Chapter 5

• 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.