Memory of Lavender and Sage by Aimie K. Runyan

Author:Aimie K. Runyan [Runyan, Aimie K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2024-03-05T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21

“Come in quickly,” Estèva beckoned, her eyes scanning the street. “He’ll be back soon.”

I walked into Sarraut’s, my laptop in tow, prepared to show Estèva and Pau the final draft of the website I’d created for the shop. I’d also made printed copies of short versions of the stories, which Estèva promised to translate into French and Occitan for display in the shop. The idea was to remind the locals of why these pieces were special. While selling to the wider world was a sound financial plan, it would also be nice for some of the pieces to stay in the village where they had been loved for so long.

In addition to my laptop case, I also lugged a large plastic crate with all manner of creations from my greenhouse, all designed for sale at Sarraut’s. Everything from herb mixes for cooking to skin creams, and a bit of everything in between. Estèva wanted to make a display of them to see whether it would increase traffic to the store.

“Pau doesn’t know that I’m coming?” I asked, setting the crate at my feet.

“Not yet,” she admitted. “I thought it might be better to catch him unaware so he wouldn’t find a reason to stay away.”

A lump formed in my gut. How would Pau react to our plans for the website and modernization? I knew Jenofa was absolutely right about Estèva, but convincing the good mayor would be another thing entirely. Even if sales went through the roof, I could see him being opposed to the website out of sheer stubbornness.

I took a breath and remembered something my dad used to say: “You don’t always need to win people over to your side right away. Persuading them that an idea is worth a chance is often enough.”

It was one of the maxims he’d spouted over dinner, and one I’d taken to heart. Wal probably had it tattooed on his forearm. At the very least it was transcribed in one of the many leather notebooks Wal had filled with such pearls of wisdom from Dad.

“Do you know what you want to do if he says no?” I clutched my ancient tank of a laptop across my chest like a shield. As if Pau might come in at any moment and hurl one of the ancient steel meat axes at my chest if he saw me trespassing in his store.

It was ridiculous—or so I hoped.

“Come on now, have some faith!” Estèva cried. She scanned the printed copies of the stories and thumbed through them, nodding as she read.

“Oh my word, Estèva, speak!” I finally burst out. “What are you thinking?”

“I can’t believe it, but you make me want to buy this junk. I’ve dusted that stupid teapot one hundred seventy-four times if I’ve dusted it once, and now I want it for myself.”

I walked over to the shelf where an ivory teapot painted with pansies had resided—perhaps for fifty years or more—and handed it to her. It had been a first wedding

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.