“We can find her together. I’m Faelan Fletcher, the new vet in town. I say that because I’ll probably meet you at some point if you’re from the area.”
“I am! I just moved back here a few months ago. Mitch will be due for his checkup soon enough, so it’s nice to meet you. I’m Zara.”
“Hi, Zara and Mitch, nice to meet you both.” Mitch wagged his tail, his face still stuck in a doggy grin, and leaned into Zara’s side. “I’m here to buy my very first plant.”
“Your first plant? Really?” Zara gasped and held a hand to her chest again. “That’s almost blasphemous.”
“You’re a plant person, I take it?”
“I love them. I swear I can hear them speak to me.” Zara laughed. “They’re slowly taking over my house, yet here I am, ready for another.”
“In that case, what would you recommend for a newbie?”
“Hmm, you’ll need something hearty.” Zara’s expression sharpened. “You’re certain you’ll be able to care for it? Otherwise, if you don’t have the time, we’ll need to get you something like an aloe or a cactus that needs very little care.”
“Ouch.” I laughed. “I’m hoping I can tend to it fairly regularly, but until it becomes a part of my routine I may forget at times.”
“Right, so you don’t want something too sensitive then,” Zara mused and turned. “Mitch, sweetie, find the door. We want to find Shona.”
Mitch took off across the lawn, heading toward the greenhouse, and I stepped in stride.
“I’m busy with my practice all day, so I could keep the plant down there, but I really do want one in my flat. I’m trying my hand at decorating, and having a plant feels like the cozy thing to do. I can keep it by the window, so it gets light.”
“East facing? West?”
“Um, the window? I don’t know?”
“Morning sun or afternoon?”
“Morning,” I said, relieved that I wouldn’t have to reveal my absolute lack of directional skills.
“Hmm.”
Movement caught my attention, and my eyebrows rose as two gnomes darted around the corner of the nursery.
Mitch barked and Zara froze in her tracks.
“What’s wrong? What’s going on? He never barks.”
“Um, I think it was just a squirrel that ran through really fast.”
“Really? That’s so weird. He never does that.” Zara looked worried.
“I can’t see anything that would bother him, but maybe he saw something else?” I didn’t like to lie, but in this case, I wasn’t sure how to explain the presence of gnomes. I didn’t even knowwhythere were gnomes running about, but the last thing I was about to do was surprise a stranger with an explanation about magick.
Shona poked her head out from the door of the greenhouse, having heard Mitch bark, and a smile wreathed her face.
“Zara and Faelan! And, Mitch, of course. What a treat.” Shona came outside and lightly touched Zara’s arm, before giving the woman a quick hug.
“Sorry about the barking. Mitch must have seen something.” Zara shrugged and Shona shot me a quick look. I widened my eyes and shook my head slightly, letting her know that Mitch had seen something unusual.
“Not a problem. The hedgies are tucked away in their wee nest, sleeping, so it wouldn’t have bothered them at all.”
“And how’s the wee mum getting on then?” Zara asked.
“Och, she’s grand. Really just doing so well. The babies are growing so fast, and as much as I want to be diving in and playing with them all day, I’m giving them their space as Dr. Fletcher suggested. Best to let Mum and Dad handle the babies, and I’ll keep my wee nose out of it.”
“Just for a few weeks longer. I’m sure once they’ve grown a bit, Mum will be happy to show you her brood,” Ipromised Shona. “They’re just a touch shy and protective about it when the bairns are so wee.” It was completely unnecessary to add that I was dying to see the hoglets too. With their white, fluffy faces, soft spikes and pink feet, they’re just so adorable.
