Page 8 of Must Love Lavender and Little Lies
“I agree,” Portia said. “But I believe that if there is attraction, it always finds its way to the surface, no matter the circumstances.”
“Oh, really?” Zarina asked Portia, leaning in and grinning at the bookshop owner.
Portia gave her a friendly but clear “you’re not getting another word out of me” look.
Zarina laughed.
“Even if they’re close, like siblings?” I asked, a knot forming in my stomach.
“Even then,” Bjorn said, then shrugged. “He will try to ignore it. That’s the only thing he can do. But it’s still going to be there.”
“You see,” Winifred said. “It’s just not possible for a man and woman to only be friends.”
Emmalyn flicked a gaze at me, then said, “Anyway, enough of this silly debate. No one will be able to solve this age-old riddle today, and we all have more important things to do. For instance, I need to get going before my father finds me and tries to send me out on Moonshine Hollow business.”
“Let me get your order,” Rosalyn said, then headed to the back.
Feeling confused by Bjorn’s assessment, I set my basket on the counter and pressed in beside Portia.
“Since you probably didn’t just come by for debate, what did you need, Juniper?” Zarina asked.
“A dozen scones, please. Any flavor.”
“On it,” she said, taking my basket.
“Prince Bjorn,” Winifred began with a smile. “It’s so very nice to see you and those muscles of yours. You know, I had three big crates of tulips come in this morning. Would you be so kind as to?—”
“Lead the way,” Bjorn replied with a good-natured laugh, then followed Winifred from The Sconery to her flower shop, Bramblewood Blooms, next door.
Portia looked at me over her glasses. “Don’t let our conversation unsettle you. People don’t need to define theparameters of their relationships. Sometimes it’s better if they just…are what they are.”
“Thank you,” I told her, then looked over the pages in front of her. Thereon were runic symbols so complex they looked unreadable. “What are you working on?”
“Oh, I…” Portia began, then paused, looking around shyly. Realizing it was just Emmalyn and me close by, Winifred and her nose for gossip gone, she said, “I might be, maybe, depending on how this turns out… I’m working on a submission for the Falstaff Scholars annual symposium.”
“Shut up,” Emmalyn said with a grin. “Really?”
Portia had been a student at the renowned Falstaff Academy in Windsor before returning to Moonshine Hollow to run the bookstore when her grandmother grew ill. We had always encouraged her to continue her academic work, but she’d never found the right time.
“I haven’t decided if I’ll submit yet,” she said, tapping her finger on the parchment. “Let’s see how this turns out.”
“You are very gifted, Portia,” I encouraged her. “I have no doubt you’ll sort it out.”
“Smarter than the rest of us by miles,” Emmalyn agreed. “Your grandmother would want you to try.”
Portia looked down at her papers. “It’s been fun analyzing the runes. Almost like I was back at the academy.”
I gave Portia a warm smile. “Your heart will guide you. Just listen to it.”
She nodded.
Zarina returned a moment later with my basket. “Here you are. Headed to the shop with these?”
“No. Polly is in charge today. I’m going to Granik’s farm. We have about a thousand seeds to plant.”
“Good luck, and wish Granik well for me. Tell him my mother will be by soon to make her order for the inn.”
“I will,” I said, then waved to the others. “See you later,” I called.
