f-friend," Candace stuttered with a blush all the way up to her hairline. "I just w-want to m-make sure it's n-nice for h-him."
"For him?" Luna choked on her grapefruit, jumping onto the slip with a raised eyebrow. "You mean it's not about helping Evie? It's about Luke? Luke Carpenter?" Her tone was somewhere between disbelieving and appalled.
Involuntarily, Candace's hackles raised as she frowned at the insinuations of Luna's tone. As if Luke didn't deserve that sort of consideration.
"It's Luke's b-birthday! Of course it's for him! D-Don't t-talk about him like that," Candace blurted. Luna stared at her– no, gaped at her, jaw dropped in a very undignified manner, while Shelly chortled behind her tea mug. A moment later, Candace clapped her hands over her mouth, leftover suds and water dotting her cheeks, her eyes wide and shocked. "I-I'm s-so s-sorry! I d-didn't mean t-to s-snap."
"You… I thought yesterday was a fluke!" Luna twisted back around in her chair to demand from Shelly, "How long has she been acting like this?"
"Ever since Candace made friends with Evie, and by extension, Luke," Shelly answered calmly, setting down her tea. She looked back to the mortified Candace and smiled wider. "They were bound to rub off on you sooner or later, sweetie. Don't apologize for speaking your mind."
"Definitely not ," Lune agreed fervently. She paused and tapped her lip with her finger pensively. "I think he's a stupid bear in people's clothing, and Evie is a filthy, heedless mess," Luna began, making Candace gasp in protest, but Luna spoke right over it with a teasing little smirk to her expression, "but if this is what comes of it, I wish you had them years ago. They're…" Luna closed her eyes and groaned melodramatically, as if in pain. "Dare I say it, but they're a good influence on you, Candy."
Her vision swam as her eyes filled with tears, and Candace's hands clasped tightly in front of her. "That's so kind, Luna."
"Don't you go blubbering," Luna muttered, staring down at her half-eaten omelette and scowling even as her cheeks flushed. She leveled Candace with a glare. "And don't you dare tell them I said that. I'd have to punch their smug, insufferable faces."
Candace giggled and wiped at her eyes. "You can come, too. If you want?"
Luna's nose wrinkled delicately before she nodded once. "Maybe I'll come by later, I had some calls I wanted to make, though. You go on ahead and make sure she's bathed properly in case I decide to come over."
"Luna, Evie knows how to bathe!" Candace objected in her friend's defense.
"Wow, you didn't even stutter that time," Luna teased. Candace flamed scarlet and sputtered.
"You stop that, young lady," Shelly interrupted, more amused than anything else. Luna rolled her eyes, but did shove in another mouthful of omelette. Shelly sighed, shook her head affectionately, and then turned to Candace. "You go on, Candace. We'll finish the dishes. Don't keep your friend waiting."
Candace dithered, hating to leave a chore unfinished, but finally took off her rubber gloves. The idea of leaving a friend waiting was even worse than leaving the dishes to soak a few extra minutes. "Thank you, Gra'mama, Luna. I'll see you soon!" she exclaimed, though rather quietly. She brushed a swift kiss to Shelly's upturned cheek, then to Luna's (who grumbled as her cheeks pinkened to match her hair), and rushed out the door barely minutes later. A canvas sack of previously packed items was slung over her shoulder.
It wasn't even truly eight o'clock yet by the time Candace made it up the slight slope into Clarinet district and saw Evie wandering around her crops, sunlight glinting off her iron watering can. When the rancher caught sight of Candace, she waved frantically with the hand holding the can, spilling water over a shoulder and down her chest. The colorful but not obscene curses filled the air and had Candace giggling despite herself.
"You're here early! Don't you wanna sleep in on festival days?" Evie asked brightly, flapping her shirt off her chest to unstick it from her skin.
"Sometimes," Candace admitted, taking the watering can and holding it against her thighs carefully. Evie grinned and shook out her wet hair. "But today isn't usually one of those days."
"Eh? Why n– Oh." Evie looked distinctly uncomfortable and not because of the damp clothes and hair.
Candace smiled reassuringly. "It was a long time ago. I'm fine. Just a bit… sadder on a day like today, I suppose."
Evie reached out to hug Candace tightly. She had to lean awkwardly over the watering can while it cut into their thighs since Candace still held in in her hands, her grip on the handle leaving her unable to return the hug. Though, she sank into the warm, slightly damp embrace with a heartfelt sigh.
"It's all right if you wanna leave the last of the planning to me today," Evie said when she pulled away a long minute later. They were both a little wet-eyed and rubbing at their faces, so it took another moment for the words to sink in. Immediately, Candace shook her head fervently.
"I want to help! I really am looking forward to it," she said as assertively as she could, leaning into Evie's space and gazing at her imploringly. Evie grinned and rubbed the back of her neck.
"Okay, okay! Of course you can help me. I'm sure Luke would really appreciate it. I'm a total spacecase with details and plans. I try to make lists, but I always end up losing them," Evie confessed with that same candid, careless laughter that Luke had and Candace envied. "I'm worse with handicrafts stuff!"
"There isn't that much left to do. Just set up some decorations and clear some space in your house," Candace said as she handed the watering can back. They turned to the house, pace brisk and purposeful.
"Oh yeah…"
That strange thing Evie did, where her eyes went hazy and glanced off to the side, head cocked as if hearing something no one else could, happened right in front of her. There was a slight wince and sigh, and Evie's auburn eyes met Candace's just as she pulled open her front door. She dropped the watering can next to the stoop and started yanking off her boots, but Candace hurried inside with her tote of supplies, her eyes once more tracing over the small, shabby interior.
"Is anything wrong?" Candace asked slowly, confusion pulling down her brows without her meaning to show it. She was glad her back was to Evie while she set her tote on the dining table.
The door closed and Evie was suddenly at Candace's side, gnawing on her bottom lip as Candace watched in growing puzzlement. Her bright auburn eyes were back to staring into thin air, seemingly at a particularly bright patch of sunlight streaming through the kitchen window. Candace's grip on her large canvas bag twisted and tightened uncomfortably. Before the moment stretched on too long, Evie shook herself out of it and her mouth twisted into a kind of apologetic, smiling grimace.
"Evie…?" Candace murmured. "Can I help with something?"
Evie sighed roughly. "Not really uh… Just… I was hoping to maybe get something done today, but I really don't think I can. And not because of this! I mean, it's a Festival day. I can't really do business on a Festival day."
Candace shook her head, smiling slightly. Of course Evie had a thousand and one plans at once. She always seemed to be gallivanting around barely stopping to breathe. There were so many times that Candace wished she had even half of Evie's verve and energy.
"I'm sure you'll find a way to get it all done. You've done so much already," Candace said simply and confidently. Evie grinned widely and, strangely, the sound of chiming glass bells reached Candace's ears. She glanced around in confusion, wondering where in the world the sound was coming from, only to be interrupted by an overly spine-crushing embrace. She eeped as Evie all but lifted her off her feet.
"You are really the kindest, sweetest soul, Candy. Whatever did I do to deserve you?" Evie gushed with a body-shaking laugh.
Candace blinked and nodded, cheeks hot. "I often ask myself that very question," she replied softly and fondly, hands patting Evie's lower back awkwardly since her arms were trapped against her body. Her feet finally touched ground again and she stumbled back a step when Evie let her go.
"Stop that, or you'll make me blush," Evie joked with a chuckle and a duck of her head. "Maybe I can sneak away first thing in the morning and get it done tomorrow."
"That sounds like a plan. I wish…" Candace broke off and bit her bottom lip briefly. "I wish I could help you more."
Evie put her hands on Candace's shoulders and looked her directly in the eye. "You're already helping me plan this shindig and even brought a bunch of stuff for us to use. I get to spend the whole morning with you instead, and that's pretty fantastic. Anything else I have planned, being your friend is just as important to me." She said this with a swift glance to the side at nothing, oddly.
Candace had no idea what all those things were, though quite a few of her neighbors were whispering their theories. Rather, their theory. Whatever those plans truly were, the earnest way Evie put Candace so high in her esteem and priorities had Candace's eyes and nose stinging. When hadanyone considered Candace and Candace's company of such importance? This was the first time Candace could clearly recall such a statement being made.
"Th-thank you, Evie," Candace whispered, fingers fidgeting with the hem of her cardigan. Evie made her face-splitting, nose-scrunching, bashful grin.
"Fiddlesticks. You don't need to thank me. Now, help me with those decorations you brought up. We've got a lot to do today. Maya said she's bringing the cake tomorrow, right? Did Phoebe call you back about the fireworks?" Evie asked as she rummaged over her bookshelf.
Candace smiled softly, digging into her bag to get the notepad she had written a list on last night and her favorite blue pen. "Yes, Phoebe is coming down today, around lunch time, and, yes, Maya is bringing the cake tomorrow. Toby and Kathy are bringing Mr. Fisher's big grill together, with some fish and other seafood. I have it all here, Evie," she said with a brandish of her notepad.
Evie spun around and snorted loudly with a bright grin and a recipe catalog (mostly empty, Candace saw). "Of course you didn't forget a list. All right, so we don't have too much to do! Just pinning stuff up, and getting some food started for tomorrow."
"That's right. Though Renee and Anissa volunteered to bring most of the food." Candace pulled out a carefully folded banner, a long string of birthday flags, and tulle-paper streamers. Most of them were pastel blues, pinks, and yellows and the birthday flags on the string had a bold pink '60' stamped on them. "I'm sorry they're so obviously my Gra'mama's things, but I do have…" she trailed off as Evie cackled and sputtered over everything she picked up. Candace found her plastic art kit and set it with a thump onto the tabletop.
Curious and too impatient to wait, Evie snapped it open and threw back the lid. It was one of those collapsible kits, one her mother had bought for Candace when she was only eight, and had once been filled with terribly cheap children's make-up. Now the bottom was filled with neatly spooled yarns and silk threads, and the top shelves were meticulously sorted art supplies: a hot glue gun and glue sticks, a dozen different types of glitter, pipe-cleaners and little neon-colored balls, brightly hued feathers, and a whole box full of expensive markers and highlighters, even waxes and oil pastels were lined in neat rows.
"What in the world?" Evie burst out in a zealous sort of glee. She, of course, went immediately for the glue gun and Candace slapped her hand away. The bark of startled laughter had Candace flushing brightly and clasping her hands behind her back.
"A few years ago I used to go into the big city for craft classes. I volunteered at the library, for those kid groups they'd do in the summer? But after a while Cain couldn't afford to go into town every weekend, especially not multiple times, and I didn't want to waste so much money on bus tickets when the tourists stopped coming through," she explained wistfully. Some of her happiest hours had been in that library, with those children that had thought she was pretty and kind and smart. Not all of them, quite a few of the bigger, louder children had made her nervous, but mostly it had been one of the most pleasant experiences she'd had.
"But you kept all this stuff…" Evie said, a little confused.
"I still scroll through Pinterest and make things for my room, or my Gra'mama. Or for the kids here in Castanet for their birthdays or festivals. Just little things. Sometimes Gill lets me have craft hours with them. Normally when he's tired of dealing with them. He has a short fuse some days," Candace explained, her lips pressing together and her hands twisting behind her back. Admitting such a thing about Gill had guilt sliding down the back of her throat and knotting in her stomach. She always got along with Gill, or as well as she could with his sharp tongue and busy comings-and-goings.
"Gill?" Evie parroted, looking bewildered.
"Oh," Candace blinked in shock. Of course Evie wouldn't know him. He'd been more on the 'goings' side of things for a few months. Since winter broke, actually. "He's the Mayor's son. You haven't met him, but he teaches the children near the end of fall and winter. Normally some of spring, too, a little bit, but he cut their classes early and hasn't come back all spring."
Evie's sudden look of epiphany, as if the description actually meant something to her, had Candace frowning slightly. Evie looked like she'd… metGill, but that couldn't be possible. Evie glanced off to the side, that mysterious twinkle of bells in the air again, before she turned back to Candace and shook her head lightly.
"Okay, well, Miss Glue-Gun-Wielder, let's get to sprucing these decorations."
Candace eyed the massive project ahead of them with a dubious downturn of her lips. "We'll need all the time in the world for this."
Evie burst into laughter, grabbed the banner with Happy Birthday Shelley and some of the brightest markers in the box. Candace immediately cast around for the nearest outlet, glue gun in hand.
Evie balanced precariously on a chair, one foot on tip-toes on the seat of the chair, the other quivering on the very top back rung. Candace's hand held the back of the chair and she hovered just beside Evie's hip, eyes anxious and wide. Evie gnawed at her bottom lip, arm shaking as she reached for the ceiling– just a little more. With a startled blink, Evie watched as Finn snagged the corner of the banner and shoved the thumbtack into the wall with a hefty, red-faced grunt.
"I did it!" Finn gasped, throwing his arms up in a cheer.
"Shiny!" Evie laughed, only to break out with a loud whoa as Candace let out a little shriek.
"Evie! Please!" Candace cried out. "Please, come down now! You're going to fall!"
"Okay, okay! I'm … uh. Candy, I think… I might be stuck," Evie said haltingly, knees wobbling and her hand pressed to the wall to keep her balance.
"Evie!" Finn exclaimed, buzzing around her head.
Candace huffed and put her whole weight into holding the chair in place instead of just one hand. "I've got you, Evie. You can do it."
Evie stumbled her way down with a laugh, Candace already puttering around her and tsking. She stopped at last and looked back up at the banner. "I… I can't believe you managed to reach that. I could've sworn your hand wasn't that high…" She frowned in confusion.
Evie quickly clapped her hands to Candace's shoulders and wheeled her around. "Come on, now, we're not done yet. We still have to sweep up before we can get some lunch."
"Yes, you're right. I could start lunch now while you clean?" she offered, puzzlement wiped away by her kind smile.
"That soun–"
They both froze, eyes widening comically in horror, as the sound of whistling reached their ears. Very familiar off-tune whistling. They rushed to the window, Finn knocking into the back of Evie's head to peer out with them. Sure enough, Luke's tall, lanky form was sauntering down the road from Garmon, arms swinging at his sides and strides long.
"Oh fluffernutter, what is that clotpole doing!?" Evie wailed, knocking her forehead to the glass.
"I'm sure he's just coming to say hello," Candace said, even as she wrung her hands.
"Right, crap, he's my friend," Evie muttered. Candace let out a quickly stifled giggle. Which in turn had Evie smiling wryly as she backed away. She pressed one hand to her mouth, the other cupping her opposing elbow, as she hummed pensively. "We gotta do something to keep him from coming to the house. And fast."
"Ask him to lunch in town?" Candace offered. Evie shook her head.
"It's all closed, Candy."
"Oh, I can't believe I forgot."
"Uh, we can drag him down to Sonata, but he'll wanna know why we don't just eat here, plus Phoebe should be coming–"
"You're not here! I came to find you, but you're gone already!" Candace exclaimed desperately. Evie blinked at her. "You stay and clean up and wait for Phoebe. I'll take him to my place until it's time for the Festival."
Evie beamed. "That's perfect. Quick, get out there! Keep him away from the windows!" Evie agreed, already pushing Candace to the door.
"You stay away from them, too! If he sees you moving…"
"Got it, got it. I'll hide under the bed, just in case."
"I don't think that's necessary…" Candace said with a twitch of her mouth.
A moment later, she was out the door, closing it behind her even as she called out Luke's name. Evie dropped out of sight just in time, kneeling and ear pressed to the door to hear Luke and Candace's distant conversation. Finn flew to the window, peering quizzically outside.
"I think he's asking her where you are," Finn relayed. Evie nodded, gnawing her lip. Just barely she could make out the buzz and rumble of their two voices, until, finally, they began to fade away. "They're leaving!" Finn told her, confirming what she thought she heard.
"Whew, thank goodness," Evie breathed out in relief. She slapped her hands on her knees and got to her feet. "Well, we've got to wait till Phoebe, we might as well make up some food."
"Lunch?" Finn asked excitedly.
"Yeah, sure. And stuff for tomorrow, too," Evie said decisively. Finn's head tilted to the side with a dubious little frown.
"You're gonna try and cook? Lots of food for lots of people?"
Evie propped her fists on her hips and raised her eyebrows at Finn. "You trying to say something?"
Finn nodded shamelessly. "You're not very good at it! You should wait for Phoebe to help you and just make some sandwiches for lunch instead."
Evie blinked, her face screwing up tightly, until she broke with a loud, body-shaking guffaw. "You just told me to make you a sandwich!" she wheezed.
"Why is that so funny?" Finn exclaimed, bewildered, as Evie collapsed against the table, barely holding herself up. He pouted dramatically and flopped onto the bed, little arms crossed over his chest. "I shoulda gone with Candace and Luke. I bet she'll make sandwiches for Luke."
Evie choked on spit and air.
…
Candace set a plate of egg salad sandwiches in front of Luke before sitting next to him. Luckily, Luna and Gra'mama hadn't been in the shop when they'd arrived. Gra'mama had probably gone ahead to Flute Fields to spend the early afternoon with the older residents before the younger, more "couple-y" generation showed up. Luna, however, was probably at the Bar making those calls she'd mentioned. She actually got along with Kathy most of the time, but the Bar also had a long distance landline and better internet than Sonata had. Luke dug into his lunch, a muffled noise of surprise coming from him a moment later. She glanced over at him, her sandwich held mid-air as she waited.
"Whadja do with the bread?" Luke asked around a mouthful, his cheek bulging like a chipmunk. Candace slid his napkin closer to him with a fond smile.
"Toasted it, of course. It keeps it from getting soggy," Candace answered simply. "With the amount of mayonnaise you wanted, I toasted yours a little longer. Is… is it all right?" she questioned with a hint of worry creeping into her tone, eyes on the halved-sandwich in his hands.
"Nah, I mean, yeah. It's great! I never thought to do that. Pops ain't that much of a cook, and Bo does all right, I guess, so we all take turns, yanno? We get by, but if it ain't in the recipe, I never woulda thought to do it," Luke explained with a wide grin before he took another too-large bite. He actually hummed happily, eyes closing in contentment.
Candace's cheeks flushed as she took a much smaller, neater bite. She thought for a moment that silence would descend awkwardly. She couldn't recall a time they'd ever been alone, and they really had nothing in common. What had she been thinking offering to distract Luke of all people? She picked at the toasted bread and cast desperately for words. Of course, it was Luke, so she should've know he'd never stay silent for long.
"My ma used t'cook. She taught me a few things, and the recipes we got, they're all hers…" Luke said, clearing his throat lightly behind his fist. Candace looked over at him, trying in vain to keep her shock from showing.
"You… You don't really talk about her… N-Not that I've heard," Candace whispered softly. Luke glanced over at her, his gold eyes looking… solemn in a way she wouldn't have thought him capable of.
"No, I don't. But… it's the Firefly Festival. I think about her all the time, I haven't forgot her, but… today I just," he broke off with a huff and crooked grin. "I guess I feel like I get a free pass to talk about her instead of just thinkin'. Pops is still so cut up about it all, I can't with him. And Bo never knew her, not even what she looked like except for the photos at the house."
"I d-didn't know her well. Just a little," Candace said.
"Still got one up on Bo," Luke joked weakly. Candace shared a tiny, encouraging smile with him. "I knew your mom. Ma liked to invite her over, and they'd walk up to the Spring together when I was a kid. I used to get so mad, 'cause some sad lady from town kept stealing my ma away from me. Aw shit," Luke winced with an apologetic grimace on his face. "I shouldna said that 'bout your ma."
Candace blinked. "But she was sad. She was sad for years. I'm sorry you didn't get to see the moments when she was truly happy." Her gaze went distant and unseeing, remembering those few and far between moments. "She was so beautiful, but when she smiled? Or laughed? It was like… like the stained glass window in the church, where your heart feels so full and the whole world is more colorful and brighter than ever. Probably because I utterly worshipped her." She smiled wryly and dropped her gaze to her barely touched sandwich. "She couldn't cook at all. Gra'mama always did for us. She used to burn toast and laugh. But sometimes she'd just cry and cry, so quietly. I never knew how she'd feel, so I started to cook just to keep her smiling as much as possible. Every time I brought her a tray to bed, she'd say I was her lovely princess and I made her feel like a queen…"
She jumped slightly as a large, rough hand covered hers. She noticed then the wetness filming her lashes, falling to her cheeks when she blinked. Luke didn't smile, but he wasn't frowning either. Just gave her the same look she'd given herself in the mirror. Knowing and kind, saying it'll be all right.
"I gotta confession t'make," Luke started, a blush burning over his nose and his eyes falling. He looked guilty and ashamed. Candace reached over to touch his hand. "When your ma died, I came… I came to the funeral. Pops told me we had to, for Ma's sake. 'Cuz they'd been friends, yanno?"
Candace frowned, puzzled. "I don't… I don't remember. I think I remember Mr. Carpenter being there, but…"
"You wouldn't. 'Cuz I was a little prick and I ran away 'fore it was over," Luke sighed, shoulders slumping.
"Luke, no, you just lost your mother, too! Of course you needed to go!" Candace exclaimed, leaning forward to meet his eyes earnestly.
Luke shook his head again. "That's not what happened. I ran away because… because I was glad she died, Candy. I was eight? Nine? And I just lost my Ma and I was so angry . I was yelling at my Pops every chance I could and throwing things just so he'd yell back and shut me up in my room. Made me feel better to… to get punished… Like some kinda of stupid… what're those people called? M-something? The ones that die for people?"
Candace stared at him. "A martyr?"
"Yeah!" Luke nodded and gave her a wry smirk. "I thought if I got punished, then I was some kinda martyr and the whole world was out to get me so I could be as angry as I wanted."
Candace gripped his hand a little tighter. "Luke… you don't have to tell me these things. I understand what it means to grieve, however you need to."
"I'm telling you 'cause you understand. I never even told Owen," Luke said. Candace's mouth dropped into a little 'o' of surprise, something about his confession making her heart thump an extra beat. "But see, my Pops dragged me to your ma's… your ma's funeral, and I saw you there, looking sad and quiet and tired, like you hadn't slept in forever. And all I could think was good. I'm not the only kid missing their ma, I'm not alone anymore. I was… I was glad your ma was dead 'cause mine was, too," Luke finally finished, head dropping and shoulders tight around his ears.
"Th-That's why you ran away?" Candace whispered. "Why you d-didn't meet me that day?"
Luke nodded miserably. "I sorta… wised up a second later, I guess? I felt so selfish and guilty, I ran away. Every time I saw you after that, all I could think about was how selfish I was. And after awhile, you were so different from me, so quiet and shy, never really leaving your shop, I just… I figured we never woulda been friends anyway, so I never bothered t'talk to you." He shrugged a little, his hand jerking under hers as if to pull away. "I'm… I'm sorry, Candy."
His hand almost did slip away, her grip lax from surprise, but like an automated response, her fingers tightened and tugged him back. He looked up to meet her still damp eyes, and slowly, tremulously, she smiled. The smile he returned was as shy and wibbly as her own. It was the most bashful and unsure she'd ever seen him. It was a morning of firsts when it came to Luke, apparently.
"It's okay, Luke. There's nothing for me to forgive you for. You were a hurt little boy and… I doubt I would have been a good friend back then, either. What we have now– it's a good thing now, right?" she asked hopefully.
Relief had his more familiar grin breaking across his face– bright and sunny that warmed her right down to her toes and had her heart thumping erratically against her breastbone.
"Yeah, we're a good thing now," he agreed. They shared a lingering moment of silent smiles. Candace finally leaned back, too aware of his warm hand held in hers.
"We should finish and… we could… talk about happier memories? Of our mothers?" Candace offered hesitantly. Luke nodded eagerly.
"Yeah! Let's do that. I can tell you about the first time I tried to make her cake for her birthday! I forgot the flour and almost burned down the whole house!" Luke said cheerfully before polishing off the first half of his sandwich. Astonishingly not choking on it.
"Oh goodness, how did you manage that? What did your parents say?" Candace asked with genuine concern and amusement warring in her. Luke chuckled unabashedly and she settled in to hear the stories of the Luke she missed out getting to know.
…
Evie had made sandwiches for her and Finn, muttering recipe instructions under breath as she read them while she ate. Finn had listened worriedly at first, but after gorging himself on an entire half of a sandwich he ended up falling asleep on her pillow. His twinkling snores were the background noise as she boiled eggs and chopped vegetables. Surely coleslaw and egg salad weren't too difficult? She'd kept a bag of cornmeal and Candace had brought some extra dairy and egg supplies to bake bread and cookies together. Evie could at least make a loaf of cornbread alone. (She'd leave the cookies to the professional, though.)
Coleslaw and egg salad had both been easy enough– though the eggs had almost been under-boiled–, but Evie was staring at the cornmeal and eggs in confusion, not sure how the cornbread differed from regular bread, or what to change, when a knock came from the door. She set it all down with a relieved sigh and rushed to the door. Skidding to a stop, Evie squinted at the door. What if Luke had turned Candy right back around?Slowly, she cracked open the door and peeked outside. To see an amused Phoebe standing there.
"Oh good! C'mon in!"
"Were you expecting someone dangerous?" Phoebe teased lightly, stepping into the house with a small crate in her hands. Evie made 'gimme' motions at her, but Phoebe just set it down on the table instead.
"No, but I was worried it might be Luke. Candy's trying to distract him, but he's headstrong when he wants to be," Evie explained, eagerly opening the crate to look inside. "Wow! Did you make all these?"
Phoebe pffted under her breath and wandered over to the counter where the remnants of Evie's foray into independent-baking were left out. "Not all of them. We have a Fireworks Festival every summer, and I've been trying my hand at making some. We wouldn't have to buy them from the next city over if I could make enough," Phoebe said with a shrug. Evie gave her an incredulous smile.
"That's amazing, Pheebs. I don't want to use these all up if you made them for the town, though," Evie said with a worried glance at the crate.
"I like making things. As for using them up, that's not all of them," Phoebe replied with a nod towards the supply. "The big ones I left in my workshop and I can make more pretty easily now. I've been working on them since last year, so I'm pretty good at it."
"You're sure?"
"Yup," Phoebe said firmly. She glanced at the mess on the kitchen counter again, but Evie was eagerly perusing the fireworks, oohing and awing over the fountains and sparklers and Roman candles, many of which were illegal in the city she'd lived in most her life. "When I say I like making things," Phoebe started with a slight throat clearing. Evie looked up questioningly. "I also like making food."
Evie laughed in embarrassment as Phoebe gesturing towards the mess. "Is it that obvious I had no idea what I was doing?"
"Seeing as you're missing most of the measurement cups to do this, yes, it's obvious, Tallesin."
Evie groaned around another laugh and slunk towards the kitchen. "It's just bread! I made some with Mrs. Taverns, Yolanda, I mean. I should be able to remember a few simple steps."
"You're going to make cornbread, not regular wheat bread?" Phoebe asked, looking inside the sack of cornmeal with a pensive expression. "Not bad quality, better than we've had in a while, anyway."
"Well, it's more a barbeque than anything, so cornbread seemed like a good idea? Plus, I wanna save Candy's flour for the cookies she promised," Evie said with a grin. Phoebe made a small "ah" of agreement before grabbing the cornmeal.
"Get over here and I'll show you how it's done."
Evie hurried over and held the bowl in place for Phoebe to tip in the cornmeal. "After this, maybe you can show me how to make fireworks. I'd be a much more interested student in that."
Phoebe laughed outright.
Evie stared into the small window of her oven, the smell of toasting, buttery cornbread filling her little home. Finn perched on her shoulder, having been woken by Evie dropping several empty cups to the ground in an ear-shattering clatter when trying to pour the batter into a pan. Phoebe was pushing the crate between the toolbox and the bookshelf, safely out of the way of Evie's two left feet. Candace was supposed to have taken the lot to hide in her shop, but Luke just had to pop up and ruin said plans. For his own birthday. Evie really hoped Candy was managing the guy well enough...
"All right, I have to head out," Phoebe announced, grabbing a pack Evie hadn't noticed thanks to the crate of fireworks having distracted her earlier.
Evie turned with a whine. "What? Why?"
"I have to help set up the flower lanterns for the festival. I make them every year with my mom."
"You kinda put your fingers in every pie, doncha?" Evie teased, not really hiding the admiration in her voice. Phoebe shrugged and smiled.
"It's interesting. Did you know we put moonstones in the flowers? It used to be candles, but when they figured out that moonstones glow at just the right light setting, the candles got switched out. Easier and less likely to set on fire on accident."
Evie frowned slightly. "Seems a bit more expensive, though?"
"Oh, not like, gem worthy moonstones. The impure ones, or the chips and pieces after refining them from the 'fuls, those parts. We wouldn't waste actual gems to float down a river into the sea!" Phoebe assured her.
"Oh, okay, that makes more sense!" Evie walked with Phoebe to the door. "I'll see you there soon. I'll be meeting Toby there."
Phoebe's face was curious, but not the shock Evie would've expected, when she asked, "You're going with Toby?"
There wasn't even an inflection on the with. But Evie still squirmed. "Yeah. Yeah, I am. I was surprised he asked me."
"I'm not," Phoebe said enigmatically. Evie blinked at her, but the teal-haired woman just smiled and stepped outside. "Have fun tonight, and say hi when you grab a lantern from the booth."
"Of course," Evie agreed. She watched Phoebe walk towards Flute Fields, her pack heavy on her back, most likely from her bits and pieces of gemstones and other lantern supplies. Silently, Evie pressed her hand over her mouth, eyes downcast and looking inward.
It hadn't felt so scary to say it aloud. But there was still that squiggly gross feeling in the bottom of her stomach, like a nest of snakes. Though, she didn't really have a problem with snakes, then again, snakes in her stomach did not sound fun– She groaned and lifted her eyes heavenward, smacking the back of her head to the doorjamb. Even her mind was procrastinating from thinking too hard about it.
It was so much easier when Toby was there, in person, just being himself. She didn't ask herself questions that she didn't want to answer, or think about priorities or the judgements of others, benign or malicious those judgements might be. She wished she could trick herself into thinking it was merely something casual, ephemeral. Something she could walk away from at any time without anyone getting hurt.
But the way his voice said her name and the quiet, simple promise he'd made her so many times ran through her head.
It was fast becoming the opposite of casual. If it ever had been.
"Evie! The cornbread! It's turning brown at the edges, is it burning?!"
Evie jerked from her reclining position at Finn's shout and hurried to the oven, leaving the door wide open behind her. She stooped in front of the oven and groaned in relief. "No, Finn, it's fine. It'll turn golden brown all over when it's finished, the edges the darkest."
"Are you sure? Why did Phoebe go?" Finn whimpered.
"Hey, now, I can finish baking. See this timer?" Evie pointed out, her finger on the neon green numbers counting down on the oven. Finn fluttered closer. "When it reaches zero, it's finished. And Phoebe set it."
Finn frowned, but then nodded swiftly. "Okay! I can watch it." He stared at it, gaze focused and wings buzzing like a hummingbird's to keep him aloft.
Evie snorted and went about cleaning up her kitchen. She hummed whatever Disney song popped into her head, somehow segueing into singing Kansas while wondering how many episodes of her TV shows she'd missed since coming out here. Unless, weren't most of them in hiatus during summer? She frowned as she put all the dishes (including the disposable ones for the party) in the cupboards.
A knock sounded on the door and had Evie shrieking aloud, Finn echoing her as he tumbled towards the ground.
"Again?" An amused Toby smirked from the doorway, his knuckles still on the wooden boards. He dropped his hand to walk in while Evie wheezed, leaning against the counter behind her.
"Evie! You scared the magic right outta me!" Finn exclaimed, tears in his eyes as he wobble-flew up to the table and dropped on top. She burst out laughing, a hand over her face, slowly pulling herself back together.
"S-Sorry, I was lost in my head and… I thought I was meeting you there, you wanker!" Evie snapped, punching his arm lightly when he came up beside her.
"Wanker? Have you been watching Sherlock or Harry Potter today?" Toby asked, his eyebrow doing that completely unfair thing it did. Evie rolled her eyes and fought a smile.
"No, I've been busy," she waved her arm around her house, at the decorations and the oven that was still on.
"Ah, yes. I see. Is that… a 60 under the glitter glue?" Toby questioned, humor hovering at the edges of his mouth.
"Yeah, but the glitter glue is doing a great job. So stop looking too closely," she replied snottily, nose in the air. The oven pinged at just that moment and she was able to stride haughtily away. She caught the sound of his chuckles and grinned. "You didn't say why you're here instead of Flute Fields?" Evie prompted, pulling on an oven mitt and opening the oven door.
"It seemed silly to walk past just to meet you there. If I were already over there, it would make sense, but I stayed home today," Toby explained. Evie looked towards him curiously, a pan of steaming cornbread in her hands. He looked down at his hand, picking at a nail with his thumbnail, a strange little fidget she hadn't seen before. "I stayed with my uncle and Paolo talking about my late aunt, actually. He's still not going to the Festival, but… he was finally ready to ask questions at least. I stayed for moral support. I was just walking Paolo towards the Fields, but Taylor popped up before we made it completely out of Harmonica."
"So you came up this way?" Evie clarified, setting the hot pan down on another upside-down pan, so she wouldn't burn the counter. The oven mitt followed and she made her way to Toby. His hand lifted and all too easily grasped hers. She glanced down at it, then deliberately entwined their fingers. The smile on his face soothed the anxiety caused by such a simple action.
So much easier like this, together rather than apart.
"I came up this way," he agreed quietly. "I believe I've told you before I'd rather be in your company than without."
"Yeah, I remember," Evie said quietly, dropping her head to his shoulder, hiding the too pleased smile on her face. "My cornbread is done, and it's… it's late enough in the afternoon. We can go now? I dunno if they have food for dinner later, though?" Evie wondered aloud.
"No, there aren't food stalls at this one, but I brought a basket. We'll picnic before sunset."
"Before? Not during? Like some 1950's Casanova?" Evie joked, grinning over at him.
"No, not during," Toby said with a put-upon sigh. Evie snickered and let him lead her to the door. She glanced over her shoulder at Finn, who was sniffing a little too closely at the cornbread.
"Psst," she hissed. Finn guiltily jerked away and hurried after her.
"It smells so good," Finn whined as he dropped into her breast pocket.
"Did you… did you psst me?" Toby asked incredulously, grabbing a basket that he'd left by the door.
Evie laughed shakily. "No? You must be hearing things?"
Toby's head tilted to the side, but he shrugged and held out his hand. She exhaled gustily, closed the door, and took his hand. She doubted he believed her excuse, but he let it slide like he'd done a few times already.
Just what was going through his head whenever she slipped up around him? After the Blue Bell, and Paolo's excited stories about Ben, had Toby finally made a connection? Was he just waiting for her to tell the truth? She glanced out the corner of her eye at his profile, but he was only smiling faintly.
The walk to Flute Fields was uneventful. Evie filled most of it with small talk about what she and Candace and Phoebe had done. A few times Toby did offer up his own small talk, little bits and pieces of things he'd discussed with Paolo and Ozzie, but Evie didn't push knowing it was private. She just squeezed his hand and shuffled closer for each little bit he gave her. When they made it to the Waterwheel, almost all the older folks were already there in groups that were already heavy in talk. Barbara, Phoebe, and Jake were folding different colored paper into big and pretty lotus flowers, which Evie figured would be the lanterns. She waved their way, sharing a smile with Phoebe, and followed Toby off to a small corner of the shore where it was more grassy than muddy. They settled down and exchanged greetings and a few lines of small talk with whomever passed by, although after a while everyone seemed to steer clear. Evie looked around, waiting for Toby to empty out the basket, and noticed Anissa and Dr. Jin in the shadow of the waterwheel, Anissa's feet dangling off the little wooden dock in the water and Dr. Jin sitting prim and proper on his knees.Didn't that hurt?
Then, she noticed everyone seemed to be steering clear of them, too, and her eyes widened. She barely remembered Owen teasing Anissa about the doctor a while ago. This is what he meant. Evie cocked her head to the side and looked closer.
"Yeah, I can see it," Evie said aloud.
"See what?"
She turned to meet Toby's inquiring gaze. "The doctor and Anissa."
"Oh, that," he snorted softly and handed her a bento box. "The worst kept secret in Castanet, you mean. They've been in a will-they-won't-they since the first time he visited, when Anissa was technically still in high school. It was her last year, and he wasn't in medical school yet, but it's as if they refuse to admit they're older now and there's no need to pretend."
Evie chuckled under her breath. "Sometimes, you just get so used to things, you get scared to change anything, even if a part of you knows it'll be okay."
"That's probably exactly what it is. I was much the same way until recently," Toby said. Evie blushed at the pointed remark. He either wasn't subtle at all, or he was purposefully unsubtle for her sake. Probably option two… He gestured to her bento. "Go ahead, see how I did. I am open to critique."
Evie outright laughed at that. "If I ever critique you on your food, hell will have frozen over."
"Was that… a compliment?" Toby asked, mouth twitching upwards.
"Sure, but also, I'd have to be a raging hypocrite to say anything bad about your food when my cooking skills are… subpar at best," Evie said with shameless grin. She shoved in the too-big mouthful, bits of rice falling from the chopsticks to her lap unnoticed. She hummed happily at the sweet egg and pickled cabbage. Sure, it was no French cuisine, but it was fresh and simple and perfect for a summer picnic. "No critique necessary even if I felt like being a hypocrite," she said decisively around a chipmunk-like stuffed cheek.
"It's good to hear, whether or not you feel qualified for an opinion," he said. She side-eyed him, wondering just how teasing he was being, but he looked casually serious as he picked daintily at his own bento.
She glanced down at the mess of dropped rice on her blouse and shorts, and sighed roughly. He even ate food better than she did.
…
The rest of the afternoon passed by so pleasantly, Candace couldn't believe it was already close to evening. There had been a few tears on her end, and Luke's eyes had been suspiciously shiny once or twice, but for the most part they talked about the happiest or funniest memories they had of their mothers. He even helped her clean up after lunch, washing dishes while she rinsed and dried, flicking bubbles at her just to laugh at her scandalized expression. Not wanting to push her luck and have Luna interrupt them, with too many questions that might tip Luke off to her and Evie's plans, Candace asked him to walk up to the church grounds with her for a while before slowly meandering their way towards Flute Fields. They stopped at both little beaches on the way through Clarinet district, picking up shells and smooth stones. They wasted a couple hours there, Candace sitting neatly on the sand, soaking up the sunlight as Luke skipped the stones over the surface. After a while, he wheedled her into going barefoot to chase the waves that lapped the sand, splashing through foam and dotting her long skirt with salt. It had been a long long while since she'd run barefoot on a beach and felt the water foaming around her ankles.
It was probably the nicest Firefly Festival she'd ever had and it wasn't even done.
They were making their way at last to the Waterwheel, the bridge just around the corner, and Luke was fiddling with grass that grew on the sand dunes with little white flowers that looked like weeds among the handful. His tongue was peeking out the corner of his mouth, and Candace could feel the smile on her face as she watched his profile become limned in the warm red light of the sunset.
"Do you need help?" Candace offered. Luke huffed and scowled, though his eyes were dancing in humor when he glanced over.
"No way, I got this. I'm better with wood and a knife, but I can do this, too."
"What are you doing?" Candace asked, eyeing his busy hands. "Is that a–"
"Hey now, don't ruin your surprise. Eyes off," Luke interrupted, turning away to block his work from her sight. She giggled and shook her head.
"I promise to be surprised later. If you finish it."
"Oi! There it is! The mean Candy!" Luke crowed, laughing incredulously as Candace's eyes widened.
"N-No! I didn't mean– that was so rude of me! I'm so sorry!"
But Luke just laughed and bumped her shoulder with his. "Is Evie down there yet?"
Candace pressed the back of her hand, cool and dry, to her flushed cheek and glanced down towards the Firefly Festival booths. She could see a large group of people wandering around and chatting, and just there, the teal-hue of Phoebe's hair. It took a moment more, but she finally spotted Evie sitting at the very edge of the shore next to Toby, his silver hair bright and startling in the dimming light.
"Yes, she's there. But she's there with Toby, so let's wait for them to come to us?" Candace suggested.
Luke stared at her incomprehensively. "Why?"
Candace barely kept from sighing. "Because they came together."
"So? So are we?"
Candace's face– which had just returned to normal– flamed crimson. "N-Not like that. He asked her t-to c-come as his d-date."
Luke squinted slightly as that sunk in, then his jaw dropped and his eyes popped open wide. "What?! They're dating?"
Candace's hands flapped in the air awkwardly. "P-Please, shhh. I d-don't think Evie is telling anyone."
Luke frowned, looking a little betrayed. "Why not? We're her friends!"
"It's not that, it's…" Candace bit her lip. "I'm not sure, but I don't think she wants to admit she… she might have feelings like that. She… she seems very shy about it."
Luke snorted loudly. "Shy? Evie?"
"Exactly," Candace agreed with a serious nod. Luke's head tilted, but understanding dawned with a little less over the top shock this time.
"Ah. Right. Okay. Well, I guess I'll pretend like I don't know nothing. It's weird, though. She has to know everyone would just be happy about it. No one wants her to leave Castanet."
"Maybe that's the reason in the first place, Luke."
They shared a long, worried look. Luke broke it with a shrug and sigh. "We'll see. Here, I finished it."
They paused so Candace could very carefully take the poorly knotted and already fraying chain of grass and flower-weeds he'd made. Her mouth was smiling as her fingers delicately trailed over the chain.
"Felt like keeping my hands busy. Sorry, it's kinda rough. Haven't done it in a while," Luke said apologetically. Candace shook her head and slowly lifted it up to set atop her loosely braided hair, more like a crown. Her hair was thick and fluffy enough that it mostly stayed up, sliding over one ear and tickling the corner of her eyebrow on one side.
"I love it. Next time, though, let me show you," Candace told him with a happy smile. He was grinning as he rocked on his heels and shoved his hands deep in his pockets. "I do these every year. I have a lot of practice."
"I'll remember that," he promised. He threw his arm around her shoulders and led her the rest of the way down towards the festival area. She twisted her hands around the hem of her cardigan, ducking her head to hide the pleased, red-cheeked smile on her face.
…
By the time they finished their bentos, the sun was low enough to stain the horizon a deep, dark orange. Everyone who had come was crowded around the booth where Phoebe and Irene handed out carefully made origami lotus flowers of different shades. They were mostly all red or yellow, but a few were light purple, pink, even blue or green. Evie cleaned up their bento and packed them in Toby's tacklebox, while he went to get them their lanterns. There was a loud bray of familiar laughter, and she looked up to see Candace and Luke standing close together and sharing a large pink lotus lantern. Luke was laughing loudly, eyes closed and shoulders shaking. Candace was hiding her quiet giggles behind her hand, though her eyes were on Luke and her cheeks tinted the same pink as the softly glowing lantern they held.
Evie grinned in relief. She'd been worried that Luke would've scared Candy back into hiding by now, but they were really hitting it off. She should've known they'd be okay after the past couple weeks of all of them becoming such close friends.
A small traitorous thought of they won't need you if you leave flittered through her head, but she quickly shook it away as Toby approached. He held a large yellow lotus in one hand, a bright red in the other, and in the center of each a small stone shimmered faintly.
"My uncle always chose yellow. It was my aunt's favorite lantern," Toby explained. Evie held out her hands to take the red lantern from him when he offered it. It was light and delicate, the only substantial weight made by the moonstone inside.
"It's definitely beautiful, where should I…?" She raised her eyes to his, frowning slightly. He just smiled and, taking her elbow in his hand, led her to the water.
"Hey, Evie! There you are! Have you been with Toby all day?" Luke asked as they reached the shore. Toby's eyebrows drew close together, confusion marring his placid features.
"Yup, sure was, brovolone. Just couldn't be bothered to wait around, that's me," Evie agreed, hip-checking Toby. He glanced over at her, and she fixed a beseeching look on him. Luckily, Toby was slow physically but not mentally, and caught on quickly enough.
"She and Paolo get along like a house on fire. They spent the whole day acting like naughty children," Toby drawled. Evie groaned, rolling her eyes upwards, as Luke guffawed and even Candy laughed, just as surprised as Luke, though for a different reason.
"See if I ever ask you to help with subterfuge again," Evie hissed under her breath.
"You tend not to ask first anyway," Toby said with a sly smirk on his face. Evie flushed hotly and sputtered.
"Is everyone ready?" Anissa asked, coming up on Evie's other side. She held her own blue lotus, a sweet smile on her pretty face. Dr. Jin's hand were empty, though, his thumbs hooked in his labcoat pockets and glasses glinting in the rapidly fading light.
"S-Sorry, Anissa, were we being rude?" Candace asked, rather fretfully. Evie noticed then the frayed and loosely tied crown of grass and weed-flowers slipping down Candace's hair, but it was Luke's hands refraining from moving away from under Candy's that had Evie's eyebrows rising. When she met Luke's eyes, he only looked back, puzzled and head tilted, somehow looking like Boss and making Evie stifle a snicker and her lantern wobble dangerously.
"No, not at all," Anissa was saying.
"Occasions such as these are somber ones, but that doesn't mean we can't be merry and enjoy life. I doubt the loved ones of the past would want us to be completely solemn today," Dr. Jin said with a small, firm nod in Candace's direction. "Though, perhaps some of us could benefit from some solemnity."
Luke pffted loudly. "If that was about me, you're wrong. My ma said a day wasn't done unless we laughed at least once."
"That's a wonderful sentiment," Candace whispered to him. There was a lingering, quiet smile shared between the two of them, Candace actually meeting Luke's eyes straight on and holding his gaze without flinching or blushing.
"I think there could be a balance of both," Anissa said diplomatically with a smile for Dr. Jin who looked suddenly very awkward and bashful.
Who would've thought such a proper, serious doctor could be so awkward? Evie thought in amusement.
"I think it's time," Toby murmured, just as Perry walked up to the water's edge.
"Good evening and happy Firefly Festival, everyone," Perry called out over the small crowd of people. Phoebe was standing near her mother and Mira, each with their own lantern. As Evie looked, Barbara wrapped an arm around Mira's tiny waist and tucked her close against her side. Mira shuddered and leaned gratefully into Barbara's mothering embrace. "Working in a church means I've seen so much of life's beauty, but also a great deal of its sadness," Perry continued, hands clasping in front of him. "Remembering those who came before us, remembering the loved ones we've lost, helps ease that sadness, though perhaps you wouldn't think so. But that love, those precious memories… they glow inside us like the firefly lanterns we light today. There's beauty in memories, yes, even in sadness. So, let's take a moment to remember that beauty, and the people we've loved and lost, before we set the lanterns on their path."
Everyone's head bowed, Evie a beat behind, glancing around in confusion. There was a twinkling buzz as Finn returned, perching on her shoulder just before everyone began to move again.
"I don't really geddit, but it sure is pretty, isn't it, Evie?" Finn whispered in her ear, his voice awed as they watched each person there kneel at the water and set their lanterns on the water's surface.
Candace and Luke knelt together, and, with shared smiles, set their lantern on the river. They knelt on the muddy grass, Candace completely uncaring as it stained her tartan skirt, and watched it float slowly towards the sea. Luke moved first, cupping her elbows to lift her to her feet. He was already tucking her face against his chest as her shoulders shook. Evie took a step towards them, but Toby's hand on her arm stopped her.
"Sorry, I…I forgot," she said sheepishly, lifting the lantern awkwardly.
"It's all right. Just, give them a moment. They probably understand each other better right now than either of us could," Toby pointed out.
Evie hesitated, but nodded, following him to the water. They were the last to kneel and release their lanterns. They floated quickly towards the rest, as if the other lanterns had been waiting to float away all together. The sun had completely gone, the dusky sky dark purple and heavy with leftover summer day's heat. She watched as the glittering ball of Finn's light bounced from lantern to lantern, like a hummingbird in a garden, when suddenly, more and more tiny pinpricks of light began to flicker into life. A thousand tiny Finns dancing over the river and the muddy bank, and the fairy himself dancing with them and laughing innocently.
How could no one else hear him? They miss so much without magic, Evie realized sadly.
"Look, fireflies," Luke's voice whispered and Candace's gasp followed a moment later.
"It's beautiful. They're here every year, but it's always so beautiful," Mira said, her voice thick and wet and a handkerchief twisted in her hands.
"As amazing as technology is, Mother Nature always finds a way to trump it," Phoebe agreed, leaning her head on her mother's shoulder. Barbara sniffled and nodded, patting her daughter's jade hair fondly.
The little crowd watched in awestruck silence until the fireflies faded away and only Finn was left. An unseen ball of light that rushed to Evie's shoulder.
"Maybe next year all my brothers and sisters can come and dance with the fireflies, too," Finn said excitedly.
"Sounds nice," Evie murmured.
"I'm going to go up to the Spring tonight to tell them and Mother about today. It's all right, isn't it?" Finn asked excitedly. She smiled down at him.
"Yeah, not a problem."
"What was that?" Toby asked from her side. She eeped guiltily.
"Hey, Evie! Toby! Whatcha doin? It's time to go!" Luke called out from where he and everyone else stood further up the shore.
"Sorry! I just got lost in thought!" she shouted back. She grimaced in embarrassment at Toby. "My bad. I must be more tired than I thought."
"Apparently a day of rest is hard on you," he said with a chuckle.
They walked with Candace, Luke, and Phoebe back towards Clarinet. Mira and Barbara had gone ahead, with vague plans to stay up over hot cocoa, and Dr. Jin had walked Anissa home, so it left just the five of them. A grouping that they were well familiar with at this point. They walked mostly in comfortable silence, occasionally breaking it with quiet back and forth about what they planned for the rest of summer. At Luke's excited glee over sleeping in on his birthday the next day and his dad promising him his favorite cake for lunch and spicy curry, too, the others all shared amused, secretive glances.
"Candy, are you staying with Evie tonight? Maybe we can all do a sleepover or something?" Luke asked as they neared Serenity.
The secretive amused glances turned to apprehension, and panic for Candy and Evie.
"That's not the… best idea…" Phoebe tried to protest, a little lamely.
"I c-couldn't possibly. I p-promised Gra'mama I'd be home t-tonight," Candace lied pitifully.
Luke pouted at both of them. "Aw, man… well, if Toby's going your way, you don't mind if I stay over, do ya, Evie? It's been a while since I stayed over," Luke asked with a grin. Evie mouthed uselessly at him.
An arm settled over her shoulders and Toby leaned in close. "I'm not walking back home and Candace needs someone to walk her back," he said with a raised eyebrow.
"Huh? Why can't everyone stay if you're staying?"
"Luke, really?" Phoebe huffed, rolling her eyes hard at him while Candace flamed in embarrassment for Evie's sake.
Not that Evie needed help, since she could probably win against a tomato at Toby's heavy-handed implication. Which Luke got a second later, his bright eyes popping wide open as he gaped. He grinned a second later and smacked Evie's back so hard she almost stumbled to the ground, only Toby's arm around her keeping her up.
"You coulda just said!"
"I- Uh- didn't…" Evie floundered stupidly.
"I better take ya home, Candy. We'll leave the lovebirds to their alone time," Luke teased, eyebrows waggling obscenely and making everyone groan.
Okay, so Evie sounded more like a tire letting out air and Candace was too busy being horrified for Evie's sake to make a noise. Phoebe just turned on her heel, shaking her head, and walked towards Garmon alone.
"You don't h-have to walk me, Luke! You can go up with Ph-Phoebe!"
"And give up a chance to ride the mine-cart at night!? No way. Bye, princess! See ya, Tobes." He whistled like a cartoon wolf and strode away cackling, Candace at his side and trying to hush him.
"You have him calling me that now?" Toby muttered in amazement.
Evie slowly turned and fixed Toby with an icy glare. "That's what we're focusing on?"
Toby raised both hands in surrender and winced. "It was the first thing I came up with! I've spent the night here before–"
"But we never had sex before, Fisher! Which you certainly just implied!" Evie interrupted, fists on her hips.
"I didn't actually say we–"
"Tobias Fisher."
"My name isn't actually Tobias."
"Not the point!" Evie exclaimed, throwing up her hands. She stomped towards her house, skidding to a stop when she heard the plaintive baa of a sheep being woken up. "Fudging fishsticks," she snapped under her breath, veering towards the bell to let in her animals. Finn might have flown ahead a while ago, when the humans had been walking too slow for him, but she was so used to not cussing, she forgot she could.
"Evvy, wait, I didn't mean–! I should've thought of something else," Toby said, rushing– actually rushing– to her side. She ignored him to ring the bell and watch each animal trudge into their respective homes for the night. "You know I wouldn't have done that on purpose. It was just the first thing that popped into my head."
His hand touched her shoulder hesitantly. She grumbled and turned to him, but didn't jerk away.
"I know, and it was actually frikkin' brilliant. I'm just… we never even… talked about it. Not really? Not since the first time you came over, when I said–" Evie broke off and scowled, arms crossing over her chest.
"You said it wasn't completely off the table, but you weren't expecting it."
"Something like that…" Evie grimaced and looked away, frowning hard enough to actually hurt.
"And then you never brought it up again." Toby stressed the you just enough that Evie's head jerked up, still scowling in confusion and embarrassment. He dragged a hand through his hair. "We haven't really talked about any of it, Evvy. I didn't want to assume anything, or push for anything, when we haven't even discussed what… what we're doing."
Evie glanced away, gnawing on her bottom lip. "I don't really want to? Discuss it, I mean. I like… I like whatever it is we're doing. Giving it some sort of name or label? I'm not ready for that, Toby. Not now." The confession slipped from her mouth like a sigh and his hand on her shoulder squeezed comfortingly.
"I can understand that. I'm okay with that, because I like this, too. I'll head home, take the long way, so Luke doesn't see me–" Toby said, his hand falling away.
Hers snapped out in a flash and caught his before he could pull completely away. He startled, frozen in place and speechless.
"That doesn't mean you have to go. I don't want a label right now, but… I wouldn't mind… going farther if you… if you want to, too?" she asked, her smile a little shaky. She wondered if she looked as stupidly hopeful as she felt. Her breath caught as his hand slowly squeezed hers.
"Yeah. I want to, too," he answered, just as softly, with an equally shaky smile.
She took a small breath, forcing her heart to beat again, though now a little too swiftly, and stepped closer. Their noses brushed, a sweet affectionate gesture that betrayed the feelings Evie wasn't ready to say out loud yet, before she kissed him with the same hesitant affection. His arm immediately wrapped around her waist and tugged her close, and she hadn't realized how cool the night air had gotten until all his warmth was covering her, holding her tightly. The kiss ended with a too-loud pop of lips that had them laughing breathlessly, their foreheads knocking.
"You sure? You don't have to–"
"I don't like how you started this, but… yeah. Yeah, I'm really sure." She lifted her eyes just enough to meet his, dazed by the pale green that looked edged in silver in the dim light. "Are you?"
He nodded, his breath warm on her mouth as he exhaled softly. "Yes, definitely."
"I think that's a compliment to me this time."
The resulting laughter made the moment lighter, more like them, and she led him towards her front door. Her heart was thumping too hard and too fast, and her stomach was a coiled knot of heat and nerves. He followed her inside, and she felt… okay. Better than, really. But mostly just not scared. Not nervous or anxious, not wondering in a pessimistic spiral about what happens next or how fast could she get away before it exploded in her face. It just seemed so simple and straightforward and good.
Why was using words so difficult when this wasn't?
A/N: Oops, this was a long one! Longest one, maybe? Until the next one, jeez I'm getting bad. But honestly, it's the two POVs doing it. *nods* ANYWAY I hope you enjoyed all that schmoop and a whole lot of relationship building and heavy-handed hinting. ;) I think it's time I add the second main couple to the tags... I dunno, though. Have y'all REALLY guessed it? hahaha Next update: 1/24/18! That's right, tomorrow! (well, for me!) You're officially all caught up with the AO3 doc. 8D I hope to hear from y'all again soon! Sorry, I left y'all hanging so long.
