I embrace the power in us,
Maiden, Mother, Crone,
Every part of me is magic,
I walk forward without fear,
And so it is.
—A spell for moving on
Nora pushed the door open and found herself enveloped by the quiet store, the only sound the bell above the door as she, Daisy, and Soraya walked into the dimly lit space.
“The bell is so you don’t bring any evil spirits in with you,” came the sweet, clear voice behind the counter.
The same woman from yesterday, who did not look surprised to see them at all.
“You’re back.” She beamed at them.
Daisy stepped forward, like they were back in school and she was answering a question. Nora was almost surprised she didn’t raise her hand.
“Yes. I’m a bookkeeper,” Daisy said. “Though I don’t have a job anymore, so I thought I would see if you still needed someone.”
“Strangely enough,” the older woman said, “no other bookkeepers have shown themselves to me since yesterday. What happened to your job?”
“Shewasdoing the books for her ex-husband,” Nora said.
Daisy shot her a glance. “He’s not exactly my ex-husband yet. But we are separated.”
“I take it not happily,” the older woman said.
“I’m not the one who left.”
The older woman stared at Daisy for a long time. “I’m sorry.” Then she turned her attention to Soraya. “I thought you were afraid of my store.”
“I am.” Soraya’s honesty had annoyed Nora in high school. Not that it wasn’t a little annoying now, but she had to respect her owning up to being afraid like that.
“But you came back.”
“You said something about needing a baker. I bake all the time. I take orders for my bread, and I sell some from my house and some from stores. I’m very good in the kitchen. I’ve never had a job before in my life, and I don’t know how to ask for one. But I need help. I can’t ask the people I would normally ask because they don’t think I’m doing the right thing. If they already don’t think I’m doing the right thing, then what’s the point of trying anymore?”
“I do hope you keep trying. Especially if you’re going to bake bread and other sweet treats for me.”
Soraya cleared her throat and looked away. “I assume that running out of the store wasn’t the best way to impress you.”
“I was never asking to be impressed. Of course, men are welcome in my store, people of all genders and walks of life are welcome here, but I do have a particular desire to help women. You three walked in, and I knew you needed help.”
“I don’t have any special skills.” Nora could feel the angry, rejected foster kid inside her bristling, coming right to the front, and she had no idea why the hell that bitch was being so assertive.You know why. You feel rejected.“It’s been a while since I’ve worked retail.”
The older woman’s gaze was direct. “I have a feeling you have skill enough.”
A sense of calm came over Nora. A sense of comfort.
“I hope so,” Nora said.
“Can you start today?” the older woman asked.
“Yes,” said Nora. “But then I’m a childless cat lady.”
