“I gotta trust in the universe, I guess.” She tapped the farming book. “Thankfully, I have enough savings that I can take a break and relax till summer. Hell, even my roommate was glad to see me go, since she wanted to move her boyfriend, well, fiance, now, in.”

“That’s a pretty direct kick in the pants from the universe,” I said, eyes wide. Like, that many things all at once? Totally had to be magic of some sort. Or Fate.

Maybe.

“Hmmm,” she said, staring at the book under her fingertips. “Maybe I’ll help my Mom with her giant garden this spring. Spend some more time with my family, and see if anyone has any job recommendations.”

“Spend as much time as you can with your family, you never know if an amazing position will open up and you’ll need to move far away.” I swallowed lightly after I spoke, feeling like I’d put a little too much emotion into that statement.

The Cat suddenly rubbed against my elbow, purring loudly.

“Oh, hey big man. Aren’t you a gorgeous cat,” she said, petting him on his head.

I chuckled at the scene.

Then I froze, staring at her hands. A slight golden sheen covered the very tips of each finger. There was something here, something important I needed to do, but I didn’t know what.

“Do you like gardening?” I asked, trying to figure out why the golden outline had started forming.

“I’m not sure. I’ve always helped my mom. Though,” she leaned forward against the counter with a very bright smile. “There is nothing like a homegrown tomato.”

“Yeah?” I asked, thinking of the garden boxes on the roof. Maybe I could grow a real tomato for Indigo to try.

“Pure magic.” She did the whole chef's kiss thing with her golden fingers. “I swear.”

Suddenly, something glittered out of the corner of my eye near the gardening supplies.

“You know, we have some seeds and gardening stuff on sale over on the wall,” I said pointing. “It’s the wrong season for it, but you might find a few treats for yourself, or another gift for your mom.”

She jerked up and turned to face the wall. Her whole hands practically glowed as she headed in that direction.

I wished I could follow, but instead I petted the Cat, who stared at me rather strangely.

He purred under my fingertips, though, so I let it go until later.

Slowly, the young woman poked through the various supplies we had, then started going through a giant box that had seeds written on the side of it.

“Oh, this would be perfect!” she said, pulling out an envelope. Then another.

It took a few more minutes before she came back to the counter. She added six seed packets on top of the books, all marked down to 50 cents each. One of them glowed golden.

Stolen story; please report.

I picked them up along with the books, moving them closer to the register. I scanned in the barcodes on the seeds, pausing briefly on the golden packet.

“Magical Sunflower Seeds, huh?” I asked, flipping the packet over as my fingers buzzed at the touch. It appeared to be the same as any old seed packet, but it glowed in my vision, and the name literally said magical. The front included a picture of bright yellow flowers with purple streaks starting from the ends of the petals, reaching toward the center.

“I haven’t seen anything like them.” She slid her backpack off her shoulder and pulled out her wallet.

“Do you want a bag?” I asked as I finished ringing up the merchandise and adding the coffee to the order.

“No, thank you. I’ll put it all in here.”

I tapped her credit card and it was approved.

She put everything away in her backpack.

As soon as she zipped it closed, the golden glow on her hands vanished like it’d never been there.

“Oh, my coffee,” she said, glancing at her watch. “I better hurry or I’m going to miss the bus. Thanks again!”

“Of course,” I said with a smile. “I hope you find what you’re looking for, and good luck!”

She took a sip of the mocha as she was rushing out the door, barely pausing to grab her suitcase on the way out.

The bells jingled as the door closed behind her.

I almost leaped over the counter as I rushed to the seed box. Those seeds reminded me of the ones I’d sent to my brother. My family had asked for more, and maybe we had some.

I rifled through the box, looking at the various flowers and vegetables that we had, pulling a tomato packet to set it aside. This spring I’d definitely grow them so Indigo could taste test them.

Nope. The box didn’t have any more of those seeds, which was a bummer. Still, at least I’d figured out what needed to happen today.

“Hey Cat, was that the only person on our list today?”

He didn’t answer and I turned to look at the counter. The lock turned on the door and I shrugged my shoulders. That was enough of a response for me.

Time to shop.

***

Magic had gathered around Sable as soon as she’d started petting me. It tasted strange, and appeared as a golden metallic color.

A color I hated.

They had something to do with this, and it made my slightly pleasant mood at seeing Sable so happy go away.

I padded up the stairs, only pausing to make sure the door locked at her question. As far as the book was concerned, that was the only customer today. However, given how it gave me less and less information every day, I didn’t really know.

It worried me.

The lack of direction and that golden color surrounding Sable made me nervous, and it was time to do something about it. I resisted the urge to check on my tree, and the leaves still holding on to dear life. I hoped my children would prosper, but right now I couldn’t help them. I could help Sable keep clear of a disaster waiting to happen, though.

The archway appeared on the wall just beyond the new room that made Sable so excited. Her hopes and dreams for the space made the shop happy. Happier than it’d been in a long time.

I worried about the shop, and what would happen when Sable’s contract was up. Betty, as Sable called it, tuned in to Sable more than it had any other Shopkeeper before. Disconnecting that might have some bad ramifications.

I huffed.

Nothing was as bad as what I’d done, and how I’d ended up here.

My poor land.

I shook my head, clearing those dark thoughts as I entered my workshop. Leaping up on the counter took only seconds. The book lay open in the middle of it, golden light glimmering above it, coming from the pages themselves.

I’d had to move it here after Sable saw it on the counter so long ago. I couldn’t risk her trying to read it.

“You listen to me. Stay away from her,” I growled, my voice coming out more like my old self. “Once her contract is up, she will be free to go back home to her family and the people that care. You ladies have no claim.”

The glimmering light above the book shifted and darkened, but it didn’t respond.

Just like always.