Page 33 of Must Love Lavender and Little Lies
“This is Juniper,” Granik said, introducing me.
“Ma’am,” I said, inclining my head to her.
“You will call me Gree-Gree as the others do. Now, they say you own an apothecary,”
“Yes, ma—Gree-Gree.”
“How long have you been in business?”
“My mother owned the shop before me. I inherited it from her. I grew up in the apothecary.”
“I see. Profitable?”
“Gree-Gree,” Granik objected, but she waved him away.
“Yes,” I replied.
“Good. A woman should have her own money. Own your own house?”
“I do.”
“Ever been engaged before?”
“No.”
“Got magic about you?”
“Well, some say I have a healing touch when I make my magical balms and tonics.”
“She does,” Granik said. “I’ve seen it.”
“And you love Granik?”
I turned and looked at him. At least, it was not a lie when I said, “Yes.”
Gree-Gree nodded. “Pretty as a lark, a good businesswoman in a healing trade, and can put up with this one,” she said, gesturing to Granik. “She’s all right with me. Now, Granik, I need to sit down, and I want something to drink.”
Granik laughed. “All right, Gree-Gree. We have tea or lemonade inside, or…there’s a nice spring ale on tap in the pavilion.”
“Well, then what are you waiting for?” she asked with a laugh, pointing in the direction of the pavilion.
“I’ll bring some refreshments,” I said, gesturing to the house. “You all must be hungry.”
“I have a pig roasting,” Granik said proudly. He had slipped away earlier in the day, heading back into town for more supplies. All day, wagons had been arriving with meat and more groceries. It was as if we were holding the Greening ourselves at his farm. “And a dozen chickens.”
“I’ll help you,” Granik’s mother told me, then called out, “Girls, come and meet Juniper. We’ll help her set out the eats.”
I was immediately surrounded by several orcish women I hadn’t met before.
“Juniper, this is Nikida, Morra, Sophilla, and Rae and their children Kika, Malika, Mara, and Grommat.”
“Oh, I… Hello.”
“Look,” Nikida said, “the poor girl’s cheeks are red. It’s okay, Juniper. You’ll learn all our names in time. Now, let’s go see what our bachelor brother has to eat.”
When we entered the farmhouse, Granik’s mother and the others let out a series of “ohs!”
“Why, it smells wonderful in here and…so homey!” Granik’s mother exclaimed. “Juniper, you’ve transformed my son.”
