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I’d been right to want to edit the picture. Viv looked adorable in it, but I looked like a startled deer in headlights with terrible bed head. The caption read: Grand Opening! The Enchanted Thistle. New Tea & Biscuit Shop in Banhaven. Best photo with the hashtag #SteepedInThistles wins a prize!

Good thing there’s no such thing as bad press, eh? Grandma chortled, suddenly appearing on top of the cookie case, dressed to the nines in a purple satin sheath dress with understated silver pumps and a matching silver shawlette. She crossed her ankles demurely as she ran her eyes over the packed bistro tables and the line of customers snaking its way out the door.

Always knew you had a lot more magic than they thought. She interpreted my questioning eyebrow arch correctly and elaborated by waving a hand over the crowd. This might not be flashy, in-your-face magic, but it’s almost more impressive. You listened to what this shop and this town wanted and gave it to them in the purest way possible.

You and that brother of yours always had a knack for seeing the truth in people, but I was worried you’d never learn to see it in yourself. But you listened to yourself and followed your heart. An unexpected swell of tears prickled my eyes and a bubble of warmth exploded in my chest, soothing a hurt I’d long learned to ignore. As I blinked my tears away, she winked and added, I’m less worried now.

It wasn’t until she’d blown me a kiss and vanished that all the words clicked. What did she mean by less?

“Hi, sweetheart. Everything okay back here?” Art asked, ducking around the counter to give me a quick squeeze. “If you need a break, I can fill in for you for a minute, if you’d like. I brought you a cup of coffee.”

A different kind of warmth filled my chest and warmed my cheeks as his hand lingered on my back. Even if I would have appreciated him asking what I wanted to drink, the coffee was a gift that meant far more than a quick pick-me-up.

“I’m so proud of you, you know? This place is incredible. Almost as incredible as you,” he added with a wink. “You’re absolutely crushing it.”

“Thank you, for the coffee, the compliment, and everything you’ve done here today. It means a lot to me,” I said, grabbing his arm and squeezing it. For an instant, our eyes met, and the chaotic room and everyone in it faded away. My soul settled, and all the buzzing that I hadn’t even noticed in my head went quiet. I sighed happily and caressed his cheek. “I’m so lucky to have you in my life.”

“Excuse me? Miss?” An irate voice broke the momentary stillness and pulled me back into the mayhem.

“Once more unto the breach,” I murmured, taking a fortifying breath and plastering a smile on my face. “Hi!” I said louder to the frustrated customer. “Welcome to The Enchanted Thistle. How can I make your life a little sweeter today?”

“Have you seen Viv?” Art asked in a low voice intended just for me as he looked around the busy room.

“No,” I replied, speaking out of the side of my mouth as I pointed out the different cookie options to the customer. While she considered her options, I glanced at Art. “She’s not by the flower wall?” He shook his head, a small frown forming on his forehead.

“I’m sure she’s fine. She sometimes goes out for walks when she gets overwhelmed.”

“She what?” he asked. The sudden frustration in his voice pulled my attention away from the customer, who was happy now that I’d handed her a box of the cookies she’d selected plus a bonus extra cookie to thank her for her patience. “I thought you were keeping an eye on her during the day!”

“I am!” I replied forcing my lips into a semblance of a smile. “But in case you hadn’t noticed, I have a few things going on, and she’s not my kid! Something you’ve gone out of your way to remind me.” Art reeled back as if I’d slapped him, and I clapped my hand over my mouth. “I’m sorry!” I cried. “I’m just so tired and frazzled. I didn’t mean anything by that.”

His face shuttered. “It’s fine,” he said, taking a step back.

The word stung hard enough to bring tears to my eyes.

“I should let you get back to work. Sorry I distracted you,” he muttered, turning away.

As my heart cracked, I suddenly pictured Viv lying flat on her back in a field of tall grass, chewing on a blade of hay, laughing with a relaxed abandon I’d never witnessed before as a small cow nuzzled her hair.

“Art,” I called, and tried hard not to flinch at the lack of warmth in his gaze when he turned to look back at me to see what I wanted. “She’s fine. Making friends with a small cow. Not a ruffian in sight,” I said with a reassuring grin that completely missed its mark.

He frowned, anger tightening the corners of his eyes. “How could you possibly know that? Why would you make up something like that? Or are you a witch as well as a baker?” he hissed. “It’s not reassuring if that’s what you were going for. My kid could be in danger, and you’re making jokes about cows.”

“What? No!” I protested. But even if the words to explain how I knew hadn’t failed me, this was neither the place nor the time to launch into an explanation of witchy powers and abilities. “She’s not in danger! I’d know if she was.”

“How could you possibly know that, Meg?” he said, anger making his jaw tick. “She’s not your kid, isn’t that what you just said? So why would you have that kind of bond with her?

Art took two steps back and threw his hands up to ward me off when I took a step toward him. “I’m going to go look for her. I’ll ask Peggy to keep an eye on Merry since you’re too busy to take that responsibility seriously.”

“Hey! That’s unfair and you know it!”

Whether Art didn’t hear or chose not to acknowledge my protest, my heart hurt the same either way.

TWENTY-SIX

“Go after yer man,” Fiona said softly as I watched Art storm out of the shop, his fists in his pockets and his shoulders hunched angrily. “I’ve got this.”

Glancing at the crowd still waiting for their tea and their cookies, I hesitated. I couldn’t leave her to handle it all on her own. Not on our first day.