Chapter 4

I was sitting at the table alone drinking warm chocolate milk. Everyone has gone to bed but I just couldn’t find sleep.

“Couldn’t sleep?” I turned round to see mama standing at the kitchen door.

“No” she poured herself some chocolate milk and joined me. We sat in silence just staring at the stars.

“Nevaeh didn’t mean any of the things she said. She’s only upset”

“Why does she have to go. Why does any of us have to go to the beasts?”

“It’s how it’s always been. From the time of your great grand parents till now. We can’t change it”

“And so we have to accept abnormality as normal? It’s like you don’t even care you’re sending your daughter away”

“Don’t say that. Of course I care. I’ll do anything to stop it but I can’t. If we don’t send Nevaeh, the wrath of the beasts will be upon us. Upon the village. Do you want so many to die because we don’t want our daughter taken?”

“Why must Nevaeh be the savior?”

“Other families have sent their daughters too. If they decided to keep their daughters, we won’t be alive now”

I didn’t say anything. I won’t let them take my sister away without a fight.

“Every family that has a daughter expects this from when she’s born. My mother prepared me as the eldest daughter, Nevaeh has been told this…”

“Wait. She knew there was a chance she’ll be sent to the beasts even before the choosing?”

Mama nodded. “Yes. As the first twin. I talked to her about it but I hoped we would not be chosen”

“I’m not letting her go” I dropped my cup in the sink and climbed into bed. How will I get Nevaeh out of this mess.

My hair was brushed out of my face and I opened my eyes. Nevaeh was sitting by my bedside and I jumped up.

“Nevaeh?”

“I’m sorry for the hurtful things I said to you. I didn’t mean any of it. I don’t hate you and I’m sorry I sounded so selfish”

“No. I forgive you for everything you said”

“I was horrible to you” she cried and I hugged her.

“I forgive you. You don’t have to go to the beasts”

“You want to… you want to go”

“No. None of us will have to. I’ll find a way out for us”

“You promise?”

I nodded. “I promise” I didn’t know how I was going to make it work but I was going to do something.

“Want us to go to the bakery?”

“Yes” I squealed and jumped from the bed.

“Let me get dressed and we can go together”

“I’ll wait for you out front” I got into the bathroom and brushed. I took a quick shower and wore a blue gown that stopped above my knees.

Mama was in the kitchen. “I’m going to the bakery with Nevaeh and after that, I’ll stop by Edel’s place”

“Okay. Say hi to Edel for me and don’t stay out late”

“Okay mama” I called but I was already outside with Nevaeh. Our village was a small one and we could reach everywhere with legs so there really was no reason to drive around.

There was a small crowd outside Nevaeh’s shop. They probably wanted a taste of her goodies but unfortunately, they’ll be available later today.

“Guys. Guys. No pastries until 2” I announced and I heard groans but the people started moving away and the crowd thinned out until there was nobody there.

The new equipments we ordered had already been delivered and the workers were already working on the extension.

“I’m so happy I finally got the extension. It’s just sad that I won’t be able to enjoy it” her face fell.

“What? No. You’ll enjoy it. I’ll make sure of it. I promised remember” she nodded.

“Now give me that wide smile” she smiled brightly and I chuckled.

We spent the day fixing in the new equipment and moving some stuffs to the extension.

The front bell rang and I ran to check who it was.

“Paisley?” the girls shouted and I hugged them.

“Who is there?” Nevaeh called from the back.

“It’s Bellamy and Waverly” I shouted and I could hear her making her way to the front.

Bellamy and Waverly were twins. They were not identical like Nevaeh and I but they were our friends. Only they were two years older than us.

“Bellamy. Waverly” she hugged them.

“Sorry we are only just coming now. We had to drop off the children”

Yes. They were also married. They didn’t live in the village but they always visited.

“We heard about the choosing” Bellamy said.

“No. None of that. Today is for celebration and we will not spoil it with sad news” I said quickly. I tried so hard to cheer Nevaeh up and I didn’t want them to spoil my efforts.

“But…”

“No Bellamy. We have pastries to make and customers to keep happy”

“Okay then” and so they dropped the issue while we went into the kitchen to make pastries.

The rest of the morning was spent making cakes and doughnuts and putting them in the display case.

The customers were trooping in before 2. There were a lot of people to serve and even though Edel kept calling, I had to put him on silent.

There was no way I was going to leave Nevaeh and the girls.

After two hours, the customers had reduced a bit and I could leave now. I saw Edel’s text.

‘Meet me at the pink place’

“Nevaeh. I have to leave now. Edel has been calling”

“It’s fine. Most of the work is done anyways. You can take some for him” she pointed to the cupcakes still in the display and I nodded.

Edel loved everything Nevaeh made and I know he wished I could bake as well as she could. Too bad.

I grabbed the cupcakes and put them in the takeaway bag.

“Goodbye. I’ll be back before you close up” I shouted so she could hear me before making my way outside.

“Hey. Where are you going?” Waverly called after me. She was outside with her phone in her hand. Looks like she just finished taking a call.

“I have to see Edel” her face changed immediately. She didn’t like my fiancé. At first, I thought she needed to warm up with him but that didn’t happen.

Bellamy and Nevaeh didn’t like him at first but now, they liked him way too much. But it didn’t upset me or make me uncomfortable. I was happy to know that the man I loved and the most important people in my life got along so well. Well except for Waverly.

“I thought you’ll be spending the day with us”

“Yeah but he has been calling and I promised to see him today”

“And he can’t wait?”

“I’ll only be gone for an hour or two. I’ll be back before the shop is closed”

“Alright. I’ll see you later honey” she kissed my cheek.

“Bye. I’ll tell Edel you said hi” she snorted and I chuckled.

Waverly was not a people person and I think that is the reason she doesn’t like Edel but she respected my decisions and I and she didn’t call him names like she did with others.

I clutched the pastry bag tightly in my hand and made my way to the pink place to see my man.