19. Chapter 19

Chapter nineteen

Fenella

I have a horrible feeling I'm going to break Silas's heart and there's nothing I can do about it.

Or maybe he's going to break mine.

Either way, someone is going to get hurt. The smart thing would be to keep my distance; stop working at the coffee shop. Stop drinking coffee altogether. Forget about star gazing and late nights out in the cold and the look in Silas's green eyes when he said good night.

But I've never been that smart when it comes to men.

I wake up with a surge of excitement that I'll see Silas today.

I meet Edie in Battle Harbour before I go to work, and we run through the stores in record time because she has to be at the pub by noon.

I have to go to work too. I hug that to myself because it feels strange that I'm eager to be at the coffee shop, making lattes and talking with Leodie and catching Silas looking at me out of the corner of my eye, when it's clear from the passive-aggressive comments Edie makes that she clearly wants to do other things than inventory at The King's Hat .

I don't say a word about Silas even when Edie moans about how she didn't take the time to grab a coffee before we met. Even without the caffeine, she flashes through Sara's Sport and Arnold's Attire like she's on a royal mission.

In a way, she is. Edie will be queen one day and she needs to start dressing like it.

I help her with that—making suggestions on colours and styles and what works with her body type and what clearly doesn't. I pick out a week's worth of wardrobe for her, everyday outfits that are her , but elevated just a little more. I find four dresses suitable for special occasions and promise to take her to New York to look for more when my exile is over.

I buy a much warmer coat for myself, gloves and a selection of hats. Even if I stay for just one more week, who knows how cold it will get?

"How long are you staying for?" Edie asks as one of the security guards assigned to Prince Kalle takes an armload of bags from her.

Only in Laandia can the future queen spend a morning shopping without an entourage. I take more people to the shops, and I'm just me.

"I'm not sure." The pictures I posted of the sky didn't go viral but they've been shared far and wide with the caption, "Where is heartbroken Fenella hiding out?"

I'm very glad I didn't include any of Silas or Wyatt. The texts I got from my father's assistant were bad enough, asking if I knew the meaning of under the radar and low profile and overt comments about how the board of Carrington was not pleased with my continual attempts for attention.

I've never liked Assistant Peter.

"I have a favour to ask," Edie says hesitantly as we pause outside Helen's Hunt.

"If it involves shopping, I'm all in."

"A little different, but I think it might help you out as well. I know you have your car to make it easier to get into town," she begins, "but what do you think of actually staying in town?"

"Is there a castle around that I haven't noticed?"

"Not a royal place. Mine. How would you feel about house-sitting for me? Cat-sitting, actually."

"You have a cat?"

All I can think of is how Silas thinks he'd be more interesting with a cat. And then the idea of having my own place hits me like I've slammed into a tree while speeding along in my car, and I hop with excitement. "You have a house?"

"An apartment. And I have Ernie. Kalle has Bertie, and they do not get along, which is why we haven't integrated them. Bertie won't let Kalle out of her sight, so she's at the castle with us. I had to leave Ernie behind at my place, but he's not handling being alone very well."

"Why do you still have your own place when you're living with Kalle at the castle?" I wonder.

"I haven't figured out who to rent it out to," she admits. "And because there's not a lot of interest in living right beside the pub. It can get kind of loud at night. "

"Fair," I say. "I'm loud at night. I mean… that wouldn't bother me."

"It's not the castle," Edie continues, sounding like she's doing her best to dissuade me. "There's no Mrs. Theissen to look after things—"

"Mrs. Theissen terrifies me," I confess.

"Join the club. If you're looking for a change, I'd love if you stayed at my place while you're here to look after my cat." She smiles hopefully.

My eagerness bubbles as much as the steamer at Coffee for the Sole. "I'd love to."

We have just enough time to run over to Edie's apartment. I know even before I step foot inside that I'm going to love staying there. Gunnar is leaving in the next few days for his trip with Stella, and while I've never felt anything but welcome at the castle, it might be strange if he's not there.

It doesn't take long for Edie to show me around. One bedroom, bath, living room/kitchen combo, and a cat. But the idea of staying here excites me.

I've never had a place to myself .

I leave my bags in the bedroom after she hands me the keys. I tell Ernie the cat that I'll see him soon. I don't have time to move my things today, since my shift is about to start and I don't want to be late—for various reasons, none of which are because I'm a punctual person—plus, I've been invited to a family dinner at the castle tonight.

After I say goodbye to Edie and practically skip across the square, I realize that Edie's apartment and Silas's place are directionally kitty-corner from each other.

That makes me even happier.

"How was shopping?" Jem calls as I sweep into the shop. Jem is tall and gangly and looks a bit like a scarecrow. But he seems nice and even more excited than Leodie about me working here.

"It was great," I sing.

Leodie gives me a strange expression. "Shopping in Battle Harbour is never great."

"It was today. Is Silas here?"

Jem points at the wall. "He ran back to his place. Something about needing to check on something."

I'm already backing toward the door. "Have I got a minute? I just have to show him what I got."

I turn to the door even before they answer. "You can show us," Leodie calls after me.

"I will. Back in a minute," I throw over my shoulder. Out one door and in the next—but the door to the empty storefront is locked.

Is there another way in? A door at the back, through the alley like at Edie's?

I take a glance down the narrow walkway.

I'm not going down there. I bang on the door, wait a moment, and then knock louder.

It takes a moment, but Silas eventually appears. "Fenella?" He looks confused as he unlocks the door, with his hair more mussed than usual, like he's run his hands through it. "What's wrong?"

He's wearing another plaid flannel shirt and I think it's my favourite yet. It's the right shade of green with browney-orange lines running through it.

I think it brings out the green in his eyes.

"I need to show you what I got," I tell him, pushing past him into— "You live here?"

The room is long and narrow, half the size of the coffee shop, and covered in a layer of dirt. Thick cobwebs hang in the corners of the ceilings and piles of dried leaves and old newspapers dot the floor.

I whirl around to face Silas. "You live like this?"

"I live upstairs. I use the door at the back. I keep this—" —he glances around— "—closed. Because it's a mess."

"Just a little. What's your place like upstairs?" I ask with a fair amount of concern. If Silas lives like this…

"Much better than here," he assures me, rubbing at the back of his neck. "I haven't been in here in weeks. It's kind of a… yeah. Are you okay? You scared me with your knocking. "

"I had to show you what I bought." The state of the store has dimmed some of my enthusiasm for my news, but I quickly get it back, along with a flurry of ideas. "And to tell you I'll be staying in town!"

"You are?" Silas sounds incredulous.

"Edie asked me to house-sit for her while I'm in Laandia," I explain. "She has a cat, and I don't think he's the devil incarnate."

"You're staying at Edie's while you're here." He deflates a little but still gives me an encouraging nod. "That's great. Ernie needs company. And staying at the castle must feel like a big hotel."

"I'm used to staying at big hotels."

"By yourself?"

"Sometimes."

"Sounds lonely."

"I'm never lonely," I say, which isn't exactly the truth.

"Well, I think it's great Edie wants you to stay there. It'll be like having your own place."

"Exactly. For a while anyway. As long as I stay." I glance around the room again, kicking at a few dead leaves. "What is this place?"

"Not much of anything."

"But it could be." I visualize Coffee for the Sole next door. "Why can't you enlarge the shop? You could tear down the wall and double the size."

"It's a load-bearing wall," Silas explains. "We need it there. "

"Then what about a door? Or maybe…" I suck in my breath and look wildly at Silas. "Why don't you open something new?"

"I've thought of that a few times, but I'm—"

I don't let him finish because ideas are flying fast and furious. "When I was in town after the wedding, I went to The King's Hat with Sophie and we talked about how there needed to be a different kind of bar in town," I say, my words tumbling out. "One for women, with fancy cocktails and a dance floor."

I skate to the middle of the floor, and do a few dance moves. "Coffee and Cocktails," I decide. "You should open a bar. In here."

It's so clear in my mind: returning to Laandia and coming here for a drink with Sophie and Edie and Leodie. Dancing and drinking too many pretty cocktails. All my favourite bars and clubs rolled into one, but smaller.

The room could hold maybe twenty-five or thirty people. It would be perfect for girls' nights out or birthday parties—

"I don't have time to open anything other than the coffee shop in the morning." Silas sounds tired as he runs his hand through his hair, making the top stand up for a brief moment before slumping over. I think that means he needs a haircut, but now isn't the time to tell him that. "I don't have much disposable income to open something new," he admits.

"Then let me do it within your budget."

Budget. I don't think I've ever said that world out loud before .

I'm the daughter of a billionaire. I've never had a money problem in my life. If I want to buy something, I buy it. I treat my friends to dinner, to trips to our vacation homes, my father's yacht. I don't understand when people question prices or affordability, budgets or overspending.

But I do hear the worry in Silas's voice.

"I can pay for it."

His mouth falls open and he blinks at me with surprise. "No," he says quickly.

"But I can. I want to."

"No."

"Silas, you're my friend…"

"Stop saying that," he snaps. "There is absolutely no way or reason that I would let you pay for the construction of my business. Not unless you buy the building from me, and why would you do that if you're leaving soon? I wouldn't let you."

He sounds angry at the fact.

"But…" I could buy the building. Then I wouldn't have to go through Silas's worry to do this.

"No. Fenella, no. You can't buy everything."

"But I can," I whisper. "Okay, sorry," I add as he gives me a furious stare. "You don't have to open a bar or any new business… yet. But how about letting me use the space?"

"What do you want to use it for?"

I think quickly. "A party. A birthday party—for me."