Serina wonderland's Arc

Chapter 3 of 9

Serina hung her apron on the hook. The half loaf sat on the counter in fresh paper. She had no address for the Tuesday boy, no last name, no street. She had a face and a memory of a coffee shop. That was all. The bread would go stale by tomorrow. She had until then. She locked the front door and walked. She tried the coffee shop first. The barista shrugged. She tried the grocer at the corner. He had seen a tall boy with freckles once, maybe, near the fountain. She walked to the fountain. She waited. A woman with a stroller passed. A man with a newspaper passed. No boy. A small voice spoke behind her. "You smell like proof." Serina turned. A fairy stood on the fountain rim, no taller than a loaf, red petal dress, strawberry hair, wings folded flat. A folded paper stuck out of her belt. "Proof?" "Dough that rose right. I follow it." The fairy looked at the wrapped half loaf. "That one is for a person. Not a shop." "How do you know?" "Paper's tied twice. Gift knot." Serina crouched. "I'm looking for a boy. Tall. Freckles. He buys cinnamon bread from me on Tuesdays. I don't know where he lives." The fairy tilted her head. "Cinnamon pull-apart. Butter heavy. I know that bake." She pointed down the lane. "Two streets. Blue door. He eats it on the step." Serina stared. "You've seen him?" "Every Tuesday. Bird crumbs." Serina stood too fast. Her hand closed on the half loaf. "Show me." The fairy flew ahead. Serina walked quickly, then ran. Two streets. A blue door, chipped at the base. A step swept clean. She stopped on the walk and pressed the loaf to her chest. Her hand shook now. It had not shaken in the bakery. It shook here. She knocked. The door opened. Cole stood in the frame, tall, freckled, brown eyes, a soft smile that turned puzzled. He held a mug. "You're the baker," he said. "I brought you bread." She held it out. "It's half. I gave the other half to a hungry girl this morning. I'm sorry it's half." He took it. He looked at the paper. He looked at her. "You walked here." "I didn't know where you lived. I asked around." "I've wanted to tell you something for months," he said. He set the mug on the step. "I keep coming on Tuesdays because I lose my nerve on the other days." Serina's throat closed. She opened her mouth. Nothing came. "Come in," he said. "Please." She stepped over the threshold. Behind her, the fairy landed on the step and pulled the folded list from her belt. She uncreased it, licked a fingertip, and drew a slow line through a name. Then she looked up at the blue door and waited.