‘Progress,’ Amelia said with a grin. ‘Take that as a win.’
ChapterThirty-Five
As soon as Fern finished eating she headed back to the shop. Just as she was about to step through the doorway, she stopped and hovered. She couldn’t resist watching Daniel without him knowing. He was kneeling on the rug in the centre of the shop, a vintage magic set laid out in front of him. A small boy was sitting opposite him, eyes wide, mouth slightly open in amazement, the boy’s mum standing beside the two of them.
Daniel held up a small red ball in his palm. ‘Okay, now. Watch carefully. This ball… is a verycheeky little thing.’ He wiggled his eyebrows dramatically. ‘You put him here,’ he closed his hand, ‘and say the magic words… Pickle-pie penguin pants!’
The boy burst out laughing. ‘They’re not magic words!’
‘Ah,’ Daniel said, very serious, ‘but that’s where you’re wrong. You see, this particular ball has very sophisticated taste. If you say boring old “abracadabra” he just ignores you. But pickle-pie penguin pants? That’s his language.’
Daniel made the sound of a fanfare and opened his hand to reveal it was empty. The boy gasped. ‘Where’d it go?!’
Daniel then tapped the boy’s ear and reached behind it with two fingers. ‘He said he liked you, so he’s moving in.’ He produced the ball like it had grown there.
The boy couldn’t believe his eyes. ‘Mum, please can I have the magic set?’
‘How much?’ she asked Daniel.
‘Ten pounds and I’ll even teach him one trick that’s one hundred per cent guaranteed to impress at birthday parties.’ Daniel winked at the kid. ‘You, my friend, are about to become a wizard.’
Once they’d left, magic set under one arm, Fern stepped into the shop. ‘Pickle-pie penguin pants?’
Daniel didn’t miss a beat. ‘Patented. Don’t steal it!’
She grinned, tossing her bag on the counter. ‘You want a coffee?’
‘Always.’
She headed for the back room, filled the kettle, and flicked it on. Her phone beeped with an incoming email.
Subject: Job Offer. Senior Editor Maternity Cover Opportunity
Hey Fern,
Just a quick one. Jules is going on maternity leave, and we’d love for you to step in as acting senior editor for the next six months. It’s office-based, starting in two weeks, with a solid bump in pay and a chance to really make your mark.
This is the position you’ve been waiting for. I know the answer will of course be yes. Let’s arrange a Zoom call.
Tom
She stared at the screen. Senior editor. Tom was right, this was an opportunity she had been waiting for, and even though it might be temporary, it was another step up the ladder. She made the coffee and returned to the shop, handing Daniel his mug with a little clink.
‘You were lovely with that little boy.’
‘Thank you. That kid reminded me of me at that age. I bought my very first magic set from a car boot. My audience was mostly my gran and a very confused Jack Russell.’
Fern smiled, then perched on the desk opposite him. ‘Can I ask you something?’
Daniel arched a brow. ‘You don’t want me to teach you magic, do you?’
‘I think my magician days are well and truly over.’ Though she wished she could magic up a solution to all of her current dilemmas.
‘Go on then, ask away.’
Fern took a deep breath. ‘Say someone came along and offered to buy the shop. Like, for way more than it’s worth. Enough to give us both a decent payout. What would you say?’
He put his mug down. ‘Hypothetically?’
