Serina wonderland's Arc

Chapter 8 of 9

Morning came gray through the bakery window. Cheshire woke on the flour sack and reached for Serina before her eyes opened. Serina caught the small hand. The fever was gone, but the girl's grip was not. Rose stood at the counter, wings folded, watching the hedgehog pastry under its cloth. "I need to go for an hour," Serina said. She kept her voice light. "Rose will stay. I'll bring back soup." Cheshire sat up. Her eyes went wide and wet. "No." "Just to the blue door. You know the one." "No." Cheshire climbed into Serina's lap and pressed her face against the apron. Her whole body shook. "Don't leave." Serina wrapped her arms around the girl. She felt the ribs under the thin dress. She thought of Cole waiting on his step with the wooden hedgehog in his hand, wondering if she had changed her mind. She thought of the pastry going stale under the cloth for a second day. "Okay," she said. "Okay. I won't." Rose crossed to the case and lifted the cloth. "Send me." Serina looked up. "What?" "The blue door. Two streets. I know it." Rose held out her hand. "Apprentice trial. Second one." "He doesn't know you." "He'll know the pastry." Rose picked up the note from the counter. "And this." Serina hesitated. The pastry was hers to give. The words on the note were hers. She had promised to carry both herself. But Cheshire's hands were locked in her apron, and the girl was crying now without sound, the way she cried when she thought no one would answer. "Tell him I meant to come," Serina said. "Tell him a child got sick and I stayed. Tell him the pastry is for him. Don't explain the shape. He'll ask. Say I'll come myself when I can." "Got it." Rose slid the pastry into a paper box and tucked the note under the lid. She was gone before the bell finished ringing. Serina sat on the floor with Cheshire in her lap. She rocked the girl slowly. "I'm here." "Stomach's quiet," Cheshire whispered into the apron. "Mine too." An hour passed. Then another. Serina watched the door. She pictured Rose at the step, holding out the box. She pictured Cole's face when he lifted the lid and saw the small hedgehog with the S pressed into its side. She would not see it. She had given that away. The bell rattled. Rose came in alone, cheeks pink from the cold. She set the empty box on the counter. "He cried," Rose said. "Just a little. Ate half standing up. Said to tell you he'll wait." Serina let out a breath she had been holding for two days. Cheshire had fallen asleep against her shoulder. The gift was delivered. She had not carried it. But it had gone, and he was still waiting, and that was enough for now.