Chapter 10 #2
“Wait, I’m confused,” I said, keeping my voice low and turning back to Agnes.
“How do you know that I joined the Order? I’ve only told one person.
” Was Torin already gossiping with his friends?
He didn’t strike me as the type to run to them with stories.
Frankly he didn’t strike me as the type for talking much. About anything. With anyone.
Actually, that wasn’t fair. After I’d gotten him to warm up a bit, he’d spent quite a bit of time each night talking to me. So maybe I’d only ever seen him as being gruff because I hadn’t known him all that well.
Not that I knew him well. Yet.
But I knew his kisses.
Which was definitely a problem. I needed to put some space there. It would be unfair of me to lean too far into … whatever … this was simply because I couldn’t undo a spell I’d put on Torin.
Who wasn’t even complaining about it, mind you.
Sure he blurted out random things like how I sometimes snorted when I laughed and that he thought it was adorable.
What was a girl supposed to say to that?
“I’m sort of their unofficial helper,” Agnes said, drawing me back to the conversation.
“Because I have a deep love for research, and own a bookshop, I’ve been able to uncover a lot of the history of the Order and sort of determine why things have been the way they are. Or kind of. I’m helping where I can.”
“Are you…” I glanced around and whispered, “Magickal?”
“Not that I know of.” Agnes’s laugh was a pretty trill that had Graham glancing over.
“Honestly, I’m not sure if I am either,” I said, glum, and finished my soup.
“Och, surely you are. What happened to your astrology? I thought you were ace at doing readings.” Agnes’s expression changed as she seemingly remembered some of the issues I’d had in the past. “Oh, right.”
“Aye, that,” I said, pushing my plate away and sighing. “My readings seem to have a way of backfiring on me, and I’d promised my sister that I’d take a break and just let it go for a while.”
“But … don’t you love it?” Agnes’s brow furrowed.
“I do. But maybe I’m just not meant to be a professional reader.”
“That’s ridiculous.” Agnes shook her head at me. “Of course you’re meant to be a professional reader. Just because someone interprets a reading wrongly doesn’t mean you’re shite at your job.”
“But it does affect reviews. And bookings,” I pointed out, embarrassment washing through me. I’d read a few of my recent reviews after the WAG incident and they hadn’t been great. Which was unfair, really, since the reviews were coming from people I hadn’t even given readings to.
The door to the pub opened and another woman around our age walked in, looking timidly around the room until her gaze landed on me and her face brightened. A delicate woman, with dark hair pulled back from her face, and soulful eyes, she seemed on a mission.
“Greta. Hi!” Agnes exclaimed, turning to welcome the newcomer. “Och, I haven’t seen you in ages. How are you getting on then?”
“Well enough, Agnes. Thanks for asking.” Greta smiled shyly. “It’s been a real struggle looking after the kids and work, so I haven’t had much time to socialize.”
“If you need anything…” Agnes began and Greta waved it away.
“I know, I know. I’ve just got to figure this out on my own.”
Agnes squeezed her shoulder and gave her a compassionate look.
“Liora, this is Greta. She lives just outside Loren Brae.”
“Actually, I was kind of hoping to see you,” Greta surprised me by saying when she took the hand I offered.
“You were? Have we met?” I asked. I honestly couldn’t remember the diminutive woman. Instantly, I felt bad. “I’m sorry…I don’t recall.”
“No, we haven’t. I just heard…” Greta leaned in and lowered her voice. “You give readings, right?”
Over her head, Agnes raised her eyebrows and nodded furiously at me.
“Um, I do, yes. Astrological readings. Tarot as well. But I’m not a psychic, if that’s what you’re needing.”
“No, I just need…” Greta took a deep breath. “I just need some guidance about a few decisions I’d like to make. In the coming year. For myself.” Her eyes held a plea and between her expression and the way Agnes was trying to telegraph something to me over her head, I relented.
“That’s fair. It sounds like an astrological reading for the upcoming year might be a good fit then.
But, keep in mind, they don’t tell you what to do.
It’s just a guide to be used to help know when it might be a more prosperous time to make changes, or when the energy might get a bit murky or sticky for you… that kind of thing.”
“Understood.” Greta’s face lit. “Would this weekend work? My mum has the kids in the morning tomorrow.”
“Oh, already? Um.” I thought about it. I wouldn’t have to be on shift until eleven tomorrow morning, so I could make it work. “Sure, would nine suit? I have to be here by eleven.”
“Perfect. I’ll come to you then?”
“She’s staying at Torin’s. You know where his place is?” Agnes leaned in.
“Och, aye. Not too far then. That’s grand. Just grand. Thanks, Liora. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Before I could say anything else or even give her a price, Greta all but ran from the room as though it had taken all of her courage to speak and now she had none left.
“That’s fantastic news,” Agnes breathed and leaned in, a delighted look on her face. “This is such a big step for her.”
“Was that Greta I just saw?” Graham asked, coming across the room from where he’d been taking the order from the couple having an early dinner.
“Aye, it was.”
“Nice to see her out,” Graham said, before ducking into the kitchen.
“Greta’s widowed. She lost her husband last year and has two young kids just on her own.
She really had a tough go of it, but Shona, one of the Order, helped her to learn to live within her grief a bit.
I’m happy to hear she’s looking for some advice on her life.
That means she’s probably putting herself out there more. ”
Now I understood why Agnes had been silently urging me to accept the booking behind Greta’s back.
“That’s sad. Must be tough.” I couldn’t imagine navigating grief and single parenthood at the same time.
“Such a shame, it really is. We’ve all done the best we can to help, but she’s a bit stubborn about not letting people in. Hopefully this is a good sign.”
“I won’t be able to tell you anything about the reading, you know.” I stacked my bowl on top of my plate and stood. “I do keep the confidentiality of my clients.”
“Och, goodness, no. I would never ask. I’m just happy to hear she’s making some decisions for herself. Whatever they may be.”
“I’ve got to get back to work,” I said, picking up my empty bowl.
“Give me your number and I’ll text you about a wine night.” Agnes pulled out her phone and typed in my number as I recited it. “Sooner rather than later.”
“Please, I’m gasping for some girl time,” I admitted.
“We’ll plan it. I’ll see if the others can join too.” Agnes stood. “That’s me off then.”
“Oh right. On your date.”
“Date with my auntie,” Agnes leaned in on a whisper. “But he doesn’t need to know that, does he?”
“Ah, right.” I smiled as Agnes picked up her handbag and headed toward the door as Graham came out of the kitchen. “Have so much fun tonight.”
“Och, I will. Thanks, Liora. Good to see you again. Later, Graham.”
“Agnes, wait. Damn it.” Graham looked down to the bowls of soup he had in his hands and then to the door, frustration blooming on his face as it closed after her.
He delivered the soup in a hurry and by the time I had finished washing my dishes in the kitchen and wrapped my serving apron back around my waist, he’d worked himself into a tizzy.
“Did she tell you where she was going tonight?” Graham demanded and I raised both eyebrows at him.
“Did who tell me?” I asked, looking around the room.
“Damn it, Liora. Agnes.”
“Is it part of my job requirement to tell you what she tells me?” I asked, sweetly, and Graham’s eyebrows drew low on his forehead.
“Is it?” I asked, using the same tone I would to scold a naughty child.
“No, it’s not.” Graham sighed and raked a hand through his hair.
“Is everything okay?” I asked, sweetly, as I straightened the bar stools and looked around the room for things to do.
“No. Nothing’s okay. It’s never okay,” Graham grumbled and then nodded toward a tray of ketchup bottles. “Tomato sauce needs filling.”
“Thanks,” I said, and ducked into the kitchen to get the big jug of tomato sauce.
Working quickly, I filled the bottles while Graham muttered and cursed under his breath, until it was impossible to ignore him anymore.
After I topped off the last bottle, I capped it and turned to him.
“If you fancy her, why don’t you ask her out on a date? ”
“Och. I have. I’ve asked her to marry me too.”
“Have you really?” I asked, surprised.
“Aye. Just like that too.” Graham turned to me. “Will you marry me?”
“It’s a bit improper for the boss to be proposing to his staff, wouldn’t you say, mate?” a voice growled and I whirled to see Torin standing by the bar, his eyes simmering with fury.
Graham took one look at Torin’s face and then glanced over to me, before lifting his chin and letting a slow smile slide across his face. They looked like two dogs bristling for a fight. I pressed my lips together and bit back a sigh. Men.
“It depends. When you have such lovely staff as I do, it makes the idea of marriage a touch more palatable, don’t you think?” Graham gave Torin a smug smile, and I rolled my eyes.
“If he’s—”
“He’s not,” I said to Torin who had turned to me. “He’s taking the piss. Stand down. Graham, tell him you weren’t talking about me.”
“Alas, though you are, of course, mouthwateringly beautiful, my heart belongs to another,” Graham said, clasping his hands to his chest.
Torin relaxed, and slid onto a stool, though his face was still annoyed.
“Could’ve just said that, mate.”
“I wasn’t the one jumping to conclusions,” Graham said. “Pint?”
“Irn-Bru. I’m driving.”