Hummingbird Cove

by Giselle Fox

  Daisy shivered. She’d gotten a chill on the ride back.

  “Oh my gosh, you must be freezing,” Keira said.

  “A little. It’s the dampness.”

  “Yeah, it takes a little while to get used to.” Keira scuffed at the ground with the toe of her boot. “I threw a couple of logs in the sauna before we left. It should be hot now. It always helps me sleep. If you like, we could-”

  “Yes!” Daisy exclaimed. “Oh my gosh, I would love a sauna.”

  Keira smiled. “Great. I-”

  “Oh, but… my bathing suit is probably still wet from our swim this morning.” She grinned back at her.

  Keira grinned, too. “Well… I could loan you a pair of shorts. Or, you could just... uh…”

  “I could just go in my clothes. Or my underwear. Would you mind?”

  Keira scratched her head. “Uh, no, not at all. I keep towels inside. We could just… go in now.”

  They both looked at the cedar structure standing there in the trees. “Why not?” Daisy said.

  They walked side by side along the path toward the little cedar cabin, silent for several moments until they both tried to talk at once.

  “It sure is nice to have someone to talk to-”

  “Thanks for showing me around tonight-”

  They both stopped, looked at each other, and then laughed.

  “Thank you for telling me your story, I feel like I… understand things better,” Daisy said.

  “Thank you for listening,” Keira replied. “I’ve felt… really isolated in the last few months. Having Jane here and now you has really helped.”

  “I’m so glad,” Daisy said. Going there hadn’t been for nothing after all. It was dark. There was no moon that Daisy could see. The forest all around them already seemed quiet and asleep, except for the gentle sounds of the damp turf below their feet. Daisy could smell the tang of warm cedar planks as they drew closer. Keira unlatched the door and stepped into a sheltered seating area. “Shoes can stay out here. Bring your clothes in if you want to keep them warm.”

  They both kicked off their boots and tucked them under the bench outside the door. Then Keira opened it and Daisy felt a hot blast of dry air rush out to meet them. “Mmm, it smells so good.”

  “That’s eucalyptus.”

  They both stepped inside and Keira shut the door behind her. She opened a little cedar cubby in the wall that held a stack of folded towels. She handed one to Daisy and sat down on the bench along the right side. Daisy sat across from her on the left. Their knees were almost touching. Daisy felt the heat already beginning to seep in through her coat. She pulled it off and hung it on a hook beside the door.

  Their layers of wool and fleece came next. Then socks. They laid everything in neat piles on the benches beside them, not saying a word to each other for minutes. The heat inside the tiny space felt layered with more than just cedar and eucalyptus.

  Then, their eyes met. Keira’s smile was both shy and provocative. Daisy was sure she wasn’t just reading more into things. The somber tone of the evening seemed as though it had turned back to one of flirty playfulness. Their eyes met again. “It sure is warm in here,” Daisy said and then smiled. “Are you going to keep the rest of your clothes on?”

  “I’m not sure. Are you?”

  “Well, I don’t want to be the only one sitting here in my underwear,” Daisy said. “But it is hot in here. Don’t you find it hot?”

  “Yeah, it’s definitely hot.”

  Daisy decided to go for it, removing her t-shirt in a quick sweep over her head. She watched Keira do the same. They smiled shyly at each other again. Sitting in her bra offered only temporary relief. Her damp jeans felt like they were scalding the tops of her legs. She knew it was only a matter of seconds before those would have to go, too. And at the exact same moment, they both rose from their benches, standing awkwardly close in the small space, and began to wriggle out of them.

  Daisy sat down to pull her legs free, then laid them on the pile of clothing beside her. She watched Keira roll her towel and position it at the top of her bench, then lay down in front of her and close her eyes. “Ahh, that feels better.”

  It most certainly did, thought Daisy. She rolled her towel and did the same. “So… you’re here every night?”

  “Not every night. Sometimes I just go to bed and read.”

  “You have trouble sleeping?”

  Keira nodded. “Got a lot on my mind these days.”

  “Mmm.”

  “But the sauna helps.”

  Daisy could feel the truth to that statement already. “Do you ever go for a cold swim after?”

  “Yes, lots. When I lived in Sweden…”

  Daisy lifted her head. “You lived in Sweden?”

  “I did, for a few months. Where I was staying, everyone did sauna. Hot, then cold. They’d run out and jump into the snow. It’s what go me into it.”

  “What took you to Sweden?”

  “Work,” Keira replied casually.

  “More white papers?”

  Keira turned her head and smiled at her.

  “Where else has your work taken you?”

  “Lots of places.” Keira smiled. “Yeah, lots.”

  “Have you ever been to Turkey?” It was the first country that popped in her head.

  Keira lifted her head again. “Sure - Istanbul, Antalya, Bodrum.”

  “For how long?”

  “I don’t know… three or four months altogether.”

  “What was your favorite thing about it?”

  “My favorite thing…” Keira repeated and closed her eyes again. “The limestone springs at Pamukkale. The Hagia Sophia, the beaches in Antalya and the old harbor. In Bodrum, there was this little place we used to go, they served the best Manti, it’s a Turkish ravioli. The music was great. People were so friendly.”

  “We?”

  Keira looked back at her.

  “You said we used to go there. Were you there with someone?”

  Keira smiled again. “Mmm, no. I met a woman there.”

  Daisy rolled over to face her. “Tell me everything.”

  Keira laughed. “What more can I say? She was… nice.”

  “Mm, hm, and?”

  “And, you know… we were close for awhile and then-”

  “You loved her and left her?”

  “I didn’t leave her. I mean, I left, just not the way you make it sound.”

  “Did she cry?” Daisy asked, her face breaking into a smile.

  “No, she didn’t cry.”

  “So, you were friends with benefits.”

  “Yeah, you could say that.”

  “And did you have a friend of a similar beneficial nature in Sweden?”

  Keira’s smile answered the question even though she didn’t.

  Daisy smiled. “I think I’m finally beginning to understand you, Keira Maitland.”

  Keira opened her eyes again and looked back at her. Daisy could imagine those same dark eyes—that same warm, dreamy look—staring back at her from across a table in some faraway restaurant. Then her mind jumped to imaging those same eyes staring back at her across the cozier expanse of a bed. What would it be like to be the friend receiving the benefits?

  The silence between them felt full of unspoken dialog. Daisy laid her head back down on the towel and relaxed, sure that Keira was still watching her. “I had a friend like that once, too, actually.”

  “Did you?”

  “Mm. We still keep in touch.”

  “Nice.”

  “She was my first, actually. She likes to claim the honor of having made me bisexual.”

  Keira chuckled. “You probably were already.”

  “Probably. It was the right time, that’s all.”

  “Where did you meet her?”

  “In Toronto. She still lives there. She has a girlfriend now.”

  “Ever met the girlfriend?”

  “No. She seems nice though, from what I’m told.”


  “Does it bother you that she’s with someone else?”

  Daisy didn’t have to think about that. “Not at all. I’m happy for her.”

  “Mm. Good.”

  Daisy sat up. Her skin felt hot. Her head felt hot. It was time to cool off. Keira sat up too. They looked at each other, knees touching, hands gripping the edge of the cedar bench on either side of them. Now, or not now? Daisy wondered.

  Keira broke eye contact first when she reached for her towel. “I’m going to sleep well tonight.”

  And there’s my answer, Daisy thought. “Yes, I think I will, too.”

  They began to pull on their clothes, and within a few short moments, were dressed again. Keira slid her hand through her hair before pulling on her jacket.

  “Thank you,” Daisy said. “This was a great idea.” She felt a thick sleepiness creeping over her that lasted even after Keira pulled open the door and the damp night air hit her.

  “Do you still have your flashlight?” Keira asked.

  “Yes,” Daisy replied and pulled it out of her pocket. She clicked it on. The band of light illuminated the mist falling around them.

  “I’ll walk you up,” Keira said.

  “Thank you.” They walked side by side up the path until their walkways converged and then forked up the narrow, brushy path that led up to the Brock cabin. Keira stopped at the bottom of the stairs. “Well, goodnight.”

  “Thanks, for everything. The tour, the sauna, and your company especially.” Daisy felt a deep tingle when their eyes met again. She was sure Keira felt the same.

  “Sleep well,” Keira breathed.

  And that was how they parted. Daisy continued up the balcony steps, along the creaky wooden deck, and in through the squeaky screen door until it banged shut behind her.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Through the screen door, Daisy watched Keira walk all the way back through the mist until she reached her house. She waited for the lights to come on inside. When, finally, Keira stood at the window and waved, she waved back to her. She stood there feeling a small but growing excitement budding in her chest and thought of the book she would finish reading, curled up in her bed with no one to tell her otherwise and nothing of importance to do the next morning. A book written by Keira Maitland, her charming and enigmatic neighbor. The only neighbor in that small, peaceful, and breathtakingly beautiful cove. Two nights before, Daisy couldn’t wait to get back to civilization, but now being stuck in the middle of such a beautiful nowhere with Keira was becoming more and more exciting by the second.

  It occurred to her she should let Colin know about the meeting.

  Are you there? she texted.

  A few seconds later, his reply came back. I’m here. How did it go?

  She plunked down onto the couch and then shot up again when she heard a squeak that sounded more living than metallic. Kirby knows who I am. He found an old Boulevard ad.

  There was a longer pause that time. That sucks. Can we talk?

  No reception. I’m using Keira’s WIFI. Then she had an idea. Will try another spot. Call you in a minute.

  She put her hair into a ponytail and slid on her hikers, then grabbed her coat, the flashlight, and her phone. She let the screen door shut quietly behind her and took the steps as silently as she could. She didn’t want to alert Keira of her crazy plan.

  The route up to the ridge was easy to find again. Soon, she was in a full scramble up the slippery face until she arrived at the hanging tree branch. “I should put a rope here,” she muttered as she hauled herself up. Rain splattered down on her from the shaken leaves. “Forest 1, Daisy zero.”

  She worked her way carefully over the fallen log that was wedged into a crevice part way up, sliding over it on her belly to get to the ledge on the other side. Then she found the natural stairs that were cut into the rock by centuries of falling rain. She stood on the top of the ridge and looked out over the flat expanse. The air felt clearer up there. There were stars out in the west. The rain clouds were moving toward the mountains on the mainland. Daisy could imagine them standing tall in the distance just beyond the line of trees that were blocking her view.

  She walked over to the impromptu fire pit where they had eaten dinner together and smiled when she could still smell the coals. She pulled a plastic shopping bag from her pocket and spread it on the ground before taking a seat.

  “Where are you?” Colin asked.

  “On the ridge behind Kirby’s cabin. It’s actually quite nice up here.”

  “Are you alone?”

  “Yes, I’m alone. Who else would I be with? Don’t say Kirby. He put his arm around me tonight.”

  “Did you clock him?”

  “No, but I wanted to. Listen, there’s a new proposal. Most of the island has already signed the petition. They want to bring the ferry into town.”

  “I know,” Colin replied.

  That was a surprise. “You know… okay. Did Kirby tell you?”

  “Didn’t have to. It makes sense. We still want the cove-”

  “Keira won’t sell,” Daisy said. “She’s keeping it for her family.”

  “She has family? I didn’t know that.”

  “It’s complicated. She has a son with another woman. They don’t live here anymore but she wants to keep it for him.” Daisy looked up at the night sky again. “I would, too, frankly. This place is a gem.”

  Colin sighed. “Well, that’s too bad. You might as well come home, then.”

  “There’s a lot of real estate in town you could work on instead.”

  “Already am. I spoke with the people that own the storefront.”

  “The one across from the Marina?”

  “Yep. I think we can get the entire lot. It goes back far enough for another three units.”

  That made Daisy feel better. “I might stay here a little while longer, then. I’m actually kind of enjoying it here.”

  Colin chuckled. “Well, well, well. Okay, keep in touch.”

  “I will.”

  She slipped her phone into her pocket and looked up at the night sky. She saw the flashing lights of an aircraft way up high. She imagined all the people inside, flying off to whatever destination; some of them going on vacation, some of them going home. She took a deep breath of the fresh night air. There was no reason to stay up there now that her work was done, but she laid back and looked up at the stars. “A skylight here would be perfect.”

  The climb down from the ridge wasn’t as easy, but after finding her way, she broke through the bushes behind the cabin. She went inside and boiled enough water to fill her thermal mug, then she tucked herself into a wedge of pillows with blankets pulled up to her chin.

  It wasn’t until the early hours of the morning that she finished Keira’s book. The main character, Zoey, had been so relatable that Daisy had to know how her story would end before she fell asleep. As she’d guessed, Zoey’s relationship with Andi, the artist, had been doomed from the start. But there was a happy ending, nevertheless, with Zoey finally embracing her true nature and following her passion. The tone, the phrasing, everything about the book seemed to reflect Keira’s personality.

  Daisy imagined Keira as the young Zoey, moving to New York and finding a tribe of creators and artists, all vying for relevance as though their lives depended on it. She imagined Keira walking into the club for the first time and seeing Andi dance. She remembered what that had been like the first time she’d been captivated by a woman. Contrary to what her ex in Toronto might have thought, it had happened years before.

  She had enrolled in a writing workshop. The teacher had invited one of her friends—a working journalist—to come in and speak. The lecture had fascinated Daisy, but more fascinating was the woman herself. From the moment she’d walked in the room, she’d zeroed in on Daisy. It had felt aggressive at first, until Daisy realized she liked it. By the end of the class, she was a confused mess. From that moment on, she’d looked at women in entirely different ways.

 
Now here she was again, captivated by Keira, the strong, secretive, and wealthy writer slash financial analyst. Keira had the confidence of a woman that had built her world from the ground up, and the pain of someone that had experienced a profound loss. But something still didn’t add up. There was more to the story, Daisy was sure. Why would anyone that had written three published books want to hide it, for example? And something just didn’t jibe about her work. It all warranted further investigation.

  Daisy pulled her laptop over and waited patiently while it tried to connect to the internet. When that proved futile, she stood by the living room window with the laptop raised in the air, hoping to catch a fly-by signal. When that didn’t help, she grabbed her coat and a folding lawn chair and went outside again.

  At the bottom of the stairs, nested between a soggy bush and the slippery rock face that dropped off into watery oblivion, she searched for K.D. Maitland, Keira Maitland, the title of the book she’d just finished reading, and anything else that might point to Keira, the author. But when that yielded nothing, she searched for Keira Maitland the financial consultant—checking LinkdIn and every other place she could think of. By that time, a cold damp mist had settled on her laptop. It was time to go inside before it died in a flash of sparks.

  Nested inside her warm dry sheets, she did a mental recap of the evening. Kirby getting handsy (ick). Keira in her underwear (delish). Keira’s body. Keira’s eyes—those dreamy brown eyes. They had stories behind them. Scenes. Adult scenes. Daisy moaned in the silence. “I’m in a cabin in the woods, the perfect place to have obnoxiously loud sex, but here I am... alone with the mice.”

  She leaped out of bed and went to the window. “Are you awake, Keira?” she whispered. She hoped that would conjure her. Alas, every light in Keira’s house was off.

  Daisy pouted. “Are you dreaming of me, at least?” A smile crept slowly across her face. Somehow she knew that, yes, Keira was dreaming of her, or at least had been before she’d fallen asleep. That was all Daisy needed.

  She went to her suitcase and flipped it open. “In a few hours, I’m going swimming. Which bathing suit should I wear?”