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I mustered up a smile. “Junebear?”
Jolly explained. “Estrelle told Hannah she’d turned Junebear’s care over to you.”
“I didn’t mean to hurt her!” Hannah cried, her blue eyes filling with tears.
My foggy brain realized the bear in the carpetbag must belong to Hannah. I threw a look at Stitchery, expecting it to be dark this time of day, but I saw Estrelle framed in the window, watching us. Anyone else might think it eerie the way she popped up like she did, but for some strange reason I was starting to find comfort in it. I gave her a smile and waved. She awkwardly lifted her hand as if she’d never waved a day before in her life and then abruptly turned away.
Jolly cupped Hannah’s head and drew her in close. “What happened to Junebear was an accident. Hannah found my kitchen shears and got caught up in wielding their power. I’ve been there a time or two myself.”
Cluck-Cluck bopped over and started pecking at my shoelace as I crouched down to Hannah’s level. “I promise to take good care of Junebear and get her back to you as soon as possible.”
Jolly said, “We were worried she wasn’t fixable. That’s some kind of magic you’ll need to put her back together.”
I kept my gaze on Hannah. “She might not look quite the same on the outside, but on the inside, where it truly matters, she’ll be just the same as she always was.”
With her head pressed into her grandmother’s round stomach, Hannah nodded. “Will you tell her I love her? And that I’m real sorry?”
“I sure will.”
Knowing the bear belonged to Hannah made me want to get straight to work, my mind already thinking of creative ways to patch her up.
Movement across the street caught my eye. It wasn’t Estrelle this time—Stitchery’s window was now empty, the store dark. Instead, it was Sam and Norman, heading for Magpie’s. I waved and Sam waved back. Norman’s tail started wagging a mile a minute.
I petted Cluck-Cluck before I stood up, and she kept on pecking at my laces. As I straightened, the world spun and I wobbled.
“Hey now.” Jolly grabbed my arm. “You’ve gone white as a ghost.”
Woozy, I smiled weakly. “I think I should call it a day. I’ll remember to eat breakfast before walking next time.”
This was bound to happen with my lousy diet. But still… I wondered where the closest emergency room was. Did this area have a neurology practice? Did any of the doctors in it specialize in epilepsy?
My mind spun as Hannah intoned, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, Miz Ava.”
“Sure enough.” Jolly kept tight hold of my arm and watched me with worried eyes.
A series ofquabarks sounded like squeaky fireworks. Cluck-Cluck started panicbawking and running this way and that. Norman darted across the street, heading straight for me. Jolly released me to scoop up the chicken, who continued to wail like a broken siren.
As chaos reigned, I took a couple of steps and latched on to a tree. “I just need to get something to eat, I think,” I said so quietly I didn’t think anyone heard me.
But someone had.
“I know just the place.” Sam stepped up next to me. “Just lean on me. I’ve got you.”
MAGGIE
Friday morning had dawned bright and sunny, the sky dotted with wispy clouds. But there was a sharp wind blowing, whispering ominously and stirring up trouble.
As I carried a bag of trash to the dumpster behind the shop, I glanced around, looking to find anything that might explain the disturbance.
I found it quickly in the Beach Mouse delivery van that just turned down the alleyway, heading my way.
I hadn’t seen Donovan since Wednesday, when he left the coffee shop to strategize how to win me over. The sun glinted off the windshield, blocking the view of his face, but my heart knew it was him. It increased its tempo, flooding me with warmth.
With dread.
Because for the past two days all I could think about was how Estrelle told Redmond that denying true desires led to a lifetime of heartbreak.
If I continued to date Donovan, wasn’t that what I would be doing?
