“Well,” she said, huffing as she did, clearly put out thatIwas rushing her. “Can’ta mother ring her daughter after not speaking for ages?”
“Of course you can,Mum,”Isaid, as restrained as possible, “but now’s really not a good time.”
“Then, when is?” she asked. “Ican ring you back whenever is convenient for you in your busy schedule.”
She emphasised these last two words, andIunderstood it for what it was– she was letting me know that she knewIwas ignoring her.
“I’m not sure,Mum.I’maway for work this weekend.”
Mum laughed. “Really?Whatkind of work at a dog rescue needs you to go away for the weekend?”
SoPatriciastill hadn’t told her aboutGwenynen.Thatwas for the best;IknewMumwould have plenty to say about a sudden career change, especially to work on a farm, and even more if she knew it was only temporary.
“Mum,I’llring you in the week, okay?”Isaid, catchingTeddy’sgaze ever-so-briefly before she looked back at the road.Iwas just desperate to get off the phone at this point. “Whenare you free?”
“Well,”Mumsaid, drawing out the word as if she really needed to think about it. “Ihave theWomen’sInstitutemeeting onMondayevening, and thenI’vegotWhistwith some ladies onWednes?—”
“Chloe!”Teddyyelled suddenly, making me jump.Ilooked up to see her aiming her shouts at the window, cupping her mouth with her free hand. “Gimmea hand really quick?”
I smiled over at her, even as she kept her eyes on the road. “Sorry,Mum,”Isaid. “Gottago.You’lljust have to text me.”
Mum started to say something about her texts not going through, either, butIwasn’t really listening.Forthe first time in, well,Ididn’t know how long,Ilet myself hang up on my mother.
* * *
The restof us had stayed at the same holiday house last year, soJack, our human pack mule, knew where to take our things when we arrived.Theonly difference was thatTeddywould be sharing withFatima, whilstI’dbe bunking withGreythis time.
After a quick round of hugs and excited chatter,TeddyandIheaded off to set up our vendor tent for the next day.
We’d learned from our previous experiences.Thistime we’d brought significantly more stock, confirmed multiple times that sampling was allowed, and even coordinated with some of the food vendors who’d be nearby.Weweren’t the official mead supplier– people would get that at the bars, and they would be selling bottles at the merch stand– but we were hoping festivalgoers might want to take some home after trying the official stuff, and we knew ours was better.And, importantly, cheaper.
“This should work well,”Teddysaid, surveying our setup.We’dbeen placed near the main thoroughfare, in a spot busy enough to get plenty of foot traffic but far enough from stages to be able to actually speak to customers.Itwas perfect.
“Ready for tonight?”Iasked.TonightwasPirateNight– theFridayevening kick-off where everyone dressed up and listened to sea shanties and drank far too much mead before the real crowds arrived onSaturday.Themarket where our stall was placed stayed shut onFriday, so we’d actually get to enjoy the festivities for the evening.
I’d gone practical with my outfit, choosing a maroon corseted dress that would be comfortable for dancing but was just piratey enough to be on-theme.Wechanged in the tent, which should have been awkward but somehow wasn’t, especially after we rigged up a makeshift changing screen between us with the spare tablecloth we’d packed.Iwas adjusting my hair, using my phone as a mirror, whenTeddy’sfist appeared at the side of the cloth.Shemade a knocking noise with her mouth as she rapped against the fabric.
“Come in,”Igiggled, but my laugh died in my mouth when she swept the curtain back andIsaw her.
She looked likeCaptainElizabethSwann, who certainly, ifIhadn’t already been acutely aware of my own queerness, would have been my gay awakening.Teddy’scostume was incredibly detailed, with a long, brown leather waistcoat, a billowing beige shirt, battered boots, and a tricorn hat that looked like it had sailed the seven seas several times over.Herhair was loose and slightly wild, with braids around her face–Icould see from whereIstood that she’d used the methodI’dtaught her, adding a wild, organic look.
“Wow,”Isaid, definitely staring longer than was appropriate. “Youlook?—”
“LikeI’mtrying too hard?”Teddycut in, but she was blushing under my obvious appreciation.
“No.Likeyou didn’t evenhaveto try,”Isaid honestly, watching her blush deepen. “Youlook so natural in it– it’s incredible.”
“I wanted to be theDreadPirateRoberts,” she said, “butPhilinsisted it was too close to my normal outfit.”
Luckily for me, music started to play from somewhere in the distance at that exact moment, so we made our way to the main stage where the pirate band was already playing.Theatmosphere was exactly as magical asI’dremembered– fairy lights strung between trees, people in elaborate costumes, and my friends, there in the middle of the crowd, laughing and dancing.
I got myself a souvenir pint of mead– not as good asGwenynen’s, but decent enough– and tried to lose myself in the music and the company of my friends.ButIkept finding my gaze drifting back toTeddy.Shewas standing a few feet behind me, her posture loose and slouchy, adding to the dishevelled pirate vibe.God, it was really doing it for me, which was a problem.
She was talking toJackabout something involving a tent, laughing atPhil’sterrible pirate accent, and complimentingMorganon her elaborate kraken-inspired costume.Shewas drinking, too, whichIrealisedIhadn’t seen her do before, and which made her slouch just that little bit deeper.
She belonged here with us in a way that felt both natural and terrifying.
“I love your dress,” a voice said beside me.
