She was vaguely aware of someone saying her name.
“Julianna!”
It pulled her out of her thoughts. She lifted her head off her hand, and straightened her posture quickly like a student who had been caught dozing in class. “What?” Her reply was quick and automatic, something about it making her sound even more guilty. Ignoring that fact that she hadn’t been doing anything wrong. Adults were allowed to daydream in their empty shops.
It was no longer empty. Julianna’s twin brother, Elliot, was standing in front of her. He had a short crop of black curls and bright green eyes and for the most part that is where their resemblance ended. "Did you not hear me come in?” He jerked his thumb over his shoulder to indicate the bells hanging over the shop entrance.
“Not at all actually.”
“What were you thinking about?”
The shopkeeper was silent for a few moments. “Uh, nothing,” she said in an obvious attempt at a lie. She moved away from the register and around the counter. She crossed the room and began unloading a box of candles she had abandoned earlier onto a little display by the window that caught the light in a cute way.
Elliot turned to watch her but didn’t move. Now, he was the one who leaned onto the counter. “Uh huh…” he drawled slowly (and somehow, sarcastically) in a clear indication that he didn’t believe her.
For a few moments the only sound was a dull thunk of candle holders being placed on wooden shelves. Julianna made no attempt to admit that she had been daydreaming about one of her customers. A handsome witch that came into her shop every week to buy reagents and ingredients. He always had his three sons with him.
“Slow day, today,” Eli commented.
She looked around the shop. It had a pleasantly rustic aesthetic. An old building with scuffed paint and hardwood floors. Fresh herbs straight from her garden hung from the ceiling and dried flowers lined shelves in little jars. She had honey and beeswax from local beekeepers. Raw gemstones from nearby mountain ranges glittered in the sunlight. It was charming, but it was empty.
“Yeah,” she agreed, lamely. Once finished with the task she broke down the cardboard box and folded it neatly for the trash. She handed it off to Elliot, expecting him to discard it on his way out.
He accepted it but only dropped it to the floor, propped up against his leg. “Where are the kids?”
The shop was open and airy, but it wasn't like it had AC. It was a rather hot day for mid-spring and she could feel a sheen a light sheen of sweat on her face and her back. She pretended it made her look young and glowing and not gross. Julianna pushed her thick black curls on top of her head and secured them in a messy bun with an elastic around her wrist.
There were three of the slim black bands lining her arm. She had a habit of breaking them. “What kids?” She didn’t look at him.
“Those triplets,” he replied, watching her with a smug sort of know-it-all look. “Aren’t they always here in the afternoon.”
“I don’t know about ‘always’,” she snapped. “They come in with their father, occasionally.” It was an understatement, not a lie. The man in question and his children did come in rather often. Mostly weekly, but increasingly in that past week or so. She’d seen him twice already and it was only Thursday. When she looked at Elliot he was grinning at her.
“Do you have a crush on a witch,” he teased.
“Of course not,” she huffed. Not because there was anything wrong with witches. Half of her clientele was magical in some regard. It was because she didn’t want to admit she had a crush at all. Even though she was bright red in her cheeks over the tall, blond and handsome man that always wore three piece suits and sunglasses and only smiled at her in almost imperceptible ways and mostly to tease her.
“I’m pretty sure he’s married anyway.”
“Does he have a ring?”
“I don’t pay attention to that stuff.” He did not wear a ring but Julianna was certain that a man like that had been snatched up already. She wouldn’t entertain Elliot’s prodding.
The twins continued to talk and bicker while Elliot shirked his duties at their family wood shop while chatting with a few customers who did trickle in as time passed.
“Julianna!”
It pulled her out of her thoughts. She lifted her head off her hand, and straightened her posture quickly like a student who had been caught dozing in class. “What?” Her reply was quick and automatic, something about it making her sound even more guilty. Ignoring that fact that she hadn’t been doing anything wrong. Adults were allowed to daydream in their empty shops.
It was no longer empty. Julianna’s twin brother, Elliot, was standing in front of her. He had a short crop of black curls and bright green eyes and for the most part that is where their resemblance ended. "Did you not hear me come in?” He jerked his thumb over his shoulder to indicate the bells hanging over the shop entrance.
“Not at all actually.”
“What were you thinking about?”
The shopkeeper was silent for a few moments. “Uh, nothing,” she said in an obvious attempt at a lie. She moved away from the register and around the counter. She crossed the room and began unloading a box of candles she had abandoned earlier onto a little display by the window that caught the light in a cute way.
Elliot turned to watch her but didn’t move. Now, he was the one who leaned onto the counter. “Uh huh…” he drawled slowly (and somehow, sarcastically) in a clear indication that he didn’t believe her.
For a few moments the only sound was a dull thunk of candle holders being placed on wooden shelves. Julianna made no attempt to admit that she had been daydreaming about one of her customers. A handsome witch that came into her shop every week to buy reagents and ingredients. He always had his three sons with him.
“Slow day, today,” Eli commented.
She looked around the shop. It had a pleasantly rustic aesthetic. An old building with scuffed paint and hardwood floors. Fresh herbs straight from her garden hung from the ceiling and dried flowers lined shelves in little jars. She had honey and beeswax from local beekeepers. Raw gemstones from nearby mountain ranges glittered in the sunlight. It was charming, but it was empty.
“Yeah,” she agreed, lamely. Once finished with the task she broke down the cardboard box and folded it neatly for the trash. She handed it off to Elliot, expecting him to discard it on his way out.
He accepted it but only dropped it to the floor, propped up against his leg. “Where are the kids?”
The shop was open and airy, but it wasn't like it had AC. It was a rather hot day for mid-spring and she could feel a sheen a light sheen of sweat on her face and her back. She pretended it made her look young and glowing and not gross. Julianna pushed her thick black curls on top of her head and secured them in a messy bun with an elastic around her wrist.
There were three of the slim black bands lining her arm. She had a habit of breaking them. “What kids?” She didn’t look at him.
“Those triplets,” he replied, watching her with a smug sort of know-it-all look. “Aren’t they always here in the afternoon.”
“I don’t know about ‘always’,” she snapped. “They come in with their father, occasionally.” It was an understatement, not a lie. The man in question and his children did come in rather often. Mostly weekly, but increasingly in that past week or so. She’d seen him twice already and it was only Thursday. When she looked at Elliot he was grinning at her.
“Do you have a crush on a witch,” he teased.
“Of course not,” she huffed. Not because there was anything wrong with witches. Half of her clientele was magical in some regard. It was because she didn’t want to admit she had a crush at all. Even though she was bright red in her cheeks over the tall, blond and handsome man that always wore three piece suits and sunglasses and only smiled at her in almost imperceptible ways and mostly to tease her.
“I’m pretty sure he’s married anyway.”
“Does he have a ring?”
“I don’t pay attention to that stuff.” He did not wear a ring but Julianna was certain that a man like that had been snatched up already. She wouldn’t entertain Elliot’s prodding.
The twins continued to talk and bicker while Elliot shirked his duties at their family wood shop while chatting with a few customers who did trickle in as time passed.
I fear no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) I want no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true) and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant and whatever a sun will always sing is you.
The following 1 user Likes megs's post: saronym
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Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by megs - 09-02-2019, 11:54 AM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by saronym - 09-02-2019, 03:54 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by megs - 09-02-2019, 04:53 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by saronym - 09-02-2019, 09:49 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by megs - 09-03-2019, 12:49 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by saronym - 09-03-2019, 03:59 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by megs - 09-03-2019, 05:03 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by saronym - 09-03-2019, 07:16 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by megs - 09-04-2019, 01:00 AM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by saronym - 09-04-2019, 04:46 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by megs - 09-04-2019, 09:29 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by saronym - 09-05-2019, 10:27 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by megs - 09-06-2019, 02:15 AM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by saronym - 09-13-2019, 05:12 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by megs - 09-24-2019, 11:50 AM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by saronym - 09-25-2019, 04:27 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by megs - 09-27-2019, 12:40 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by saronym - 09-27-2019, 06:16 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by megs - 09-27-2019, 06:43 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by saronym - 10-14-2019, 09:21 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by megs - 10-18-2019, 09:12 AM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by saronym - 10-18-2019, 02:04 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by megs - 10-18-2019, 03:10 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by saronym - 10-18-2019, 05:03 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by megs - 10-18-2019, 05:42 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by saronym - 10-18-2019, 06:28 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by saronym - 10-18-2019, 10:37 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by saronym - 10-19-2019, 12:27 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by megs - 10-18-2019, 10:08 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by megs - 10-19-2019, 08:36 AM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by megs - 10-19-2019, 01:58 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by saronym - 10-19-2019, 04:18 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by megs - 10-19-2019, 06:22 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by saronym - 10-19-2019, 10:57 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by saronym - 10-20-2019, 02:01 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by megs - 10-20-2019, 11:02 AM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by megs - 10-21-2019, 07:49 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by saronym - 10-22-2019, 09:24 AM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by saronym - 10-23-2019, 07:18 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by megs - 10-22-2019, 11:37 AM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by megs - 10-25-2019, 12:46 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by saronym - 10-29-2019, 09:03 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by megs - 10-31-2019, 02:52 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by saronym - 11-03-2019, 11:32 AM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by megs - 11-03-2019, 02:54 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by saronym - 11-03-2019, 04:04 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by megs - 11-03-2019, 04:49 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by saronym - 11-03-2019, 08:57 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by megs - 11-04-2019, 12:24 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by saronym - 11-05-2019, 09:19 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by saronym - 11-08-2019, 11:23 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by megs - 11-05-2019, 10:06 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by megs - 11-09-2019, 12:56 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by saronym - 11-15-2019, 10:34 AM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by megs - 11-16-2019, 12:38 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by saronym - 11-18-2019, 09:32 AM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by megs - 11-18-2019, 06:04 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by saronym - 11-19-2019, 08:15 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by megs - 11-20-2019, 09:11 AM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by saronym - 11-20-2019, 04:13 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by megs - 11-23-2019, 11:44 AM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by saronym - 12-03-2019, 10:14 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by megs - 12-05-2019, 04:48 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by saronym - 12-06-2019, 02:05 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by saronym - 12-08-2019, 07:50 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by saronym - 01-04-2020, 04:46 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by saronym - 02-13-2020, 06:01 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by saronym - 02-23-2020, 05:50 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by megs - 12-08-2019, 03:27 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by megs - 12-09-2019, 05:08 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by megs - 01-08-2020, 07:07 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by megs - 02-21-2020, 09:24 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by megs - 02-26-2020, 02:03 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by saronym - 08-12-2020, 05:00 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by saronym - 01-15-2021, 06:54 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by saronym - 05-21-2021, 03:48 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by megs - 09-06-2020, 07:57 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by megs - 02-09-2021, 04:15 PM
RE: Black Tea & Lavender [Closed] - by megs - 06-06-2021, 11:45 AM