Page 37 of Must Love Moss and Moonshine
Juniper poured herself a cup of tea, scooped up Pippin, and settled across from me.She waited patiently, not pressing for details, patting her pup’s long, floppy ears and sipping her tea.
Finally exhaling, I asked, “Juniper, how much do you know about the dryad, Kellen?”
She tilted her head, studying me.“Kellen?The Forest Guardian?He brings me moonshine plants every year.He’s not one for conversation.Aloof, quiet, but a good man.He’s always very respectful and kind but brief in his visits.I always got the feeling he found Moonshine Hollow overwhelming.Why?”
I traced the rim of my teacup with a finger.“I… Well, let me start at the beginning,” I said, then explained how I ended up in Silver Vale with Kellen.“He looked after me after my accident.”
Juniper arched an eyebrow.“That’s unexpected.”
I smiled faintly.“He’s very sweet.I know he keeps people at a distance, but there’s more to him than he lets on.Much more.”
Juniper studied my expression, then reached across the table and set her hand on mine.“I’m expecting him tomorrow evening.He will bring the annual supply of moonshine plant so I can brew healing potions.”
My heart leaped at her words.“For certain?”
“Yes.It is arranged.He’ll be here at sunset,” she said, then smiled happily.“And now, you are staying here for the winter.Pippin,” she told the dog, scratching his ear, “Things are about to get very interesting around here.But we like the dryad, don’t we?”
Pippin wiggled excitedly.
Juniper smiled softly at me.“I never thought you’d be drawn to the quiet type, but he’s easy on the eyes.”
“Very.Am I mad?”
“Love is madness,” Juniper replied.“Love has no rhyme or reason.It blossoms to life in the most unexpected places.When it finds you, all you can do is hold on for the ride.”
“And not get thrown off, bashing your head on a rock.”
“That’s my specialty, at least when it comes to love,” Juniper said with a laugh, but the edge of it was pinched with sorry.
“Oh, Juni,” I said, squeezing her hand sympathetically.Last season, Juniper had gone through a horrible breakup.It seemed that her heart still had not recovered.
“Tomorrow is a new day,” she said with a sigh.“Who knows, maybe some handsome elf will stroll into town and sweep me off my feet.”
“Let’s hope,” I said, polishing off my tea.I rose.“I hate to leave you, but I need to go see what kind of mess Bromir and I have at the market.Apparently, due to my unexpected detour, we have secured an excellent spot near the animal pens.”
“Oh, no.”
“Oh, yes.Let me go see if there is anything to be done.”
“I wish you well, my friend.I’ll get everything ready for you upstairs.I’m so excited,” she said, embracing me.
“Me too,” I said, returning the gesture before pulling back.“Well, I’m off.Wish me luck.”
Giving Pippin one last pat, I headed back outside.The sun sank low on the horizon, painting the town in hues of amber and rose.My heart felt lighter, filled with hope.I had a place to stay, a future to plan, and the promise of seeing Kellen again.I also needed to let Bromir know I had secured the flat.He wouldn’t like the news, but for the first time in a long while, I was sure of what I wanted.Moonshine Hollow wasn’t just a stop on my journey—it was the place I could finally call home.I hoped beyond everything else that Kellen would be part of that future.
CHAPTER19
KELLEN
Ididn’t allow myself to feel anything as I led Tansy and Bromir to the hollow tree.I didn’t allow myself to feel anything when I returned to the road, dispelled the bedazzlement from the ranger, and sent him on his way.I didn’t allow myself to feel anything while I spoke to the brownie elders, hearing their apologies and promises to address the misbehavior of their youths.
I did all these things because they were my responsibilities as the Guardian of Silver Vale.This forest had been my life for so long that its rhythms were second nature.I knew how to focus on duty and block everything else out.But the moment I closed the door to my cottage, my composure cracked.The weight I had carried all day pressed down on me with unbearable force.
I let out a shuddering breath as I sank onto the bench by my kitchen table.Tears welled in my eyes, catching me off guard.
She had told me she wanted to leave the road.She had said she was staying in Moonshine Hollow for the winter and asked me to come talk to her.She had made it clear that she cared for me and wanted me.Yet now that she was gone, why did I feel so hollow?
Marvelle chirped softly from his perch on the edge of the table.On the table sat Sylvie’s—no,Tansy’s—belt.She had left it behind in my haste to see her home.Myhaste, nothers.Sighing, I scattered a few acorns for Marvelle, but even the squirrel seemed listless.He picked through the acorns halfheartedly before leaving them behind, hopping off the table, and climbing onto the bed.There, he curled up on the blanket Tansy had used just the day before.He sniffed at it, his tiny nose twitching, then rested his head, letting out a small sigh.
