Page 57 of The Charmer

I was still looking at Julian out of the corner of my eye even though Ms. Daisy needed all of my attention. Poor woman. It was her first Carnival, and she was totally lost, but she'd come to the right place.

I swear I held my breath right until he walked out of my shop. I still couldn't believe he'd come here.

"Darling, I think I should just take a mask and be done with it," she said.

"Oh no, Ms. Daisy. I promise you, you'll walk out of Books & Beads with the best costume at the whole parade."

She smiled. "That would make my day. My poor Dominic always wanted us to come for a parade, and we never managed. We both worked our whole lives. Now that he's passed, I figured I’d go for the both of us."

Her words hit me like a punch in the chest. Emotion clogged my throat.

"We'll make Dominic proud, I swear."

Even though I had a lot of other customers, I took good care of Ms. Daisy until she left the store with a huge grin. Then I turned to the others. It was madness today. I hadn’t expected my store to already be so full in the morning, but I was grateful for every single customer.

Between the masks being such a hit and the Tableaus signing back on next year, I was very hopeful that things would work out.

Around lunchtime, I was completely done for, and my ankle was throbbing a bit. I had a bad habit of resting on one hip—the one with the bad ankle. Another Advil would probably help. But I hadn't eaten much, and my stomach was very sensitive.

I could run off to the deli three doors down. It would take me less than five minutes to grab something. I wouldn't lose any customers, or at least not too many.

Before I could change my mind, I put up my "Back in a Moment" sign and hurried out of the store. I locked up and practically darted toward the deli even though my ankle was throbbing more and more with each step.

Once inside, I could simply relax and draw in a deep breath. Ms. Sophie made, hands down, the best po'boys in the Quarter.

"Georgie, hey. I haven't seen you in a bit," she greeted me once I stepped inside.

"I know. Zelda keeps coming to buy our food, as we’ve been so busy. I’d love a po'boy."

"Sure thing, girl. Extra mayo and pickles, as usual?" She said pickles with the utmost disdain, but it was a mark of how much she cared about me that she still made it the way I wanted it.

"Yes, please." I gave her a sheepish smile.

She shook her head, muttering, "Butchering recipes," under her breath.

"Don't bother packaging it. I’ll just eat it right away."

"Girl, that's not the way to eat lunch. Have a seat." She pointed at the bar stools along the wall.

"No, really. I have no time. I'm alone at the store today."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. You work too much."

"Hmm, but so do you."

"Never mind what I do. Do what I say, not what I do."

Laughing, I paid for my po'boy and took a bite the second she handed it to me.

“Thanks, Sophie. I have to go.”

She simply shook her head.

Once I stepped out of the deli, I nearly choked. There were two elderly women in front of my store.

Shit.

I hurried toward them, saying, "I'm here. I'm here. Don't leave."

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