Turn Towards the Sun by Emma Davies

Author:Emma Davies [Davies, Emma]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781503942301
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Published: 2017-02-08T18:30:00+00:00

Patience is melting another batch of cocoa butter as I walk through to her kitchen, and the scent of chocolate in the air is heavenly. It’s enough to make your mouth water. I collected another batch of dried herbs from the Lodge as well, so now I think we might even have enough for Helen to start making up the little bean bags that will contain them. She’s found the most beautiful fabric, covered with soft green, yellow and white flowers, and has spent the morning cutting out the cloth templates ready for sewing.

I lay the herbs out on the table so that Patience can pass judgement. I wait while she washes her hands again.

‘How’s it going?’ I ask.

Her face brightens. ‘Good, I think. We’re gradually ticking things off the list, and so far it’s all going according to plan – if anything, we’re a bit ahead.’

‘Well, I think these are good to go,’ I say. ‘Stick your nose in there; they smell amazing.’

‘So what have we got?’

‘Marjoram, lemon balm, camomile and rosemary so far,’ I reel off, proud of myself. Two days ago I didn’t even know what any of these were called. ‘And the lavender isn’t far off either. Can Helen make a start, do you think?’

‘These are perfect, Lizzie, they’re just perfect.’ Patience’s eyes are shining all of a sudden. ‘I can’t thank you enough, you know, and Ellie too. I can’t believe you’re all doing this for me.’ She flaps a hand at her face. ‘God, what a baby. Sorry.’

It doesn’t seem right accepting praise when I feel responsible for all this manic activity. All I’m doing is trying to make amends. I’ve still so much to learn about everyone’s businesses here; if it hadn’t been for Alice’s chance remark about Patience’s order, she still might not even know about it. I can’t believe I thought she would fill the order from the oodles of stock she had here, when it was bloody obvious that there was no oodles of stock anywhere. I should learn to open my eyes and stop making assumptions.

I give her a weak smile. ‘No apology necessary. Just glad we can be here to help.’

‘And there’s no need for that look,’ she replies, looking up at me through her lashes as if she’s forgotten she’s not wearing her reading glasses. ‘The order going missing was a silly mix-up. Things get mislaid every day, so you need to stop berating yourself for it. I judge people by their actions, or their reactions, I should say, and you’ve more than made up for any mistake you might have made.’ She holds up a handful of the herbs for me to smell. ‘And here’s the proof, if any were needed. Don’t they smell wonderful?’

I breathe in the scent, feeling myself relax slightly. I smile again, but this time it turns the corners of my eyes up as well as my mouth.

‘So that’s settled then,’ grins Patience, her words having a definite ring of finality about them.

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