Page 44 of Brews and Banishments
Daisy’s spirits fell as Tessa turned back to the event, rushing forward to help Anne with her paperwork. People were already picking out animals, already waiting for their adoption forms and leashes. While the spell obviously worked, Daisy couldn’t ignore the growing unpleasantness in her stomach. It was too much power, too much of an ability to stand between right and wrong yet not realize which was which.
Forgetting about her squabbling morals, Daisy pressed forward, determined to see Anne through with her volunteer work. A few hours passed, and the kennels were wiped clean of every dog, cat, and bird. There wasn’t a single stray left behind. As they cleaned up the crates, putting the courtyard back to what it once was, Anne’s shoulders shuddered and trembled as she fought away her tears. Daisy and Tessa were already reaching for her before they even realized it, feeling the change in her emotions almost instantly.
Anne waved her hand dismissively. “Don’t worry about me,” she mumbled in a quiet voice, though the tears were already streaming down the sides of her face. “There isn’t an ounce of sadness here, believe that.”
“But you’re crying,” Daisy murmured, already pulling the woman into a tight embrace.
“Happy tears, dear.” Anne breathed deeply against her shoulder. “Purelyhappytears.”
Daisy held the woman as she wept, one hand reaching out to grasp onto Tessa’s. The three of them remained in the center of the courtyard, surrounded by empty crates, the sounds of once stray animals barking excitedly as they headed towards their new homes echoing in the distance. It had barely stretched into the morning, and so much had already happened. Daisy wrapped her arms around the woman, desperate to understand the power behind the spell, something she realized was extremely out of her league.
The danger of it still lingered, still frightened her.
Daisy only wished - no, onlywantedto know the truth behind it.
14
Daisy
For the first time since that odd potion arrived in Fields’ Herbals,Daisy felt free of its burden. Sometimes, she realized, all that it took was a busy day and tonic brewing to get rid of the stress that easily rested against her shoulders. In the end, magic was the thing Daisy cherished most, and it got her through everything that dared to overpower her. When Gary passed, Daisy dove into her studies, fine tuning her ability in order to effectively take over the shop. Even then, as the curse and the culprit behind it remained over her head like a storm cloud, Daisy could only feel the warm sunlight and could only see the approaching rainbow.
She finished another batch of minor ache and sore tonics, using a plastic funnel to pour the clear liquid into different sized vials. With labels already made, all she needed to do was stick them on and they’d be ready for the shelves. Carrying a tray full of wobbling bottles, their corks already tightly wedged into the openings, Daisy reentered the storefront. The early afternoon crowd made its way downtown the moment Daisy andTessa opened after the animal center’s adoption event in the courtyard.
An entire day’s worth of business had already swept through the shop. Tessa was in the middle of sweeping leaves and such out the front door when a familiar figure stepped around her, careful not to get in the way of her cleaning. Carrying a large bouquet of daisies, Ethan slipped inside Fields’ Herbals,a charismatic smile spreading across his face.
Daisy glanced over her shoulder from one of the aisles, almost dropping the entire tray when she realized who it was. Tessa, like the supportive friend she was, slipped behind her, taking the wobbling tray from her hands.
“But -” Daisy was in the middle of saying.
Tessa yanked the tonics from her hands. “You know,” she murmured, “I think these tonics aren’t labeled right!”
Daisy frowned. “But I -”
Leaning in close, Tessa lowered her voice to a whisper. “Talk to him!”
“Have you forgotten about thespell?” Daisy hissed back.
“Just admit you’re using the spell as a reason to avoid real attachments to someone whoactuallylikes you!”
Daisy’s eyes went wide, her jaw falling slack. “Ineversaid I -”
“Oh, look!” Tessa exclaimed, looking over at Ethan who waited beside the counter with a sheepish smile. “A customer!” She was already backing into the storeroom, the vials wobbling as she carried the tray. “Too badI’vegot my hands full!” Glancing in Ethan’s direction, she gave him a quick wink before disappearing into the back room.
Daisy, fully aware of her feverishly visible blushing, crept around the counter, finally facing him. The moment her eyes met his own, Daisy’s heartbeat slammed against her chest. How was it that a person could grow more beautiful with each passing day? Daisy was enamored with him, as if it was the first time shewas ever laying eyes upon him. Ethan was dressed in a simple button down and navy dress pants, the tie already lost and the first few buttons undone. Chestnut colored hair poked out from his shirt, curly and soft. It must have been an important day at the office - Ethan’s hair had the remnants of gel within it, though the strands fought the product and fell across his face dramatically.
Daisy was brought back to their first date and the kiss that followed, how perfect it was and how it was more than she’d ever imagined it to be. Now, as Ethan stood in front of her with a beautiful bouquet of flowers, Daisy stammered and grew flustered, the potion and curse she fought so hard to forget swimming back to the forefront of her mind instantly. Perhaps Ethan’s eagerness had everything to do with it. Despite the spell having a few good outcomes, Daisy grew overwhelmed with the idea of Ethan’s feelings being nothing more than a figment of her imagination, a desire that was felt by her, and her alone.
“Daisies,” she finally said, reaching to take the bouquet from his hands.
Ethan blushed, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. “Maybe it’s a bit cliche,” he murmured. “But -”
“It isn’t that at all.” Daisy held them beneath her nose, inhaling deeply as the light floral scent washed over her. As if the flowers had a spell of their own, a wave of calm energy passed through her, the joy of seeing Ethan finally coming back. “They would look beautiful on the counter, wouldn’t they?” She was already snatching an empty vase to display them in, entirely unaware of how Ethan watched her.
“Yes,” he whispered. “Beautiful.”
Daisy’s face grew beet red as she poured some water into the vase. Clearing her throat, she glanced up to see a genuine smile slipping over his face as he leaned over the counter. Thecloseness sent a chill down her spine. The musty and earthy cologne he wore filled her senses as he leaned in closer.
“What are you doing tomorrow?”
