Page 20 of Must Love Lavender and Little Lies
“It’s divine,” I told her.
“Thank you. It felt like the right recipe for a spring day.”
“So,” Portia began, pulling out her copy ofThe Un-Witch of Summerfield Farm.“What did we think of this one?”
“Oh, it was heartbreaking and lovely all at once,” Rosalyn said. “Poor Sarah. How alone she felt.”
“She was lucky to find a friend in Flower, though,” Tansy said. “I loved that Flower didn’t care that Sarah had no magic.”
While I had enjoyed the story of the magicless, orphaned girl who’d been adopted by an old farming couple, my mind was suddenly distracted by what was before me. The lie. The show of all of it in front of Granik’s parents. What would the people of Moonshine Hollow think when we “broke up?” The people in the village trusted me when they felt unwell. They came to me for herbs to heal themselves and shared uncomfortable health issues. Would they think differently of me if the truth came out?
But it was worth it, right? To save Granik from a life of misery, it was worth it.
“Juniper?” Portia’s voice called softly. “Are you all right?”
Coming back from the spiral down which I had fallen, I turned to find the others looking at me. Portia had removed her reading glasses and was studying me carefully.
“Juniper?” Winifred asked, her gaze narrowing as she began to dissect me.
“I loved the book. I loved the farming scenes,” I said absently.
Winifred and Rosalyn exchanged a look while Emmalyn slipped into the chair beside me.
“Juniper, what’s wrong?” Emmalyn asked.
I looked at Tansy, who gave me an encouraging smile.
I turned to Portia. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to ruin book club, but there’s something I have to tell you all.”
“We’re all here for you,” Portia said gently.
“So,” I said, taking a deep breath before I carefully explained everything that had happened and the predicament Granik and I found ourselves in. “Now, before his parents get here, we have to lie to the whole town, but I didn’t want to lie to all of you. We may need your help if we’re going to get through this. I’m sorry to ask you all to go along with the lie with us, but I couldn’t let Granik be married off to a stranger.”
“Well, you’ve come to the right place,” Winifred said. “We’ll help. All of us.”
Portia nodded. “I have books about orcish traditions in storage. I’ll pull them out and start reading.”
“Thank you.”
“You realize you will have to look the part, right?” Rosalyn said. “You and Granik will need to get a lot cozier than you are used to. It might get…uncomfortable.”
My stomach knotted. “I hadn’t thought of that.”
“And the town will be relentless,” Emmalyn warned. “Everyone loves both of you. They will be so happy to congratulate you. Everyone. It’s going to be a lot. And when his parents arrive?—”
“But people will also be distracted by the Greening,” Tansy added. “That will take some of the pressure off.”
Emmalyn nodded. “Tansy is right. You’ll be the talk of the town for a time, but it will fade. You’ve done a nice thing, Juniper. You’re a good friend. I know how much this must mean to Granik.”
“I just couldn’t let him marry someone he didn’t love. The thought of it made me…Well, I just couldn’t let it happen.” I said, feeling tears well in my eyes. “Oh my gosh, what’s wrong with me?”
The others exchanged a glance.
I pulled a handkerchief from my pocket and dotted my eyes.
“Oh, poor dear,” Rosalyn said, then rose, pulling me into a hug. “You must feel so…confused.”
“Yes. That’s it exactly. I feel confused. Why do I feel so confused?” I asked, shaking my head and wiping tears from my cheeks. “I don’t like the lie, but if it means saving him. And yet…” I said with a shrug.
