Page 30 of Of Potions and Honey
“Fantastic.” Eren pinched the bridge of his nose. “Thanks for the effort. This pump has been the bane of my existence, and don’t even ask Cassia what she would like to do to the thing. If we end up needing a new pump anyway, I might just let her.”
“Let’s hope I can prevent her from hurting herself in the process,” Kayden said dryly. He turned to Mira. “Do you want a ride back into town?”
Mira was just too eager to accept the offer. She’d largely gotten used to all the walking, but being busy in the shop all day sure didn’t help make her feet ache any less at night. Squeezed onto the narrow bench next to Kayden, she clutched her basket as they rumbled along the dirt road back up to Emberglen.
“What’s wrong with the pump?” Mira eventually asked. “He didn’t sound too happy.”
“It’s been putting out less water for weeks,” Kayden said. “Second farm with this issue, actually. The Atas have a similar problem, though I managed to fix it for them, for a while at least. I thought maybe the pumps are faulty, they’re from the same workshop up in Heartfield, but now I don’t know anymore.”
“You said you needed a new part?”
“Maybe,” Kayden muttered. “More likely that it’s the water itself. Don’t worry, I’m not charging Eren for something I can’t repair. I’d just rather try everything before telling him that I can’t do anything about it. They run an orchard, they rather need that water.”
“Are all the pumps in town drawing from the same source? Mine seems to be working fine.”
“Should be, and that’s good. I haven’t gotten too many complaints, so maybe it really is the pump.” He sighed. “That workshop used to deliver quality work, I’d hate for it to start cutting corners like all the others.”
“If they’re smart, they’ll make that their whole thing,” Mira mused. “Traditional quality work and all. There’s a couple shops back home that did that, they stayed in business even when the emporium opened.”
“Speaking of traditional shops.” Kayden thrust his chin at the basket full of tiny plants. “Some last test runs before you open yours?”
Mira took a deep breath. “Hopefully. I can’t take too much more time, but it’s…” She gulped in a breath. “Plants dying, I can handle, but there are some recipes for people in the book, and…”
He chuckled. “I get it. You can’t replant a whole person. And opening your own shop? I was nervous as anything when I took over the business from my grandfather, and I had clients already.”
“Apparently, so do I,” Mira said, clutching her basket a little tighter to keep her hands still. She usually tried to think about those next steps as little as possible the closer she got to the day of the opening. Whenever she did, she had to fight the urge to scream in terror and run all the way back to Willow Harbour. “At least, they say they’ll come. I suppose I’ll see when I actually open.”
Thirteen
Paperinhand,Mirahesitated just inside the door toMore 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.”
