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All I could do was grin. “Really well.” I blushed. “He just… I don’t know. It’s hard to explain. He gets me.”

She laughed. “Ye two give me hope, ye ken.”

“We do?” I asked, surprised.

“Aye,” she said, shrugging. “I was startin’ tae believe decent men and easy relationships only existed in romance novels.”

“Hey, your dad and mom seem to have a great relationship,” I protested.

“Och.” Fiona rolled her eyes affectionately. “They don’t count. Noo, what kinda tea would ye like? Or shall I pick? Ye look like ye could use a little something to fortify ye for the days ahead.”

Wincing internally, I smiled at her. “That would be nice, thank you.” Fiona’s teas were far from the bland, milky concoctions I’d grown up drinking, but they were effective in ways I still didn’t entirely understand.

By the time Art came back, balancing two large boxes of books, and no Merry in sight, Fiona and I were almost done with our tea.

“What are those?” I asked, hurrying over to get the door for him.

“Surprise from Shona,” he said, leaning in for a quick kiss. “Books. She said I couldn’t have my coffee until I delivered them.”

“What?” I frowned and tugged open the flaps on the box closest to me.

“She overheard you say something about striking out at the charity shop when you were out looking,” he said, stealing another kiss. “I’ll take these up to the snug for you.”

I laughed, remembering the conversation I’d had with Shona. Apparently, lamenting that a tea-and-cookie shop could only offer so many Danielle Steele books before customers revolted translated to a plea for help.

With a satisfied little sigh, Fiona put her cup down and clapped her hands. “Back tae work for me,” she said, making a face at the large stack of boxes stamped with tea-distributor logos that had been delivered earlier that morning.

As she hoisted the first of them onto the counter, I drained my tea and reached for her cup to take both back to the kitchen.

“Don’t give up hope on love just yet,” I said, seeing something in the bottom of her cup that brought a smile to my face.

“Aye? Why’s that?” she asked, looking up at me. Her smile faded when she saw me holding up her cup.

“Maybe I’m wrong.” I waved my previous statement away with my hand and stacked my cup on hers.

“What did ye see?” she asked, her eyes narrowing.

I wasn’t surprised that she hadn’t believed me when I’d told her I had no magic to speak of. Her astuteness made her eagle-eyed mother seem oblivious.

Fiona was one of the most easygoing people I’d ever met, but in that moment, I could have cut steel with the flint in her stare. I squirmed as I debated what to share.

“Nothing much, really. Just that a relationship might not be as over as you think, and you might consider leaving some doors to the past open.” As they had with Edna, the words tumbled out before I could filter them, and when Fiona blanched, I regretted saying anything.

An instant later, her face had recovered its usual affable expression, and she grinned at me as though I’d told her a phenomenal joke.

“I’m sure I don’t know what ye’re on about,” Fiona said. “As if I’ve got some long-lost love about tae come sweeping through that door there. Me?” She tapped her chest and laughed. “The trouble wi’ the sight is it’s always open tae interpretation, aye?” she said, tapping the side of her nose and waggling her eyebrows. “Och! Mebbe my long-lost love is a dog? I’d love tae have a wee doggy again!”

We laughed, but as I filed away her advice to take what I saw with a grain of salt, her eyes drifted to the shop entrance for an instant, and I caught the tiniest flash of wistfulness in their depths.

“All done!” Art said, bouncing down the stairs to the snug, clapping dust from his hands. “I’m going to go grab that coffee and make sure Merry’s not getting into any trouble. I left him with the lady with the thousand children.”

Fiona laughed. “Mitzy McKenzie.”

“Yes! That’s the one. She said it was fine to leave him with her, but I just don’t see how she can possibly keep an eye on her entire brood as it is, let alone with an extra added to the mix. Text me if you need anything! I can be back here in an instant.”

“What do you mean, ‘all done’?” I asked, tilting my head for the kiss he landed on my cheek.

“Oh! I unboxed those books and shelved them for you,” he said, looking proud.