Walter woke up before the sun in order to walk with Harriet down to the shore from their cliffside home. She skipped ahead, then would turn and run back to his side.

“It’s going to rain today,” she said when they were about halfway down the path. She clutched at his hand and skipped at his side. He thought she was probably a little too big to be holding his hand, but he also remembered being young and wishing he had someone to walk with him to school “It’s going to storm. Bad.”

.The wind did smell faintly of rain and he trusted her intuition. She’d been accurate with every storm she’d called since she’d moved in with him. “Is that why you didn’t let Iris out to graze?” Iris was their horse. She was a good mare. She’d never once taken when the breeder had tried her with his stallions. He’d sold her off for cheap and Walter had owned her ever since.

“Yep. She has plenty to eat where she’ll be dry and warm.” Harriet swung their arms in a big arc a couple of times. “Can you not go fishing today?” Her voice was quiet. She clearly knew the answer even as she’d asked and it made him want to give in to her wishes.

“Sorry, young one.”

She scowled at him. “Don’t call me that.”

“Ok. Sorry, old one.”

It was lame and not funny but she laughed, let go of his hand, and ran ahead for a few steps then stood still. She grabbed his hand again once he’d caught up. “Are you sure you have to go? You can’t take the day off?”

He thought of the very few coins left in the box at home. The couple coins that rattled in his pocket that he would hand over to her as they parted ways. “I’m sure. If I catch enough then I’ll come in early so I can set off to sell the rest in Everwatch.”

“Iris doesn’t like being in the rain.”

“Iris is going to have to be ok with it if she wants her daily supply of carrots.”

She hmphed, let go of his hand again, and shoved her hands into her pockets. They were nearing the bottom anyway, so he dug out the coins and held them out for her. She stared at them for a second then threw her arms around in a hug. Her ‘thank you’ was muffled in his own thin jacket.

“You’re welcome. Go. Have fun. I’ll see you tonight.”

She pocketed the coins, gave him a big wave, then turned to run the rest of the way to school. He shook his head at her and made his way to the broken down dock that his boat was tied at. The town was in the distance, flickers of light distinguished it from the early morning light.

Walter got on his boat and waited. A trickle of dark figures made their ways to the boats all docked by town. They waited. Everyone waited patiently for the bell to ring in town. Some days it took a little longer than usual. Some days the skies were too cloudy and the mayor couldn’t quite tell if the sun was up enough. Some days the mayor slept in.

No one dared leave before the bell rang. His boat rocked against the broken down dock. The water crested in small white caps in the distance. The wind blew in, bringing the scent of distant rain, stronger than it had smelled this morning. He thought about changing his mind. Going back to his cozy home and waiting there until it was time to collect Harriet from school. Build up a fire so the home was warm and she could dry off quickly when they got back… But her shoes were tight and would only get tighter. Winter would be here soon enough and she would need a coat.

For the barest of moments, Walter let himself mourn his previous life of general solitude. Then an image of her big smile as she waved farewell at him and the phantom warmth of her hand in his had him realizing how stupid he was. He wouldn’t change the way his life was turning out for anything.

He looked out at the white caps in the distance. He just needed to prove this demon of the sea was gone. He needed to be able to fish at night again. Walter wasn’t sure how they would fair in the winter, when fishing was more difficult and fresh garden goods were impossible, if the mayor wouldn’t let them go out at night.

A clear ringing echoed in the still air. The boats pushed off. He untied the rope and let his sail unfurl.