“Debt notice?”
“Yeah, the old man had to screw things up for me even more. But Laken and I have it worked out. We’re going to fix it.”
Her nose turned up. “How?”
“We’re going to do small jobs here and there.” I carefully danced around the part about Laken being an assassin. “We’ll do what we can, and with the help of his mother, we’re goingto have a fundraiser. Like an event for the town, though I’m not expecting much to come from that.” Half-dressed, I faced Mags as she offered a sympathetic smile. “Everything is going to be fine.”
I couldn’t see her reaction while pulling my shirt over my head. It’d been a week since I got that notice, meaning my thirty days were already down to twenty-three. Or twenty-four? I’d have to check the calendar.
“Laken sure is awfully invested in this sanctuary.”
Her words struck me. Standing frozen by the closet, I vaguely heard her rambling. Lakendidseem invested. He insisted it was to protect the creatures, but with everyone in town thinking he’d be running it, where would they have gotten that idea if he hadn’t led it on? My father had trained him when he wouldn’t even train me.
Maggie stared at me, noting my silence, and changed subjects. “Are you eating regularly? Drinking water?”
I hadn’t realized how much I’d lost it until her questions made me laugh. “Yes, mother. I am eating and drinking water.”
I dropped the tension from my shoulders and limbs, sulking. “How’s Dirty Hoes?” Plopping on the bed next to her, I grabbed my good shoes.
“It’s good, actually; we’re making it quite well. Spring season is here.” Reminiscing on my three springs at the shop, I didn’t miss the busy season. Sometimes I thought I’d be just fine if I never saw another daisy in my life. “I brought in some help.”
I snapped up. “Help? Who’d you bring in?”
“Tommy.”
My jaw dropped. “Tommy from three dates ago?”
Maggie grinned, nodding as though she didn’t believe it, either.
“Are they sleeping in my old bed or yours?”
My friend, happy and shameless, said, “Oh, they’re definitely sleeping in mine.”
“Maggie James! You were waiting to give me the boot, weren’t you?” She relished my reaction and I let her. I did feel glad for her, she deserved not only happiness and love, but also a decent manager because Gods knew I’d tried my best and still came in below average. “How long are you here for?”
“Just the weekend, you have me today and half of tomorrow.”
“Right.” I stood from the bed, finally dry and decent. “Alright, ready to go?”
“Where are we going?”
I smiled and offered my hand. “I’m giving you a proper Honey Brooke tour, free of charge.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
The sun felt new on my skin, refreshing, as I walked with Maggie. Something about being back with her made me feel more at home, even if I’d been home for a week now.
Just out of the gate, we turned onto the cobblestone path as a flash of red erupted in front of us. Maggie threw out an arm and released a late half-scream half-gasp, but I just held out my hands as the rallow flew overhead. A letter dropped from its talons into my palms.
“The hell?” she squealed, but I didn’t look up to see her wide-eyed confusion. Maggie knew about rallows, but they don’t have them in Old Ashton. “Gods. I am never getting used to that. The one you sent with your letter about gave me a heart attack dropping into the shop.”
I unrolled the parchment, equally dazed, and it made more sense as the words “debt reminder” revealed themselves. Just below that, a countdown. Twenty-three days left.
“Everything okay?” Maggie’s voice saved me from a panic. Well, postponed my panic.
“Yeah.” I tried to sound reassuring as I folded and shoved the notice into my pocket. “Just a reminder that I owe them money,” I said, pretending my chest wasn’t aching. “Let’s go.”
Maggie met me by my side, and we continued our walk. Small talk passed between us, but unfortunately, my mind was elsewhere. But I only had Maggie for a limited time and had much to show her. Ignoring my growing worry, I filed it into future Reece’s problems. There were a lot of problems there.
