Page 43 of Potion Sickness

“That was twenty years ago.”

“I have a long memory.”

“At least you didn’t have a third eye hidden under there.”

“I’m not⁠—”

“Mari.” Hannah leans against the counter. “The salon is where Tiffany holds court. It’s where she talks. You’re a journalist. You’ve sat in worse places to get a source talking.”

“She’ll know what I’m doing.”

“She’ll think she knows what you’re doing, and she’ll talk anyway, because she can’t resist an audience. She’ll think she’s playing you. Let her.”

“Aunt Mari, when was the last time you got your hair done?” Emma says, looking up from the floor again. “That’s not relevant.”

“It looks relevant,” Emma says, and goes back to her notebook.

“She’s not wrong,” Hannah says.

I look at Englebert, hoping for an ally. He studies my hair for a long moment.

“I have no opinion on the matter,” he says.

“Fine,” I say. “I’ll book the appointment.”

“Tomorrow,” Hannah says. “Tiffany has information we need. If she dosed Pru’s cup, she’ll be thinking about it. If she didn’t do it, she’ll tell you who she thinks did, because she always has a theory about everything and she’s surely been dying to share it.”

The back door opens and Annabel leans in.

“Addie? You ready?”

Adelaide is off the floor and across the kitchen before the screen door has finished swinging. She grabs her composition book, tucks it under her arm, and stops at the threshold.

“Ms. Annabel? Can we do the smell test again? I want to practice some more.”

“After we finish the juniper tincture. You promised me you’d strain it today.”

“I’ll strain it fast.”

“You’ll strain it correctly,” Annabel says, holding the door, and Addie ducks under her arm.

Emma watches them go then makes a note on her clipboard.

“She keeps track,” Hannah says, following my eyes.

“Of Addie’s lessons?”

“Of everything Addie learns. She says somebody has to document it.”

Lily, from the bench, raises one apple sword.

“Can I go too?”

“You’re not in the lesson, Lil.”

“I could be in the lesson. I could learn potions. I could learn DEATH potions.”

“Nobody is learning death potions.”