Copyright © 2024 by GroveltoHEA
The bells jangled merrily as my shop door was opened, and I was hit with a wave of pain and despair so intense I had to remember to breathe.
The woman who walked in had delicate features, an air of uncertainty and when she stepped closer to me, I was once again hit hard with the turmoil emanating from her. Sensing just how much she needed me, I charmed the shop so no one else would come in while she was here and I could devote myself to this woman and whatever was causing her pain.
"Hello," I said warmly. "I'm Magnolia. Welcome to my shop."
"Hi," she said almost skittishly. "I'm Glory. I've seen your shop but I've never been inside before."
"Well, I'm glad you decided to come in today," I said easily. "Are you looking for anything in particular?"
"No. I'm sorry. I don't even know why I came in here, to be honest."
I knew why.
"Well, let me show you around, see if anything sparks your interest. If not, maybe we could have a cup of coffee or tea and have a nice break."
"Oh...I don't want to keep you. I know you must be busy."
Waving my hand toward the empty shop, I smiled at her. "Slow day. I'd actually welcome the company."
"If...if you're sure."
"Positive," I assured her.
Then I showed her around the store, forcing myself to breathe as her pain kept hammering at me. It was when we made it to the plant display that she stopped, and I knew we were at the right spot in the store.
Rebellion.
That thought struck me.
"Do you like plants?" I asked.
"I don't know," she said. "I've never had any. Well, I had a couple for a few days but my...ex didn't like them."
I told you no fucking plants in the house!
Crash!
Crash!
The pain flooded over me. Her ex had been a very bad man.
"Well, these all are pretty easy to take care of. They don't need direct sunlight and just some water when the soil starts to get dry. My friend picked all of these out for me, and he promised they were easy to care for."
"You know a man that likes plants?" she asked disbelievingly.
"I do. He's a landscaper and he loves plants. Works with them all day."
"Oh. He must really like plants then."
I never ignored the urging, so I shared just a bit. "He does. He had a very...difficult childhood and his mother had a black thumb, so he took the plants that she neglected and nursed them back to life. He said it was something that soothed him as he was growing up."
"I understand what he means," she said softly, correctly reading between the lines.
"Did you know that plants like to be talked to?"
"Talk to me, baby!" Cody squawked.
Glory laughed. "That was perfect timing. I didn't know that about plants, but I think I'd like to talk to them."
"Which ones do you like?"
We spent the next fifteen minutes with Glory seriously considering each plant until she had chosen three.
YOU ARE READING
Three Witches #1: Magnus and Magnolia
RomanceI fell in love with Magnus, and I thought he fell just as hard for me. Then my class got canceled and I went to the club house so we could spend an unexpected evening together. Unfortunately, someone else was already there keeping him company. My he...
