“What’s so funny, Mari?”
She gestures to the door as she laughs. “That woman is insufferable.”
Althea puts her hands on her hips. “Now why would you say such a thing?”
“Because she…” she says, her laughter falling into silence. “She just… the way she was all… you know…” She mimes primping and playing with her hair. “Ooh, notice me, love me, I’m just a silly girl and I want a silly husband,” she mocks.
Althea’s hands stay firmly planted on her hips and she doesnot laugh at the jokes. Marigold sinks into herself, crossing her arms over her chest. “What? You disagree?”
“I do, actually,” Althea says. “I think you’re being unkind. June is a nice girl, and just because she is choosing a different life path from you does not give you the right to belittle her. She’s not doing anything wrong. She’s not hurting anyone. She simply wants a little red lipstick and a nice boy to notice her.”
“But shouldn’t she want more for her life than that?”
“What any woman wants for herself is not for you to decide. You would do well to remember that.”
Chapter Nine
When the harvest is finally complete and the cottage is filled with honey and two exhausted witches, Althea and Marigold relax into their well-earned rest. Marigold has taken over the cooking, and she brings Althea her meals in bed. She often sits in the rocking chair across from Althea and reads to her while they share a bottle of honeyed mead.
Their time together remains cheerful and happy, but Althea looks less and less like herself with each passing day. Her hair has lost its curl. She does not have the energy to make more of her homemade red lipstick, much less put it on. She sleeps more, talks less, and it breaks Marigold’s heart. She does everything she can to make her grandmother as comfortable as possible, but it is not enough. While her grandmother sleeps through the days, Marigold starts to realize just how alone she is about to be.
Days pass until Althea wakes with a bit more energy and decides to move to the couch in the living room. Marigold brings over her breakfast, and they watch the sunrise. Soon after, there is a knock at the door. Marigold chews her lip; she has yet to handle a customer interaction completely on her own, and she realizes now that she has no idea what to do. It’s the only part of her role that scares her. She’s never been great with people, but maybe that only applies to those in Bardshire. Fiddling with her dress, she poses unnaturally in the kitchen, pretending to be confident. Thankfully, Althea is feeling well enough today to help guide the interaction.
“Come in,” Althea calls, and a familiar face walks in. Mr. Benny may have trimmed his beard slightly since their last encounter, but it is still well past his chest. He still wears his signature red suspenders, now over a blue striped shirt tucked tightly into his patchwork trousers. He puts a harvest basket full of seasonal vegetables onto the table.
“Benny!” Althea says as she struggles to get up. He rushes over to her and holds her in a gentle embrace.
“Hi, Althea,” he says, his tone falling when he sees her in her weakened state. “How are you doing today?”
She gives a soft smile. “Very tired. Marigold will help you now,” Althea says. “Mari, here’s your very first customer to handle all on your own.”
Marigold bounds over to him with excitement. “What seems to be the problem, Mr. Benny?”
“Just had a bit of hay fever; you know how it gets in the late spring. Pollen everywhere all the time. I was hoping you would have some of that miracle potion for this time of year,” he says.
“I can whip it up for you right now,” she says, cracking open the grimoire and grabbing ingredients. This one is easy—bee pollen, propolis, essence of mint, and black sage honey. “How many jars do you need?”
“I’ll take all you have,” Mr. Benny says, and Althea gives him a light shove.
“He’ll haveone, Marigold,” Althea says as she glares up at her friend, who wears a wicked grin. “She’s new, Benny. Don’t tease her. For reference, Marigold, one potion is all a person will need. Don’t let them overwork you,” she warns, and Marigold smiles and nods.
“Well, she has to go through some sort of initiation, doesn’t she? I used to always give you a hard time, too,” Mr. Benny says to Althea.
“You still give me a hard time, Benny. That never stopped,” she replies.
He sighs sweetly. “My, I’ve been missing you, Althea. I didn’twant to interrupt your time with your granddaughter, but… well, you know,” Mr. Benny says with a gentle smile. Althea blushes as she holds his gaze.
“Here you are, Mr. Benny,” Marigold says as she hands him a vial.
“Thank you kindly, Miss Marigold.” He smiles and turns back to Althea. “Is there anything I can do for you, lady?”
Althea looks at the floor for a moment before pulling her shoulders back and nodding. “Yes. Come back tomorrow morning, Benny. Okay? I need you to come back tomorrow.”
Benny nods. Their gaze lingers on each other, an entire conversation happening in the silence between them that Marigold cannot decipher. He is turning to walk away when Althea calls his name again. There is a long pause.
“Yes?” Benny says.
“I…” Althea stops herself. She looks at Marigold, then back at Benny. “I wanted to say thank you. I’ve found myself cherishing happy memories as of late, and you happen to be in many of my favorites.”
