The Poison Season(63)

In this case, however, it was more than just neighborly kindness. Rosalie raised chickens, and her eggs were usually in high demand. But with the community shunning them, she likely had far too many eggs on her hands and not nearly enough of everything else.

When her mother was finished, Leelo hefted the basket, kissed her cheek, and went out, torn between going straight to the cottage and heading for Isola’s first. The responsible thing would be to visit Isola so she had a witness in case anyone asked after her. And while Fiona had meant the basket as a gift, not a trade, Leelo decided she would ask Rosalie for a few eggs. They were likely to go to waste otherwise, and she knew someone who could use the additional protein. Jaren was growing thinner by the day, and he needed to keep up his strength for his escape.

The thought of Jaren leaving made Leelo’s stomach churn again, but she tried to focus instead on seeing him. She didn’t have the excuse of wine to kiss him today, but she doubted she needed it. Jaren had clearly enjoyed kissing her. She wondered if he’d been thinking about it for the past three days the way she had. Maybe she could get enough of him in whatever time they had left that she could live off the memories for the rest of her life.

But she knew full well that was impossible. She would never get enough of Jaren Kask.

Leelo knocked on Isola’s door and waited. It took several minutes for Rosalie to answer, and she looked a bit harried as she wiped her hands on her apron.

“Leelo, what brings you here, dear?”

“I came to walk with Isola,” Leelo said, even though she would have thought that was obvious. “And I was hoping I could offer you some of my mother’s vegetables in exchange for a few eggs.”

Rosalie nodded and stepped outside, closing the door behind her. “That’s generous of your mother. I was baking and haven’t had a chance to gather the eggs yet. It will just take a few minutes.”

Leelo tried not to let her frustration show on her face. Every minute she wasted here was a minute she could be with Jaren.

Rosalie ducked into the low chicken coop in the yard and emerged a few moments later with a half dozen eggs in her apron pocket. “I can give you three, if that’s all right. One of our chickens was killed by a fox last week, so we’re a little shorter than usual.”

“Three is perfect.” Leelo held out the basket. “Help yourself.”

Rosalie hemmed and hawed over the assortment, finally settling on two tomatoes, a bunch of carrots, and some lettuce. By then, Leelo thought she might leap out of her skin with frustration.

“Would you mind getting Isola for me?” Leelo asked. “I can’t be gone too long.”

“Oh, silly me. I forgot to mention that she left about an hour ago.”

Leelo blinked in confusion. “Left?”

“She went walking. Said she needed some fresh air.”

“Alone?”

Rosalie smiled. “I know. I was as surprised as you are. I think our girl is finally coming back to us. I’ll tell her you stopped by.”

Leelo nodded and stared at Rosalie’s back as she went inside and closed the door behind her. She had seen Isola yesterday, and the girl had seemed no more like her old self than she had a month ago. Was it possible she’d made a complete turnaround overnight?

Leelo wrapped the eggs in a tea towel and started toward the hideaway. Not only did she no longer have Isola as an excuse to go walking, but she genuinely couldn’t fathom where Isola would go on her own. Every walk Leelo had taken her on had been like pulling teeth. Where could she possibly want to spend time by herself?

Fear washed over Leelo like snowmelt. The cottage. She ran, her breathing ragged as she sprinted down the path, no longer caring if she broke the eggs. If Isola discovered Jaren, if she told anyone about him...

Her mind raced with all the possible outcomes. Would Jaren tell her who had been helping him? Was it foolish for Leelo to go to him now, in case Isola was still there? She would know instantly who had been hiding Jaren, if she didn’t already.

She told herself to stay calm. It was entirely possible that Isola hadn’t found Jaren, and if she had, that she wouldn’t betray them. After all, she had done the exact same thing herself. But she might also be furious with Leelo for using her cottage, for putting all of them at risk if anyone else were to discover their secret. Isola had made it clear to Leelo how precarious her situation was, and Leelo had done exactly what Isola warned her against.

She was nearly in tears by the time she broke into the clearing by the cottage. There was no sign of Isola. It was late afternoon, and sunset was still a way off with the solstice having just passed. But evening always came to the cottage early, due to the height and density of the trees surrounding it. The windows were dark, the door closed. Most likely Jaren was inside waiting for her, maybe even angry with her for taking so long.

She crossed the clearing as quietly as she could and raised her hand to knock, when she heard someone clear her throat behind her.

Leelo spun to find Isola watching her, arms folded, her lips pressed into a flat line.

“Isola. I can explain,” Leelo blurted. She heard the door open behind her and felt a surge of protectiveness over Jaren, causing her to back up, as if she could shield his body somehow.

“It’s all right,” he said gently. “She already knows everything.”

Leelo turned. “Everything?” she hissed.