Page 10 of Of Potions and Honey
Mira cleared her throat, unsure how to take that question and equally unsure how to answer it. “Yes? Do people otherwise move here by accident?”
Now it was the shopkeeper’s turn to look confused before she chuckled. “Hardly. People don’t move here at all anymore, not these past few years.” Her gaze became sharp. “Unless they work for that parrot company, that is.”
“For the…” Right. The parrot. Golden River. No, that store probably hadn’t been all too popular in a town like this. Mira quickly shook her head. “No, I don’t. I used to, but… Well, things didn’t work out that way for me.”
No need to get into the details of her undignified exit. The shopkeeper huffed, but looked pleased. “Good. You won’t make any friends here if you do.” She leaned back and opened a drawer to take out a small notebook. “Ice box and firewood. How much do you need?”
“About fifty pounds for the box, give or take.” Mira considered for a moment. “Some hundred logs of wood, that should last me a while.”
“Right, two blocks of ice, and the wood.” Harper scribbled something in a small book. “Address?”
When Mira gave it to her, the woman’s eyebrows went up, but she didn’t comment on it this time, just nodded. “I’ll have Kayden deliver it later.”
“Kayden? I thought he was running his grandfather’s old business.”
“He does. He also runs deliveries for me.” The shopkeeper looked surprised. “You know Kayden?”
“Ah. Sort of? I used to visit as a child, and we played together sometimes.”
“Hm.” The woman’s look was unsettling. “So why move here now?”
With all the questions, Mira felt a little exposed. Was that how everyone got questioned here, or just her? “I inherited my uncle’s house.”
The presumed Mrs. Moore eyed over strangely, like she was trying to figure out which uncle she meant. She didn’t ask, though, which was a small blessing. “Well, at least you weren’t one of the suckers spending money on a house here.” The woman sighed and pointed across the shop. “I’ve put you down for the ice and wood. Cleaning supplies are over there. Anything else?”
Mira ducked her head. “Thank you. I’ll find the rest myself.”
The rest began with a large wooden bucket that Mira slowly filled with the barest of necessities as she made her round through the store. It still came up to a sizeable amount that had Mira do all sort of maths and adjustments to her budget. When she returned to the counter and started piling it all up for the shopkeeper to tally up, the bell chimed again. This time, it wasn’t a customer, but someone delivering, it seemed; a woman carrying a crate of produce that she deposited next to the counter.
“Morning Harper. Strawberries and rhubarb today!”
Harper stopped midway through tallying up Mira’s purchases. “Cassia. I thought strawberries were going to be another week. And where’s the radishes you promised?”
“Still outside. The strawberries changed their minds,” replied the woman cheerfully. “And they don’t keep, so here they are.” She turned to face Mira, cheeks red and eyes bright. “Hello! You look new here.”
A little dazed, Mira wondered if she was wearing some kind of sign only visible to the townsfolk. Or maybe it was her clothes, still a little ahead of local fashion even when she’d been seasons behind in Willow Harbour. She brushed down the front of her blouse, hoping it wasn’t too wrinkled from its time in the suitcase.
“I am. I just got here yesterday. Mira Gardener.”
The woman held out a hand, and Mira took it. The brief handshake left a streak of dirt on the back of her hand.
“Cassia Baker.” She smiled widely. “My brother and I own the Baker orchard.” She beamed. “Good to see a new face in town.”
The Harper snorted.”Let’s see if she lasts, first.”
Cassia huffed. “Why wouldn’t she?” She fixed Mira with a narrow stare. “You’re planning to stay, aren’t you?”
Mira glanced between the two, trying to ignore how exposed she felt, being interrogated like this, and quite unprepared toexplain just what she intended to do here. In the end, she settled for a non-committal: “That’s the plan, anyway.”
“Well then, good luck with that! Emberglen could use some new blood, it’s getting a little dull here with everyone leaving for the city.” She trudged back towards the door. “I’ll get the rest of the crates.”
Harper watched her warily. “You do that.” She returned to Mira’s pile of goods. “She’s hopeless, that one.”
“Why?”
“Because there’s a reason everyone’s leaving. Not that I like it, mind, but I can see why, and it’s not likely to change.” She glanced up sharply. “That’s sixty-two and thirty.”
Mira suppressed a wince at the amount, paid, and packed away her purchase. Between the bag and the bucket, she just about made it all fit. With a regretful glance at the beautiful red strawberries that she had neither the space nor the money for, she left the store and went on her way to get home and start fixing up her house.
