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Chapter Nineteen
Over the next few weeks I’m kept busy. Tourist season really hits in the shop, meaning I get lots of sales, but I also do a lot of treatments on the locals too. It seems they need their down time and healing.
I’m becoming inundated with visions. So much so, I’ve taken to carrying one of those gorgeous little notebooks around with me to record them. That way, when clients come to visit, I can quickly check if I’ve already had a message for them. The only time I don’t seem to have visions is when I’m with the guys. It’s strange, but I welcome the respite.
In my spare time, I’m either on dates with Rowan, Oakley or Ash, or spending time reading and hanging out with Jasper. Sometimes we all hang out together—even with Linden—and I marvel at how well the guys all seem to get on.
Speaking of Linden, he shows up everywhere I go. He’s at Jewels Cafe when I stop by for my unicorn hot chocolate, my order already waiting on the counter when I arrive. He finds excuses to pop into the shop several times a day. He’s always at the park when I take Jasper for a walk. It’s like being stalked by someone without finesse or subtlety. I...kind of like it. When he talks to me, he’s definitely less of an asshole, but he never does ask me out.
Oh and there’s the gifts! A couple of times a week I get a delivery. Sometimes it’s left on the doorstep at home, sometimes it’s courier delivered to the shop. Without actually asking me out, I have to admit that Linden is pulling out all the stops to woo me. There’s been my favorite flowers, treats and gifts for Jasper, jewellery, chocolates and even exquisite lingerie. There have also been some weird things that have really made me laugh: the box full of magical dildos probably being my favorite. How or why anyone would need that many dildos is beyond me, but I don’t throw any out just yet.
Today I’m looking forward to meeting a friend for coffee. My own personal forest visions are coming daily now, and I want her advice on them. They’re the same, though they’re becoming clearer, and a fourth type of tree seems to be growing—sometimes I see saplings around the base of the other trees. That’s new. Every time I find myself in the forest, I feel happier and more peaceful. Calmer. Like this is where I’m meant to be.
I stride into Jewels Cafe and glance around. I smile when I see Jaye sitting over in the back corner and send her a quick wave. I’m also relieved that Linden isn’t here either for once, though I guess I am visiting outside of my normal routine.
“Hey, Jasmine, the usual?” Julian smiles. Okay, so maybe I have been visiting a lot.
“Yes please, Julian, and I’ll have another of whatever my friend Jaye ordered please.” I wave to where she’s sitting and Julian pulls a face at me. “What?”
“She ordered tap water.” He says it like it’s the worst crime in the world, and I laugh.
“She was probably just waiting for me to get here and tell her what’s good.” I smile reassuringly at Julian. “She’ll take an iced chocolate, please.”
“I’ll bring them over.”
“Thanks, Julian.” I smile as I pay and head over to Jaye.
She stands when I approach and we hug before sitting down. We exchange pleasantries and make small talk, catching up on her family drama until Julian brings our drinks over.
“Garnet? Really?” I groan when Julian puts my pink sugar rush drink down in front of me.
“I just had a feeling.” He smirks. Jaye watches the exchange in fascination then her eyes light up when she spies the dark purple crystal on her cup.
“Amethyst! That’s my birthstone,” she says, sounding happy.
“He knows. Somehow he always knows.” I pretend to sigh.
“Garnet isn’t your birthstone,” Jaye points out, and Julian laughs.
“I’ll leave you to explain that one, Jasmine.” He chuckles as he heads back to the counter to serve the next customer.
“I can’t choose my favorite so every time I come in, Julian serves me a different cup.”
“What’s wrong with garnet then?” She frowns.
“Nothing. It’s just a va-va-voom stone. Passion, attraction and sex. I don’t need any of that. Then again, neither do most of the residents in this town. But it’s still one of my best sellers.” I laugh. “I’m always having to restock it.”
“So you said you wanted to talk to me about some visions you were having?” Jaye prompts me, taking a sip of her iced chocolate drink. It looks really good, I’ll have to try it sometime.
“I keep getting forest visions.”
“Is it always the same forest?”
“No. That’s why I was hoping you could help. I see three—I think— different types of trees and I’m crap at that stuff.”
“Can you describe them to me?”
“I sketched them. Would that help?”
