Susan's Summer (19 page)

“Thanks for not mentioning Holt,” he continued. “She probably wouldn’t understand, but if she did she would just be upset.”

I nodded. “It’s hard to talk about anyway.”

“I’ve noticed that you don’t like to talk about him,” he said quietly. “The Ceremony of the Vines must have been difficult.”

“Try unbearable,” I said. “But it’s a peaceful ceremony. It’s all about giving back to the earth that you were formed from. Vines just wrapped around him and he disappeared into the ground, looking like he’d gone to sleep. It was very quiet, but since Holt was a Prince it was also spectacular in a way. His designs were blazing like I had never seen before, almost as if he wasn’t dead at all. Everyone was there, even Logan. I’ve always liked Logan, but he has no sense of responsibility. He totally vanished after the Ceremony, and all he did when he was there was ask a bunch of stupid questions about how the Ceremony worked and if it was permanent and a bunch of other stuff that just upset his mother.

“I’m sorry,” said Teegan. “I didn’t really know Holt—it was always more Samuel I hung around with—but I heard nothing but good things about him.”

I turned away, pretending to gaze into the woods next to the path. If I was going to cry, I didn’t want Teegan to see it.

“He was the best,” I said. “It never occurred to me, or any of us that . . . well, that what happened could happen, I guess.”

We walked in silence for a long time. Teegan looked lost in thought.

“And you lost your parents too,” he said. “Seems like more than enough loss for one person.”

I wanted to say something, but my throat choked up. When I didn’t respond Teegan wrapped a comforting arm around my shoulders and I leaned into him for support.

“It’s been nice having you around,” he commented, as he cast a glance up at the sky. “Getting back in touch.”

“Yeah,” I said. “I had forgotten all about the Marchells.”

“Not about me too, I hope,” he said.

I cracked a weak smile. “Not about you. Definitely not about you.”

The days drifted in and out after that. My life fell into something of a pattern, which was a relief after the turmoil of the last few months. Mornings Mae and I spent with Katie, usually outside in the garden. Sometimes Seth would join us. It was nice to work in the garden before the heat became unpleasant.

The afternoons we usually spent lazing around. We might read, or cook, or go into “town” for a little grocery shopping or brunch at the one cafe. Evenings were long, lazy dinners. Teegan would stop by and we’d go for long walks while he pointed out different plants and rock formations, nothing I’d ever really thought about before. I found myself checking my messages less, worrying less about my betrothed and the Roths. Logan especially stopped causing me anxiety. Whatever nonsense he was up to surely couldn’t be that bad. Not that they were ever far from my thoughts—they weren’t—but it was difficult not to be present at the Arsenals’ when wonder surrounded me at every turn.

Every morning I spent with Katie I found myself liking her more. She laughed easily and smiled often. We cracked jokes and told stories about times at school and former crushes. I avoided talking about Samuel, just because he now belonged to one of my dearest friends.

I still wanted to find the answer to my parents’ big mystery, but the desperate need had lessened a bit. I decided that for at least a little while I’d work on letting my future come to me instead of trying to force it to appear.

Periodically I would think about leaving, and as the summer slipped away I finally talked to Mae about moving on. She would gently argue with me, and it wasn’t until I thought about going, packing my bags, getting in the car, and driving away that I realized just how much I wanted to stay where we were. Katie would hear nothing of our going and I didn’t even try to mention it to Seth. He would disappear in the afternoons and not reappear until dinner, later in the evening. I assumed he was up on the third floor, but what he was doing there I had no idea. I wondered about his father, the King, and how he could govern without him, but I didn’t want to pry.

Strangely, there were no more dire warnings for me to leave and my life was not threatened even once.

One day in mid-July I found myself alone, outside in the garden.
Since it was
summer
,
I was always outside. Only if it was raining would I be indoors, curled up somewhere reading. When I heard someone walking through the bushes I assumed it was Teegan, joining me as he sometimes did in the afternoon or evening for a walk. I kept my head down and continued my weeding. I had realized at some point recently that the most consistent thing in my life was weeding. It was a never-ending process. I felt as if whenever I managed to clear one patch another came up, and then once that was cleared it was time to go back to the first patch all over again.

“Nice day to be outside,” said Seth’s voice behind me. I toppled over into the dirt, covering my jean shorts in dust.

“Hi,” I said, smiling at him. The sun framed his face, making it hard to see his eyes, but I saw his teeth flash in a grin.

“Want some help with that?” he offered. I only nodded. That was usually the best I could do when I first saw Seth. If someone had told me that a guy would make me speechless I wouldn’t have believed it—but I’m sure my parents would have rejoiced. He knelt down beside me, and unlike me he didn’t get the least bit dirty.

After we had worked in silence for a while he said, “I used to come out here with my mom. She was probably the only person on the planet who loved to weed. She would be out here for hours. She’d bring a glass of water, and once I asked her why she didn’t bring a radio or something instead, and she said, because the outdoors in the summer was the best music of all. She didn’t even want my dad to read to her while she was here. She just wanted to be present and listen.”

“I wish I could appreciate it like that,” I said, tugging at some green stems. “I just hate the weeds too much.”

Seth grinned. “I know what you mean. When I was a teenager I stopped coming out as much. I told her she should hire someone to do it, but, well, I didn’t realize how much she enjoyed it. Coming out here was her peace and quiet. Most moms get manicures or something, but my mom just loved to be out here in the garden.”

“You must miss her,” I said.

He looked at me sharply and I shrugged. “It’s okay to talk about the people we miss. Maybe we miss them a little less that way.”

Seth snorted and continued to weed. “I wish I could find a way to miss her less,” he said, “but I don’t think it’s possible.”

After a while he said, “How is it at the Marchells’?” He knew I had gone over there, but what I hadn’t told him was how badly I wanted answers to all of the unanswered questions: where is your father? Why are you and the Marchells feuding? Who is my betrothed? Sometimes I just wished I had answers to every question I could possibly ask. Then again, what fun would that be?

“It’s good,” I said carefully. “I like Teegan a lot.”

“I can see that,” said Seth dryly. “Lucky for you the feeling is obviously mutual.”

Was he jealous? True, there was no love lost between them, but I hadn’t realized that Seth was paying such close attention.

Now it was my turn to give him a sharp look. “Actually,” I said. “It’s more than that.” I had decided it was long past time to tell Seth about my parents’ agreement with the unknown family. I realized that Seth, even if he had cut the Arsenals off almost completely, knew lots of Fairies and might just have information that could help me. Our parents had been friends, too.

“So, my parents made this agreement,” I began, not looking at him while I said it. “They made an agreement with another family in a Fairy Court, well it was actually that they betrothed me to this guy . . . I don’t know who the guy is, though . . . or maybe I do. I’m doing a terrible job of explaining this.”

I could feel my face going beet red. Now that I had said out loud what my parents had done it sounded ludicrous.

“Sounds like your parents had an old-fashioned streak,” Seth murmured, without looking at me.

“So, they betrothed me to this guy,” I began again.

“This guy you don’t think you know, because you don’t know who it is?” he finished, smiling slightly as he continued to pull weeds.

“Exactly,” I said, nodding vigorously.

“And then they died without telling me who he was, and now I don’t know, but this whole summer I was going to try and find out.”

“And do what? Hog tie him and make him marry you?” Seth asked with amusement. “I did always think of you as the violent type,” he teased.

“The thought crossed my mind,” I muttered. “I just don’t see why he hasn’t come forward by now. Don’t you think he should want to marry me?” I tried not to sound pouty when I said it, but it was hard.

Seth laughed and said, “Anyone would be lucky to marry you.”

I looked at him sharply to see if he was making fun of me, but I couldn’t tell.

“I think it might be Teegan,” I said softly, averting my eyes because I was afraid to see his reaction. What was I hoping for? Pain? If that was the case I was in for a big disappointment. He didn’t say anything at all. Furtively I raised my eyes and let my breath out in one slow exhale. He was staring at me, his face unreadable.

“What?” I squeaked out. I twirled my hair, a nervous habit from when I was young. I hated the silence and I HATED having no idea what was going through his mind.

“Why do you think that?” he asked slowly. He let my eyes go and looked down at the ground. He had weeded a lot more than I had, and I found myself trying to catch up. His face was slightly red, but I told myself it was from the exertion of weeding.

“I hate it when people answer a question with a question!” I hadn’t meant to snap at him, but I did hate it. He could be infuriating that way.

“You were trying to get a reaction out of me and you didn’t?” he asked, still with that detached curiosity. Since I couldn’t break through the barriers he had set up between us, I huffed and stood up.

“I thought I was telling a friend an important part of my life. Forgive me for assuming things. Again,” I muttered as I started to stomp off.

But I didn’t go anywhere, because he grabbed my hand and held on. I came to a halt and searched his face, now well below mine. I was conscious of the fact that I was wearing a skirt, and should the wind blow with him on the ground. . . .

Red faced, I took hold of my skirt with my free hand and stared into his eyes, willing myself to relax. He stood up, not letting go of my hand, and said, “I hope you find him.” Gently he kissed my fingertips, never breaking eye contact.

Did he? Did I? I just didn’t know anymore.

The heat in his voice made me shiver, but before I could say anything else he let go of my hand and the moment was broken. We walked back to the house in silence.

“Not if it can’t be you” was what I wanted to say to him. But I didn’t.

Couldn’t.

“You’re hanging out with Teegan Hamilton? That boy is YUMMY. I would like him like a lollipop. No joke.”

That was the text I woke up to the next morning. I grinned. My friend Annabelle had a way with words. She was a Summer Fairy in a court in Pennsylvania and she’d been single just a little too long. I sighed.

“Good news travels fast,” I muttered. I was happy to hear from my friend, but I was happy because of something else, too.

I woke up excited that day, and at first I couldn’t figure out why. But slowly I admitted it to myself. Every day I looked forward to seeing Seth. I was happiest when I was with him, and the smiles he gave me, beaming whenever he saw me, warmed me all the way to my toes. I stretched in bed, enjoying the feeling of peace and happiness that had come over me.

I glanced over at Mae’s bed. She was sitting up in it, wearing an oversized t-shirt and a massive grin. She had bed hair, but I was relieved to see that she looked as happy as I felt.

“Sooo, how’s it going?” she asked me, grinning. “You and Seth had a long time alone together yesterday.”

I couldn’t help it. My lips just curved into a smile. I thought back to Seth in the garden and heat rushed to my face. The way he had beamed at me and then just casually walked away. Men! How can they do that?

“So, SPILL,” she said. “Don’t leave me hanging.”

I shrugged. I wasn’t sure what to say. My emotions were such a confused tangle that I needed time to sort them out.

“Can we just hang out today?” I asked instead. “Maybe do manis/pedis? I’m sure Katie would be interested. And I have some note-stone messages to send.”

I had gotten another note-stone message from Autumn the night before, after I had replied to hers. I should have been expecting it, but I hadn’t been. Her messages were getting more frequent, which made me think that she and Samuel were planning to come back soon. The thought both excited and terrified me. Although I could message them, I hadn’t been able to look at either of them since they had gotten together.

Now, if they were back, I would have to, and I just wasn’t sure I was up to it.

Mae must have seen the shadow pass over my face, because she agreed to the manis/pedis idea.

“You aren’t still searching for your future husband, are you?” she asked skeptically.

“Yes,” I said. “I have to find him and I have to find out why he hasn’t come forward all these years. I need to know my parents’ choice. I just do.”

“It won’t bring them back, you know,” said Mae. She could say things like that to me about them. They had been gone long enough and I had worked through enough of the pain so that it was bearable. Besides, I had had a wonderful life for a lot of years after they died. Losing Holt, though, had forced me uncomfortably back into thoughts of losing them as well.

“I just need to know who it was,” I said. I was now no longer so determined to marry that guy, not with Seth swimming through my thoughts, but I still wanted to know who my parents had chosen. I just couldn’t stop thinking about kissing him.

A giggle escaped from Mae and I looked over to see her waggle her eyes suggestively and grin.

“Oh, shut up,” I said, grabbing one of my pillows and throwing it at her.

I wanted more information, so I had mailed Autumn. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to tell her, but she was with Samuel and he would know a lot more about the Marchells than I did, since, as a Winter Fairy heir, he had occasional dealings with them. I wanted to know if Cressa’s suggestion was that of a crazy and unhappy wife or if there was weight behind it, that is, if Mae and I were in danger. I couldn’t really believe we were, because I didn’t think I was in any danger at all staying with the Arsenals, but you never know. The Arsenal Court was obviously small and fragmented at this point.

I opened Autumn’s message and started to read. Instantly I grinned
.

~ ~ ~

Susan—

Sooo, still going strong at the Arsenals
’
? ;) Wow!! *Happy Dance!* *Samuel Laughing at me.* -Pause- MORE HAPPY DANCE.

Anyway, No one has seen the King in years. It has seriously weakened his power base, but given how much he was always respected it still isn’t that weak. The Arsenal Queen died under unusual circumstances, and although no one accused anyone of murder . . . well, they think a terrible accident might have happened that sent Seth’s dad over the edge. Wow, Seth Arsenal? Really? I’m jealous. In all my history lessons recently, the Arsenals always come up. Samuel says Seth was the best Prince. He won all the games and was the kindest. Where Samuel had a temper, Seth was calm; where Holt was too nice, Seth was reasoned and fair. Is he still like that? I’m telling Samuel he’s romanticizing the situation, but I’m not sure that’s true. He seems serious.

On another note, Samuel thinks the Marchell Court is bad news. At least some of them. The King and Queen are kind; too kind. They are too old to govern and Rout is only out for himself. Samuel recommends caution. He says that if you go over there, don’t go alone. They like to play tricks on guests, so be prepared. They also like to make it freezing, just to annoy the Arsenals. Seth doesn’t really have a choice about that at this point, though, because the Arsenals have been so reclusive for so long and the Marchell Court is more powerful these days. Maybe when Seth becomes king that will change, or at least Seth will be able to match them in power, but until then you should be really cautious.

Teegan, huh? Samuel knows him too. He knows everyone. He is standing over my shoulder telling me what to type as we speak. He says his old friend Teegan, who he is sure you will remember, is a good fairy and if you need help go to him. He always liked Teegan, but Teegan and Seth, as the winter and Summer Fairies, don’t get along. You won’t all be hanging out. Teegan was always very intelligent and brave; that’s what Samuel says. When I ask him what he was brave about, Samuel merely smiles. Men! Now he is kissing my neck. . . .

Keep us posted. If you need any advice or any more information, just let me know. Samuel wrote you a brief history of the Arsenals; not sure why except he got really excited when he heard you were there.

~ ~ ~

She went on to talk about what she and Samuel had been up to. The list was short. Apparently they read and watched movies together, cooked, and watched more movies. Sometimes they would go out and socialize with the local Fairies, but that was rare because they were trying to keep a low profile.

At some point they would have to stop that—like when Samuel became king—but that time hadn’t come yet.

“Did Autumn say anything interesting?” Mae asked. She had showered after I did and was now toweling dry her short hair.

“They said I should be careful of the Marchell Court,” I said. “I wanted Samuel’s opinion and I got it. I guess he wrote me a short history of both courts, it’s just like Samuel to do that. When I’ve read it I might have a better idea why the Marchells were so. . . .” I wanted to say guarded, but I knew that wasn’t exactly it. Something more than that had happened. They were using me to test Seth somehow, and to get information about Autumn and Samuel. Since I didn’t know much about what had happened beyond the basics, I felt confident that they wouldn’t get much information out of me.

“Just be nice.” That’s what Autumn’s letter had closed with. If you didn’t give too much of yourself away, you couldn’t possibly go wrong with just being nice. I liked that idea. The Marchells were looking for something or wanted something, and I couldn’t go wrong with just being nice.

“I’ll go get Katie,” said Mae. She dashed away and I was left with my thoughts and my note-stone. While she was gone I made a list of everyone I could possibly ask about my parents’ marriage plans for me. I came up with a list of half a dozen names of Fairies in various courts around the country, all the places I had planned to visit this summer.

At first I didn’t know how to start. I wanted information, but I didn’t want to be rude. None of these people had come forward in the past, which meant that they probably either didn’t know anything or had forgotten. Unwilling to give up, I sent out my messages anyway. Just as I was finishing, Mae and Katie came back.

“So, I have a makeup room,” Katie announced. “Want to see it?”

She was totally bright-eyed and grinning, as usual.

“I’d love to,” I said.

“Did you want to eat first?” she asked.

I shrugged. I wasn’t very hungry. “I’m okay, for now,” I said. “Did you want breakfast?”

“Umm, it’s noon,” said Katie. “I’ve already had lunch.”

Mae and I grinned at each other.

We followed Katie up two flights of stairs, past the library where I had gone to pieces looking at Holt’s picture. That already felt like a very long time ago, so much had changed for me since then. I wasn’t so fragile anymore, and I liked that. Also, having Seth and Teegan in my life helped. They were both strong and kind, even if they didn’t think much of each other.

“We skip the third floor,” Katie explained as we climbed. “That’s where my mom used to spend her time. It was her part of the house, and neither my brother nor I have been there in years.” She said the last part more quietly, like she didn’t say it often.

“I’m sorry,” I said, putting a hand over her thin shoulder.

She shrugged. “It was a long time ago. It was just hard losing my dad too. He couldn’t deal with it and had to leave. I don’t know everything that happened, but Seth does. He swears he’ll tell me someday. I believe him.”

We had reached Katie’s “powder room,” and I was impressed. I had never seen so much makeup in my life.

“You could do makeup for the cast of a movie and be just fine,” I murmured, staring around in shock. There was an entire wall covered with different kinds of nail polish, not to mention three vanities and a bunch of different drawers and counters.

“Isn’t it amazing?” Katie asked, spinning around with her arms spread wide. “I want to be a makeup artist when I grow up. I needed stuff to practice. Besides, now that I’m older Seth can’t keep me from going out if I want to.”

“Has he tried?” Mae asked as she sat in one of the chairs. It was a chair like you would find at a hairdresser’s, black and adjustable. There were four of them, and Katie and I sat down on either side of Mae.

“Haha,” said Katie. “He just told me he wouldn’t drive me anywhere, which effectively ended my social life before it started.” She sighed dramatically as she started to pick out colors for our nails.

“So, Susan, read that bit that Samuel sent you,” Mae suggested, having finished choosing orange for her hands and red for her toes.

“Samuel CHESHIRE?” Katie asked in astonishment. “I mean, I guess I knew you knew him or something, but you haven’t mentioned him. Cooool. I liked you before, but now I think you’re amazing!”

I laughed. “Is he famous or something?”

“He’s a famous hottie if that’s what you mean. Like, all my friends talk about him as the best looking Winter ,” said Katie, grinning and winking at me. “How are he and Autumn doing?”

The question didn’t bother me as much as it would have earlier in the summer. Maybe it was because I really liked Katie, or maybe it was because it was just something I had started to get used to.

“They’re good,” I said. “I’m not sure when they’re coming back, but it’s nice that we can message.”

“I’ll say,” said Katie. “Yeah, definitely read us that letter.”

“I’m not really sure it’s the best idea right now,” I said skeptically, a little sorry I had brought it up. I wasn’t sure what Samuel’s historical summary might say about the Arsenals, and I didn’t want to read something that might be offensive to Katie.

“Don’t worry,” said Katie. “I’m a big girl. I can take it.”