Page 22 of Of Potions and Honey
And she was not prepared for that at all.
“Good. I’ll let people know once you’re ready. About time we got a proper potion shop again. I keep having to order stock from Heartfield and Greengrass whenever someone has a mild cold. It’s a sodding hassle, is what it is.”
“Oh, I…”
Mira cut herself off. She wasn’t quite there yet. Medicinal potions were decidedly a step up from what she was comfortable with right now, and she definitely planned on reading up the subject before she dove into it. Nothing in the recipe book required apothecary training, but even a simple honey-based cough syrup seemed a bit too far out of her comfort zone for now.
“It would be lovely if you got the word out,” she said instead. “I’ll tell you when I’m opening.”
Besides, she still had months until cold season started. She’d get there in time, she was almost sure.
“Right, that’s noted, I’ll have them for you some time next week.” Harper put down the pen and took off her glasses to clean them on her shirt. “Did you need anything else? Cassia brought in a crate of cherries this morning.”
“I saw.” Mira rummaged through her pockets for her grocery list. “I don’t think I have anything else that needs ordering…”
She was still looking when the wind chime activated, announcing another person entering the store. The heels clacking on the floor made Mira assume it was Penelope Fox, Harper’s life partner and local fashion icon – probably the only person in Emberglen who was not several seasons behind what was being sold in Willow Harbour. But when Mira glanced up,she saw that Harper’s expression had turned sour. Not Penelope, then.
“Mrs. Moore! Good morning! It’s such a beautiful day, isn’t it?”
Mira cringed inwardly when she heard the voice. It seemed like Mr. Sheffield had deigned to leave his precious store for a moment to do his own shopping. Apparently Golden River’s canned groceries were somewhat beneath a store manager. They appeared to be reserved for the poor part-time employees who couldn’t afford shopping atMore by Mooreon their wages. Though Mr. Sheffield sure seemed to play the part of villager, too. His suit had changed from sleek blue to rustic brown, and he was wearing boots and a straw hat. Not a single soul in town dressed like this, but he didn’t seem to care.
“Morning.” Harper didn’t take her eyes off him when he approached. “Can I help you?”
“Ah, just trying to decide, you know.” He made a grand gesture encompassing the store. “So many options and all. You always know what’s best though. What would you recommend?”
“Cherries are good,” Harper replied. “Apricots.”
“Cherries!” He made it sound like a revelation. “That sounds perfect! If you wouldn’t mind bagging me some while I collect the rest of my shopping…?”
“Sure.”
Seemingly oblivious to the rather reserved reaction to his presence, he ambled away. Metal scraped on shelves and glass clinked against glass as he picked through the selection. Mira watched him from the corner of her eye while she went and did the same. He took at least three items off the shelves for each one he put in his basket, which looked almost unused. When she had worked through her list, he was already at the till where Harper was ringing him up.
“Such a beautiful red. Please tell Miss Baker how lovely they are.” A wistful look came about him. “It’s such a shame that Miss Baker does not export her harvest. These would be well-received as a delicacy back in the city.”
“I’m sure Cassia is aware of that,” Harper replied curtly. “How she chooses to conduct her business is none of our concern.”
That very clearly translated to ‘none ofyourconcern’, but Mr. Sheffield’s expression never wavered.
“Naturally. I am simply sad to see such potential confined to this small a radius.”
He put a number of bills on the counter with a flourish. While Harper counted out his change, he peered at his reflection in the metal scales on the counter top and made adjustments to his hat that, as far as Mira could tell, changed absolutely nothing about the way he looked. When he finally picked up his basket and left the store, she and Harper shared a silent look until he was out of earshot.
“I wish they’d left this prick in Willow Harbour where he belongs,” Harper blurted out. She pinched the bridge of her nose. “He and his store have caused nothing but trouble since they opened.”
“I can imagine they’re not popular,” Mira said cautiously. “But trouble?”
“Mhm.” Harper glared at the open door, even though the man was long gone. “Opening at the crack of dawn and making a racket, undercutting prices, bringing a manager from the Harbour instead of finding one in the area.” She huffed. “Too bad Milton actually bought into the whole ‘revitalising the town’ nonsense hook, line and sinker.”
That, Mira had heard before. Milton Lloyd, the current mayor, had been rather supportive of Golden River opening a location in town, which had earned him more ire than support. He still didn’t waste a chance to assure people that it had been the rightdecision – ‘a prosperous decision for the whole region’. Mira found it hard to believe how someone could trust Golden River this much, but she also knew the power of a good marketing pitch. Maybe the mayor wasn’tentirelyto blame.
She began putting her purchases on the counter for Harper to ring up. “Is the store taking away business?”
“Some of it,” Harper begrudgingly admitted. “They mostly sell cheap stuff and it shows, but…” She looked rather very uncomfortable now. “Can’t blame folks, can I. So many of the farms closed down, the honey business got eaten away by the hive farms near Heartfield… Times aren’t easy. People save where they can. I can’t be mad about that.” She sighed. “I wish they’d at least be less obvious about it, though. That’s ninety-six and twenty, bottles included. I put those on a separate receipt so you can use that for your taxes.”
That was more forethought than Mira had, who had simply planned on circling the amount on the general receipt come tax season. She tucked both away, repacked her shopping basket, and left Harper to her brooding while she returned to what she hoped would soon be her job. Even thinking about it, she now had an odd feeling in her stomach. If even someone like Harper was feeling the downturn this sharply… How would she herself be faring, once she turned her ‘open’ sign for the first time?
The entire walk back, Mira’s mind went in circles around that idea. She tried to distract herself – she’d been through that too damn many times now. Every time, she’d arrived back at her original decision. She had this one chance – all it would cost her was some time and whatever ingredients she needed to get started. She’d be a fool not to try.
