such a situation.” She paused and looked at her mother who was still mercifully looking ahead and not at her. “What was the...variable for you?”
Her mother smiled ruefully. “Rosemary.”
Seylah’s eyebrows shot up. “Mrs. Rosemary? How is that possible?” The woman had been a family friend, a dear one, since Seylah’s birth. There had been no holidays spent in Gold Sky where Mrs. Rosemary was not present, bustling about and ordering a touch more drama to each festivity. Seylah thought of the woman as family, she knew her sisters did too, her mother considered her a close friend, but she had once been a variable?
“People change,” Julie looked at her, leaned close bumping her daughter’s shoulder with her own, “though you may see us as old, we were not always so, and young hearts are full of passion. There was a time when Rosemary was moved in such a way that she was directly in my path, and in those moments I did not communicate. Your fathers failed to communicate, which made everything harder than it needed to be. I do not want that for you now.”
“Hypothetically speaking.”
Julie chuckled and shook her head. “Yes, but that doesn’t mean you should leave it as such.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning that you should speak with August. Your fathers told me the good news,” she held up a finger when Seylah went to protest, “and do not think I will forget your lack of forgetfulness in telling me of your change in relationship with August.”
Seylah rocked back on her heels and gave her mother a chagrined smile. “I meant to tell you.”
“I know.”
“So you know this hypothetical is-”
“Happening in front of me?” Julie nodded. “Absolutely, daughter.” Seylah winced and looked away, eyes sliding to August’s form. “Talk to him,” her mother told her and gave her a gentle push in his direction. “Now,” she said giving Seylah a stern look. “Do not repeat my mistakes.”
“Very well,” Seylah conceded and moved reluctantly off the boardwalk and into the avenue. She glanced back at her mother who gave her a shooing motion.
“Now, Seylah May.” Her mother’s voice was stern, it was the voice reserved for wayward school children and her fathers when they were prone to drama, this was not a request but a command. Seylah’s feet carried her forward.
“Yes, ma’am,” she called over her shoulder, making her mother’s eyes dance with merriment though she kept a stern look on her face as her daughter continued towards August and his female companion.
Seylah was scarcely breathing as the walked forward purposefully. Her mind was not on her words, or what she would do when she was in front of August, simply that she must go there. If she thought too carefully on the particulars she would surely lose her nerve. She was still walking forward, legs blessedly carrying out the action with little input from her and if Seylah could have continued walking she would have done it, she might have done it, if August hadn’t caught sight of her.
“Seylah?” He asked, stepping away from the woman who was still holding onto his arm.
Seylah nodded. “Yes.” She stepped up onto the boardwalk and came to a stop beside him. “Yes,” she said again earning a puzzled look from the woman and August alike.
“Are you all right?” August’s voice was concerned and he was tilting his head to the side, eyes sweeping up the length of her and back down again before they came to rest on her face.
“Of course.” She drew herself up to her full height and cleared her throat. “I’m well, just...ah, I needed to speak with you.” Seylah turned towards the woman and gave her a tight smile. “But if you are busy…” her voice trailed off and she swore she could feel her mother’s glare burning into her back. She would not be pleased with Seylah’s sudden reluctance to speak now that she was with August, but it was more than uncomfortable, it was daunting with an audience to pull August away from. She hadn’t considered this when she had dutifully approached August on her mother’s order.
“No, I’m not busy,” August told her breaking into her thoughts before he turned back to the woman and gave her a quick nod. “It was a pleasure to meet you Elizabeth. I hope your time in Gold Sky is enjoyable.”
Elizabeth returned his nod with a smile. “I am sure the town will be to my liking if the people I meet are anything like you, kind sir.”
August tipped his hat