Page 81 of Between Salt and Serenades
The three of us watched the sun set over the horizon, pink streaking a blue sky, as we enjoyed each other’s silence. When Rory, Breena, and I finally arrived in Barthoah, a new life for me and Breena would begin, one without the weight of starvingfamilies or impending war. One full of love and curiosity, of release and surrender.
A new life would start for Rory too, I suppose, now that there was no pressure on him to remain a fisherman or live a life at sea. He could start a mending business or become a witch’s apprentice if he truly wanted. The world was at our fingertips, and it was our turn to decide what we wanted to create for ourselves.
Breena mindlessly played with the little white hairs on my forearm as I contemplated what our next move was. Yet again, we would arrive in Barthoah, and our plan ended right at the edge of the dock. This time, though, fear didn’t cling to this notion—only wildly expanding anticipation and tiny minnows swirled in my belly.
Rory released a yawn, leaning a little too much into his wooden captain's wheel. We’d been out on the water all day, sunrise to sunset, pulling Zellia along as we traveled from one netted enclosure to the next. By the time we dropped her off above the Dreslee, her eyes were heavy with fatigue, but a certain sparkle still shined in them in the dimming evening light.
For a moment, I was tempted to join her. I was tempted to hug my mother and tell her everything was going to be alright now, but this moment would have to wait. Surely, I would see her and my home soon. I would swim with Mai and sunbathe in the Kilkov, but first, I had a life to build.
“What will you do when we arrive?” Rory asked what I was sure we were all thinking. Breena and I shared a glance, an uncertain smile lingering in each of our gazes.
Before I could open my mouth, Rory continued, as if he never meant for us to answer in the first place. “I’ve been thinking, you know. Ever since you two decided to stay, I've been exploring possibilities in my mind.”
“What kind of possibilities?” Breena asked, too curious to let the man continue.
“Before my father passed, he grew very ill. He was unable to keep up with his home for many years, and despite my best efforts, the place fell apart. When he finally found rest, he left me his cottage and the Indigo Tide. While I made the Indigo Tide my life, I haven’t been back to his cottage.”
“You never visited?” I asked.
“Maybe one day, I’ll be able to face my father’s home, but I still have residual guilt waring within me that needs settling before I can return. Maybe after making further reparations to the sea,” he admitted. “And by now, the cottage is surely overrun by nature. With everything going on with the hybrids and keeping my mother safe, there was no time, even if I could stomach the memories clinging to the place like dust.”
“What would you say if I asked the both of you to fix up his cottage for me?”
“You want us to repair your father’s home?” I clarified. My gaze trailed over the fisherman, his sun kissed face tight with apprehension.
“Well, the two of you have skills and no place to live, no source of coin. Seems like a rather fine opportunity to me.”
A sigh rolled out a Breena before she tilted her head and said, “Rory, we couldn't?—-”
“Look, the feckin’ place is just sitting there! He cared for that cottage almost as much as he cared for the sea, and it’s not right letting it crumble apart like it has. I want it to be loved, and who better to love it than you?”
A home just for me and Breena? No more lingering in strangers' homes, crashing on couches, or occupying spare beds. We could fix this place up how we wanted, whatever that may be, having a place to live and love in the process.
I swallowed a lump in my throat as Breena grabbed my hand. No words were exchanged between us, but there didn’t need to be. Our eyes, the way we poured into each other, said everything we needed to know.
“You work on the sea and we’ll work on the cottage?” Hope crept through Breena’s voice as she asked, and she squeezed my hand just a little too hard.
“Sounds rather fine to me.” Rory nodded, a satisfied smirk creeping across his lips.
“So, it does,” I said. “Well, captain, it looks like we have ourselves another deal!”
CHAPTER THIRTY
STONE BY STONE
The sheets underneath me were soft, but nothing compared to the suppleness of her skin. Breena writhed under my touch, but it was I who came apart, watching pleasure unfold across her face. It lingered on her sweat-slicked brow and parted lips, and it danced through the air on her praise. You’d think after months of this—lounging, laughing, and loving in our own bed—I’d have gotten used to it by now, but how did one truly ever get used to perfection?
“It’s almost time!” a voice called out from downstairs, causing my relaxed muscles to seize. Breena whimpered, her large, dark eyes begging me to ignore that voice, and depths, did I want to.
“Be down in a minute!” I yelled back down to Zellia, regret in my tone. My sister had been back at the cottage for two whole days and had already taken over planning our housewarming party. After six months of cottage renovations, neither Breena nor I had it in us to host, but if there was going to be a party, Zellia would be the one to ensure all festivities went swimmingly.
Breena let out a heavy sigh then clicked her tongue on the back of her teeth. “You know you’re just going to have to make up for this later, right?”
Her head plopped onto her pillow, accepting defeat for now. She ran the back of her hand across her forehead, and I propped my head up on her thigh. I could nestle into her for the rest of my life, but I suppose our guests would grow weary of our absence, wouldn’t they?
“Little droplet, we’ve built our home stone by stone, and when we’re done celebrating that feat, I will unravel you piece by piece. You have my word.” Placing a kiss on the sensitive skin of her thigh, I gave her a little pat on the hip. “Let’s go.”
“Wedohave stunning new dresses to show off along with the cottage, do we not?” Breena asked. I nodded slowly with a smirk on my face as I helped pull her from our dangerously comfortable bed. “Fine. I will take that as my reason to vacate this room.”
