Bram Stevenson took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. It was a bad habit he’d picked up over the last month, as life continued to dogpile him. That wasn’t to say things were bad. Other than not seeing or hearing from Wil for months, life was actually great. Better than it had ever been, in fact.

After things stabilized, it was Wiseman Brewing that helped keep the peace. Their steady mix of both human and fae customers, and the relationships made over time made for a lifeline in the community. People clung to it and shared drinks and medicine with their fae neighbors. Business boomed until he had no choice but to expand things. When Wil didn’t come home, what else could he do?

More money came in than Bram ever expected to see, and it was on him to keep up the supply of potions and beer. He had employees now to follow his recipe for their drinks, but no one else but him could brew potions. After a long winter full of injuries and a bad case of the cold going around, supplies dwindled down to nothing. He’d need to place several orders from different vendors, and also arrange to pay his dozen workers.

“Hey Bram, the Lanes are putting in an order for contraceptives and disinfectants,” said Gerald the hobgoblin, shaking Bram from his thoughts. “They’re not the only ones. Seems you humans got a case of spring fever.”

“Dammit.” Bram put his glasses back on. “Tell them we’re not able to fill it for another week or two.”

“We’re really running low, aren’t we? What’s the hold up? Isn’t Darlene keeping up her end of things?” Gerald didn’t sound accusatory, so much as curious. Bram still got annoyed.

“Given her condition, she’s due some leeway and patience. I’ll go talk to her today and sort things out.” Seeing her would ease his mind. Despite working together, it had been three days since Bram and Darlene had gotten a meal together and talked business.

“Right,” said the hob, scratching under his drooping jowls. “We’re also running low on a related potion. The one for men.”

Bram sighed. Spring fever indeed. “I’ll brew another batch of that right away. I think we should shut down the pharmacy for today. Is the brewery crowded as well?”

“What do you think?” Gerald snorted. It made his jowls puff up.

“We’re running low on beef and bottles,” Bram muttered, rubbing his temples again. He stood, his knees protesting loudly. “I’ll take care of that as well. Don’t be afraid to close early if we run out of anything.”

“We’re going to need to expand again soon,” said Gerald. “We can’t keep up with the demand.”

Bram nodded and gathered up some papers on his desk. He put them in a folder that he tucked under his arm, and left the downstairs office. On a second thought, he popped out the backdoor and took the long way away from the repurposed barn where they served beer and snacks. Billy-Ray and Elmer raised bottles in a silent toast. He waved at them and walked away from the bustling business.

The popularity had come as something of a surprise. It seemed absurd, how well they were doing for a new venture, and with the controversy of the fae presence. Things weren’t perfect now, but it seemed most of the town was tentatively pro fae. The younger half of town flocked to Bram’s brewery and the McKenzie place. They even came to see Wil’s house, despite him being gone for months.

That’s where Bram headed. Bram’s home was on the northeastern side of town, not too far off from the border with Gallard Springs. It wasn’t a long walk to Wil’s house, overall, but with the streets so busy the trip dragged on.

They had tourists now, and people rushing to be the first to move to Harper Valley before the fae presence settled and trade picked up. The roads often had carts and carriages, and even the occasional car from Manifee City, wizard included. That had been the strangest thing to adjust to: Harper Valley now had multiple wizards.

None of them served the community directly, but they came to study and trade for faricite and fae baubles. One of them had even set up a rival potion selling business, but Bram was relieved that the demand had gone down. Things had been nonstop for months now.

With a decent bit of luck, no one stopped Bram on the way there. Though two people he didn’t recognize stood outside Wil’s house, one with a camera. They set the picture up. Bram stood in front of it right as it went off.

“Hey, what’s the big idea!” A middle aged woman snarled at him.

“I could ask the same thing of you!” Bram shot back. “Why are you taking pictures of my friend’s house? Get the hell out of here.”

“Ain’t no law against taking pictures of anything we want,” her wiry companion said with a sneer.

Bram raised up to his full height and cracked his knuckles. He smiled. In the past he’d never have been this assertive, but the tourists were terribly rude and all seemed to think the town was theirs.

“On second thought,” the wiry man said, looking up. “We should pack up.”

“Harold, you coward!”

Harold picked up the camera and walked away, refusing to meet Bram’s gaze. His partner followed after him, chewing him out the entire time. She looked over her shoulder at him one last time before they disappeared down the road.

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Bram shook his head. He didn’t know how Darlene did it. All the people who came to snoop around drove him nuts. There’d been three break-ins in the past two months. Things were hectic at the brewery, but no one dared trespass. He walked up to the door and reached for the doorknob when it opened.

“Oh, hi Bram.” Mayor Bob McKenzie stepped out the front, closing the door behind him. “How’re you doing today?”

“Tired, stressed, and irritated at the disrespectful new faces.” Bram made a face and chuckled.

“I hear you,” said Bob. “I’m up to my ass in people trying to suck up to me to speed up permits or property purchases. And that’s nothing compared to the vultures trying to snatch up every house they can before folks realize what they can charge for it. Amazing how fast things change, huh?”

“Do you regret winning the race?” Bram had always wanted to ask, and had never gotten a chance before then.

“Not at all,” Bob let out a short bark of laughter. “Can you imagine how much worse things would be under Sinclair? He’d use this as a chance to get what he could before quitting rich. I’m glad it’s me fighting for people. I’m not going to let anyone take advantage of my neighbors if I can help it.”

Bram nodded, grateful for his friend’s father. “What are you doing here? Checking up on Darlene?”

Bob’s smile faded. “Yeah. I’m not sure I like her living here alone, but she insists and it’s not like we can force her to accept a babysitter. Best I can do is post a deputy near here in case anyone else tries to force their way inside. You still have his most valuable books?”

“I sure do,” said Bram, grinning like a fool. “It’s been a joy going through them all. I may not be able to do much, but I’ve learned a lot and I think when Wil comes back, he’ll be impressed. Any word on him coming back?”

“No,” Bob sighed, “not yet. I’ve sent letter after letter, but almost all of them got ignored. They finally responded a couple weeks ago telling me Wil is fine and that the investigation will be concluded when it’s concluded. Basically, ‘stop asking’. But at least they’re confirming he’s alive and not been sentenced or anything.”

It didn’t really make Bram feel better, but he supposed it was better than nothing. “I appreciate you asking. Is there anything I can do to make things easier?”

“Get me a few bottles of barleywine?” Bob laughed and patted Bram’s shoulder as he headed off. “Come to dinner tomorrow. Bring Darlene if you can. Sharon’s going to want to fuss over her and make sure she’s okay.”

“If I can,” Bram chuckled. He turned and went inside without knocking.

Wil had never been too keen on decorating, but Darlene was different. She’d re-arranged the living room to be more open and comfortable, better for hosting guests. Wil’s office remained mostly untouched, though the rarer books and the paperwork for his job were moved. The kitchen was now stocked, and the upstairs had a sitting area for reading in private.

“Darlene?” He called out. “You upstairs?”

“In the kitchen,” she shouted back. “I’m coming.”

“That’s not necessary, I’ll come to you, and -- oh.”

Darlene waddled into the room, grimacing from the pain in her feet and back. One hand cradled her stomach protectively. As far as Bram was concerned, she carried the weight gracefully, but she was five months along and round.

“I’m pregnant, Bram, not helpless. Not yet.” She made her way over to Wil’s favorite plush armchair and carefully lowered herself into it. “What’s up?”

“A couple of things,” said Bram, sitting on the loveseat opposite her. He took up the entire thing on his own. “But first, how are you doing? You getting enough rest?”

Darlene rolled her eyes. “I swear to the gods, if people don’t stop asking me how I’m doing I’m going to lose it. I’m not fragile, I’m not lonely, and I’m handling everything fine!”

Bram held up the folder he’d brought with him. “We’re almost out of several key ingredients for productions, and I’m told that payday was a day late this last week.”

Her expression fell. “Okay,” she said with a sigh, “maybe I’m a bit behind. But it’s not because I’m pregnant!”

“Then why is it?” Bram asked. “If there’s anything I could be doing to help make things easier for you, I want to do it. I don’t think you’re helpless or weak or anything. I just want to help my friend breathe a little easier.”

Darlene ran a hand through her hair. She’d let it grow out and it hung down around her ears, making her look more feminine than she had in the past, and older. “I’m frustrated,” she said. “At everything. Nothing’s wrong, but nothing’s right either. We keep going on and on and doing well, but it isn’t right. Not without Wil.”

“Yeah,” Bram agreed. “Feels like we’re doing the same old thing while waiting for him to come back. But in your case, you can only wait so long before things get complicated. Are you mad at him?”

“For being unable to write to me or communicate with me at all?” Darlene laughed. “Of course I’m mad at him. I know it’s probably not something he can help, but how can I not be mad? He should’ve been back by now. Gods, I could use a drink.”

“I’m really glad you didn’t take me up on my mutual abstinence offer,” said Bram. “Not sure I’d be able to go a full year without alcohol. You have the patience and discipline of a saint. But seriously, what can I do for you? Not because you’re weak, but because it would make me feel better to help.”

Darlene thought about it and nodded. “I’m starving. Buy me dinner for three and I’ll see about filling out those orders tomorrow. We'll make sure people are paid on time this week, with a small bonus for their troubles.”

Bram stood up and offered her his hand. “You got it. You thinking steak, burgers, noodles, or are you stuck on the same craving?”

She took his hand and let him pull her to her feet. “I hate how much I’ve been wanting fae food lately. It’s so damned sweet and it feels like you need to eat forever to be full, but that’s what I want to do. Eat until they kick me out.”

“Alright then,” he chuckled. “To the embassy. I wonder how many horrified looks we’ll get over how much we can put away.”

“Wish we had Wil’s lost magic carpet instead of walking…hell. Wish we had Wil.”

“I know,” said Bram. “I do too. They can’t keep him forever, right?”

Things hadn’t been hard without Wil so much as incomplete. It had fallen to him to pick up the pieces and keep them going forward. It was something he’d been happy to do, even if he was unsure of himself. He wasn’t a wizard, he could only brew potions. But he could help carry Darlene, just as she’d helped carry him.

Together, they’d survive for a little bit longer.