Page 34 of Brews and Banishments
“Really?” she asked. “I pray that the shop is treating you well. You know, you need to watch -”
“ - How much I work, I know,” Daisy finished. She smiled, taking all the reassurance she could get from her grandmother’s presence. “You’ll be happy to hear that Fields’ Herbalshas been flourishing lately.”
“Flourishing?” Grandma Lotta repeated, the smile evident in her voice.
“The business has been skyrocketing,” Daisy explained.
Telling another soul about the things that happened within the past week was relieving. Daisy had known that her grandmother was an outrageously spectacular witch all her life and she wanted more time to disclose it all to her, but she hesitated on unpacking it all. There wasn’t a true need to get Grandma Lotta involved in something that could burden her to no end.
“For a few days straight, even,” Daisy continued. “Honestly, Grandma, it was hard to believe at first, but we’re soaking it up as much as we can. The business had…well, I’ll say it had been resting on my shoulders for some time. This was a much needed relief.”
Grandma Lotta was silent for a long moment. Daisy could just imagine her sitting at her favorite rocking hair, one hand resting across her heart, another clutching at the phone, her head tilted back with eyes squeezed shut. Her hair, once brownlike Daisy’s but grey with age, was pulled into a loose braid down her shoulder.
“What good work you’ve done, Daisy,” Grandma Lotta cooed. “Your mother would be more than proud.”
Daisy sighed and leaned her entire back against the wall. “I think she would be, too.”
“Well,” Grandma Lotta said after a long sniffle, “what’re you up to now that you’re off? Anything fun? Itisa Friday, after all.”
Daisy perked up. Perhaps she could revel in her date with Ethan, like Tessa had said. What if she never had the chance to do it again?
“I’ll actually be going on a date tonight, Grandma,” she replied.
“Adate?”
“Mhm,” Daisy said. “With Ethan -”
“Walker?” Grandma Lotta blurted, her voice loud with excitement.
Daisy laughed. “You got it. Do you remember him?”
“Oh, I know the name well enough,” she replied. “I never thought I’d live to see the day you'd be going back on dates.”
“Grandma,” Daisy whined. “I’ve told you of numerous dates I’ve been on since Gary.”
“Beeswax, that’s what those were,” she snapped. “This,this,is a real date. Ethan’s a good boy, from an even better family.” Grandma Lotta made a tsk sound. “Shame what happened in his first marriage, but sometimes, hardships like that make a man what he needs to be.”
Daisy smiled. “He is very kind, Grandma. I know you’d like him.”
“I’m sure I would.” Grandma Lotta sighed, the sound almost wistful in a way. “Daisy, there is only one thing that truly brightens my world, and it’s seeing you so happy.”
Daisy blushed, the smile stretching so wide it hurt her cheeks. “Grandma.”
“Knowing you are happy is all I need to get by,” she whispered. “And youdeserveall the happiness the world has to offer.”
“I should see you more,” Daisy said in a small voice. For a moment she thought it had been in her head, but it wasn’t until she heard her grandmother’s sigh breathe through the intercom she realized she said it aloud. “I’m sorry I haven’t visited you recently, Grandma.”
“Silly Daisy,” Grandma Lotta cooed. “You have a successful business to run!”
“I promise I’ll be there soon,” Daisy added.
Grandma Lotta sighed, but didn’t argue. “Don’t you have a date to get ready for?”
Daisy laughed, eager to get off the phone but unwilling to say goodbye.
“I will see you soon,” Grandma Lotta said. “Go and enjoy your date, Daisy.”
“I love you, Grandma.”
