Page 50 of The Secret of Drulea Cottage

And yet…what o’ the other home she spoke o’? What made her abandon it?

With Mum gone, ’twill be difficult to find an answer to that. Maybe I never will…

After about an hour musing on thoughts and memories such as these, Briony slipped away from Bethany’s grave and headed home. Her soul felt lighter, and the weight of grief had lessened enough that she could smile again. Just a little bit.

When she returned to Drulea Cottage, her eyes caught sight of the ocean.’Tis so still today. Almost like it knows what day ’tis.

Briony sat in one of her chairs outside and watched the soft waves. An old tune came to her mind, one her mother had taught her as a child. Bethany had said it was part of her Fairborn heritage, as old as Drulea Cottage itself.

The words sprang from Briony’s throat effortlessly, giving homage not only to her mother but to all the Fairborn women of old:

“Now, youthful daughter, beware o’ the sea,

O’ the things it can squander and steal from ye.

Beware o’ promises spoken in haste,

And always keep yer heart, always keep yer heart.

High up on the rocks above the seashore,

A woman sits weeping fer memories o’ yore,

O’ a handsome young stranger whose strange eyes bore,

A fire so strong it made her heart soar.

Where is this stranger whom she did love?

He’s gone to the sea while she weeps above.

Gone to the sea, gone to the sea,

And so she sits weeping fer her lost love.”

A sudden footstep caught Briony’s attention, and she jumped up only to find Santiago a few feet behind her. Somehow he had climbed up the whole hill with only his cane to assist him.

Briony waited a few seconds for him to speak, but the man’s countenance was unfocused as if he couldn’t see her even though he was looking straight at her.

“Santiago, I did na realize—”

Briony cut off mid-sentence as Santiago closed the distance between them and swept her up in one of his arms. Before she realized what was happening, Santiago leaned in and kissed her.

Almost immediately, Briony’s lips responded, moving against his instinctively. She melted into his embrace as butterflies fluttered to life in her stomach. Santiago’s hands grasped her shoulders, drawing her deeper into the kiss, making it impossible to think.

She wrapped her arms around him, placing her hands on his strong back. Euphoria flowed through her body, filling her with the urge to press closer and let the moment stretch on forever.

It wasn’t at all what she’d thought it would be to kiss him—in those scarce moments when she’d allowed herself to think such things—it was far better than that. Her soul was ablaze, burning brighter and hotter than any bonfire the town had ever seen.

I knew it! I knew he felt the same way!The thought exploded across her mind.He l—

But I have to know fer sure. I have to hear him declare his feelings fer myself. Does he care as deeply as I do?She pulled back to ask, opening her eyes—

But he was loosening his arms, letting her go, stepping away.

“Santiago?”

Pure shock shone from the man’s face. He slipped his free hand behind his back as if he feared what it might do next. “Br-Briony, I apologize. I don’t know why I just did that. I—” He cut off, his voice full of regret as he avoided her gaze.