“I just made this pot. It’s a new blend, and I’m curious what you think. Hawk, do you want a cup?”
“No, I’ll leave the tea to you, but thank you.”
“Does this one have caffeine?” Caden asked.
“It doesn’t, but I have some made with black teas that are just as potent as coffee if that’s what you’re looking for.”
“No, the opposite actually.” Caden smiled. “I was hoping for something without the caffeine.”
“Great, hopefully you’ll like this one then.”
Mars poured three cups from a pot that smelled extraordinary and set them on the table without ceremony. Hawk stood leaning in the doorjamb, while Mika, Caden, and I took a seat at the table.
“This one is Hibiscus, rose hip, and a little lemongrass. All the ingredients come from the Wildflower Ranch. All organic,” Mars said, taking a seat across from me. “I’ve been trying to get the balance right for weeks. Tell me what you think.”
I took a sip.
“It’s really good,” I said. “The lemongrass is just enough. If there was any more, it would take over.”
“Perfect. I’m planning to call it my reset blend. For when you need to breathe and remember you’re okay.”
I let out a little chuckle. “Sounds like just what I need.”
Mars just nodded his head like that was what he’d expected me to say. “So what do you do for work, Noah?”
“I work with flowers.”
“Oh, wonderful. Flowers and tea have more in common than people think,” he said. “Both are about paying attention. Aboutunderstanding that small things have a lot to say if you’re willing to listen.”
“The language of flowers,” I said.
“Exactly.”
“You know it?”
“The ranch I said my stuff comes from is my family’s place,” he said. “You don’t grow up on a commune called Wildflower Ranch without learning a bit about flowers.”
He got up, went to one of the shelves, and started pulling tea packets like he knew exactly what he was looking for. “What do you drink at home?”
“Chamomile, mostly. I started drinking it a while back, and I haven’t stopped.”
“Ah, Chamomile is a good choice. Quiet strength and calm in the storm. The ability to withstand difficulty and keep growing.” He set a packet on the table in front of me. “I think you chose well.”
I looked up at him.
He met my eyes steadily, not pushing. “You don’t have to tell me anything,” he said. “I’m not asking. I just notice things sometimes. Energy mostly.” He shrugged, easy about it. “You’vebeen through something, but you’re doing well. Although you’re still carrying the weight of it.”
Hawk stood by the door, and Mika sat there taking small sips of his tea. Neither of them said a word, but neither of them seemed surprised by Mars’ accurate assessment of my situation.
“Yeah,” I said. “That’s about right.”
Mars nodded. He went to a different shelf and came back not with tea but a tray of bracelets, which he set on the table between us.
“I don’t want to make this into a bigger thing than it is,” he said. “But I’d like to give you something. If you’re open to it.”
I looked at the tray. “What kind of something?”
“Black tourmaline,” he said, picking up a simple bracelet with a dark matte stone. “For protection. Grounding. The kind of energy that creates a boundary between you and whatever’s trying to get in.” He set it on the table in front of me. “I’m not saying it’s magic. I’m saying it’s a reminder. That you have boundaries. That you get to take up space.” He looked at me. “Sometimes a physical thing helps you remember that.”
