It was all very snug.
It had been a long time since Corinthia had shared a bed with anyone, and yet she found that she preferred this simple tenderness over any more earthy pleasure she had previously experienced.She relaxed into the moss, closed her eyes, and allowed herself to be soothed.“How did you do it before?”she asked, her voice already beginning to sound drowsy.
“Do what?”
“Make me fall asleep.”
Rosemary was silent, in a peaceful way that seemed to mean that she was thinking about what to say.Rain pelted the trees outside, but couldn’t find its way into the cottage or under the warm tartan blanket.“You have trouble sleeping when you’re not close enough to the forest,” she said.“I just brought the forest to you.”
“Is that what happened to my fence?The forest decided to get a little closer?”Corinthia said, dreamily, feeling a delicious frisson race through her.
“The forest gets excited about meeting new people.”
Corinthia chuckled.“Do you?”
“Do I what?”
“Do you get excited about meeting new people?”
“Yes.”Rosemary had turned her head toward Corinthia to answer, for Corinthia could feel the warmth of Rosemary’s breath on her neck.“Especially librarians who readAlien Space Lesbians.”
With that, Corinthia smiled, and whatever grip she had on consciousness loosened.She was beneath the roof of a green cottage, tucked under a warm blanket, beside a bird-woman; and whatever dreams might be whispered in her ear as she slept, she wanted them all.
18
Inthemorning,Corinthiadrifted into awareness of the early sunlight; the weight of the blanket; the scent of greenery all around; and finally, the warmth of Rosemary, peacefully asleep beside her.She had been dreaming of building a nest, cozy and sturdy, piece by carefully placed piece.
Corinthia turned her head, trying not to make noise, knowing that Rosemary woke early and wanting to claim these remaining quiet moments to gaze at her face without the self-conscious fear of being observed.
Corinthia could not remember when she had first noticed the cupid’s bow shape of Rosemary’s lips.Now, in the slowly gathering light, they looked more perfect than ever.A fondness rose in Corinthia that felt like it was not new; it felt like it had been there forever, a dormant seed awakened at last with the proper application of water and time.
Rosemary stirred.
Corinthia carefully slid out of the green bed and replaced the blanket where she had been, to hold in the warmth.Upon inspection of her handiwork, she decided to tuck the blanket a little more firmly around Rosemary as well.
“Corinthia,” Rosemary murmured.
“Ssh,” Corinthia said.“Go back to sleep.We’ll meet again later, okay?”
Rosemary’s eyes remained closed but she smiled and nestled deeper into the bed.“Okay.”
Corinthia brushed a few bits of moss from her clothes, stepped into her shoes, and took one more look around.
It was all unbelievable, the kind of thing you could never tell anyone, for fear they would think you unwell or a liar.
Corinthia knew she would tell Stevie straightaway.
She opened the door, which did not creak but swung silently on its living hinges, and then closed it behind her.With the cottage at her back the Refuge could have been the same as it ever was, only now she knew one of its secrets, and she was poised to learn more.The thought, like a stack of new, unread books, was thrilling.
And Rosemary needed help.This filled Corinthia with purpose, a potent motivator, for there was nothing more Corinthia loved more than to be loosed in a direction like an arrow from a bow.She could be of so much service, if given a bit of time to think and make lists.
She set off up the hill.
After sleeping in the Refuge she noticed a new sense of direction.She had only to think of a place—the small Ephemeral Wetland, an unusual formation of trees, that patch of wild blueberries—and a silvery sense of it immediately arose in her mind, showing the way.It was the same sense she had noticed on the day of the local author festival, only now it was clearer and more in her command.
Home, she thought, and knew the path instantly.
The morning light turned from silver to gold as she made her way through the Refuge.
