Sal and Willow retired to a quaint little room with a bunk bed.It gave Sal a sense of nostalgia for her college dorm days.In fact, the entire country felt like a strange movie she had seen repeatedly.The memories came to her without warning and made her feel a mix of emotions.She felt high after the events of that evening, probably from all the laughter, the exhaustion of traveling, and the delicious food.Her head was spinning, so she parked her luggage by the door, and as soon as she removed her jacket, she flopped onto the lower bunk.
She thought of Rafa for the first time since arriving at Theola’s home and felt compelled to call him.But what time was it in St.Stephenshire?She mentally computed the time difference.He might be asleep,she thought.She wanted to ask him how he was doing and tell him she loved him.But just then, the thought of Theola’s parents and their own declarations of love and support for their daughter filled her mind.There was so much love in their home.The air was so thick with it, the love almost felt palpable, and curiously, it made Sal feel uneasy.
How did one attune to such kindness when all she knew growing up was the opposite?The only person who bore witness to her hurt was Claire, her best friend, who was now gone.
A loud ping sounded from her phone.It was a message from an unknown number.“This is Harmon Moon.Save my number.Our visit to Intramuros is tomorrow.Don’t be late.”Sal grimaced as her nostrils flared.How did he get my number?She didn’t bother replying.Instead, she saved his number asDemonyo??in her contacts list and tossed her phone onto the bed.
How blurred the lines of attraction and disdain were between herself and Harmon.It was hard to understand how she was so taken by him the first time.Why am I thinking about him?Sal thought, feeling warm suddenly and having a powerful urge to cool off in a shower.
Her uneasiness would be quelled if she talked to Rafa.She reached for her phone again and messaged her fiancé,“My love, I’m settled in Theola’s house.Free for a call?”
When he didn’t reply after she took a shower and readied for bed, she called him anyway.
“H-Hello…?”he answered in a groggy voice.It was like a tranquilizing sound for her restless heart.
“Did I wake you?”she asked.“I’m sorry.”
“No, don’t be…” He yawned.“I love hearing your voice.How’s my girl?”he said.
Sal could feel herself blushing as he called her that and shared about her day.
1..Sinigang is a savory-sour soup with either pork, fish, or shrimp.It is a staple soup dish in Filipino cuisine that has tamarind as base.
2..Liempo is a cut of meat directly translated from Tagalog as “pork belly”
Chapter Fifteen
Hearthstone Library
RAFA
St.Stephenshire
Sleephadbeenelusiveever since presenting the findings of the internal business audit the other day, but when Sal called at 5:00 a.m., he didn’t have trouble answering.Just hearing her voice was enough for him to stay awake.She talked to him about their mishap with the first Airbnb and how their new assistant was kind enough to let them stay the night.He told her he might have to close one of his operations in Portland and then find and train a new operations manager in Ashland.“That would take me a couple of months,” he said.
“You can do it.If there’s anyone who can turn this around, it’s you,” Sal replied.He loved how she made him feel so capable.They stayed on the phone for around two hours until Sal went to sleep.When the call ended, he turned to the side, only to see Sal’s empty side of the bed.
Rafa had stayed at Sal’s cottage in St.Stephenshire.Being in Medina made him feel anxious; the air was thick with unease and distrust there.He resorted to taking long scenic drives, going back to the cottage and the cats each night, and staying over on Sundays.Kimmy and Hana were excellent company, as they had learned to warm up to him.
A loud ring went off and snapped his eyes open.He pressed the stop button on his alarm and rose from the bed.His mornings in the cottage felt slower without Sal, but not in a good way.His feet felt heavy, and his spirits were down.But at least here, he slept better; at least no servants came knocking during the day, and being physically removed from his home gave him some separation from the business problem.But the true reason he spent his nights in St.Stephenshire was that her scent lingered on the sheets, her energy felt palpable in the cottage, and of course, Kimmy and Hana were there too.
“Good Sunday morning, girls,” Rafa cooed as both cats entered the room.Kimmy jumped on the bed while Hana rubbed against his feet.He donned a robe and fed them, then prepared his coffee.
His day was open, but his mind was fixed on the family business and on Sal.He was thinking of ways to fix the operations that caused this oversight.Then there was the crushing guilt of not joining Sal in the Philippines because of it.
Aveline had snapped at him during the last meeting because he couldn’t focus.Your mind is in another stratosphere, brother.It was true.He needed to get it together.Perhaps the guilt over not joining Sal was ruining his concentration.Maybe he needed to do something, and not just about the business, but with Sal too.His shoulders slumped as he exhaled.He wanted to be there with Sal but couldn’t.What good of a life partner was he if you couldn’t be there for her during hard times like this?
At least this coffee is good,he thought as he leaned over the counter and peered at his reflection in the blackness of the coffee.Then an idea struck him.He turned to Kimmy and Hana.“You girls feel like visiting an old friend today?”Hana’s ears perked up and Kimmy blinked twice at the question.He took that as a yes.
***
The Hearthstone Library, along with the Town Hall, was one of the oldest buildings in St.Stephenshire.As a boy, whenever Rafa needed to get his mind off things, he would visit the library.To him, libraries weren’t just about books; they were quiet, safe havens where you could get lost and forget whatever troubled you.He would marvel at the stacks of books encased in tall, beautifully varnished wooden shelves.As an adult, Hearthstone became the inspiration for his home office at Cannon Beach.Admittedly, he wasn’t much of a reader, but he acknowledged the power of books and loved being surrounded by them.He liked to believe that if he weren’t so busy, he would have been a voracious reader.
Hearthstone had an impressive chronicle of St.Stephenshire’s history in its archives, and he would spend his Sunday researching Autumn Town and the history of the land it had been built on.
Rafa took sight of his favorite library and sauntered over to the librarian’s desk.
“I was wondering if you would ever come back,” said the old librarian with a huff.
