A Certain Kind of Starlight by Heather Webber

Author:Heather Webber
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tor Publishing Group

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

From the Kitchen of Verbena Fullbright

In my kitchen, if I’m using a toothpick to test a cake for doneness, I want to see a few moist crumbs clinging to it. A dry, clean toothpick means the cake is overdone. There’s a fine line between being too early and too late, but all it takes is a little practice to find the sweet spot.

Addie

“May I offer you a seat?”

I startled at the sound of the voice so close to my ear. At the way my body reacted to it, even after all these years. Sawyer. I pulled myself together and faced him.

He had two camp chairs slung over his shoulder, and before I could even tell him yes or no, he took one out of its fabric sleeve and set it to rights on the patch of grass that served as a scenic overlook for the starlight field.

It was fully dark and the starlight above was putting on a show tonight, twinkling like a million diamonds in the sky. But the starlight below was even more mesmerizing. The aurora glowed full-force tonight, the blue, gold, green, and silver swaying in a slow, captivating rhythm.

Somewhere in the light was Aunt Bean and Tessa Jane. I’d lost sight of them shortly after they stepped onto the starwalk, but I could easily picture Aunt Bean’s smile as she soaked in the beauty around her.

“Thanks,” I said to him, not too proud to accept the seat. I was likely going to be here awhile longer.

When Sawyer had approached, I’d been standing, my arms crossed tight, my backside soaked because I’d underestimated how the moisture, left over from the snow, would leach through the blanket I’d brought to sit on.

Behind me, solar path lights illuminated the perimeter of the parking lot, which was near to full. Watching over the crowds that visited the site was the work of four attendants. Throughout the night they manned the parking lot, guided people along starwalk, and regaled tourists with the story of the fallen star.

Before me, colorful waves of light shimmered. I’d seen this starlight hundreds of times. Thousands, even. Yet it was still as wondrous as the first time I’d laid eyes on it. There was something about it that filled the heart, the soul. Something soothing, peaceful.

It was hard to believe that its clarity could ever lead someone astray.

But I knew it had.

Sawyer set up the other chair next to mine, keeping a good foot between us, and sat, stretching his legs out.

Under any other circumstances, his nearness would’ve sent my stress levels through the roof, but I was full of starlight- and kitten-induced endorphins. Truly, if kitten therapy wasn’t a thing, it should be. I’d named the kitten I was caring for Stella, and I was already in love.

It had taken approximately two minutes before deciding to adopt her, but common sense kicked in soon after. Kittens were a big commitment, and I needed to be sure, absolutely sure, before jumping in. Especially since I’d never had a pet of my own before.

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