“Think again,” he said, on full alert. “A boat is pulling up to the shore now.”
Nix was right.
A small boat was indeed pulling up to our southern shore from Solaris. A middle-aged man stepped out of the vessel, boots sinking into the sandy beach, before turning to lift his daughter out behind him.Kaylin’s family!Quite frankly, I never thought I would see them again.
Edwin had fair skin, tanned from working all day under the sun on his farm. His coppery beard looked longer than normal, like it had been a while since he’d shaved. His daughter Adriel’s hair, a lighter strawberry-blond shade, was messily braided. Did they come to visit Kaylin’s grave? The flowers in Edwin’s hand suggested as much. I took off for the shore to greet them, Nix following close behind, practically nipping at my heels.
“Can I help you?” I finally snapped after I almost tripped over him for the second time.
“Be careful of that man.”
“Who? Edwin? I’ve met him before. He’s harmless.”
“He’s conflicted about something.”
“How could you possibly know that?”
“Fine!Don’t listen to me. I should have expected you’d ignore my advice, just like everybody else.” He let out an irritated growl, slinking away into the underbrush.
I didn’t mean to upset Nix. There was little chance to dwell on my guilt, however, before Edwin spotted me and adjusted his path, striding in my direction. He was a rather tall man. Normally, he cut an imposing figure. Looking at him now, I saw fragility. It was evident in the dark bags under his eyes, in the gaunt lines of his cheekbones, in the agonized hunch of his shoulders. I would have asked him how he was holding up since Kaylin’s death, but the answer was written all over his face and body.Not well.
“Elvira. I’m sorry to show up unexpectedly like this. Adriel insisted we visit for Kaylin’s birthday. And the courier refused to deliver my letter to the island.”
“You don’t have to apologize, Edwin. I meant what I said at the funeral—you’re always welcome here.”
Adriel stood glued to her father’s side. She was only six years old. I gave her a warm smile, hoping to put her at ease as well. “Hello,” I said with a small wave. Shyly, she returned the gesture. Edwin pulled her closer to his side, shielding her with his body in a protective embrace.
An awkward silence stretched between us. We hadn’t spent much time together. At least not enough to feel relaxed in each other’s presence. Adriel had been raised completely separate from me. It was an uncomfortable truth, given our shared connection to Kaylin. It was a thread that should have bound us,but ended up dividing us instead. We were essentially strangers. I wondered if we could even really say we knew the same woman. She had shown us such different sides of herself.
Edwin held up the flowers. “Do you mind showing us the way? It was dark the night of the funeral.”
“Of course. Please follow me.”
We weaved our way through the cemetery. I caught a glimpse of Nix leaping from gravestone to gravestone out of the corner of my eye. Keeping watch on me? The cemetery was expansive. I’d never been disciplined enough to count each individual gravestone. I always lost count somewhere after the hundredth burial plot. There were even a few mausoleums on the grounds. The largest possessed large stone handles, each shaped like a crescent moon. Not one to ruminate too much on my own mortality, I’d never tried to enter any of the mausoleums. I had no desire to sit among the dead.
It took a while for a fresh grave to settle. That seemed fitting enough to me since I still hadn’t fully settled into life without Kaylin. Perhaps never would. The mound of fresh soil piled on top of her burial plot stared back at me as we approached. I hesitated next to the gravestone, adorned with the purple carnation I left behind, uncertain whether I should stay or leave her family alone to grieve.
Edwin knelt down, placing the flowers. “Do you mind if we have a private moment?”There’s my answer.
“I’ll prepare some drinks back at the cottage. Please stop by before you leave. Take as long as you need.”
It’s just a little small talk before they leave.I placed the refreshments on the kitchen table. A chance to make sure they were doing okay. I owed that much to Kaylin—it was what shewould have wanted. It had been over an hour since I left Edwin and Adriel at the gravestone. Surely, they would stop by any moment now…
Just when I decided they must have departed without saying goodbye, the chimes rang out, followed by a knock upon the cottage door. I reached for the doorknob to let them inside. A black bundle of fur came hurtling into my path.
“Don’t let him into the house!” Nix hissed, placing his small body in front of the door.
How do I convince him Edwin is harmless?
“Look, Nix, I know you want to protect me. That’s very kind of you. But Edwin isn’t a danger to me. Move out of the way, please. I need to welcome my guests.”
Stubbornly, Nix refused to move, blocking my ability to open the door. Unless I intended to hit him with it, which I did not. “I need you to move.” I stared him down. He lifted his chin, determination in his eyes. “Now,” I said firmly.
He stood his ground.
With no alternative option, I grabbed for him, forcibly shifting him to the side of the door. Nix went limp, trying to prevent me from moving him. He was too small for it to be effective. The cat now out of the way, I swung the door open. Edwin and Adriel stood on my doorstep with tear-streaked faces. “Please come on in,” I said, ushering them into the cottage.
Edwin stepped inside first. Nix growled aggressively.
