Hummingbird Cove

by Giselle Fox

  Even the air in the room felt strange. Daisy had only meant to ask whether the author of the book in her hand was, in fact, Keira, but then, as she stood there about to ask, she realized a person such as herself, one that had just moved in next door and given an impromptu dinner invitation by the neighbor she’d just met, shouldn’t have any prior knowledge of the initials or last name of her host since it had never been discussed.

  But it was too late. Daisy had already bungled that bit when she’d carried the book into the kitchen. That was the point at which she, too, began to act strange. “Uh, I found these out of order,” she said quickly since it was the only thing she could think of. “Everything else in the library seems to be alphabetized.”

  Keira was off the phone by then and staring at Jane. Then Jane laughed, a sudden, shrill ha-hah that felt completely at odds with the stunned silence. Then Keira laughed, too. And because it seemed the only thing left to do, Daisy laughed as well.

  Jane swept to the counter for a hasty top-up of wine and took an extra long gulp. Keira joined Daisy where she stood at the entrance of the kitchen, looking like she’d come to handle the situation. Daisy followed her back into the library with the K. D. Maitland book in her hand, preparing to pretend she had no clue who K.D. Maitland was. She watched Keira go straight to the right section of books, to the right shelf, without having to look, and remove the other two K.D. Maitland books from the line.

  “You’re right. Um, these should come after,” was all Keira said.

  Daisy watched her make space for the two other books at the end of the impossibly long Kay Ember collection, all of which looked as though the spines had never been cracked. And while Keira was busy tucking the two errant books in, Daisy quickly flipped through the pages of the book in her hand again, since, if it was Keira’s book, she didn’t want to appear disinterested in it.

  “Have you read this?” she asked because why wouldn’t she? It was in her hand after all and somewhere within its pages lay at least one sex scene between two women. That was intriguing enough to make her want to sit down and devour the rest.

  “Uh…” Keira rose from her bent position and scratched her head, a characteristic move Daisy realized she made when she was either shy, nervous, or put on the spot. “Yes,” she said with the slightest upward lilt of a question, as though she wasn’t sure she had, or sure she should have. Again, odd.

  “Is it any good?” Daisy asked.

  “Uh, yeah, I guess it’s pretty good,” Keira replied.

  “It’s excellent,” Jane said behind them, startling them both.

  Daisy turned to see Jane, wineglass in hand, other hand on her hip, wearing a much more confident smile. “You’ve read it?”

  “I have and so should you.”

  Keira let out an exasperated sigh, but Jane followed-up by looping her arm through Daisy’s. She tugged her back toward the kitchen. “Come. Let’s get you more wine.”

  ~~~

  “What if she asks?” Keira hissed.

  “If she does, tell her,” Jane whispered back.

  “Do you think she knows?”

  Jane shrugged. “I think she’s smart. Whether she knows...” she shrugged again. “Anyway, she likes lesbian literature. She should read yours.”

  “But what if...” Keira didn’t finish asking what she should do in the unlikely event Daisy put two and two together and discovered the fact she was Kay Ember, too. Oh, why did they put the books side by side?

  She heard the door of the bathroom open again and took a step away from the counter. She took a deep breath, trying not to look as aghast as she had before Daisy had left them.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  “So, how long have you two known each other?” Daisy asked. They were seated around the dining room table under a cathedral-like arch of glass and cedar beams.

  “Since we were five. We went to school together,” Keira replied. She smiled over at Jane.

  “Oh, my goodness. How sweet,” Daisy exclaimed.

  “Pendleton Primary. I’ll never forget it,” Jane said.

  Keira scoffed. “The only reason you remember is because I remind you every few years.”

  Jane smiled at Daisy again. “She’s right. I have no recollection of the place whatsoever. I’m better with people.”

  “I bet you two have some great stories.”

  “We do, because we also went to high school together.”

  Keira nodded. “That we did.”

  “Do you come out for visits often, Jane?” Daisy asked.

  “No, never. I’m only here to talk Keira into coming back to New York.”

  Daisy did another little happy dance inside. Jane’s timing couldn’t have been more perfect. “Is it working?”

  Jane smiled at Keira. “I don’t know. Maybe once she doesn’t have a neighbor to keep her company, she’ll give it some thought.”

  Daisy looked across the table at Keira. “What do you think?”

  Keira twirled the stem of her wineglass and smiled. “I don’t know. I like it here.”

  “It is beautiful,” Daisy said, leaning to reach her glass. She looked up into Keira’s eyes. “But it must be lonely.”

  “It is,” Jane said. “This island isn’t exactly teeming with available women.”

  Keira shot her a frown.

  “What? It isn’t,” Jane said defensively.

  Daisy looked Keira in the eye again. “Have you always lived alone?”

  “No,” Keira said and stood up. Jane’s eyes followed her. She shrugged at Daisy and then looked down into her glass.

  Touchy subject, Daisy thought and made a mental note to circle back when the timing was better.

  “So… what do you do for fun besides swim in freezing water?” She asked when Keira returned.

  “Um... I work, mostly.”

  It was Jane’s turn to shoot Keira a frown, a frown that said the statement wasn’t entirely true.

  “What sort of work?” Daisy pressed.

  “I’m a, uh, financial consultant.”

  “Oh? That sounds interesting.” And for some reason, hard to believe, Daisy thought.

  “It’s not interesting,” Jane said. “But she’s good at it, as you can see.” She held up her hands.

  “What do you do, Jane?”

  “Me? I’m a woman of leisure, most of the time.”

  “Must be nice,” Keira said, smirking.

  “It is nice because I worked for it and managed two kids and a husband at the same time.”

  “What did you do, Jane?”

  Both Keira and Jane looked at each other before Jane replied. “I worked in publishing.” Jane took another sip of wine.

  “Did you ever… publish anyone I might have heard of?”

  They looked at each other again. “Probably not,” Jane said and sipped her wine again.

  As pleasant as the evening had been, neither Keira nor Jane had offered any more details about the book Daisy had in her possession. Nor had there been any mention of Keira’s last name for her to make the connection herself. Even if there had been, Daisy wasn’t sure she would have asked whether Keira had written the book, since it was clear she preferred to keep quiet about it. That intrigued Daisy beyond anything. Even more than the possibility Keira might be interested in selling her piece of Hummingbird Cove.

  “Oh no, I forgot my flashlight,” Daisy said looking out into the misty black night. She really couldn’t see a thing beyond the first few feet of Keira’s entranceway.

  “I’ll walk you back,” Keira offered and quickly grabbed her raincoat.

  “So glad you came over,” Jane said at her side. “If I don’t see you tomorrow before I leave, enjoy the rest of your stay.”

  “I will. Have a safe flight home,” Daisy replied.

  Keira flicked on her flashlight—a great wide-angled flood lamp that illuminated the entire forest in front of them. Daisy could see her cabin shrouded in the trees, looking damp and miserable. She sighed.

 
Keira smiled at her. “Just let me know if you need anything.”

  “Thanks, I will,” Daisy said. They trudged along the path side-by-side until they reached the end of Keira’s walkway and had to go single file through the overgrowth. Daisy walked in front part way until she lost the path entirely and veered off into a thicket.

  “Here,” Keira said, guiding her back with the light and a gentle hand on her arm.

  “You’ve done this in the dark before.”

  “Yes, I have. Lots of times,” Keira replied.

  “You must have known the people that lived here before.”

  Keira was silent for a moment. “Yes, I knew them well.”

  Daisy decided to wait until the next day before she asked anything more about it. “I really had a nice time tonight. Thank you so much for inviting me over.”

  “It was my pleasure,” Keira said. Her smile returned.

  They worked their way up the slick muddy slope. Keira gallantly stepped off the path into the soggy brush and offered her arm for Daisy to scale the last stretch. “There used to be gravel here, but the rain washed it all downhill.”

  “This place could really use some maintenance.”

  “Yeah, well, I don’t think that will ever happen,” Keira said.

  They’d reached the bottom of the stairs. Keira shone her light up them. “Go ahead. I’ll follow you up with the light.”

  “Thanks,” Daisy said. “Just in case there’s a bear inside.” In the dark, it seemed entirely possible.

  Keira smiled. “Mice maybe. Probably no bears.”

  Daisy climbed up, holding on to the wobbly railing since the steps were caked with moss. She pulled the crooked screen door open and pushed the cabin door inward.

  Keira shone her light inside. “Agh!!!” she shouted suddenly.

  Daisy screamed and jumped backward. Then she realized Keira had been joking. “I can’t believe you just did that!”

  “I’m sorry,” Keira laughed. “That was mean.” She reached around the corner and flicked on the kitchen light. “There, see? No bears.”

  Daisy scowled at her. “I’m not going to sleep tonight because of you!”

  “Mmm,” Keira said. They stood smiling at each other for a moment longer. Then, Keira slid her hand through her hair. “Well, um, goodnight.”

  “Goodnight.”

  “Just call over if you need anything. I’ll hear you.”

  Daisy looked back toward Keira’s house, all warm and inviting. A serene orange glow streamed from the windows. She turned back and smiled at Keira again, readying herself for the inevitable loneliness that would set in once she was back on her side of the cove. Then she remembered the book in her bag and felt comforted by it. “See you tomorrow, I guess.”

  “Yeah. We’ll be around. Once Jane leaves, the cove will be quiet again.” She smiled.

  Daisy watched her walk back along the path through her cabin window. Keira’s big flashlight illuminated everything in front of her. She was about to pull her curtains closed but decided against it. The moon was peeking out from behind a bank of clouds and a thick halo surrounded it. She could see the tops of the trees along the edge of the cove. The water in front of Keira’s house was still and blue-black. The more she stood there, more colors began to emerge from the monochrome palette. The cove was a rich, inky garden of dark blues and greens.

  She stepped outside again and stood at the railing of the old cedar deck. The cove was beautiful. Wild, overgrown, wet nearly as wet could be, and so fragrant with cedar, fir, and pine. It was quiet—so incredibly quiet, except for the soft swish of the ocean on the rocky bank below and the occasional slap of a wave against the dock further out.

  Keira was inside her house now. Daisy could see Jane standing in the living room window, staring out over the same starry, watercolor scene she was. After a few more moments lingering there in the damp stillness, Daisy took herself back inside.

  She filled the kettle and set it on the gas burner, then picked up the K.D. Maitland book and sat down. Hours later, she was still sitting in the same wooden chair with her legs crossed. Most of the lights in the big house across the cove had been extinguished, all except one. Daisy didn’t know if it was the guest room where Jane was staying or Keira’s master bedroom, but something told her it was probably Keira who was still awake. And then, just like that, the light went out and Keira’s side of the cove was shrouded in darkness.

  She went back to her book - a story about a young woman struggling with the path she’d taken. Parents with high expectations, friends and relatives encouraging her to stick with a career she was good at but hated. Daisy knew from the back cover that the main character, Zoey, would eventually find a more fulfilling life after a torrid affair with an artist, a woman that convinces her to live her dreams. Daisy skipped ahead to the sex scene she’d stumbled upon in Keira’s library and read it twice more.

  She tucked a grocery store receipt between the pages to mark her spot. The last half of her mug of tea was cold, but she gulped the rest of it, anyway. She went into the bathroom and eyed the composting toilet.

  Outside, the moon was gone; hidden by the ridge behind the cabin. When she stepped out onto the deck to refresh herself, she could see it glowing back there in the mist. It painted a strip of water out front with pale blue light. Everything seemed so peaceful and serene. Then, she heard a heavy splash on the other side of the cove and went back inside.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Jane sat down on the edge of the dock and dipped her toe in. She recoiled immediately. “I thought you said the water was warm!”

  “It’s the Pacific, not a hot tub. Warm is a relative word.” It was 9 am. Keira was standing at the edge, readying herself to go in. Jane was wearing one of her winter parkas and the loaner rubber boots.

  “How can you stand it? I would seriously die if I went in there,” Jane whined.

  “You wouldn’t die. It’ll wake you up.”

  Jane held up her mug. “Have you tried coffee? It’s made from beans. I’m full of them.”

  Keira took a step down the ladder until the water covered her calves. The water was cold, but she didn’t want to show Jane just how cold.

  “I can’t watch,” Jane said.

  Keira took another step down and then let herself slide into the water. She took a few deep breaths as the chill surrounded her. “See? It’s not so hard.”

  Jane didn’t look at all convinced by the show she was putting on. “You’re so full of shit. You’re freezing right now.”

  “Come on in.”

  “Never. Why didn’t you buy a place in the tropics? You could have found something remote.”

  “But I like it here.”

  “Mmm.” She looked up at Daisy’s house and grinned. “Maybe your cute neighbor will swim with you.”

  Keira wouldn’t have minded that at all, even with Jane there. She paddled a little further out to see Daisy’s cabin better. Just then, Daisy opened her screen door.

  “Wow, you were serious. Is it freezing?”

  “No, it’s fine once you get used to it,” Keira said, trying not to let the chill tremor her voice.

  Daisy walked carefully down to the edge of her dock and sat down. “You’re a much braver woman than I.”

  “Try it. Maybe you’ll like it.”

  “There’s an extra towel, here,” Jane offered.

  “Are you going to go in?” Daisy asked.

  “Not a chance,” Jane said flatly. “Believe me, Keira has tried - oh the currents, they’re so warm, swim with the otters, yada, yada. When someone says warm, I think warm. This, is not warm.”

  Daisy walked down to the edge of her dock and dipped her hand into the cold water. “Um… I’m going to have to agree with her on this one, Keira.”

  Keira backstroked further out. She dove under and came up about twenty feet closer to where Daisy was sitting. Daisy smiled down at her. “How are you not shivering right now?”

  Keira smiled back at her.
“I’m used to it.”

  “Every day she does this. Can you believe it?” Jane called.

  Daisy smiled down at Keira again. “Yes, actually, I can.” Her gaze lingered. Then she tipped her head back and smelled the air. “It’s so incredible here. I can feel it de-stressing me every time I breathe.”

  Keira tread water, watching the way Daisy’s smile settled so easily on her lips.

  “I started the book I borrowed from you last night,” Daisy said, opening her eyes and smiling down at her again.

  “What do you think?” Jane called.

  “I stayed up until three reading it, so that says a lot.”

  “What chapter are you on?” Keira asked.

  “Chapter fifteen. It feels like something is about to happen.” Her mischievous eyes sparkled in the morning sun.

  Keira smiled. Daisy was right. Sex was about to happen. She swam back over to her dock and climbed out.

  “Towel, Madam?” Jane asked.

  “Please,” Keira said. She glanced over at Daisy. She was still watching. Jane noticed it, too.

  “Are you going to defrost on the torture bike?”

  Keira laughed. “I don’t know. I might.”

  “Torture bike?” Daisy called. She smiled at Keira, not bothering to hide the fact she was watching at all.

  “She has this bike where you have to...” Jane mimicked the body motion, looking somewhat like a bug stuck on its back.

  “Oh, they have those at the gym I go to. No wonder you’re in such good shape.” Daisy smiled again.

  “I’d pay good money to have a body like hers,” Jane remarked with a devious glint in her eye. Keira knew what she was up to, but since Daisy was watching, she waited as long as she could before wrapping her towel around her shoulders. “So, uh… coffee, anyone?”