Page 186 of The Seven Rings
“Yes, I am. And I’m baking a cake, too.”
“I’ll help, but that’s a lot.”
“I’m in the mood. Plus, Jesus, it’s not even nine o’clock. Go, get your shower, get to work. I’m going to look over this bread recipe before I do the same.”
“Send up a flare when you need a chopper/stirrer/fetcher.”
“I’ll do that.”
Sonya let Pye and Yoda in. The cat leaped onto a chair to wash. Yoda followed Sonya upstairs.
Alone, Cleo laid a hand on the kitchen tablet. “Thank you. You were there for her when she was afraid. You were there before we could be. You were there to remind her how strong she is.”
Clover answered with Selena Gomez’s “Me & My Girls.”
Sonya worked through the morning until she felt the Bayside Lotions and Potions website was ready to go live. Hogan, she thought witha smile, had ideas, and in the end, his mother and aunt let him take the lead.
He’d taken the photos himself, and done a damn good job of it, in her opinion. He’d wanted the addition of a Lotions and Potions crew drop-down, with headshots and bios. She’d tightened up the text a bit, but again, damn good job.
She’d consulted with him throughout the building, and thought, if her business continued to grow, she’d offer him an internship the next summer.
But since he’d be in school at this time of day, she contacted his mother. By phone, as texts and emails didn’t always get a prompt response.
Patiently, Sonya guided Carrie to the website, explained the drop-downs, the online product ordering, and the rest.
“Take all the time you need, look it over, play with it. It’s only live for you. If you see anything you want changed, added, taken off, just let me know.”
“I’ll do all that, but, ah, maybe let Hogan take a good look when he gets home from school.”
“That’s just fine. He can text me if it’s a go, or if he wants to discuss anything first.”
“I’m going to say, it looks really pretty. And professional. And I can see it just didn’t before.”
“I think you’ll find it functions well, too. Not only for you, but for customers and potential customers. And venues like Gigi’s can order, at their price, directly from the site, from the wholesale area. And no,” she added, though she’d explained it before, “regular retail customers can’t access that area. It requires a special log-in you approve.”
“I don’t understand all that, but Hogan does. It really looks— Oh my goodness! I clicked on something, and there’s the family. Look at us!”
“You should be proud, of your family, and what you make together.”
“I am. I really am. This is wonderful. I’m actually tearing up. Thanks for helping talk me into this. Hogan’s going to be so excited.”
“Tell him I’m ready to go live when he is.”
“I will. I will. Oh, just look at this! Thank you, Sonya.”
“You’re welcome.”
Thoroughly satisfied, she hung up. “Okay, Yoda, time for a walk. And if Cleo’s in the kitchen when we’re done, we’re on duty there. Otherwise, it’s back here for me.”
But the rest of the week, she decided, without a celebration dinner to help prepare, she’d start on the basement storage areas.
“Rub her face in it just a little more,” she muttered.
She went out the front, threw open her arms to embrace the air, and turned a circle.
When she did, she noticed the leaves on the weeper had a blush of color instead of their summer green.
“It’s happening, Yoda.”
