Chapter 13
Thirteen
Paper in hand, Mira hesitated just inside the door to More by Moore.
Once she did this, there would be no going back.
She’d chosen the date, and it was announced in bright colours on that very paper, decorated courtesy of a set of coloured pencils Rue had swiped off the clearance shelf for her several years ago.
Mira had spent hours on three iterations, trying for ‘perfect’ and eventually giving up after she’d reached ‘acceptable’.
Now, all she had to do was make it public.
“In or out, Mira, you’re blocking the door!”
Mira flinched and hastily stepped aside to let Matteo pass, who marched past her and beelined for the dry goods.
On an ordinary day, Mira might have asked him what he was planning to make, and if it would be on the menu that night.
Today, all she had the stomach for was finally approaching the counter, where Harper was already eyeing her suspiciously.
“Something tells me you don’t look like you’re about to pass out because of your weekly grocery shop.”
Mira stopped, blinking rapidly. “Do I look that bad?”
“Let’s say I’m not sure if I should ask you what you want or offer you a chair to sit down.”
“Neither. Well, sort of.” Mira held out the paper and was proud to see that her hand was only shaking a little. “I’m re-opening the potion shop and was wondering if you could put up a sign to tell people?”
Harper took the paper. “So you’re really doing it. I wasn’t sure you had the guts, truth be told. After seeing what the town is like.”
Mira swallowed thickly. “Is that supposed to be reassuring?”
“Of course not.” Harper put the paper underneath the counter. “Sure, I’ll put it up later. Heavens know we need all the support we can get to keep this town alive. Having a potion shop again can’t hurt.”
A little distracted from her own worries now, Mira felt compelled to ask. “Did something happen?”
Harper huffed. “You could say that,” she seethed. “Milton has decided to give Golden River a stall at the fair, right next to the fountain, too. When I said that I hope they’re at least paying well, he changed the subject, so I’ll have to assume he’s not even charging them for the privilege.”
“Sounds about right,” Mira mused. “They love a good deal. For themselves, anyway.” She worried the grocery list in her pocket. “What’s that fair about?”
“The Emberglen Summer Fair. We hold it every year. Local farmers, craftsmen, artists, they show off their work. Matteo and Emilia make a killing at the inn, and a lot of stores make a nice safety cushion off the tourists for the rest of the year.” Harper looked sullen.
“Used to, anyway. We’ve had fewer visitors every year for a while now.
Shops close, people stay away, more shops are forced to close…
You know how it is. So, you know, maybe your uncle’s name still has the draw that it used to, and gets some more folks to come into town this year! ”
“Maybe.”
Mira tried not to feel too insulted that it was her uncle’s name, not hers, that might draw people in. He was the one who had made the store successful, she was just trying to build on that. And Harper just wanted what was best for the town.
“Thanks again for putting up the sign.” Mira gave her basket a little shake. “I’ve got to get my shopping done. Lots to do.”
And hopefully she’d stay sane while doing it.
Mira nearly dropped the bottle when she rearranged it for approximately the twentieth time.
Cursing, she put it down and took a step away from the shelf, just in case.
She’d been fighting her nerves the entire day, labelling the last bottles in the neatest handwriting she could manage with her shaky hands, cleaning the front room of the shop one last time, and finally stocking the shelves.
She looked around at the results of all that work.
Considering that she had no training, nothing but a handwritten recipe book and a lot of stubborn determination, it looked good.
Downright amazing. Compared to the shops she’d been in in Willow Harbour, it was pathetic.
Still, between Uncle Lochlin’s inventory lists and her slowly growing knowledge of the town, she had put together something that could conceivably pass as a decent stock.
Multiple types of fertiliser – and a sign that she could produce larger quantities to order – deterrents for all sorts of garden pests, a worm treatment for house cats, an ointment for skin irritation, and a cough syrup.
The latter two were the only ones for human use that she was comfortable offering so far.
They were still somewhat easy to make, and she’d been able to test both on herself with no side effects.
Now, she was working on the headache remedy, but until she could figure out how to get rid of the strong garlic smell, she refused to inflict that on people.
So her shelves looked a little barren, the bottles spaced out just a bit too much, and the handful of plants she’d scattered around for decoration wouldn’t fool anybody.
“It’s fine.” She pressed her hands to her eyes until she saw stars. Heavens, she was tired. “It’ll be fine.”
“What’s fine?”
Mira flinched so hard her soles lost contact with the floor for a second. She grabbed the edge of the counter when she turned around, only to find Yoni staring at her, a basket full of greenery in hand like she’d just come in from the forest with new herb specimens.
“Sorry. I saw that the lights were on, and the door was open.” She frowned. “Are you open yet?”
“No, that’s tomorrow.” Mira managed to take a deep breath. “I just figured some fresh air wouldn’t hurt while I finish up in here.”
“Hm.” Yoni looked around. “It looks… nice.”
Mira grimaced. “You can be honest, you know.”
Yoni’s brows knit together. “I am. It’s a lot less cluttered than it was when your uncle ran the place.” She came inside now, taking a cursory glance at the shelves nearest the door. “A lot easier to read, too. His handwriting was chicken scratch disguised as letters.”
Now it was Mira’s turn to frown. “His handwriting is-” She remembered the pencil lines in the recipe book and snapped her mouth shut. “…he tried,” she finished after a moment.
Yoni raised an eyebrow. “If that was trying, I wouldn’t want to see his grocery list.” She shrugged.
“Then again, if you asked him, he’d hand you the right bottle immediately, so I don’t think it ever mattered.
” She shifted the basket to her other hand, a sudden look of discomfort on her face.
“Anyway, I just… thought I’d drop in. Wish you good luck.
” She blinked rapidly. “Maybe I’ll come by tomorrow. ”
And with that, she fled the shop, leaving Mira baffled and alone. That was… new. Did Yoni care what happened to the shop? More than just wanting her good fertiliser options back?
Well, if she was, she could be showing that by telling people about it.
Not that Mira now had a chance to ask her for that favour.
She pinched the bridge of her nose. No, it was fine.
She had done all she could. Even asked to put up a sign in Golden River’s window, a request which had been predictably denied by the nervous young cashier. Still, it hadn’t hurt to try.
Now there was nothing left to do but wait, and get a good night’s sleep so she’d be awake and alert tomorrow.