Chapter 2
Sage
Present Day
Music soared in my earbuds as I hurried along the sidewalk, juggling the pastry I nabbed from my sister’s bakery this morning.
I was already a little behind, but it was hard to miss the opportunity for a morning hike when the sun was shining.
Putting a pep in my step, I cradled my chai against my body and jiggled the key in the lock of my more-than-ancient door.
Shoot. I only had half an hour to get things in order before deliveries needed to start. Thankfully, Cedric would be here by then. He’d been a killer hire. Not sure what I’d done to deserve such a reliable employee, but I’d take it.
Blowing my hair out of my face, I dumped my things on the low table in the middle of the shop, took a cleansing breath, and then frowned at what I saw.
Poking out from among the chaos of the center table was a bouquet. I peered at it. It had obviously been there overnight, because the petals of the blooms were wilted and sad. The arrangement was wrapped tidily in what looked like paper we might use here at the shop. The twine was even similar.
Maybe Cedric had come in yesterday and made an arrangement for someone?
I’d have to ask him. It was a shame, because these were definitely goners.
After being out all night without water, they weren’t going to make it.
There were some specialty flowers in the bouquet that caught my eye immediately.
It would have been easy to dismiss it if not for those.
I could have made an excuse that we’d forgotten an order, but dahlias that deep violet color?
No. I hadn’t seen any that color in months.
The first hints of unease spread through me. Weird.