Page 41 of The Orc's Sweetheart
Because of my time in Cape Easton, I carry some heavy baggage when it comes to city folk. My awful memories still manage to weigh me down at times, and have tainted my experiences with females ever since. Tilly deserves to know more about that portion of my past and why I’ve delayed our relationship from moving too fast sexually. But mostly, she deserves an apology from me for letting my prejudice and my past influence my initial behavior toward her, and almost allowing it to dictate our future.
I want to be done with carrying this load on my shoulders. I want a life without mistrust, where I don’t always question a creature’s intentions, especially those from Cape Easton. They’re not all the same.
Lucille shuffles toward me with a cup of water trembling in her unsteady hand. I quickly reach out and take it from her before it spills on the books I still need to shelve.
“Thank you, Lucille. Just what I needed,” I say and offer the older human woman an easy smile.
“It’s the least I can do, sweet boy,” Lucille says in her croaking voice. “My Lochan always said you were a good one. Before hepassed he told me that I could count on you to help me here at The Dancing Daisy. You’ve proved him right ten times over, always going that extra mile.” The lines around her eyes deepen as she smiles warmly at me and pats my forearm affectionately.
I rub the back of my neck, touched by her words. “It’s really no problem. I’m glad I can help.”
Lochan and Lucille were a fixture in this community, practically inseparable from the moment they met until the cyclops passed a few years ago.
Some thought Lucille might leave Starry Hill to join a society with more humans once she was widowed, but she’s been continuing to run our book and stationery store alone ever since. She even added a small candy section with a variety of treats that appeal to all species. I deliver these shipments monthly, along with her books and pens and papers and whatever else the island requests for her to stock.
“The Dancing Daisy seems to be doing well lately” I say, recalling the large boxes I unloaded for her last week, and the week before.
“Oh, it’s steady as always. The candy section seems to be a real treat.” She shoots me a slow wink and I give her a thumbs up for the good pun. “And luckily, Starry Hill hasn’t been taken by all those computer things, so they still need me and my old shop.”
“I can’t imagine a time where we won’t need you.”
“That’s so nice of you to say, sweet boy, but I’m getting on in age. I’ve been talking to Calla and I think I’d like a Tilly of my own to help out. Or to take over.”
Ma and Lucille have been friends for ages and have a knitting group that consists of only the two of them, despite havinginvited almost every Starry Hill resident over the years. I think Peregrine was the only creature brave enough to join for a short while, before dreaming up enough excuses until they stopped asking when he’d return.
“Are you considering retiring?” I ask, unable to imagine what life would be like without Lucille here in the shop.
“Of course,” she answers, like that’s obvious. “However, I won’t leave my beloved Starry Hill without someone who can take care of The Dancing Daisy. Lochan and I never had children we could pass it onto, though that’s not a guarantee either. Children should be free to follow their own life goals.”
I nod my head in agreement. “That’s a great outlook to have. Have you started looking for someone who could take over?”
“The right person will come when the time is right,” Lucille states philosophically. I’m not sure I know what it means, but seeing how my ma felt about Tilly’s arrival, I’m starting to believe these wise older women are onto something.
I down the glass of water and hand it back to Lucille. “Please go have a seat. I’ll finish stacking these for you before I go.”
“Thank you, Bodin,” Lucille says. “You are the biggest treasure in this community. We all appreciate you.”
I nod and grunt awkwardly at the compliment, unsure where all this praise is coming from, before quickly turning back to the books.
I like my job and I like Starry Hill. Being appreciated is certainly nice, but it’s not the only reason I do a few things outside the realm of my job description. It’s how our community functions so well—we all do a little something extra to help each other, and we all reap the benefits.
Bending down for another book, a familiar smell hits my senses and my mood shifts to something positively jovial.
Tilly is close by.
I make quick work of the rest of the books, not rushing, but certainly not paying as much attention to their titles and genres as I stack them onto the shelf, then quickly greet Lucille.
“Call me if you need anything else, if not, I’ll see you when the next shipment arrives.”
“That’s perfect, sweet boy. Your lady friend’s supplies will arrive with them, so I’m sure I’ll be seeing you both around soon.”
“My lady friend?” I stutter. “How did you know?”And more importantly, what did Tilly order? Should I know these things?
Lucille gives me an all-knowing smile. “I think the whole town knows, but we can pretend we don’t, if you’d prefer?”
“Uhm…” I run a hand along my beard, thinking it through. “Let’s pretend you don’t know for now. I’d like to tell my ma first. Officially.”
“Don’t know what?” Lucille asks and winks at me, then waves her hand in a shooing motion. I clutch my chest, showing her I appreciate her understanding, then spin on my heel and follow my Tilly’s floral scent.
