Introducing Bailey, 5066 words

 Nothing very interesting happened today. I realized that I had invented a character who wanted desperately to not be alone, and then I stuck them in a cottage in the woods, completely alone all day every day. I needed to give them someone to interact with (other than Jackie, who is kind of far away). So I invented 'Bailey,' a gardener/guitarist. Based very loosely on a guitar player who comes to the open mic at the Bunker some Wednesdays and who is very charismatic. I want Fenn to fall in love again.

Here's the excerpt:

“The roses aren’t going to talk back,” said a voice from the yard. Fenn jumped about a mile, heart stampeding all over the place, was this what a panic attack felt like? A scruffy person appeared, wearing denim overalls and black wellington boots, and carrying a rake. A navy bandana kept their long brown hair back out of their eyes. “I’m Bailey,” the person said. “I’m using she/her right now, though it’s a bit of an experiment and I don’t know how long I’ll keep it going for. I’m the gardener.” 

Fenn reached out for a handshake but Bailey held hers up to show how dirt-stained it was. She did a little bow instead, with her eyes on Fenn’s and her mouth quirked to the side, as if the bow were an inside joke between the two of them. Fenn bowed back, feeling like an idiot.

It’s funny how you can spend a couple of weeks longing for company, and when a person appears, it can completely throw you off. 

“Fantastic to meet you!” said Fenn. “Is there anything you need from me? I’m Fenn, I’m caretaking the cottage. I didn’t realize you’d be out here today. Do you need the kitchen? Bathroom? Something to drink? I wish I had something like lemonade, all I’ve got is tap water, coffee and tea. And oat milk, I guess. And cooking oil. Oh, I’ve got this apple. Honeycrisp. Yum.” Stop talking, Fenn.

Bailey laughed and said, “naw, I’m good. Got a little sink in the shed for cleaning up out there. You’re all right, don’t worry about me.” There was a little pause while the two eyed each other. “Outside of the house is looking good,” said Bailey with a smile. It was a very nice smile, broad and inviting. Bailey had the kind of face that you could tell was always smiling. Crinkled eyes. Glyn hadn’t smiled very much. They had a gentle smile, kind of superior, kind of pained. And sometimes they smiled like a baby angel just discovering heaven, it was that pure and sweet. But mostly Glyn looked worried. Bailey seemed like they were never going to stop smiling. They had a broadness to them, a bigness, they took up space, they looked around them, they took it in, they appreciated things, they appreciated life. Fenn could just tell.