Page 33 of Of Potions and Honey
“Of course. It was worth a try.”
By the time Mira heard someone come up the stairs again, Marigold was on her back, all four paws in the air, enjoying the world’s longest belly rub. Before Mira could decide whether to keep going or remove the cat before anyone started asking questions, Yoni came trudging in through the door.
“Hm. There you are.”
“Sorry.” Heat in her cheeks, Mira let go of the cat, who voiced her displeasure immediately. “I’m not kidnapping your cat, I promise!”
“I didn’t think you were.” Yoni’s lips curled when she scratched Marigold behind the ears. “I used to wish she’d taken to Alexander like this, but then again, there was probably a reason she never did.” She sharply looked at Mira. “You’re not feeding her, are you?”
Mira snorted. “Hardly. Unless you count her hunting pests out back as feeding.”
“Well, I hope she is of service.” Yoni brought her face close to Marigold’s. “Earn those belly rubs, will you?”
The cat meowed indignantly, jumped off the counter, and sauntered off to disappear into the lavender bushes outside. Presumably to earn her keep.
“If you don’t like me letting her inside, I won’t,” Mira said. Yoni simply shrugged.
“I let her outside for a reason. She was miserable when I didn’t. As long as she comes home at night, I don’t care what she does all day.”
Mira managed a smile. “Snooze on my porch, for one.”
“Must be a comfortable porch,” Yoni said absently. She was looking around the shop. Probably noticing the sad handful of gaps on the shelves. “How are things going?”
“Oh, not bad!” Mira tried to keep her tone light. “For a first day, I think it’s great.”
From the look on her face, Yoni didn’t buy that for a second. She also didn’t ask. Just leaned on the counter for a moment, then seemed to be thinking better of it and stood up again, hands folded awkwardly in front of her.
“You know, I wasn’t sure you’d really do this.” She gestured around the shop. “That must’ve been a lot of work.”
Mira coughed discreetly. “Let’s say I did sleep a little less than I would like for a while.”
“Mhm, I saw. The lights,” Yoni elaborated upon Mira’s questioning look. “It got pretty late sometimes.”
“And you noticed this why…?”
Yoni’s lips parted, and Mira realised she’d thrown her off momentarily. Yoni cleared her throat.
“I read at night,” she eventually said. “I forget the time. A lot.” She threw a meaningful glance outside. “Lucky for me, my alarm clock is alive and refuses to let me miss my morning. Ever.”
“Sounds better than the racket mine makes, if I’m being honest.”
“Until someone sticks a tongue in your ear to check if you’re awake.”
“I’ve experienced that before,” Mira muttered. “That relationship didn’t last long.”
“I see.” Yoni sounded a little strangled. “I suppose Marigold is lucky that she’s so adorable.”
“Yes, indeed,” Mira said dryly. “He was a lot less so.” She folded her arms on the counter, studying Yoni. “Did you need anything?” She cracked a lopsided smile. “Or did you just come to admire the shop?”
“Do I…”
Mira nearly had to do a double take – Yoni was blushing. Not a lot, but on her, it might as well be scarlet, for all the emotion that usually showed on her face.
“Not really. I still have half a bottle left. From what you gave me. When you asked me about the pink.”
“About the…” It took a moment to come back. “Oh! So you’ve been using it?”
“Of course. It’s good fertiliser, why wouldn’t I?”
