When Worlds Collide

Three

Friday came along much sooner than I had hoped. Work went along so quickly with Mr. Windward wanting baked goods wrapped and into cold storage ready for the Spring Festival this coming Sunday. I had baked, decorated, iced and baked some more until my fingers were aching and sore. Mr. Windward had hired another young girl to help in time for the festival, but it still felt that there was so much to be done. 

"I hear you are having dinner with the Maloney's tonight," Charlotte said nonchalantly as she wrapped yet another batch of buns that had been on the side cooling down.

"Oh? Where did you hear that?" I replied, spinning around to face her. I looked at the clock and the time told me it was four pm, I was due to arrive at the Maloney's for six, I knew I would have to rush to be ready on time, but I was trying not to let it worry me. After all, I did not wish to wed William and did not wish to impress him. 

"Oh please," Charlotte cried, flinging her teatowel in my direction. "The whole village is talking about it, Mrs. Maloney went and told Sheila, who told Joanna, who told..." 

"Alright, alright I get it," I hushed her. "It seems the women in this village have nothing better to do than gossip," I sighed. "I believe that if he likes me tonight, then I am to marry him." 

Charlotte smiled, "William is a good man and the family are quite wealthy, I am sure you will be quite happy and will not have to work here any longer. Perhaps when William and his father head to trade in the city, you will have a chance to go with them!" 

"Oh I doubt it, I'm sure I will be with child before the year is out," I grumbled, disdain clear in my voice. 

Charlotte rolled her eyes, "Oh Phina, I'm sure William will take great care of you. He has always seemed an honourable man. Now take these pies to the front, place a couple in the window ledge so the smell attracts customers," She asserted, passing me the tray of steaming beef and potato pies. 

I wordlessly took the tray into the front of the shop where Mr. Windward was serving customers alongside the new girl, Eveline. I hadn't much chance to talk to her, she had been up front all day and had barely stepped into the back to say a quick hello or good morning. Still, I was sure that she was just shy and unsure of what was acceptable under Mr. Windward's orders. I made a point of smiling at her once I had placed the trays down and distributed a couple on the window ledge, the rest beneath the display cabinet. 

She let out a small smile in return, before returning her eyes to her job at hand which seemed to be something in Mr. Windward's books. Before I could try and engage her in some kind of small talk while Mr. Windward was on his break, the doorbell let out its familiar twinkling chime.

 A girl stepped energetically through the threshold, her gaze on me and a wide smile on her elfish face. Brietta Marin was, for lack of another word, an unusual girl with a tall, impishly skinny body; high cheekbones and wild auburn hair that decided to grow outwards instead of down. She greeted me with a "hey girl," as she studied the goods we had for sale. 

"Hey Bri," I replied, my sour mood feeling instantly brightened by her mere presence. 

"What wonderfully sweet things do you have today dear friend?" She asked, peering into the cabinet. "I am just about to head to the pond for a small spot of doing absolutely nothing and I feel I will need something sugary to help with such a task," She said cheerily with a wink. 

Brietta was quite a character and when she latched onto my arm when we were just children, I didn't quite know how to take her. She was loud, wild and didn't care what anybody thought of her. Her family was from another town, closer to the city of Farkas and had decided on a change of scenery. She had no interest in ever settling down, much preferring to read stories, listen to music and spend time flirting, teasing and winding up the Lycan guards.