Wow! Hi guys. It's been such a long time. Apologies for the radio silence for the past 2.5 years. I have been busy kicking goals in life, and like the rest of us, dealing with COVID. I can't say for sure how long it will be until the next chapter, but I hope you enjoy.
Sophie returned home later that day tired and worn down from her trip to visit Lettie. Walking slowly into the main area of the house, she could hear laughter coming from the private entrance to their shop. Creeping slowly to take a quick look through the bottle-green stained glass panel on the door, she was met by Michael and Martha giggling to one another – Martha's cheeks were flushed a rosy red, her smile obviously infectious to the boy, who seemed to be impersonating one of the bakers at Cesari's.
Sophie wished she hadn't lingered a moment longer, for Martha drew Michael in closer to her, their lips slowly meeting. Sophie could feel her own cheeks starting to glow as red as a tomato, and she backed away quickly, ashamed at herself for what she witnessed.
'Oh bother' Sophie thought to herself, 'I feel like a prude, and a pervert! Lettie was right, the times are changing and even these two young lovebirds readily do more together than I could ever think of. Poor Howl, he must think I'm a boring little grey mouse.'
Sophie's shock and shame prevented her from wanting to go in and checking on the shop. She couldn't bear the intrusion and awkwardness of even stepping foot in the place. So instead, she stomped back to the kitchen – partially to warn Michael and Martha of her existence in the house, and partially because of her frustration at her failure to embrace the progression of how not private relationships could be nowadays. She hastily fumbled the logs onto the hearth, creating a small, pitiful fire that oddly enough gave off small blue sparks.
Sophie sat in front of the hearth, staring absentmindedly at the flames, and occasionally prodded the logs to try and encourage the fire to expand. As she did this, her frustration turned to smoldering anger, and once again she was in a bad mood.
Just when she thought that she was entirely alone in the room (and God forbid anyone who did enter at that present time), Calcifer swooped down the chimney, disturbing the current fire in the hearth.
"Why do you always have to come down the chimney at such the worst times?" Sophie mumbled moodily.
"You wound me, Sophie. What's put you in such a bad mood – I know you are because this fire looks like it's been drowned!" Calcifer retorted.
Sophie didn't feel like discussing her stupid little feelings with Calcifer, but after some coaxing by the fire demon, she gradually inclined.
"I went and visited my sister today, Calcifer," Sophie began, "And while it was wonderful to see her, I just feel that even though we've grown up together and matured, we're just very different from one another. You know how I feel about certain… topics?"
Calcifer's occasionally nod or grunt indicated to Sophie to continue, "Even Martha and Michael aren't ashamed! You should see what I saw in the shop earlier!"
Calcifer chuckled naughtily, as if he knew something she didn't, "Oh Sophie, that's been going on for a while. As much as I know you like to turn a blind eye to it, I can tell you now that humans have been like that for as long as I've been alive. Strangely enough, you have all been taught that anything relatively intimate should be shamed."
Once again, the fire demon was right. His time on Earth had taught him many things about humans – predominantly that they were both shameful and sinful creatures.
"Surely Howl has said something terrible about me, Calcifer!" Sophie began again, "It's amazing that I haven't been kicked out yet!"
"I can assure you Sophie, that Howl has always, and will always respect your boundaries. He would never do anything to you that you were not comfortable with," Calcifer replied calmly, "you should know that be now – he loves you to the end of the Earth."
At this, Sophie once again blushed, and her eyes retreated to the floor. She knew that both her and Howl had feelings for one another, but her tendency to retreat had often got in the way. Despite Calcifer's wicked humor that often left the young woman with her skin crawling, he did also have his moments where he made Sophie feel at ease with herself. She decided that she had done enough worrying for the day, and laid the conversation to rest.
The rest of the day progressed uneventfully for the household. Michael managed to close the shop and deposit their takings without any assistance from Sophie, who had been quietly meandering in the kitchen, cooking scones for dessert. She made no mention of Martha's visit to the shop earlier that day, for she thought that neither her nor Michael would be able to handle such a conversation.
Howl had been in and out of the house all day, carrying various items from the shed to the study and back again – several pairs of seven-league boots, disgustingly pink cone shaped flowers, and goodness knows what else. From time to time he quietly watched Sophie make her way around the kitchen. He watched her dainty hands work graciously on the dough; her beautiful, shiny auburn hair swished as she moved from one bench to another. Her perfect freckles painted her pale face like a masterpiece, and her ocean-coloured eyes wandered softly around her environment. Her dress was perfectly pinched in at her waist –
He had to stop at this moment before he was overcome with thoughts that he should not be thinking.
Love was such a hard feeling her him. His heart ached with her want and attention, and all he wanted to do in that moment was pick her up and hold her forever. But he also knew that he had to take things slowly. His beautiful, meek, heartful little mouse could only take so much direct affection before she would retreat in embarrassment at his advances. He acknowledged and respected her shy nature, of course, but could only hope and dream for the day that she would be entirely comfortable with his love for her.
Howl was gone again to either his shed or study the second that Sophie thought that someone was watching her.