But there was one place in Candover where Celestine had always felt welcome: the general store and the cosy flat above it, home to her best friend Dylan. His mother ran the store, his father having long since been lost at sea, so Celestine had always had her to look up to as a woman who’d made her own way in their town. Any inkling of class differences was still years off when Dylan had first brought her home from school to play in their tiny backyard, and even when she had come to understand such things, Celestine had never let them deter her.
Portia, naturally, had found their friendship abhorrent. But she had also learned early on to choose her battles when it came to controlling her daughter. And she’d had to accept that the silly little boy was probably harmless. Surely he knew no daughter of Portia’s would ever marry a boy who lived over a store!
Celestine, for her part, had found that idea sounding better all the time. Having already considered it here and there as a girl, she had found herself considering it more and more seriously ever since Mother had revealed the betrothal to Troy, whom she had never liked at all. She hadn’t dared float the idea with Dylan himself, but their recent ritual at the Green Lake had made it clear enough that he was attracted to her. So why not?
Maybe today’s the day, Celestine thought to herself as she turned the corner onto the high street and made her way through the crowds to the general store. She hoped the store wasn’t too busy for Dylan to get away, for the exchange with her mother had Celestine feeling as confident as she ever expected to be to make her case to her friend.
On opening the door, she was pleased to see Dylan was not on duty. His mother was, and she greeted Celestine with a bright smile. “Celestine! What a lovely surprise!”
“Hi, Lorelei,” Celestine said, catching her breath after the brisk walk over. “Is Dylan…”
“Upstairs and lost in that encyclopaedia you two love so much!” Lorelei said. “Go ahead up. Just, if the two of you get off to something, tell him to be back by six for dinner. You’re welcome too, if you’re free.”
“I’m afraid I’m not, but thanks.” Celestine turned away quickly toward the stairwell behind the counter; she didn’t care to show anyone just how sorry she was she couldn’t accept that invitation. But she had to pick her battles, especially where Troy was concerned.
Having been in and out of their home constantly since she was a little girl, Celestine had no qualms about opening the upstairs door without knocking. Sure enough, Dylan was perched on his favourite chair by the window, eyes glued to the latest volume of the encyclopaedia his mother had received for free as a display model. He didn’t look up as the door opened, but said “Hi, Ma,” absentmindedly.
“Hi, Pa,” snickered Celestine.
“Oh!” Now he looked up and flashed that boyish grin that had been driving her wilder all the time lately. “Sorry.” He closed the book and jumped up to kiss her cheek. “I was reading all about Polerma.”
“Haven’t you heard of Polerma before?” Celestine asked. “We do live in a seaport, after all.”
“Yeah, yeah, of course I have,” Dylan said. “I’ve heard a lot about it, so bohemian and fun and they have this crazy idea that women and men are equal. I figured it all sounded too good to be true, but I guess it isn’t! You should read this.”
He reached for the book, but Celestine shook her head. “No thanks. I don’t need to hear about how there’s a place out there where we’re equal if I’m not likely to ever see it. Unless…” Her lips curled into a grin. “You’d like to run away there with me?”
Dylan laughed. “Yeah, how wonderful would that be? But come on, Celestine, you’ve got Troy –”
“Don’t remind me!” Celestine took her friend’s hand in both of hers. “Can’t you see how desperate I am to get out of that mess? I haven’t figured out how yet, but I will. I’ve just got to.”
“If I can be of any help with that, you know what I think of him,” Dylan said.
“Thanks. But look, time’s wasting. I’m here because I heard some sailors talk about going to the Green Lake, and they decided not to. So it might be free…” She broke into a saucy grin, and hoped Dylan would respond in kind.
“Gee, I don’t know,” he said. “I mean, I hate to bring up Troy again, but…”
“He doesn’t need to know!” Celestine replied. “And you know, if I don’t escape, I want to enjoy the freedom while I’ve still got it. And no offense, my friend, but I’ve seen how you enjoy it too!”
“I cannot tell a lie,” Dylan chuckled, and Celestine had little doubt he was getting hard already. “I just…it’s harder every time, looking at you and knowing that’s all I’ll ever get to do!”
Celestine was delighted; here was her chance. “I never said you were only allowed to look, you know.”
“Celestine! We’re friends from way back!”
“That doesn’t mean that’s all we can ever be, Dylan. Come on, can we at least talk about it? Your mother said to say be back by six for dinner, but that gives us some time!”
Dylan smiled and nodded. “I’d love to talk about it. Let’s go.”
Of course they did not talk about it as they made their way downstairs and into the store, where Lorelei was busy measuring coffee beans for a customer. She did notice them long enough to wave goodbye to them both. As soon as they were outside, Dylan said something Celestine had often wondered as well: “I wonder where she thinks we’re going when we go to the Green Lake?”
“Maybe she knows,” Celestine said. “She was young once, too, you know. I’ve been reading about how all those urges and tickles I’ve been feeling, all young women feel them…”
“Gah, I don’t want to think about that!” Dylan laughed and buried his head in Celestine’s shoulder; she laughed and thrilled to his intimate gesture as they stepped up the street.