Page 28 of Must Love Lavender and Little Lies
“Over there, I want to try golden garlic this year,” I said, gesturing. “I understand it works very well for headaches in powdered form. Tansy knew someone in Merrybrooke who grew it. We exchanged messages. She’s going to send me some bulbs.”
“Add a little bone marrow to the soil now,” Granik told me. “That will help it be ready.”
Juniper nodded. “Good idea. And see? Didn’t I tell you this cake is divine?”
“Perfection,” Granik agreed, taking another big bite. “How was it today?”
I blew air through my lips. “It was a lot. Everyone was very kind, but I wore my onions like armor.”
Granik laughed. “I stayed in my fields with my workers. Once they were done teasing me, it was fine. Everyone seems to think we’re perfect together.”
“That was the same refrain I heard as well.”
“And your parents? Any news from your family?”
“Nothing, which tells me they are on the road.”
“Then I suspect we’d better finish here and head to Portia’s.”
At that, Granik nodded. We took the dishes back inside, then made our way down the cobblestone streets of Moonshine Hollow.
As we went, at least a dozen people called out to us, wishing us congratulations. Granik’s cheeks began to darken to an emerald-colored blush.
“Too bad you can’t turn invisible,” a voice said from beside me.
I chuckled. “Halflings have all the fun.”
Emmalyn came into form beside me. “Where are you headed?”
“Portia’s.”
“I’ll tag along to protect you from zealous well-wishers.”
At that, Granik and I laughed.
We made our way into Sir Hootington’s, finding Portia at the front counter leaning over a sheet of parchment, runes on the page before her, her hair pulled into a messy bun. It took Sir Hootington himself calling out lightly before she noticed anyone was there.
“Welcome,” she said. “Feel free to look around,” she said absently.
Emmalyn and I looked at one another and giggled. One thing about Portia was that whatever task she was engaged in, she gave it her whole heart, which was why one could sometimes find the bookshop open at midnight. She’d get so engrossed in a book or her research, she’d simply forget to close up for the night.
“Portia,” Emmalyn said gently. “What are we obsessed with today?”
“Runes,” she replied absently. “One second. I…” she said, then scribbled a note. “Yes. I have you now,” she said with a grin, then sat back, a wide smile on her face.
It was then that I saw her eyes were red with dark circles underneath, but her expression was triumphant.
“Portia, when was the last time you slept?” I asked.
“Pfft,” she replied, then rose. “I’ll sleep later. It was worth it. I just figured out the Woden code for this bind rune,” she said excitedly.
“Is that for the competition application?” I asked.
She nodded and smiled. “Yes, I think I have it now.”
“Well done, Smarty,” Emmalyn said with a grin.
“Yes. Well. Enough of that. It’s been a fun challenge, but I have zero expectations,” she said, then turned to Granik and me. “So, the happy couple. I took a break today and pulled out some books for you. I left them on the side bookshelf in the talking loft. I think I’m due for a break of my own. Why don’t I make us all some tea? I have some leftover cake from book club.”
