Page 78 of The Life Daisy Devlin Designed
“Um, did someone light a scented candle?”
“Do you like it?” Fionn beamed.
Laura rolled her eyes. “Wait for it.”
Daisy tried to identify the smell. “It’s different, what is it?”
“An air diffuser with frankincense oil. It’s for creativity and focus.”
“And handy if we stumble upon any Wise Men,” Laura muttered.
“I’ve never smelt frankincense before.” Daisy got up and walked over to the small side table where Fionn had placed the diffuser in the middle of a small white plate, with three colourful crystals.
“Never?” Laura looked at her in mock-horror. “How is that even possible?”
Daisy grinned. “I’m assuming the crystals are meaningful, Fionn. They’re kind of giving off Irish-flag vibes.”
He sat up straighter. “So, there’s a moonstone for me, a citrine for Laura, because she’s a Scorpio – that’s the gold one – and an emerald for you.”
“Emerald?” Daisy wrinkled her nose. “That’s pretty traditional.”
Fionn shrugged. “There’s really only one birthstone for Taurus. They’re kind of an awkward sign.”
“Wow, thanks. Any messages, by the way?”
“Uh, nope.”
Hopefully, Kenny had got things sorted. And once Freya’s job was finished, she’d be able to focus completely on finishing Granary House. Ideally, she’d love to have one or two extra projects lined up, but after an initial upsurge of business after the pandemic, things had slowed considerably in the last couple of years.
“How are things with you, Fionn?”
He swept his fringe carefully out of his eyes. “Work-wise, it’s all cool. I’m able to stay late in college, which is a total save, because I can’t get anything done at my house.”
“Things still that bad?”
He sighed. “The two people who were supposed to stay a couple of days? They bought themselves a double airbed! I don’t think they’re ever going to leave.”
“What if the landlord finds out?”
“Who’s going to tell him? Anyway, they’ve nowhere else to go.” He shrugged. “How’s James?”
Daisy opened Freya’s long snag list on her iPad. “Oh, still sick.” She looked back up. “I keep thinking I’m going to get strep as well, but it hasn’t happened. Which is great, obviously, but a bit, you know ... strange.”
“Well, yeah.” Fionn looked thoughtful. “Although I didn’t get it when my sister did. Nobody in our house did. She got it from her boyfriend. Mam was ready to kill her.”
“Her boyfriend?” Daisy echoed.
Fionn’s eyes widened, as he seemed to realise what Daisy was thinking. “But, like, there’s probably loads of ways you can catch it. It doesn’t just have to be through –”
“Oh God, yeah, I know.” Daisy laughed weakly. If Jameshadsnogged Alma, it would be karma. Would things be clearer if she knew for sure? It’d definitely be a sign. Although there was so much else going on, it was easier not to know. She put her head in her hands.Daisy Devlin: self-confessed ostrich.
Daisy rang Rosie as soon as she got home.
“What’s wrong?” Rosie asked immediately.
Why did her sister always think the worst? Daisy counted to five. When that didn’t work, she counted to ten.
“Daisy, are you still there?”
